Why Choose Us
Why Choose UsWith decades of experience caring for athletes of all ages and skills, our sports medicine specialists and physicians at Columbia Orthopedics offer extraordinary expertise in treating sports-related injuries and conditions affecting all the major joints, including shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees.
Our doctors understand the demands placed on the musculoskeletal system by rigorous athletic training and performance. Their in-depth knowledge has led to a distinguished record of helping athletes of all levels return to play in top condition. Some of the best athletes in the world turn to our experts for sports medicine care.
What is Sports Medicine?
What is Sports Medicine?Sports medicine doctors specialize in preventing, diagnosing, and treating sports and physical fitness injuries. NewYork-Presbyterian sports medicine experts handle injuries sustained during sports or exercise, including but not limited to ankle sprains, fractures, torn meniscus, and concussions.
Surgical & Nonsurgical Expertise
Our ExpertiseOur primary care sports medicine physicians and orthopedic surgeons bring extensive experience in advanced arthroscopic and surgical techniques to care for patients with shoulder, elbow, and sports-related injuries. Treatment plans often begin with nonsurgical interventions whenever possible. These nonoperative services include:
- Consultation with primary care sports medicine doctors
- Biologic injection therapies
- Physical therapy
- Sports performance training
Our surgeons are also renowned for their expertise in surgical procedures that include, but are not limited to:
- Tommy John surgery for ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction is done via a repair technique that uses the patient's own ligament
- ACL and meniscal surgery are two common surgeries used to repair sports-related knee injuries
- Rotator cuff and shoulder instability surgery can repair shoulder injuries
- Shoulder replacement increases the durability of shoulder prostheses and reduces postoperative pain following shoulder replacement surgery
- Hip impingement arthroscopy uses preoperative three-dimensional CT that enables surgeons to locate the source of the impingement and precisely correct the problem using advanced arthroscopic techniques
They are also experts in:
- Knee ligament reconstruction and repair
- Shoulder and elbow arthritis management
Our Approach to Care
Our Approach to CareOur goal is to enable patients to resume their lives and the activities they enjoyed before they were injured. Taking a multifaceted approach to care, we begin with a complete medical history and physical examination that may include imaging studies—which can often be performed the same day as the initial physician visit.
Our radiology specialists use the latest diagnostic and therapeutic imaging technology to evaluate musculoskeletal or neurological injuries, cardiac anomalies, or other issues that may affect an athlete's health. These imaging modalities include X-ray, MRI, and PET CT. We’ve earned an international reputation as a leader in using ultrasound for diagnosing and providing therapeutic guidance for sports and other musculoskeletal disorders. Musculoskeletal ultrasound has become an integral component of our care plan for athletes.
When surgery is indicated, it is performed as early as possible and appropriate depending on the type and extent of the injury. Physical and occupational therapy are an important part of postoperative care that begins at the bedside and continues when patients return home.
A comprehensive range of orthopedic sports medicine care
Athletes who come to us for care benefit from our specialists' vast experience and expertise in the musculoskeletal system, as well as access to specialists in cardiac and neurological conditions, mental health issues, gynecological health, and other areas that may affect performance and well-being. Patients benefit from the depth of services and resources found in a major academic medical center, ensuring comprehensive and seamless care.
Concussion program
Our long-established concussion program includes highly experienced sports injury specialists in orthopedics, neurology, and neuropsychology. Their combined expertise—often informed by cognitive, balance, and neuropsychological testing results—is key in determining when an athlete can safely return to play.
Team Physicians & Leaders in Sports
Our TeamOur physicians also serve as team physicians for many collegiate and high school athletic programs, encompassing both the able-bodied and athletes with disabilities. They have provided physician coverage for events such as the New York City Marathon, USA Triathlon Collegiate Club Championship, National Wheelchair Basketball Association Tournament, and USA Nordic Combined Ski Team competitions.
Innovative Sports Medicine Research
ResearchOur specialists are drivers of major research efforts in sports medicine, with a focus on refining arthroscopic and surgical techniques and improving treatment outcomes for patients. Projects have included areas such as:
- Elbow arthroscopy
- Head, neck, and shoulder injuries in ice hockey
- Elbow injuries in professional baseball
- Rotator cuff repair
- Platelet-rich plasma for elbow ulnar collateral ligament insufficiency
Their research pursuits are often done in collaboration with cardiology, neurology, and rehabilitation medicine specialists with specific expertise in sports-related issues.
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If you have been experiencing persistent elbow pain, please call one of the expert orthopedic surgeons at NewYork-Presbyterian. We can review your treatment options, which may include an elbow arthroscopy.