6 Things Every Orthopedic Surgeon Wants You to Know

6 Things Your Orthopedic Doctor Wants You to Know

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At Orthopedic Institute, we have seen firsthand that the choices you make in your youth can affect the way your body ages. Our doctors have seen that many of our patients who age most gracefully have adopted common habits that help them maintain their physical, mental, and emotional health.

Check out these 6 tips that your doctor would likely want you to know about how best to approach your orthopedic care.

Take care of yourself

This one goes without saying, but your physician wants you to take the proper precautions with your day-to-day decisions to ensure your overall health stays in top form. Don’t smoke, cut back on unhealthy foods and get moving – cutting out bad habits and getting proper nutrition and exercise will have positive effects on your joint health. 

Maintain a healthy weight

Orthopedic surgeons have seen firsthand what being overweight can do to your joints and bones. Most notably, it can lead to osteoarthritis, or “wear-and-tear arthritis”. Staying at a healthy weight will also decrease your chances of breast cancer and diabetes during your later years. Lastly, it can increase your energy, enhance your mood, and help your body fight off illness. For more information on a weight loss plan our physicians recommend click here.

Build an active social life

Spend time with people you enjoy and who make you feel upbeat. Many of our happiest elderly patients are those who interact or converse with another person at least once every day. Find the strength to be the person who initiates outings such as lunch, days at the park and shopping. Volunteering is a great way to meet people with similar interests while giving back to the community.

Get a good night’s sleep

As adults, it is easy to place sleep at the bottom of the priority list. But this is a huge mistake. Your body needs sleep in order to heal from daily activities. If you’re not sleeping, this is not happening. If you have trouble falling asleep, increase your daytime activity. Develop bedtime rituals such as soaking in a bath, or listening to music to help you relax. Make sure your bedroom is quiet, dark and cool. Of course, we now know that lack of sleep can weaken the immune system, increase obesity, and put us at risk of developing diabetes and heart disease, so sleep does matter.

Exercise and stay active

As has been mentioned numerous times above, exercise is one of the most important ways to stay healthy. Exercise can have a profound effect on the brain by helping to prevent memory loss, cognitive decline and dementia. It can often improve your overall mood, as well as help lessen the effects of mental disorders such as anxiety and depression.

 

Now that you’re in the know, put these tips into action. However, if you have ongoing joint pain, it’s time to contact Orthopedic Institute and get the appointment ball rolling.

What Is Causing My Shoulder Pain?

What Is Causing My Shoulder Pain?

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It happens to the best of us. We wake up, get out of bend and wince – “What is that pain in my [insert body part here]?”

When it comes to shoulder pain, there are a variety of causes, depending on your level of physical activity, age and even career.

Rotator cuff injury

You rely on your rotator cuff muscles to keep your shoulders in position and allow you maximum mobility in your upper body. So when the rotator cuff experiences a tear or strain, it can cause a lot of shoulder pain that might manifest itself most often when you’re lifting your arm up or pull on an object. If you’ve experienced a tear in your rotator cuff, surgery might be the answer to repair it, depending on the severity.

Bursitis

Joints as a general rule are prone to bursitis, and shoulders are no different. Bursitis refers to fluid accumulation in the form of sacs in or near your joints. Bursitis may be common, but it isn’t pleasant – it can cause pain, redness and inflammation. These issues typically occur as the result of some sort of bodily injury, so protect your joints when performing physical activity. Bursitis is typically treatable through a course of anti-inflammatories, but surgery and physical therapy may be necessary for long-term afflictions.

Tendinitis

If your job or your favorite after-work activities involve a lot of shoulder movement that repeats itself on a frequent basis, your tendons might be reacting to an irritation. Think of a baseball pitcher or tennis player who repeatedly moves his or her shoulder in the same way over and over. Your doctor or physical therapist will likely prescribe an over-the-counter medication, joint rest and hot or cold compresses to treat your tendinitis.

‘Frozen shoulder’

Just like any other join in your body, the shoulder can be prone to inflammation and swelling. In some cases, you may notice you’ve lost much of the mobility in your shoulder, causing “frozen shoulder.” This can be the result of inflammation or other sorts of chemical imbalances. The right course of physical therapy and meds often clears up frozen shoulder. But surgery can sometimes be necessary in severe cases. After a shoulder surgery, including total replacement, frozen shoulder should not occur if you are attending regular physical therapy and performing recommended exercises and treatments at home. 

 

Whatever your symptoms, Orthopedic Institute can help – set up an appointment with our team today to get to the bottom of your ongoing shoulder pain.

10 Ways to Be a Great Sports Parent

10 Ways to Be a Great Sports Parent

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You’re your own child’s biggest cheering section – there’s no doubt about that. But when it comes to being a great sports-parent, it’s more than wearing their number, painting your face and shouting some “rah-rahs.”

Keep these tips in mind when encouraging the student athletes in your home to be safe, happy and successful.

Stretching

There’s virtually no better way to avoid injury as a student athlete, or anyone for that matter, than by stretching before exercising. Going hard at a workout is many student athletes’ tendency, but don’t let them get away with skipping this key pre-exercise step or they may risk injury or strain.

Goals

Communication is key. Talk to your student athletes about his or her goals – strength, calorie-burning, game performance, workout routines – and share in helping to meet them. If you know your child’s athletic goals, your encouragement will be much more meaningful and their commitment will flourish.

Hydration

When you work hard, you need fuel to keep your body going. And the most important fuel your student athlete needs is water. Lots of it. If he or she is in the midst of a hardcore training program, skip juices and sodas and maximize water intake.

Walking

It’s always a good idea to mix in moderate physical activity with strenuous activities like competitions and intense workouts. Advise your student athlete to walk or bike places throughout the day, as opposed to hopping in a car for short trips. It’ll keep them loose and stretch out their legs before heading back to the gym the next day.

Square meals

Food is hugely important in keeping your student athlete going through practices, workouts and competitions. Make sure he or she is eating small, protein- and “good carb”-rich meals frequently throughout the day. (And don’t forget to fuel after a strenuous event, too – don’t wait much longer than an hour to replenish proteins!) If you’re looking for a delicious post-workout snack, many scientists suggest chocolate milk.

Multi-sport play

It’s easy to think that playing one sport will build talent and focus. However, research shows that it actually increases the likelihood that your child will experience an injury. Encourage your child to work different muscle groups, as well as learn different skills, by participating in more than one sport throughout the year.

Safety

Your kids can get gung-ho about a sport they really love, so much so that they might consider themselves “tough enough” to skip precaution all together. But athletic prowess is never an excuse to skip out on safety equipment – from helmets, to padding to proper footwear, make sure your student athlete is protecting him or herself.

Breaks

Even though it might be easy to let your world totally revolve around athletics when you’re a sports-parent, don’t forget to encourage your student athlete to take breaks to enjoy other hobbies and interests. Burnout can have a negative effect on performance, both physically and mentally, so stress the importance of sport breaks.

Immunizations

Depending on the time of year, flu season might coincide with your student athlete’s seasonal sport of choice. Catching the flu can knock them down for the count for as long as weeks, so keep your child up to date on his or her immunizations, including the flu shot, to help them stay healthy all season long.

Rest

At the end of the day, a student athlete’s body needs rest after rigorous physical activity. Whether it’s some relaxation during daytime off-hours or a proper amount of sleep overnight, rest allows their bodies to repair and replenish themselves for the next day. (That means avoiding caffeine, electronic screens, eating immediately before bedtime.) 

 

Knowing the right suggestions and decisions to make for your athletic child isn’t always easy – Orthopedic Institute can help you take great care of the student athletes in your life.