Sports Injuries

Ashford Orthopedic Specialists -  - Orthopedic Surgeon & Sports Medicine Specialist

Ashford Orthopedic Specialists

Orthopedic Surgeon & Sports Medicine Specialist located in Athens, GA also serving Oconee County and Clarke County

Treating sports injuries requires an individualized approach specific to your sport, injury type, and personal health. At Ashford Orthopedic Specialists, you can see William Ashford, MD, right away for your sports injury without going through a nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant first. Dr. Ashford has treated NFL and NBA athletes, and he treats his patients in Athens and Loganville, Georgia, with the same level of respect and vigilance that he would a professional. To book an evaluation for a sports injury, call the office or schedule online today.

Sports Injuries Q & A

What are sports injuries?

Sports injuries typically result in musculoskeletal damage that occurs with physical activity. Some of these injuries are acute, meaning they happen suddenly and have an immediate onset of pain. Others develop slowly over time as you use repetitive movements in your sport or activity of choice. 

You can suffer a sports injury at any age, though adults are often at a higher risk than children given our stiffer, less resilient tissues. Your risk of a sports injury increases with longer periods of inactivity, inadequate warm-up, or participation in contact sports like football or wrestling.

At Ashford Orthopedic Specialists, Dr. Ashford performs a physical examination to evaluate your injury and might use imaging tests to make an accurate diagnosis. He then creates a tailored treatment plan to help you make a full recovery so you can get back on the field or court. 

What are some of the most common sports injuries?

A wide variety of injuries can happen in sports, many of which involve your joints. Dr. Ashford has extensive experience treating elite and professional athletes for some of the most common sports injuries, including:

  • An anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear
  • A posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) tear
  • Meniscus injuries
  • Rotator cuff tears
  • Shoulder dislocations
  • Ligament sprains
  • Broken bones


These injuries (as well as many others) often happen because of sudden or repeated movements required for your sport. In order to keep the damage from getting worse, you should seek a diagnosis and treatment as soon as you notice symptoms.

How does treatment for sports injuries work?

Sports injuries require individualized treatments based on several factors. These include your general health, previous injuries, prior surgeries, the type of injury you currently have, and your personal preferences. At Ashford Orthopedic Specialists, Dr. Ashford evaluates your injury thoroughly before determining the most effective course of treatment for you. 

To help you recover quickly and continue being active, Dr. Ashford includes one or more of these treatments in your custom care plan:

  • Viscosupplementation
  • Corticosteroid injections
  • Shoulder arthroscopy
  • Knee arthroscopy
  • Physical therapy
  • Traditional surgery or joint replacement


In addition to treating your sports injury, Dr. Ashford can offer suggestions for sports injury prevention. You can prevent new or worsening sports injuries by wearing the proper equipment for your sport, warming up and cooling down before and after play, and staying active. 

If you sustain an injury while playing sports or engaging in physical activity, call Ashford Orthopedic Specialists, or book an appointment online today.

We offer services such as shoulder replacement, shoulder surgery, and shoulder arthroscopy. Call us to book your appointment today.

What we offer

Services