Do I need a referral to be seen for a sports injury?

No referral is required. We see acute and chronic sports injuries directly, and same-week appointments are typically available across our clinics.

When do I need to see a specialist vs. just rest?

If pain lasts more than a week, is sharp or point-tender, prevents weight-bearing, or causes a sense of instability or 'giving way,' it is time for a real evaluation. Pushing through injury is the most common path to chronic problems.

Can you treat youth and high school athletes?

Yes. We see youth and teen athletes regularly — including growth-related injury concerns, sports-specific overuse, and acute injuries. Care plans are tailored to age and skeletal maturity.

How quickly can I get back to my sport?

It depends on the injury and your sport. Grade 1 ankle sprains can allow light return within 1–2 weeks; ACL surgery can mean 6–9 months. We build a written timeline at your first visit and update it as you progress.

For athletes

Sports medicine

Sprains, tendonitis, stress fractures — integrated care from people who get athletes back in the game.

503-245-2420

About this service

What is sports medicine?

Sports medicine at NES is built around getting athletes — at every level — back to activity safely and on a realistic timeline. The team includes board-certified orthopedic surgeons, podiatrists, and rehabilitation specialists who work together on acute injuries, chronic overuse pain, joint dysfunction, and repetitive stress injuries. Care plans are built around your sport and your goals rather than a one-size-fits-all protocol.

What we treat

Common reasons to see sports medicine

Ankle sprains and chronic instability

Achilles tendonitis and ruptures

Plantar fasciitis and heel pain

Stress fractures and broken bones

Turf toe and shin splints

Meniscus tears and ACL injuries

Rotator cuff tears and shoulder impingement

Tennis elbow and golfer's elbow

Muscle strains and tendon injuries

From symptoms to solutions

How we diagnose

Sports injuries are evaluated with a focused history (mechanism, sport, prior injuries), a hands-on exam, on-site digital X-ray when needed, and a return-to-play plan you can take with you. We bring the same conservative-first philosophy to athletes that we do to every patient — minimally invasive when possible, surgery only when it is genuinely the right call.

Treatment options

Treatments we offer

Care plans are built around individual goals and lifestyle, combining evidence-based techniques with the latest medical advancements. Surgery is treated as a last step after conservative options have been thoroughly explored.

Physical therapy and conditioning

Sport-specific strength, flexibility, and biomechanics work coordinated with our in-house PT team.

Custom orthotics

For athletes whose biomechanics are driving injury — fit in-office and adjusted as you return to activity.

Bracing, taping, and activity modification

Targeted protection during the early phases of recovery and return-to-play.

Corticosteroid and joint injections

In-office injections for soft-tissue inflammation and joint pain when conservative care needs reinforcement.

Arthroscopic joint repair

Minimally invasive procedures for the knee, ankle, and shoulder when soft-tissue repair is needed.

Ligament reconstruction

Surgical repair for ACL injuries and chronic ankle instability when conservative care has failed.