Sports Medicine Detroit, MI
(248) 952-8080
1560 E Maple Rd
Suite 120
Troy, MI 48083
Monday - Friday | 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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Sports injuries affect people of all activity levels, from recreational athletes to competitive professionals. These conditions often interfere with performance, daily function, and overall quality of life. Dr. Shariff K. Bishai provides advanced sports medicine care for the shoulder, knee, and hip, helping active patients recover safely and return to the activities they love.
Common Shoulder Sports Injuries
The shoulder is a highly mobile ball-and-socket joint that depends on the coordination of muscles, tendons, and cartilage for stability. Because of this complexity, it is vulnerable to both traumatic injuries and overuse problems common in sports.
Rotator Cuff Tears
A rotator cuff tear occurs when one or more of the tendons that stabilize the shoulder are damaged, often from repetitive overhead motion or acute trauma. Athletes may experience pain, weakness, or difficulty with throwing and lifting.
Treatment can include physical therapy, rest, and anti-inflammatory medications, with surgery reserved for larger or persistent tears. Recovery typically requires several months of rehabilitation to restore strength and mobility.
Shoulder Instability and Dislocation
Instability happens when the head of the humerus does not remain firmly in the socket, sometimes leading to a full dislocation. This often occurs in contact sports or after a significant fall.
Non-surgical care may strengthen surrounding muscles, while recurrent cases often benefit from arthroscopic stabilization surgery. Recovery involves a combination of rest and therapy to protect the joint and restore function.
SLAP Tears and Labral Injuries
Labral injuries such as SLAP tears affect the rim of cartilage that deepens the shoulder socket. They commonly result from throwing or overhead sports and can cause clicking, catching, or pain.
Mild cases may improve with rest and targeted therapy, while more serious tears can be repaired arthroscopically. Rehabilitation is important to restore stability and allow safe return to sports.
Impingement and Overuse Syndromes
Shoulder impingement develops when soft tissues are pinched during overhead motion, often due to repetitive sports activity. This can cause pain with lifting, reaching, or throwing.
Treatment usually involves activity modification, therapy, and occasionally arthroscopic procedures to relieve pressure. With proper care, most athletes are able to return to activity.
Common Knee Sports Injuries
The knee functions as a hinge joint supported by strong ligaments and cartilage that absorb impact and allow for stability. Because of its central role in running, pivoting, and jumping, it is highly prone to sports injuries.
ACL Tears
The anterior cruciate ligament provides stability for twisting and pivoting movements. Tears are common in cutting sports like soccer, basketball, and football.
Treatment may include bracing and therapy, but surgical reconstruction is often needed for athletes who want to return to pivoting sports. Recovery can take nine months or longer with structured rehabilitation.
Meniscus Tears
The meniscus is a wedge-shaped piece of cartilage that cushions the knee. Tears often occur with twisting injuries or gradual wear over time.
Smaller tears may improve with therapy, while complex or symptomatic tears may be treated arthroscopically. Recovery times vary, but many patients return to activity within weeks to months.
Patellar Instability
Patellar instability occurs when the kneecap shifts out of its normal groove, sometimes dislocating completely. It can result from trauma or underlying anatomical differences.
Treatment ranges from therapy and bracing to surgical realignment in recurrent cases. Recovery typically involves a focus on strengthening and restoring stability.
Cartilage Injuries
Damage to the smooth cartilage of the knee may result from injury or repeated impact. Symptoms often include pain, swelling, and stiffness during activity.
Treatment options include therapy, injections, or surgical techniques to repair or restore cartilage. With careful management, many athletes are able to resume active lifestyles.
Common Hip Sports Injuries
The hip is a deep ball-and-socket joint surrounded by powerful muscles and stabilized by the labrum. Sports that involve running, pivoting, or repetitive hip flexion can place high stress on this joint.
Hip Labral Tears
Labral tears occur when the cartilage rim of the hip socket becomes damaged. This can cause pain, clicking, or catching during movement.
Conservative care includes therapy and injections, while arthroscopic repair may be recommended for persistent symptoms. Recovery usually allows return to sports after several months.
Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI)
FAI happens when abnormal bone shapes on the femur or acetabulum cause pinching during hip movement. Athletes may feel pain with flexion, rotation, or prolonged sitting.
Initial treatment involves activity modification and therapy, while surgery can reshape the bone and repair the labrum. Outcomes are generally good with appropriate care and rehabilitation.
Hip Bursitis
Hip bursitis is inflammation of the bursae, often caused by repetitive stress or overuse. It produces aching pain on the outside of the hip.
Management includes rest, therapy, and anti-inflammatory measures, with injections sometimes used for relief. Symptoms usually improve over several weeks with proper treatment.
Muscle and Tendon Strains
Strains of the hip flexors, hamstrings, or adductors are common in running and kicking sports. They cause localized pain and reduced performance.
Treatment focuses on rest, therapy, and gradual return to activity, with recovery times ranging from days to weeks. Severe tears may take longer to heal but generally respond well to structured care.
Surgical Options in Sports Medicine
When conservative treatment is not enough, arthroscopic surgery offers a minimally invasive way to repair injuries of the shoulder, knee, and hip. These procedures use small incisions and specialized instruments to treat tears and instability with less disruption to surrounding tissue.
Open procedures may be recommended for more complex injuries, such as severe ligament tears or fractures. Surgical care is always followed by a structured rehabilitation program to ensure the safest and most effective return to activity.
Recovery and Return to Play
Sports medicine treatment is focused not only on relieving pain but also on restoring performance. Recovery timelines depend on the severity of the injury and the type of treatment, but physical therapy is always central to the process.
Athletes progress through phases of rehabilitation that include regaining motion, building strength, and restoring sport-specific skills. With careful planning, many return to their sport safely and with confidence.
Sports injuries can be frustrating and life-changing, preventing athletes from doing what they love most. Choosing a specialist with advanced training ensures that recovery is approached with the highest level of care.
Dr. Shariff K. Bishai is board certified in orthopedic surgery and sports medicine, with fellowship training and experience teaching surgeons nationally and internationally.
His commitment to patient-centered care and expertise in minimally invasive techniques make him a trusted choice for athletes and active individuals throughout the Detroit area.