Sports Medicine

Athletic injuries are as unique as the athletes who get them. Sports injuries we treat at the Ochsner Andrews Sports Medicine Institute include:

• Arm and shoulder injuries (broken shoulder, rotator cuff injury and tennis elbow)
• Concussion
• Foot and ankle injuries (ankle sprains, plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendon injury)
• Hip, leg and knee injuries and pains (torn ACL, pulled or strained hamstring)
• Joint injuries and pains (sprains and breaks)

No matter your injury, our goal is to help you return to the court or field as quickly and safely as possible. Services provided through the Ochsner Andrews Sports Medicine Institute include:

• Concussion management
• Education and preventive care to prevent future injury
• Osteopathic manipulation (a noninvasive approach that uses touch to diagnose, treat and prevent injury)
• Outpatient rehabilitation and physical therapy tailored to your injury, lifestyle and goals
• State-of-the-art radiology and diagnostic imaging to ensure accurate diagnosis and full understanding of your needs
• Athletic performance training program (offered in New Orleans, Covington and Baton Rouge)

While many sports medicine programs serve patients ages 12 and older, Ochsner offers care starting at 18 months. Specially trained in pediatric care, our pediatric sports medicine physician, understands the differences in a child’s anatomy. We realize children’s growing bodies have unique needs.

Pediatric injuries we care for include:

• Concussion
• Knee, hip and lower back pain
• Knee ligament injuries
• Little League elbow and shoulder
• Shoulder and other bone dislocation

As an Ochsner Andrews Sports Medicine Institute patient, you get access to our team of experts, including:

• Athletic trainers
• Orthopedic surgeons
• Performance training coaches
• Physical medicine physicians
• Physical therapists
• Primary care sports medicine physicians
• Rehabilitation sports physicians
• Sports medicine assistants

Your sports medicine team will collaborate with other specialists and doctors to improve and protect your health. They will keep your other doctors informed, making transitions back to their care seamless.

Ochsner Health offers mental health services aimed at enhancing the well-being of student athletes. Mental health concerns can impact an athlete’s performance in competition, in practice and in the classroom. Ochsner’s Mental Health Wellness Program addresses concerns including depression, anxiety, relationship issues, stress and grief.

Justice Stafford, PsyD, offers psychological services to sports medicine patients by referral. Her services include both short-term and long-term individual therapy.

Ochsner’s Healthy Runners program is made to help runners stay strong, avoid injuries and recover faster when hurt. Healthy Runners program is built specifically for running athletes - whether you're training for your first 5K or a seasoned marathoner.

The program brings together a team of experts, including sports doctors, orthopedic surgeons, physical therapists and dietitians. Each one understands how a runner’s body works and what it needs to perform at its best. Together, they create a plan that helps you stay healthy, improve your performance and get back on your feet if you’re injured.

Schedule an Appointment

To learn more information, email us at healthyrunners@ochsner.org.

"I think it was about eight months after my (ACL) surgery, I did a sprint triathlon and I went in thinking, this is going to be fun. I'm coming off of a surgery so there are no expectations. Well, I won my age group and did some of my fastest splits I've ever done. Since then, I've been able to do six half Ironman and I'm currently training for my seventh." --Katie F., knee injury patient 

I got an ACL reconstruction surgery through Ochsner. I'm a personalized nutrition coach, a registered sports dietitian and a hybrid athlete. I couldn't imagine my life without movement and activity. I'm very pleased with my progress."  -- Corinna C., ACL reconstruction patient 

"As the headmaster and head coach of John Curtis Christian School. In a program like ours where we compete in the highest level in our state, against the best competition, it's important to have injuries treated. The Ochsner Sports Medicine Program has been a complete program for us. We have our team physician, our athletic trainers and physical therapists. We have the sports enhancing performance program with weightlifting, jumping, running and conditioning. That's all in one package." -- JT C., Ochsner Sports Medicine Program participant

Sports medicine is a type of care that helps people recover from injuries related to sports, exercise or other physical activities. Sports medicine specialists at the Ochsner Andrews Sports Medicine Institute can help you meet your wellness, fitness and athletic performance goals.

Sports medicine and physical therapy both aim at helping you regain function and return to the activities you love. However, experts at the Ochsner Andrews Sports Medicine Institute undergo sport-specific training. This enables them to help athletes safely return to their sports. Additionally, many of our sports medicine experts are former athletes, so they understand the demands of various sports and can safely guide athletes in their recoveries.

Treating sports injures typically requires our team to see and touch your injury. Sometimes, follow-up appointments can be performed virtually. For these visits, you talk with your team on your computer or smartphone. Ask your team members whether your next appointment can take place online.

Ochsner’s Healthy Runners program is made to help runners stay strong, avoid injuries and recover faster when hurt. Healthy Runners program is built specifically for running athletes - whether you're training for your first 5K or a seasoned marathoner.

The program brings together a team of experts, including sports doctors, orthopedic surgeons, physical therapists and dietitians. Each one understands how a runner’s body works and what it needs to perform at its best. Together, they create a plan that helps you stay healthy, improve your performance and get back on your feet if you’re injured.

To learn more information, email us at healthyrunners@ochsner.org.