Injury Prevention
We’re here to help you stay healthy and active. We offer functional movement screenings and training for preventing exercise-related injuries.
Medically reviewed by Brandee Waite, M.D. on April 24, 2026.
Why Is Sports Injury Prevention Important?
Serious athletes aren’t the only people who get sports injuries. Anyone who is active can get an exercise-related injury.
Our experienced sports medicine team treats all types of sports injuries. We’re also passionate about providing assessments, education and training for sports injury prevention.
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Types of Sports Injuries
Joint injuries and other musculoskeletal injuries are common in active people. You may experience overuse injuries if you do activities where you perform the same movements over and over.
Examples of general types of sports injuries include:
- Bursitis: Pain and swelling in your bursa, a fluid-filled sac that cushions your bones and joints.
- Dislocation: Bones in your joint get pushed out of their usual positions.
- Fracture: A break or crack in a bone.
- Sprain: A ligament, which connects bones in your joints, becomes stretched or torn.
- Strain (pulled muscle): Your muscle stretches too far and tears.
- Tendonitis: Inflammation of a tendon, which connects your muscle to your bone.
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Injury Prevention Services at UC Davis Health
Injury prevention is key to staying healthy whether you’re a weekend warrior, fitness buff or serious athlete.
We offer assessments and screenings to help you avoid exercise-related injuries and optimize your performance. Our team works with all types of athletes, including Olympic and professional athletes.
We’re happy to help match you with the right assessment for your level and type of activity.
Advanced Lower Extremity/ACL Injury Prevention Screening
We analyze your movements using high-speed video to identify injury risk factors. We provide a personalized plan to help you prevent injuries and improve performance.
Bicycle Fitting
You get an individualized fitting for bicycle size, saddle and handlebar position, and shoe alignment. We also give you personalized equipment recommendations.
Comprehensive Fitness Assessment
This assessment includes metabolic tests, functional movement screening and optional consultation with a dietician. You’ll also get personalized recommendations.
Comprehensive Performance Assessment
This assessment is for athletes looking to improve their performance. It includes metabolic tests, functional movement screening and fundamental capacity screening.
Fundamental Capacity Screening
This assessment evaluates different aspects of your balance, movement and power. It identifies areas that may be preventing optimal performance.
Functional Movement Screening
We examine your movements to assess where you may be at risk for injury. Then we provide a personalized plan with exercises to help you avoid injuries.
Running Gait Analysis
We use slow-motion video to perform a detailed analysis of your movements as you run. You will get exercises to help you correct your form, improve efficiency and avoid injury.
Training Consultation
Our experts work with you on proper form and movement. We monitor your progress through a four-week progression of personalized exercises.
Shoulder dislocations represent
50%Of all joint dislocations
Source: National Library of Medicine: Shoulder Dislocations Overview
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Ranked among the nation’s best children’s hospitals
U.S. News & World Report ranked UC Davis Children’s Hospital among the best in pediatric nephrology, orthopedics*, and neonatology. (*Together with Shriners Children’s Northern California)
Ranked Sacramento’s #1 hospital
Ranked Sacramento’s #1 hospital by U.S. News, and recognized in 23 types of care including acute kidney failure, cancer care, cardiology, heart & vascular surgery, COPD, colon cancer surgery, diabetes, diabetes & endocrinology, ear, nose & throat surgery, gastroenterology & GI surgery, geriatrics, gynecological cancer surgery, heart arrhythmia, heart attack, heart failure, hip fracture, hip replacement, leukemia, lymphoma & myeloma, lung cancer surgery, neurology & neurosurgery, orthopedics, pneumonia, pulmonology & lung surgery and stroke.
The nation’s highest nursing honor
UC Davis Medical Center has received Magnet® recognition, the nation’s highest honor for nursing excellence.
World-class cancer care
One of ~59 U.S. cancer centers designated “comprehensive” by the National Cancer Institute.
A leader in health care equality
For the 13th consecutive year, UC Davis Medical Center has been recognized as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader by the educational arm of America’s largest civil rights organization.
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