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Lower extremity soft tissue conditions.
Michael D Pleacher1, James L Glazer
1Division of Sports Medicine, Department of Family Practice, Maine Medical Center, Portland, ME 04102, USA.
Current Sports Medicine Reports
|September 8, 2005
Summary
Diagnosing lower extremity soft tissue injuries in athletes relies on understanding anatomy and a thorough patient history and physical exam. Conservative management is often effective, avoiding surgery.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Orthopedics
- Anatomy
Background:
- Lower extremity soft tissue injuries and overuse conditions are common in athletes.
- These injuries include muscle strains, contusions, nerve entrapments, and inflammation of tendons and bursae.
Purpose of the Study:
- To emphasize the importance of anatomical knowledge for accurate diagnosis.
- To highlight the efficacy of clinical evaluation over advanced imaging.
Main Methods:
- Review of common lower extremity soft tissue injuries and overuse conditions in athletes.
- Emphasis on diagnostic value of patient history and physical examination.
Main Results:
- Accurate diagnosis of most conditions is achievable through history and physical examination alone.
- Expensive imaging or invasive tests are often unnecessary.
Conclusions:
- A strong understanding of anatomy is crucial for diagnosing athletic lower extremity injuries.
- Conservative management strategies are frequently successful, negating the need for surgical intervention.