Non-Surgical Orthopedic Care for Athletes in Northeast Ohio

Surgery is not required for every orthopedic condition. At University Hospitals, our orthopedic team offers a wide range of non-surgical techniques to effectively treat muscle pain, skeletal pain and lack of mobility.

Orthopedic non-surgical treatments may include:

• Topical or oral medications
• Steroid injections
• Minimally invasive procedures
• Physical therapy
• Rehabilitation services

These treatments can restore proper movement, strengthen muscles and joints, and increase range of motion without surgery. We will help you decide on the optimal care path for your orthopedic condition to achieve your personal health goals and get you back on your feet.

As the official healthcare partner of the Cleveland Browns and team physicians for many professional athletes, including Olympic athletes, our job is to get every patient back to optimal performance – whether on the field or back to the daily activities they love. Our experienced and highly trained orthopedic doctors are skilled at delivering excellent orthopedic care – from a variety of options. We know the best treatment path may not start with surgery, so at University Hospitals, we provide comprehensive non-surgical orthopedic care to get you started on the road to recovery.

Individualized Treatment Plans

Our multidisciplinary care teams may include orthopaedists and sports medicine physicians, but also primary care physicians, radiologists, nurses, physical and occupational therapists and other providers. Together, we will design a step-by-step treatment plan based on your unique care needs. Those steps may include:

• Activity Modification: In some cases, resting the affected area and allowing it to repair on its own is the only care needed.
• Assistive devices: A brace, orthotic, sling, cane or other assistive device can allow the injury to repair.
• Physical or occupational therapy: This step is common for most orthopaedic conditions to strengthen muscle and surrounding tissue, but also to train your body to move correctly and prevent later injury.
• Topical or oral medications: Prescription medications from your orthopedist may include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or nerve pain medications to relieve pain while the injury repairs.
• Steroid injections: A program of injections, which may include a combination of corticosteroid and numbing medicine, could be prescribed to relieve pain and improve function. These injections may also help our team decide if your condition requires stronger therapies.

Advanced Minimally Invasive Treatments

Together, we may choose to pursue a minimally invasive procedure to reduce your joint discomfort or improve your mobility. UH’s highly trained and skilled orthopaedists are experienced in a wide variety of these treatments that can be performed at a UH Health Center near you. These treatments include:

• Platelet-rich plasma injections: These injections use a patient’s own blood supply to heal certain injuries through microfracture marrow stimulation.
• Percutaneous tenotomy: Known as the brand-name Tenex, this treatment uses ultrasound guidance to identify diseased, pain-generating tendon tissue and employs a tiny needle moving at ultrasonic speed to remove it.
• Sodium hyaluronate injections: This is a treatment to simulate the fluid that surrounds the joint. These injections can relieve pain caused by arthritis of the knee.

Convenient Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation

Our multidisciplinary team care approach includes licensed therapists who ensure you receive the therapy and rehabilitation program that helps you get back to your active lifestyle. Our physical therapists take a holistic approach to ensure your entire body is moving correctly to support your condition’s repair and recovery.

Our rehabilitation services are conveniently located throughout the region and offer the very latest techniques, therapies and equipment to improve function.