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The Expert: Ben Ferry, MD | Collaborative Health Sports Medicine
Do you have to be an athlete to see a sports medicine doctor?
No. While we do work with local teams and athletes, you don’t need to be an athlete to benefit from sports medicine. We evaluate and treat a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions across all ages and activity levels. Your “sport” might be gardening, walking, or staying active day-to-day — if pain is impacting your quality of life, seeing a sports medicine doctor may help.
What kinds of everyday aches and pains are commonly treated?
We treat both acute injuries and chronic conditions, with or without a clear cause. Common examples include knee pain from arthritis or meniscus issues, ankle sprains, and back pain from everyday activities like yardwork.
Additional conditions include: Patellar tendinitis (jumper’s knee), Rotator cuff tendinitis / shoulder bursitis, Hip tendinitis / bursitis, Osteoarthritis (hip, knee, shoulder), Hand and wrist conditions (trigger finger, carpal tunnel), Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis), and Concussions and post-concussion syndrome.
What treatment options are typically used?
We focus first on non-surgical care. This may include home exercise programs, physical therapy, bracing, and medications. In some cases, injections such as cortisone or steroid can reduce pain and inflammation to support recovery. We may also use regenerative medicine treatments like prolotherapy or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to stimulate healing.
Diagnostics may include X-rays, ultrasound, or MRI. X-ray and ultrasound are available in-office to complement a thorough physical exam. MRIs are used when more detailed imaging is needed or when symptoms are not improving with conservative care.
“I’m not injured, but exercise causes pain. Can you help?”
Yes. We can identify the source of pain, assess movement patterns, and guide training adjustments. We also help patients safely return to activity while working toward their fitness goals and reducing injury risk.
“I think I have a concussion. Why see sports medicine?”
Concussions, a form of mild traumatic brain injury, are commonly treated in sports medicine and can result from everyday incidents like falls or car accidents. Symptoms may include headache, dizziness, and difficulty concentrating.
While many concussions improve with time, guided care is important. We take an active recovery approach, helping patients return to work, school, and daily life safely and efficiently, moving beyond the outdated advice of complete rest.
If you develop worsening symptoms — such as repeated vomiting, severe headache, confusion, weakness, seizure, or trouble waking — call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.
ABOUT THE EXPERT
Originally from Orlando, Dr. Ferry completed his undergraduate training at the University of Notre Dame. He then attended the University of South Florida SELECT program for medical school, which included training in both Tampa, FL and Allentown, PA and additional work in leadership development and emotional intelligence. He completed his residency training in Charleston, SC at the Medical University of South Carolina, where he trained in both an academic and community setting. He completed a sports medicine fellowship at Duke University, where he had the opportunity to work with athletes of a variety of levels.
He provides sideline coverage for the Liberty University Division I and club sports athletics teams and enjoys working with students and residents through his role with the Liberty University College of Medicine.
Collaborative Health
Sports Medicine
2321 Wards Road*
Lynchburg, VA 24502
*Will be relocating to the Collaborative Healthplex in May of 2026 – 800 Graves Mill Road, Lynchburg, VA 24502
