Year after year, one resolution always makes it to the top of people’s lists – get in shape and be more active. That might start with a new exercise regimen, increasing the intensity of workouts or participating in a new sport. But the promise of an active 2025 can end quickly if an injury occurs. We asked Ochsner Health orthopedic and sports medicine surgeons across the state how to help Louisianians get back in the game, whether they’re vying for a championship or just trying to get off the couch.

“The most important thing I tell people, especially as they age, is to try to maintain their flexibility. The stiffness in joints and tissue is often what leads to problems. You don’t necessarily need to do an aggressive stretching regimen, but a little bit before and after a workout can help prevent injuries,” said Deryk Jones, MD, section head of sports medicine at the Ochsner Andrews Sports Medicine Institute and a team physician for the New Orleans Pelicans.

Ochsner Andrews Sports Medicine Institute is a partnership between Ochsner and Dr. James Andrews, one of the most renowned sports medicine surgeons in the world. This has allowed Ochsner to enhance its physical therapy and sports performance protocols and offerings, while its physicians receive guidance from Dr. Andrews about best practices for injury treatment and prevention.

“This institute allows us to provide a continuum of care for all levels of athletic injury,” Dr. Jones said. “Once an injury is diagnosed, we work together to create a treatment plan. It’s a very customized approach for each person that includes physical therapy and sports-specific activities to help them build up their strength and speed. It really is all about creating a process for people to have a safe, controlled return to full activity.”

The institute also provides cutting-edge scientific research in numerous areas. One example is Ochsner surgeons performed a cartilage regeneration procedure with an arthroscopic incision, something that wasn’t possible just a decade ago. Dr. Jones said Ochsner is also participating in a new national trial on an implant that won’t damage other surfaces in the body, which could be significant for patients who struggle to heal or who are heavier. Ochsner is also part of a study in which fat cells are removed from one part of the body and injected into areas near damaged joints.

“There are a lot of ongoing, high-level, multi-center studies happening at the institute,” Dr. Jones said. “You have to have a lot of tools in the toolbox. People have different needs and goals. Their body types and tissue formations are different. Our goal is to have many options available so that we can tailor the treatment to each individual based on their body and what they want to achieve.”

In Baton Rouge, Ochsner has partnered with Elite Training Academy to create the Ochsner Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute at Elite Training Complex – Burbank. The new facility helps patients who are looking for comprehensive sports performance and care.

Jeremy Burnham, MD, medical director of sports medicine and section head of orthopedic surgery at Ochsner in Baton Rouge, said the institute’s services include a walk-in clinic for immediate orthopedic care needs, such as sprains, strains, minor dislocations and sports injuries, as well as expert clinical, rehabilitative, wellness and surgical care, including orthopedic surgery, physical therapy, strength and conditioning, group exercise classes and a 3D motion analysis lab. The lab enables doctors to evaluate a patient’s issues and determine the proper treatment plan after injury. It also identifies movement patters that can make a person more prone to injury. With training to revise those movements, the lab is also preventing devastating injuries, such as ACL tears, which Dr. Burnham says disproportionately affect young female athletes.

“We really thought a lot about the patient journey when we were developing this institute,” Dr. Burnham said. “If you get injured, you may not know exactly who you need to see. We want to put everything a person needs under one roof.”

Dr. Burnham is also Ochsner’s principal investigator for the Surgical Timing and Rehabilitation Knee Injury Trial, known as STaR, which focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of multiple ligament knee injuries, including ACL injuries, meniscus tears, cartilage injuries and knee instability. Ochsner is one of 25 medical centers from across the nation participating in the trial.

“The study will answer two questions: Is it best to have surgery quickly after a multi-ligament knee injury? And is it best to start weight-bearing and aggressive range-of-motion exercises quickly after surgery?” Dr. Burnham said. “These injuries, which are complex and potentially devastating, often result in prolonged time away from duty, work or sports. What we learn from this trial will benefit U.S. military service members, as well as athletes and people from all walks of life.”

Julie Neumann, MD, a foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon at Ochsner Medical Center – Baton Rouge, Ochsner Andrews Sports Medicine Institute and Ochsner Medical Complex – The Grove, noted that each patient needs a treatment plan specifically tailored to them. While some people have specific goals tied to athletic events or competitions, others simply want to be able to move throughout their day without pain. Dr. Neumann specializes in treating conditions such as ankle fractures and sprains, ruptured Achilles tendons, arthritis in the feet and ankles, bunions and more.

“When most people come to see me, I spend time with them to talk about why they are here, what their goals are, and what other treatments they have tried,” Dr. Neumann said. “I discuss what I think could be causing the issue and outline a number of treatment options. Essentially, the patient and I put our heads together to determine the best plan that will help them achieve their goals.”

Dr. Neumann said often surgery can be a last resort, as many conditions can be treated by other means. Many people respond well to physical therapy and medication, and can also benefit from modified activities, braces, splints or supportive shoes.

“Injuries generally happen in two ways – an acute injury where someone knows the exact event that happened, or a chronic injury that gets worse over time and doesn’t respond to home remedies,” Dr. Neumann said. “Any time you can’t bear weight, you certainly need an evaluation as soon as possible.”

While many injuries occur during athletic activities, Brian Etier, MD, an orthopedic sports medicine director for Ochsner Lafayette General, said they can also happen during falls, vehicle crashes or as the result of damage from joint or ligament usage over time. Age also makes us more vulnerable to orthopedic injury.

“A big part of orthopedic care is preventative care, making sure you’re working out, lifting weights and staying strong,” he said. “As we get older, our muscle mass declines, our strength declines, so being able to maintain strength as we age pays big dividends down the road. I’ve found the patients who age the best, weight train.”

This fall, Ochsner broke ground on the Ochsner Lafayette General Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute, which will comprise nearly 20,000 square feet of physical therapy space as well as sports medicine services, catering care to patients of all ages and abilities.

With the only complete sports medicine system of its kind in the Acadiana area, Dr. Etier shared an example of how alignment between athletic training, surgery and physical therapy makes a difference for the patient. “Just recently, there was a local high school football player who was injured on a Friday night. I saw him on Saturday, and he had an MRI on Monday so we could complete the diagnosis and treatment plan. His coach was telling me this felt like SEC-level care right here in Lafayette,” said Dr. Etier.

Dr. Etier sees patients from Pineville to Morgan City, Breaux Bridge and Lake Charles – delivering that same care throughout in Acadiana to non-athletes, from pickleball enthusiasts to weekend warriors. Services include an anti-gravity treadmill for physical therapy patients to begin walking without putting stress on their joints, as well as outpatient arthroscopic and joint replacement surgeries. Robotic surgeries are also available, enabling physicians align joints back into perfect position.

“This device is precise down to one millimeter, so we know the outcomes are better,” he said. “There’s nowhere else in Acadiana that offers such a gamechanger when it comes to joint repair. The technology that we have is a huge asset, and people are able to recover much faster.”

As more people head to the gym in the new year, Dr. Neumann said she encourages exercisers to warm up properly before starting any strenuous activity. She also recommends working with a coach who can provide guidance, especially for someone who hasn’t exercised in several years.

“They know how to take people from a sedentary lifestyle to a more active lifestyle in a controlled fashion,” she said. “It’s also important to keep a positive mindset, especially if you feel like you are hitting a plateau or a wall. Most people aren’t going to be able to do everything they want to do every single day, but if you keep working on forging a path forward, you will see results. Don’t be too hard on yourself on bad days and enjoy the successes of your good days.”