Sports Medicine Services Coming to Harrisonburg

by Abigail Gilg

More than 3.5 million children and teens get hurt each year while participating in sports according to John Hopkins Medicine. It’s important to know what to look for and when it’s time to see a doctor for these injuries. You will know it’s time to see a doctor if you notice swelling, bruising, tenderness, or a deformity at the site of an injury. 

Sports medicine is a comprehensive model of health care for active patients of all ages. It includes the diagnosis and treatment of sports or activity-related injuries or illnesses and focuses on the musculoskeletal system. It focuses on the use of manual techniques to prevent and treat muscular and skeletal conditions in active patients as well as focusing treatments on injury prevention and rehabilitation specific to the patient’s activity. 

Some common conditions treated are:

• Meniscus tears
• Arthritis
• Labral tear
• Achilles Tendinopathy
• Adhesive Capsulitis 
• Carpal Tunnel
• Medial epicondylitis (golfer’s elbow)
• Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow)
• Concussion
• Fracture
• Knee or Shoulder injury

Dr. Joe O’Brien, DO, at Augusta Health is a board-certified physician in family medicine with a specialty in sports medicine. Dr. O’Brien graduated from the University of Virginia with his bachelor’s degree before Medical School at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine where he graduated in 2017. From there Dr. O’Brien completed his residency at Bryn Mawr Hospital in Family Medicine followed by his fellowship in sports medicine at Lehigh Valley Health Network. 

Dr. O’Brien will begin seeing patients out of the new Harrisonburg office beginning Wednesday, September 14th, and will be located at that office on the second Wednesday of every month. 

Call 833-AHC-HLTH to schedule an appointment or visit augustahealth.com/service/sports-medicine/ to learn more.