Dr. Scott Huff Explains When Summer Shoulder and Knee Injuries Need More Than Ice and Rest
Summer in Columbus means lake trips, boating weekends, tubing, wakeboarding, and water-skiing with family and friends.
Unfortunately, it also means an increase in orthopedic injuries caused by high-speed falls, awkward landings, and sudden twisting movements.
At Hand & Microsurgery Associates, orthopedic specialist Dr. Scott Huff frequently evaluates patients who suffer shoulder and knee injuries during summer water activities throughout Central Ohio.
Many people try to “shake it off” after a hard fall into the water.
But according to Dr. Huff, sudden pain, weakness, swelling, instability, or loss of motion after tubing, wakeboarding, or water-skiing may signal a more significant orthopedic injury that deserves prompt evaluation.
Why Water Sports Cause Serious Shoulder and Knee Injuries
Water sports create powerful forces on the body.
Even though water appears soft, a fall at high speed can place tremendous stress on joints, ligaments, tendons, and cartilage.
Dr. Huff commonly sees injuries caused by:
- Sudden jerking motions while holding a tow rope
- Shoulder traction injuries
- Hard impacts with the water
- Twisting falls
- Awkward landings
- Knee rotation during wakeboarding falls
- Sudden directional changes while skiing
These injuries can occur in a split second but may affect shoulder or knee function for months if left untreated.
Common Shoulder Injuries After Tubing or Water-Skiing
One of the most common summer sports injuries involves the shoulder.
Patients often describe:
- A popping sensation
- Immediate pain
- Weakness
- Difficulty lifting the arm
- Shoulder instability
- Pain reaching overhead
- Trouble sleeping afterward
According to Dr. Huff, these symptoms may indicate:
- Rotator cuff injuries
- Labral tears
- Shoulder instability
- Tendon injuries
- AC joint sprains
- Partial shoulder dislocations
Many patients initially assume they simply strained a muscle. However, shoulder injuries involving sudden weakness or loss of motion should not simply be ignored and “waited out.”
Knee Injuries Are Also Extremely Common
Wakeboarding and water-skiing place significant rotational forces through the knee joint.
A sudden twisting movement can injure:
- Meniscus cartilage
- ACL ligaments
- MCL ligaments
- Joint stabilizers
Symptoms may include:
- A pop in the knee
- Rapid swelling
- Instability
- Difficulty bearing weight
- Locking or catching
- Pain twisting or pivoting
Dr. Huff frequently treats active adults who thought they “just tweaked” their knee, only to later discover a ligament tear or meniscus injury.
Should You Go to the ER — Or Call Dr. Huff?
One of the biggest questions patients have after a summer sports injury is where they should go first.
Go to the ER immediately if you experience:
- An obvious deformity
- Bone protruding through the skin
- Loss of circulation
- Significant numbness
- Major trauma
- Suspected fracture with severe displacement
- Head or neck injury
- A shoulder that is visibly dislocated
You may be able to contact Dr. Huff directly if you experience:
- A pop in the shoulder or knee
- Swelling after a fall
- Difficulty lifting your arm
- Pain bearing weight
- Joint instability
- Loss of strength
- Limited range of motion
- Persistent pain after a sports injury
Many sports injuries involve ligaments, tendons, cartilage, and other soft tissue structures that are best evaluated by an orthopedic specialist.
Why Seeing the Right Specialist Matters
Emergency rooms and urgent care centers are excellent for handling emergencies and ruling out life-threatening injuries.
However, many shoulder and knee injuries involve soft tissue structures such as:
- Rotator cuff tendons
- Labrum cartilage
- ACL ligaments
- Meniscus cartilage
- Joint stabilizers
These injuries often require specialized orthopedic evaluation to determine the full extent of damage.
At Hand & Microsurgery Associates, Dr. Scott Huff specializes in diagnosing and treating shoulder and knee injuries, helping patients understand exactly what was injured and what treatment options are available.
His goal is not simply to reduce pain, but to restore strength, stability, mobility, and confidence so patients can safely return to the activities they enjoy.
Warning Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore
You should seek prompt orthopedic evaluation if you experience:
- A pop or snap during injury
- Significant swelling
- Weakness
- Joint instability
- Inability to lift the arm
- Difficulty bearing weight
- Reduced range of motion
- Locking or catching sensations
- Pain that does not improve after several days
These symptoms may indicate injuries that can worsen if left untreated.
Don’t Ignore a Hard Fall This Summer
Many summer sports injuries happen in seconds.
What feels like “just soreness” after a hard tubing, wakeboarding, or water-skiing fall may actually involve a torn ligament, cartilage injury, tendon damage, or shoulder instability.
Dr. Scott Huff and the team at Hand & Microsurgery Associates help active patients throughout Central Ohio evaluate acute shoulder and knee injuries quickly so they can begin the right treatment plan as early as possible.
Because when it comes to orthopedic injuries, getting the right diagnosis early can make all the difference in recovery.