The Center for Sports Medicine

Injuries happen to even the best athletes, like college and pro players. But they can be even more frustrating when you’re a child. There are physical and psychological impacts of injuries on children – missing out on the fun of sports, missing their friends and companionship on the field, feeling like they are missing out or getting behind. At LuskinOIC we understand each young athlete is unique and work to get them back in the game quickly and safely by providing expert orthopedic sports medicine care, tailored for kids and teens.

The LuskinOIC Center for Sports Medicine treats children and young athletes with all types of pediatric sports injuries and conditions, from meniscus and ligament tears to tendonitis and dislocation, and more.

LuskinOIC’s Urgent Care Center

Offering More Specialized Care than an Emergency Room with 50% Shorter Wait Times

When young athletes go to a general emergency room with an orthopaedic injury, they are treated by physicians and staff who are experts in emergency medicine, not necessarily pediatric orthopaedic injuries. By taking your child to an urgent care center exclusively focused on pediatric orthopaedics, you can count on:

• An expert diagnosis
• Optimal treatment
• A safe and quick recovery that heals correctly

Patients treated at LuskinOIC’s Urgent Care Center have access to a variety of specialized services:

• Private rooms for highly sensitive kids
• Creation of treatment plans including bracing and exercise programs
• Expedited reduction of dislocation and fractures
• Same-day surgery, if needed
• Specialty and follow-up appointments with orthopaedic sports medicine experts
• Physical therapists trained in pediatric orthopaedic care

Pediatric Sports Medicine Tailored to Your Child

LuskinOIC’s Center for Sports Medicine offers surgical and non-surgical approaches, depending on your child’s injury, at two convenient locations: Downtown LA and Santa Monica.

Our onsite Urgent Care Center provides same-day care for a variety of orthopedic sports injuries with next-day follow-up or specialist appointments if necessary. Learn more about LuskinOIC’s Pediatric Orthopedic Urgent Care Center.

At LuskinOIC, our pediatric orthopedic experts who work with kids every day take a collaborative approach to diagnosing and treating sports-related injuries.

Members of the team include:

• Orthopedic doctors and surgeons
• Nurse practitioners and physician assistants
• Athletic trainers
• Physical and occupational therapists
• Radiology technicians
• Cast technicians

Services Provided at LuskinOIC’s Center for Sports Medicine

At the Center for Sports Medicine, our experienced team of care providers offers a full range of services for young athletes, including:

• Diagnostic ultrasound and x-ray imaging
• Same-day care for orthopaedic sports injuries, including same-day surgery if needed
• Next-day follow-up and specialist appointments
• Surgical and non-surgical treatment, tailored to your child’s needs
• Long-term follow-up care, including physical therapy, and return to sport testing, to ensure your child is ready to get back in the game
• Partnership with your child’s team athletic trainers, medical staff, and coaches during recovery

Common Sports Injuries We Treat

Sports injuries can happen in an instant, but the repercussions of not having it treated properly can last a lifetime. Finding the right orthopedic specialist quickly can make the difference between a smooth return to normal activity or a delayed recovery. LuskinOIC’s Center for Sports Medicine provides state-of-the-art treatment for all types of sports injuries, such as these common ones:

Achilles Tendon Injury

The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the body, connecting the calf muscles to the heel bone. Common injuries to the Achilles tendon include overuse injuries, typically referred to as tendonitis.
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ACL Tear

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the four major ligaments in the knee and provides stability. A common ACL injury is a tear.
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Ankle Sprain

An ankle sprain happens when an ankle ligament—which is the fibrous tissue that connects one bone to another—gets stretched or torn.
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Fracture

A fracture is a broken bone. Some fractures are caused by trauma, while others are caused by overuse.
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Iliotibial Band Syndrome

The iliotibial band (IT band) is a tendon that runs down the length of the outer thigh, from the top of the pelvis to the shin bone. Iliotibial (IT) band syndrome is an overuse injury of this tendon.
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Meniscal Tear

A meniscus tear occurs in the rubbery knee cartilage that cushions the shinbone from the thigh bone. The meniscus can tear with forceful twisting or rotation of the knee and is a very common sports injury.
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Osteochondritis Dissecans

Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is a joint condition that develops when a small portion of bone cracks, loosens and separates from the tissues that surround it, due to a lack of blood.
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Patella Subluxation or Dislocation

The patella is the kneecap. When the kneecap slides out of position, it is called patella subluxation or dislocation.
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Patellar Tendonitis

The patella is the kneecap. The patellar tendon is located at the front of the thigh and extends your knee allowing your child to run or jump. When this tendon becomes inflamed, it is called patellar tendonitis. You might also hear it referred to as “jumper’s knee.”
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Patellofemoral Syndrome

Patella is a word for kneecap. The patellofemoral joint is where the patella and thigh bone meet at the front of the knee. When this joint is inflamed it is called patellofemoral syndrome. It is also known as runner’s knee.
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Plantar Fasciitis

The plantar fascia is a long, thin ligament that lies directly beneath the skin on the bottom of the foot.It connects the heel to the toes, and supports the arch of the foot. Plantar fasciitis is when this ligament becomes irritated and inflamed.
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Sever’s Disease

Sever’s disease is a type of bone injury in the foot. It happens as the foot grows and causes swelling in the heel.
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Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis

Spondylolysis is when there is a stress fracture of one or more spinal vertebrae. Spondylolisthesis is when a spinal vertebrae slips, usually near the bottom of the spine. Sometimes, spondylolysis happens first, then sometimes spondylolisthesis may happen later.
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A Smoother Road to Recovery

Chances are your child’s treatment won’t end when they leave LuskinOIC Urgent Care. Most likely there will be follow-up appointments with specialists to evaluate their progress. Your child may also receive physical rehabilitation at our center and be prescribed a therapy plan to follow at home. You can count on us to be there every step of the way to provide guidance, help keep them motivated, and answer any questions you have.

What Can You and Your Child Expect from During Rehabilitation?

Pain and injury are stressful for kids of all ages. But committing to treatment now, including physical therapy, can prevent prolonging symptoms and disability. It will also help your child heal at an optimum rate, recoup range of motion, regain coordination and rebuild weakened muscles.

If your child is having a hard time managing their pain, ask your child’s doctor about medications, stress reduction techniques and other forms of pain control that might be right for your child.

As the parent, you know your child best. Tell us if you think any treatment or therapy is getting too intense for your child. We’ll explain our reasons and goals in detail and give you strategies to help motivate your child to complete at-home exercises. And if you have any questions along the way, just ask us.

When Can My Child Play Sports Again?

Recovering from a sports injury should not be rushed, which can be challenging when your child is eager to return to sport. Before your child gets back in the game, OIC’s surgeons and physical therapists want to make sure he or she has gone through proper training. The clinical team will have specific return to play criteria, including a series of physical examinations and tests that determine if muscle strength has been restored in the injured area and that surgery (if applicable) has fully healed. Our expert staff look at proper form, strength, agility, and symmetry of the legs in order to make the decision on whether or not it is safe to return.

When your child is recovering from a sports injury, our goals for your child’s treatment generally fall into three categories:

• Healing bone and tissue
• Recovering range of motion
• Reducing or eliminating pain

How quickly your child heals will depend on:

• Age
• Injury
• Whether surgery is needed
• Adherence to treatment plans
• Sport and hobbies they plan to return to playing