Conditions Treated at Our Clinic Sports Medicine Temecula CA
Dr. Erwteman treats a variety of different conditions related to the musculoskeletal system (the bones, joints, and muscles). These include acute injuries related to playing sports, as well as chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis.
Dr. Erwteman’s primary professional interests include sports medicine, in particular treatment of the shoulder, knee, and ankle, as well as treatment of shoulder arthritis and rotator cuff tears.
Sports Injuries Sports Medicine Temecula CA
Being physically active comes with many benefits for your life, but it can also put you at risk for an injury. An acute injury, meaning an injury that occurs at a defined point in time, is common in many sports, from soccer to basketball to running. Some examples include an AC joint injury, an injury to the knee ligaments or meniscus, or an ankle sprain.
When indicated, Dr. Erwteman provides surgical repair of these injuries. He evaluates each patient to determine whether they would likely benefit from a surgical procedure, or should try other methods of healing first. While not every sports injury requires surgery, certain injuries are best treated with a surgical procedure. In some cases, waiting to have surgery can lead to more difficulties later on. Dr. Erwteman will talk with you about conservative non-operative management of your problem, as well as the risks and benefits of surgery if indicated in your particular case.
Not every sports injury is an acute injury. There are also chronic injuries that result from years of wear and tear on the joints. These can include injuries like labral tears of the shoulder. Although there may be a defined point in time when the labral tear occurs, there were often years of wear and tear on the structures of the shoulder prior to the tear.
Osteoarthritis Sports Medicine Temecula CA
The type of arthritis that results from a gradual wearing down of the joint structures is known as osteoarthritis. In some cases, it results from a joint that isn’t functioning properly. A joint that has been damaged may move in unusual ways, causing greater wear and tear on the joint and eventually leading to osteoarthritis. This is part of the reason that it’s important to treat injuries promptly, to help protect the joint from later problems.
People who have osteoarthritis may benefit from many different types of treatment. When other measures fail, surgical treatment can be beneficial. This can include joint replacement surgery, known medically as arthroplasty. The knee is one of the most commonly replaced joints, and Dr. Erwteman performs knee replacement surgery in his sports medicine Temecula area practice, at Temecula Valley Hospital.
