Sports Medicine Center Media

Follow Lauren Watts, a former Division 1 soccer player, as she overcomes multiple knee surgeries with the dedicated care of Dr. Piasceki and Margaret Lynch at OrthoCarolina. Discover her journey of resilience, recovery, and finding new purpose beyond injury.

Discover expert advice on safe pitching practices for youth athletes, covering crucial topics like year-round throwing, strength training alternatives, warm-up routines, and post-throwing recovery methods. Stay informed and keep young athletes in top form with Pitch Smart Guidelines.

Follow Amy Bartley's journey to finding relief from persistent shoulder pain with OrthoCarolina's compassionate and patient-centered orthopedic care. Discover how personalized treatment options, empowering decisions, and efficient surgical planning transformed her experience and inspired hope for others facing similar challenges.

Join Kelsey Ormiston's remarkable journey back to dance after kneecap dislocations with OrthoCarolina's, Dr. Riboh, who helped Kelsey return to dance.

From CrossFit to functional training, discover how burpees offer a dynamic combination of aerobic and strength exercises for a fun and effective workout experience.

Cortisone is a corticosteroid anti-inflammatory delivered through an injection that goes directly to the site of inflammation in your body.

Female athletes have been known to have a higher risk of injuring their anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, while participating in competitive sports. McKaley Boston knows that pain all too well. This is her comeback story.

Most sports-related foot injuries are preventable. Here are 5 simple tips to help protect your youth athletes from foot and ankle injuries.

Notorious in baseball players, Tommy John injuries, or Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) injuries, can cause significant pain, decreased strength and mobility loss. There are two surgical options available for athletes who suffer from a Tommy John ligament injury.

Overuse injuries are extremely common and will happen to most people at some time or other. Recognizing the early signs of an overuse injury can help you avoid pain and excess downtime.

Stumptown AC has signed with OrthoCarolina to be its Official Healthcare provider for the remainder of the spring season with continuing discussions as a long-term partner for future seasons.

Together with the OrthoCarolina Research Institute, OrthoCarolina Sports Medicine Center physicians embarked on a research project to study distal bicep repair specifically in women, the largest published study of its kind.

Listen to OrthoCarolina's Dr. Bryan Saltzman as he breaks down how to read a knee MRI  and the science behind the operative treatment of meniscus lesions.

In this episode of "Stories of Resilience" with the Carolina Panthers,  offensive guard Kevin Donnalley & Dr. Connor discuss his 2002 ACL tear.

In this episode of "Stories of Resilience" with the Carolina Panthers, defensive end Mike Rucker & Dr. Connor discuss his 2006 ACL tear.

Years after shattering his right leg, Carolina Panthers Hall of Famer Jordan Gross shares how OrthoCarolina's Dr. Pat Connor played a crucial part in his recovery.

Head injuries come with high stakes as even mild concussions can have serious consequences. Dr. Jonathan Riboh, orthopedic surgeon and youth sports medicine specialist, addresses what to consider to practice purposeful heading in soccer.

As sports medicine physicians, we believe the best way to treat injuries is to prevent them in the first place. In just 40 minutes a week, athletes can reduce their risk of injury by as much as 50 percent.

In this first episode of "Stories of Resilience" with the Carolina Panthers, we take it back to the Jake Delhomme era. Hear about the play that forced him off the field & his incredible return to QB stardom.

Telemedicine offers key advantages to keep patients and medical providers connected.

Have a video visit with your doctor today!

Listen to Dr. Bryan Saltzman from OrthoCarolina break down the medicine and science behind Orthobiologics and Regenerative Medicine. Commonly referred to as 'Stem Cell Therapy', Dr. Saltzman shares his research and evidence-based insights on this popular consumer topic.
This 3-part series is part of the orthoPAc Podcast, hosted by Sam Dyer, PA-C. learn more at https://paos.org/page/orthoPAcPodcast

Watch Dr. Bryan Saltzman give a detailed and educational talk on the current status of orthobiologics and regenerative medicine in Sports Medicine. In partnership with the Physician Assistants in Orthopaedic Surgery.

Our panel of sports medicine specialists look at the causes and treatments of common sports injuries including ACL and meniscus tears, shoulder dislocation, rotator cuff tears and more in this edition of our Orthopedic Anatomy Series: Exploring Your Body from the Inside Out.

Although IT band injuries come on quickly, they typically result from an existing muscle imbalance as opposed to an acute injury.

Unfortunately, the ACL cannot heal itself once torn. ACL reconstruction surgery can help patients return to the sports and physical activities they love after a serious injury.

Jonathan C. Riboh, MD, joins OrthoCarolina's Sports Medicine Center, Cartilage Restoration Institute and South Park location; Matthew C. Wendt, MD, joins OrthoCarolina Rock Hill.

While the knee joint is the most typical source of knee pain, the hip joint is a common culprit and the next most likely cause of pain.

Save time and book your care, your way. With online scheduling, your personalized orthopedic care is only a few clicks away.

Healthy articular (joint) cartilage cushions our joints and ensures they can bend and straighten fluidly and without pain. What causes cartilage damage and how can you prevent it from happening?

We often hear about the importance of cartilage to protect our joints. But what exactly is cartilage, and how does it keep our joints healthy?

PA Jeffrey Dabkowski explores the unique challenges of managing Davidson College's NCAA Division 1 student-athletes from afar.

PA Jeffrey Dabkowski invites us to learn how he keeps Davidson College’s basketball team healthy at home and on the road.

Just above your rotator cuff, you have a fluid-filled sac called a bursa. The job of the bursa is to provide a cushion between tendons and bones. Bursa can become inflamed which can cause pain.

Good Day asks the questions you want answered about your knees with the help of OrthoCarolina.

Physicians, parents and former professional football players came together to address the opioid crisis and what students should know. This powerful one-night event is now available via podcast.

Orthobiologics -- which you may hear referred to as biologics, cell-based therapy, regenerative medicine or stem cell therapy -- are derived from substances that naturally exist in the body.

Finishing every workout drenched is a good thing right? Well, maybe. Sports medicine experts explain. 

Charlotte-headquartered OrthoCarolina has hired seven doctors in its offices across the Carolinas, bringing its total number of physicians to 141. The new providers will help fill growing needs in specific markets and orthopedic specialties.

National Football League (NFL) games are exciting, and they can be brutal. No matter how coordinated and logistical the plays, the naturally aggressive nature of the sport leaves athletes at constant risk of injury.

Going into his twenty-third season with the Carolina Panthers, Head Team Physician Dr. Patrick Connor gives some insight into what happened during the offseason.

The Athletic recently interviewed OrthoCarolina surgeon and Carolina Panthers Head Team Physician Dr. Patrick Connor.

OrthoCarolina physicians were honored for their premier patient care receiving Charlotte magazine Top Doctor awards.

In hot summer months, many runners are ready to trade in the pavement for a shady trail run.

From training plans to learning how to properly foam roll, OrthoCarolina has your back as you prepare for your first or next race!

Sports medicine specialist Margaret Lynch, PA-C, joins FOX 46 to discuss to the commonality of ACL tears and how to prevent them.

Over the weekend of March 31 in Nashville, Carolina Panthers team physicians were part of a meeting of the American Orthopaedic Society of Sports Medicine (AOSSM) that focused on football and sports medicine at all levels from youth to the National Football League (NFL).

Occasionally poor runner’s etiquette can get in the way of having a good race day experience. Here are a few helpful tips whether you’ve never run a race before or are a seasoned competitor. 

Jennifer Thompson has been a power lifter since 1999. She’s 45 now, but notes what most people don’t know about a sport that can sometimes seem mysterious is that humans actually have the capacity to continue to gain muscle and strength well into their 50s.

It’s common to see runners and other athletes prepare for training by quickly touching their toes or stretching their quads. But how long should you really be holding a stretch?

For many physicians, taking care of others is their life’s work and the ultimate calling. In honor of Doctors’ Day on March 30, we asked our doctors why they chose the medical field.

The medical knowledge gleaned from the NFL Combine (which itself was started by physicians) will inform the draft. 

OrthoCarolina, helping to keep your favorite team on the field. 

OrthoCarolina's Catalyst Awards honor teammates who embody our mission to Make Lives Better. Meet our 2018 global award winners.

The commotion and action on the sidelines on any given Carolina Panthers game day can make it difficult to spot Dr. Pat Connor, but he’s there.

Meet the PA: Jeff Dabkowski, PA-C at the OrthoCarolina Sports Medicine Center

Explore pioneering medical breakthroughs changing our lives and meet the doctors behind them. On the front lines of your health are tales of desperation, determination and human triumph-from a safer way to manage pain after surgery to groundbreaking techniques that make surgery unnecessary.

Each year, Charlotte magazine releases a list of Top Doctors in Charlotte and we're proud to have 17 OrthoCarolina providers represented as the best in the city.

Some of Lake Norman State Park is home to some of the best mountain biking, trail running, kayaking, hiking, and camping in the region.

Stress fractures are common injuries for runners with pain starting as they begin to run and progressively becoming more painful and localized.

Two ACL tears in less than a year would be difficult to come back from for most. But with hard work and a positive attitude, Charlottean Caroline Horne didn't just recover from her two ACL tears - she thrived. Learn more about how Caroline went from double injury to successful West Point student with the help of OrthoCarolina's medical team.

Training for a marathon, Erin Lingle was used to pushing through the pain, but a hip surgery re-centered her focus.

Meet Margaret Lynch, PA-C, OrthoCarolina Sports Medicine.

Staying active in the peak of the Charlotte summer is tough. The humidity on those steamy, Southern days feels like a backpack, weighing you down while you hike or run. Finding the trails that offer some respite is an essential strategy for outdoor enthusiasts here.

Rotator cuff tendon tears affect more than four million people annually in the U.S. and are the most common source of shoulder pain and disability. Dr. Patrick Connor of the OrthoCarolina Sports Medicine Center, team physician to the Carolina Panthers, is pioneering the use of a breakthrough technology designed as a new option for millions of people suffering from rotator cuff tendon tears in the shoulder joint.

Is it ever too early to start talking about football? No way!

Every day I have to have difficult conversations with patients.

He serves as head team physician for the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and as an orthopedic physician for several NASCAR teams.

Our orthopedic experts are fans of incorporating yoga postures to strengthen and stretch tight muscle groups.

If you’re feeling lost post-race, here is some advice to manage the weeks ahead.

X-rays are a type of imaging technique that we use to diagnose injuries or issues in the bones so that your doctor can plan a course of treatment.

With each marathon, I’ve learned tips to help me be as prepared as possible to run. Here are my top learnings.

CMS Athletic Directors and coaches gathered for the OrthoCarolina 2nd Annual Coaches Symposium at The NASCAR Hall of Fame in uptown Charlotte on Monday, October 31st.

From bodybuilding to CrossFit, from barre workouts to bodyweight workouts, from free weights to machines, the options for weight lifting and strength training are almost denser than muscle mass itself.

But to make progress you must keep moving, excuses don’t help you reach goals. I took this mentality with me as I boarded the plane. I was going to have to push my body mentally and physically to get through the next three days.

Here are a few guidelines to ensure your body is getting the rest it needs.

Approximately eight years ago, Aaron Hewitt, physician assistant manager at OrthoCarolina’s Sports Medicine Center, experienced what he calls his “aha moment.”

Articular Cartilage Restoration at OrthoCarolina

Every day people injure the cartilage in their knees, shoulders and other joints.

Plus, three drills to try on your own

Warming up your body properly can increase running performance and reduce the chance of injury.

The runner’s wave is a universal welcoming language.

Multiple injuries, including ligament tears and foot drop, leave Alec Parsons on the sidelines

If you’re like me, you’ve noticed temperatures rising and hours of daylight getting longer. That means running season is in stride and fun races are just around the corner.

Aaron Hewitt, Physician Assistant - Sports Medicine, Cartilage Restoration

Before working at OrthoCarolina, I was an athletic trainer for the Minnesota Vikings.

You can do anything for 20 seconds, right? No sweat. But, have you met Tabata?

Dr. Patrick Connor, Head Team Physician of the Carolina Panthers, offers his perspective

When an athlete gets injured, we tend to focus on the physical aspects: What was hurt, the surgery, and when can the athlete get back on the field or court...

I turn 40 today. Last weekend, I ran a marathon trying to break four hours...

There is no denying that cortisone reduces pain and swelling. Because of that a lot of cortisone shots have been given to help people healing from joint injuries. But just because you get immediate pain relief doesn’t mean it’s helps your joint heal.

As a medical provider who sees a lot of CrossFit patients (and is a CrossFitter as well), I'm frequently asked about shoulder and knee injuries.

Denny Hamlin’s Jackman on the Mend

When it comes to the NFL, injury prevention and care are paramount for coaches, players and teams. From pre-season to the Super Bowl; from serious and downright gruesome, football injuries can profoundly impact a team’s season

Strength training is so often ignored by females.

Four years ago, I was not healthy. I was eating pizza and burgers 3-4 times a week and drinking too much beer and soda. Sure, we like to indulge sometimes, but I was not healthy. I peaked at 190 pounds, which is a lot for me, after a Christmas vacation with my buddies – and I felt depressed about my overall health.

At 49, Diane Lancaster’s health resume is already impressive. She’s a runner, fitness instructor, triathlete, former collegiate athlete and registered dietician. She had run 5 Boston Marathons and was preparing for her sixth in 2014.

Functional movements sound complicated but they’re just natural, compound body movements that use multiple joints in your body.

High-intensity interval training is typically done at around 80-95% of your maximal aerobic capacity. It’s important to start slow and progress bit by bit when participating in HIIT training or any type of intense exercise.

You've likely heard of high-intensity interval training (HIIT), a type of workout that isn't totally new, but is increasingly popular and can be confusing because there are so many types.

CrossFit seems to be everywhere yet still mystifies so many people.

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