Common Surfing Injuries & How MSK Ultrasound Can Help

Surfing Is a Full-Body Sport

Surfing may look effortless from the shore, but surfers know how much the sport asks of the body. Repetitive paddling works the shoulders and upper back, while the quick transition from lying on the board to standing—the “pop-up”—places sudden demands on the wrists, shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles.

Add the unpredictable force of a wave, and injuries can happen to surfers of almost any age or experience level.

Where Do Surfers Get Hurt?

Some surfing injuries happen suddenly after a fall or awkward movement. Others develop gradually from repetitive use.

Common surfing injuries may include:

Rotator cuff and shoulder tendon injuries

Biceps tendon problems

Shoulder impingement

Wrist and hand injuries

Knee ligament or tendon injuries

Ankle sprains and tendon injuries

Muscle strains

Tendonitis and other overuse injuries

Bursitis

Sometimes you know exactly when the injury happened. Other times, the ache gradually becomes harder to ignore.

How Can MSK Ultrasound Help?

Musculoskeletal ultrasound can evaluate many of the muscles, tendons, ligaments, bursae, and other soft tissues commonly involved in surfing injuries.

One of its important advantages is the ability to examine an injured area in real time and, when appropriate, during movement. If a particular motion causes pain, the area can often be evaluated while that movement is performed.

MSK ultrasound is safe, noninvasive, and uses no radiation.

Before He Ever Picks Up the Probe

At Orthopedic Ultrasound Inc., every examination begins before the ultrasound probe is ever picked up.

We start by listening. Where does it hurt? Did the pain begin after a particular wave, fall, or maneuver? Does paddling hurt? What about pushing yourself up from the board or putting weight through the injured leg?

Michael Jablon, an expert in musculoskeletal ultrasound, begins with a focused history and a careful physical and positional examination, looking for the movements that reproduce your symptoms and the clues your body provides. This is referred to as the Jablon Protocol. Only then does he pick up the probe, using what he has learned to guide the ultrasound examination.

Getting You Back in the Water

An injury doesn’t necessarily mean giving up the sport you enjoy. Understanding what is causing the pain is an important first step toward determining appropriate treatment and a safe return to activity.

If persistent shoulder, wrist, knee, ankle, or muscle pain is keeping you on the shore, a detailed MSK ultrasound evaluation may help identify what’s causing your symptoms.

Orthopedic Ultrasound Inc.

949.229.7377