We offer expert, team-based care for a wide variety of sports injuries. We’ll help you rebuild strength, stability and balance. Our goal is to get you back in the game as soon as possible. Our services include:

• Certified athletic trainers, overseen by our sports medicine doctors, at area high schools who can evaluate injuries and begin treatment.
• Sports medicine doctors, orthopaedic surgeons, physical therapists and athletic trainers all working together.
• Quick referrals.
• First-rate rehabilitation doctors and facilities.
• A clinic to clear your return to sports.

The latest therapies

Our techniques and technologies include:

• An AlterG treadmill that supports your body weight, offering you safe, pain-free training.
• An exercise therapy that uses blood-flow restriction to improve muscles. Putting a cuff or tourniquet on your upper arm or leg can build muscle performance with lighter loads.
• Our computerized Biodex muscle testing system helps us focus therapies and decide when it’s safe to get back in the game.

Running injuries

Our therapists can help you recover from injury and return to running the right way.

Evaluation

We’ll assess the injury and do a full lower-body analysis to determine the cause.

Treatment

Steps might include:

• Manually moving joints and soft tissues
• Muscle strengthening
• Restoring your sense of where your body parts are in relation to one another (proprioception)
• Exercises to strengthen and stabilize your lower body

Guidance

Our specially trained therapists can also develop a proper training program to help you reach your running goals while reducing your risk of injury. They will use a science-based approach to guide your return to running.

Cycling injuries

Our goal is to help you return to cycling with as little pain as possible.

Evaluation

An OHSU physical therapist will assess your flexibility, range of motion, muscle balance/imbalance, posture and alignment. The therapist can also check neurologic function if needed.

Common bike injuries include:

• Anterior (front) knee pain
• Iliotibial band friction, in which a ligament rubs on the knee and becomes inflamed
• Low back pain
• Arm and/or hand tingling
• Foot numbness and/or pain
• Shoulder or neck pain
• Saddle sores
• Groin pain or numbness
• Achilles pain

Treatment

A physical therapist can work with you to:

• Identify any biomechanical problems
• Offer exercises to reduce pain and restore balance
• Provide guidance to increase your efficiency and lower your risk of injury
• Make sure you have a proper bike fitting

Knee and shoulder pain

Knee injuries: Our physical therapists can do a complete examination of your knee. They will develop a custom rehabilitation plan in coordination with your regular doctor.

Shoulder injuries: Depending on your injury, your care team might include a physical therapist, family medicine doctor, sports medicine doctor and an orthopaedic surgeon. The team can determine whether your pain is from a joint, muscle, tendon or ligament of the shoulder or shoulder blade. Treatment may include physical therapy to increase your range of motion, strengthen muscles, guidance to improve your posture, and manual therapy for soft tissues and joint mobility (moving tissues by hand).

Golf injuries

Our physical therapists are experts in treating golfers at every level. They have expertise in human movement (biomechanics and kinesiology) and injury recovery. They can help you improve strength and flexibility, and reduce pain. They can also help you learn about proper swing mechanics to avoid a new injury.

Common injuries among golfers include:

• Low back pain
• Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)
• Shoulder injuries

Returning to sports

We provide expert testing, specific to your sport, and use special equipment to determine when you’re ready to safely resume activity.

Other OHSU services

• Concussion services
• Sports medicine program
• Running tips and resources
• Exercise tips and resources
• High school athlete program

Learn more

• Sports Injuries, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
• Safe Exercise, OrthoInfo, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• A Guide to Safety for Young Athletes, OrthoInfo, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons