Common Fall Sports Injuries
Matthew Melander, DO
Matthew Melander, DO is a board certified orthopedic surgeon and fellowship trained in sports medicine. He is part of St. Charles Orthopedic Surgery Associates, with offices in O’Fallon and St. Peters. Dr. Melander specializes in ACL reconstruction, arthroscopic surgery of the shoulder, knee and hip, and the treatment of injuries in the competitive and recreational athlete. Dr. Melander is on staff at Barnes-Jewish St. Peters and Progress West Hospitals.
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Which sports have the greatest potential for injury?
In fall high school sports, in my practice, I see more football injuries than soccer, but really all fall sports have the potential for injury. One thing I should warn people about fall sports is the transition from summer to fall. Something that’s not an injury but can be dangerous is dealing with the heat in preseason practices.
How do you treat a typical sports injury and what kind of time frame are the parents and athlete looking at for recovery?
Typically, I try to see the athlete as soon as possible. I have a good relationship with the athletic trainers in the area. We have a sports medicine hotline so that we can get the athlete in as soon as possible and I can assist their injury, judge the severity of it, whether it’s going to be 1-2 weeks or out for the season or possibly surgery. My job is to get the athlete back on the field as quickly and safely as possible.
I guess the key is not to rush it, right?
Yes, we’ve all heard about those athletes that have been rushed back too soon and it ends up taking twice as long.
How do the St. Charles County hospitals like Barnes-Jewish St. Peters and Progress West Hospital help you provide comprehensive treatment to the injuries you see?
One thing they do is if an athlete has an injury that needs to be seen urgently, their emergency departments are very good at triaging and assessing the athletes and then referring them out for sports medicine evaluation to determine the severity of their injuries. They’re also good about giving me time in the operating room in case there’s something emergent that needs to be taken care of with the athlete.
What signs and symptoms should a parent/coach/trainer that would indicate that an injury is serious enough to require immediate medical help?
The first thing that comes to mind is concussions. It’s the hot button topic in society and sports medicine today. The kids want to play, and it’s hard to evaluate. A lot of times, they’ve learned to say the right things. In terms of concussions, it would be headaches, drowsiness and things like that. Other injuries that tend to be nagging are muscle injuries, muscle pulls, tendonitis. Parents and training staffs need to be acutely aware of nagging injuries – it can really turn into something that’s season-ending or if you reverse it sooner, it can be easily taken care of with appropriate treatment.
What steps can athletes take to prevent injuries in fall sports?
Certainly in preseason and double-sessions, staying in physical condition throughout the year is important. Nutrition and sleep are very important things that can keep the body optimized so that you minimize risk of injury.
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