At Baptist Health, we always start with a comprehensive evaluation to get you back to the sport or activity you love. Our evaluations go beyond simply addressing your current symptoms. Instead, we work hard to get to the root cause of your discomfort, so you can achieve lasting relief and avoid future injuries.

Sports Injury Evaluation and Diagnosis at Baptist Health: Why Choose Us

At Baptist Health, you are the most important member of our care team. What you have experienced and are feeling are critical to diagnosing the cause of your symptoms.

That’s why we listen carefully as you tell us about your symptoms and how they are affecting you on and off the field. We use this information along with additional diagnostic tests to help provide you with the most accurate diagnosis possible.

At your sports injury evaluation, you can expect:

• Expertise: Our program is solely dedicated to meeting the unique needs of athletes. All of our team members have completed advanced training in caring for sports-related injuries. This depth of expertise helps us detect subtle and less obvious causes of pain and sports injuries.
• Convenience: Whether you have been our patient for years or are new to our program, we help you get care quickly. We offer same-day appointments. We also have in-office ultrasound capabilities so you can get imaging tests during your evaluation.
• Sophisticated tests: We offer tests that are not widely available, including advanced balance testing for lingering concussion symptoms and bedside ultrasound. We are one of few programs in Louisville offering the Neurocom® suite of vestibular testing and treatment devices. We also offer expert gait analysis to accurately diagnose nagging running injuries.
• Specialized care for children: Our experience treating large numbers of children makes us especially qualified to meet the unique needs of athletes ages 10 and up. Members of our team are parents of athletes and use their personal and professional experience to help your child overcome sports injuries. 
• Open magnetic resonance imaging: We offer open MRI, which gives you a spacious, more pleasant testing environment. Open MRIs are a great option for people who deal with claustrophobia.

Tests We Use to Diagnose Sports Injuries

We offer a broad range of both common and advanced tests to help you receive an accurate diagnosis.

Common diagnostic tests

• X-ray test: This quick test helps us examine your bones using safe levels of high-energy radiation (X-rays).
• Computed tomography (CT) scan: This imaging test is similar to an X-ray, but instead of taking one picture, the scanner travels around your body taking pictures from every angle. We use special technology to fuse the images together for detailed views of your bones and muscles.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): We use large magnets and a computer to make detailed images of organs and structures in the body.
• Ultrasound: This test uses sound waves to produce images of the soft tissue structures within and around the injured area. Soft tissue structures include joints, ligaments and tendons, which are not easy to see using other tests. We have in-office ultrasound capabilities, making it easy for you to get this imaging test and an evaluation during the same appointment.

Advanced diagnostic tests

• Vestibular system testing for vision and balance problems: If you are suffering from the lingering effects of a concussion, there may be a problem with your inner ear (vestibular system). We offer sophisticated balance tests where you stand in a special booth secured by a harness and focus on images on a screen. We also use special goggles to test vision problems.
• Gait analysis: We use this test to examine the natural pattern of your body movements while running on a treadmill at a comfortable pace. Gait analysis helps us detect subtle irregularities in your running form that are responsible for pain and discomfort.
• Arthroscopy: During this minimally invasive procedure, we use sophisticated tools along with a small camera to examine your injuries through a small incision. This approach means less down time for you and helps minimize risk for complications.

Sports Injury Evaluation at Baptist Health: What to Expect

You may receive an evaluation from:

• Primary care sports medicine physicians are specialists who use non-surgical techniques to diagnose and treat a wide range of sports injuries.
• Orthopedic surgeons who specialize in treating sports injuries. Our surgeons care for patients with serious injuries, such as ligament tears. You may also receive an evaluation from one of our surgeons if simple treatments, such as rest and physical therapy, don’t relieve discomfort. 
• Our physical therapy team includes therapists with special training in performing advanced tests, such as gait analysis for running injuries.

Your evaluation will generally follow these steps:

• Medical history: We take a complete medical history to find out more about your general health and whether you have had any previous sports injuries. We also ask about life stage factors that could be affecting your sports performance, such as bone problems, puberty (in children) and menopause (in mature women).
• Physical exam: We examine the area causing pain. This exam may include applying gentle pressure to check for swelling and tenderness. We also carefully move the injured area to test your range of motion.
• Diagnostic testing: We are often able to diagnose injuries based on a medical history and physical exam alone. Additional testing, such as X-rays, ultrasound, and MRIs, helps us confirm a diagnosis or learn more about the severity of an injury and in determining best treatment options.
• Personalized treatment recommendations: We create and share a personalized treatment plan with you. The plan may include one or more treatment recommendations. We also plan for your transition back to physical activity to prevent setbacks and re-injury.