Sports Medicine

The UCSF Sports Medicine Center cares for athletes of all levels, from the weekend warrior to professional. Our goal is to get each patient back to the highest level of activity possible — whether that means returning to a two-mile, daily jog or reporting for practice with the NFL.

Our team includes orthopedic surgeons, family medicine specialists, physical therapists and fitness experts who develop a treatment plan tailored to each patient's needs. The team also includes an expert on women's sports injuries.

The center offers comprehensive treatment — including surgery — for injuries including:

• Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)
• Arthritis of the knee
• Lateral collateral ligament (LCL)
• Medial collateral ligament (MCL)
• Patellofemoral pain syndrome
• Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)
• Tennis elbow

The center also has specialized programs such as:

• Cartilage Repair and Regeneration
• Dance Medicine
• Human Performance Center
• Imaging Center, including the MRI 3Telsa, the most advanced scanner available
• Orthotics and Prosthetics
• Pain Management
• Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation
• RunSafe clinic

In addition, our sports medicine team volunteers to treat San Francisco high school athletes through a program called PlaySafe. Our experts also provide support to local marathons and other Bay Area sporting events.

Request an appointment online.

To maintain good sports health, see our patient education.

Read how our patients have overcome injuries through sports medicine and other orthopedic treatments.

ACL Injuries and Women — The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the most commonly injured ligaments of the knee. Hear a Patient Power interview with Dr. Christina Allen, who talks about ACL injuries in women.

Arthroscopic Surgeries and Joint Repair — Are you bothered by shoulder, knee or hip joint pain? Hear Dr. C. Benjamin Ma, the chief of Sports Medicine and Shoulder Services at UCSF Medical Center, discuss the differences between arthroscopic and traditional surgery.

Dance Injuries — Tendonitis, shin splints and problems with ankles, feet, hips, knees and lower back are common injuries among dancers. Some of these injuries can end a dancer's career. Hear Dr. Nancy Kadel, an orthopedic surgeon and former professional dancer, discuss how treating the early signs of stress and strain can prevent debilitating injuries.

See books recommended by the staff of the Sports Medicine Center.

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated September 24, 2009