Think osteoporosis only happens to women? Think again. This “silent” disease affects men, too. According to the CDC, osteoporosis affects about 1 in 20 men over age 65. Osteoporosis can weaken bones to the point that a break can occur more easily. Broken hips are especially serious, causing patients to be unable to live on their own – and significantly raising their risk of dying sooner.
Protect your bones and your long-term health! Learn more about risk factors, diagnosis and prevention tips for osteoporosis men.
Risk Factors
Men in their 50s do not experience the same rapid loss of bone mass that post-menopausal women, but by age 65 or 70 calcium absorption (essential for bone health) decreases in both sexes. That’s when osteoporosis becomes an increasingly larger risk for men. In fact, 1 in 8 men over age 50 will have an osteoporotic fracture.
Age – The older you are the higher your risk
Testosterone deficiency
Taking certain medications for chronic conditions (corticosteroids, heparin, anti-seizure drugs, prostate cancer drugs, etc.)
Low intake of calcium and vitamin D
Smoking and excessive alcohol intake
Sedentary lifestyle
Heredity and race (white men seem to be at greatest risk)
Loss of height or change in posture
Diagnosis
One of the reasons osteoporosis is call “the silent disease” is because it shows no symptoms. Patients realize they have it when they sustain a broken bone. What can you do? If you’re over age 50, ask your doctor about screening tests. In addition to X-rays, urine and blood tests, he or she may also order a bone mineral density test. This painless, non-invasive and safe test can identify osteoporosis and determine your risk for fractures.
Prevention
Both men and women reach peak bone density by their early 20s. That’s why good nutrition and calcium intake is so important for children and adolescents. So, what can you do as you get older? Two words: Live healthy!
Discuss bone health with your doctor – especially any medications you might be taking that are known to cause bone loss, such as glucocorticoids.
Ready to learn more? Come see the bone health experts at Orthopedic Institute. Our team is trained in musculoskeletal diseases and treatments. We’ll help you understand your risks before you experience a fracture or a major surgery such as hip replacement.
https://i0.wp.com/orthopedicinstitutesf.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Heidi-Williams-OI_BlogPosts_MAY_Osteoporosis_700x300.jpg?fit=700%2C300&ssl=1300700Christopher Holman/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/OI-logo-main.pngChristopher Holman2018-05-29 11:16:532019-05-09 15:03:14Osteoporosis in Men: The ”Silent Disease“ Affects You, Too
An average golfer makes roughly 50-60 full swings per round. Each swing puts our joints near their end range of motion, particularly in the shoulders, spine and hips. If one does not possess the range of motion or strength to do this, then we put ourselves at additional risk of injury – which is why 46% of women suffer from low back pain and injuries from golfing.
Reduce your risk of injury with these essential strength and stability exercises for all golfers—but especially women.
Working with many golfers, healthy and injured, I notice trends in the physical characteristics between male and female golfers. For example, women tend to have much better mobility while men typically possess more strength while lacking range of motion.
Because of this, female golfers usually benefit from strength and stability exercise routines to help their muscles better protect their body while swinging a golf club. A simple warm-up routine (before you touch a golf club) that activates these muscles will have drastic effects on your body’s capabilities.
Use these two simple exercises to increase stability in your back and core, and to help protect your spine while golfing. If necessary, I recommend a physical screen and swing analysis to determine specific areas of emphasis that can improve your golf game and keep your body healthy.
Arm/Leg Floor Stretch
Start in the quadruped position (all fours) with arms and thighs perpendicular to the floor.
While stabilizing your spine in a neutral pelvic posture, extend your right leg and left arm simultaneously.
Make sure your spine stays neutral throughout the maneuver and repeat with the opposite side.
“Y” Exercise Ball Stretch
Lie on your stomach on top of an exercise ball with your arms out in front of you as though you are making the letter “Y.”
Raise your right arm and your left leg in the air and hold for 5 seconds.
Repeat this with the left arm and right leg. Perform 10 reps on each side. This builds the important muscles in the back that will help protect you during your golf swing.
Adam Halseth is a Physical Therapist and Golf Medical Professional with a Level 3 certification from the Titleist Performance Institute. He specializes in sports medicine and golf rehabilitation, and directs the OI Golf Medicine Program. Adam graduated from Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences with his Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2014.
The shoulder joint is one of the most complex areas in your body. It allows you to move your arms 360 degrees, and also provides the stability needed for all the bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments in your shoulders and arms to work together. All this range of motion increases the likelihood of shoulder pain and mobility issues, especially as we age.
Check out these top causes of shoulder pain, and what you need to know to start feeling better.
Shoulder Osteoarthritis
Shoulder osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that occurs when the cartilage that lines the sides of the shoulder joint is worn or torn away. It’s seen most often in people over age 50, but can occur in younger people as a result of injury or trauma. It’s time to see a doctor if you’re experiencing:
Shoulder weakness or stiffness that seems to come and go
Pain with activity that gets better with rest
Decreased shoulder movement (range of motion) – especially when reaching back
Difficulty sleeping as the condition worsens
Rotator Cuff Tears
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint, keeping the head of your upper arm bone firmly within your shoulder socket. Rotator cuff tears occur most often in people who repeatedly perform overhead motions in their jobs or sports – but can occur as a result of a single injury. It’s time to see a doctor if you’re experiencing:
Pain and/or weakness when lifting your arm
Pain at rest and at night, particularly if lying on the affected shoulder
Pain or weakness when lifting and lowering your arm
Adhesive Capsulitis (Frozen Shoulder)
This condition is just how it sounds —“frozen shoulder” causes pain and stiffness in the shoulder muscles and joints that make it difficult or impossible to move. This condition can last for years and develops in three stages:
Freezing: In this stage, you slowly have more and more pain. As the pain worsens, your shoulder loses range of motion. Freezing typically lasts from 6 weeks to 9 months.
Frozen: In this stage, painful symptoms may actually improve, but stiffness remains. During the 4 to 6 months of the “frozen” stage, daily activities may be very difficult.
Thawing: Shoulder motion slowly improves during this stage. Complete return to normal or close to normal strength and motion typically takes from 6 months to 2 years.
Chronic Shoulder Instability
Have you ever dislocated your shoulder? Chronic shoulder instability occurs when the head of the upper arm bone is forced out of the shoulder socket, usually as a result of a sudden injury or from overuse. Once a shoulder has dislocated the chances of it happening again increase – and can be the reason for repeated dislocations. It’s time to see a doctor if you’re experiencing:
Pain caused by shoulder injury
Repeated shoulder dislocations
Repeated instances of the shoulder giving out
A persistent sensation of the shoulder feeling loose, slipping in and out of the joint, or just “hanging there”
https://i0.wp.com/orthopedicinstitutesf.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/OI_BlogPosts_RotatorCuffTears_750x321.jpg?fit=750%2C321&ssl=1321750Christopher Holman/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/OI-logo-main.pngChristopher Holman2018-04-02 16:05:552020-01-15 21:46:32Shoulder Pain Relief: What You Need to Know
Head and neck pain can occur for a variety of reasons. Some pain will go away with time, or through a change in lifestyle or behavior. But if you’re dealing with head and neck pain that lasts more than a few days and doesn’t improve with over-the-counter pain medicine, it’s time to make an appointment with one of our pain management specialists for diagnosis and treatment.
Depending on the cause of your head and neck pain, these five non-surgical treatments might be effective for you.
1. Physical Therapy
From muscle tenderness, tension and tightness to poor posture – certain types of headaches and neck pain can be relieved through physical therapy treatments. Atrained physical therapist can design an exercise plan that strengthens your neck muscles and takes pressure off your spine. They might also apply heat or cold pads during a therapy session to either increase blood flow and range of motion (heat) or decrease blood flow and inflammation (cold). Still other physical therapy treatments could include therapeutic massage, chiropractic treatment and/or neck-strengthening exercises you can do at home.
2. Trigger Point Injections
Trigger points are areas in muscle that are very irritable, and, when pressed, produce a twitch within the affected muscle. A trigger point may produce not only pain in the affected muscle, but in a distant area, including locations in the head and neck, called referred pain. Trigger points may develop because of trauma, injury, inflammation, or other factors. A trigger point injection is a procedure where a medication, usually a local anesthetic, is injected into the painful muscle to provide relief. The pain relief should be experienced not only in the affected muscle, but in the area of referred pain as well.
3. Anti-Inflammatory Steroid Injections
If your pain is being cause by inflammation around the nerves in your neck, a cervical epidural steroid injection can help by “coating” the nerves in the area. Patients experiencing a herniated disc, a degenerated disc, osteoarthritis or inflammation that reduces the space around the nerves can benefit from this type of treatment. The goal of the injection is to reduce inflammation and associated nerve pain – and the injection itself is given with the patient laying face down under local anesthetic.
4. Botox injections
Think BOTOX® is just for wrinkles? Think again. It can be effective for the treatment of adults with cervical dystonia—a condition that causes the muscles in your neck to tighten or spasm without your control. BOTOX injections can reduce the severity of abnormal head position and neck pain. If you have chronic migraines (≥ 15 days per month) with headache lasting 4 hours a day or longer, this treatment could also be right for you.
5. Radiofrequency Ablation (Rhizotomy)
Yes, it sounds complicated. But in reality, Radiofrequency Ablation (or RFA) is a non-surgical, outpatient therapy procedure that’s used to help patients with chronic head and neck pain related to spinal arthritis. As with any non-surgical treatment, this procedure is only recommended after thorough examination and diagnosis. During the RFA procedure, heat is delivered to targeted nerve tissues, preventing pain signals from reaching the brain.
If you or a loved one are experiencing chronic head or neck pain, don’t wait. Learn more about our pain management program and all the options available to you at Orthopedic Institute.
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So you know you’ve injured yourself. You’ve got the pain or the swelling to prove it. But with so many varieties of physicians, specialists and therapists from which to choose, how are you to know when is the right time to involve a physical therapist?
Take a look at some of the following common pain points and whether they necessitate a visit to a physical therapist.
Lingering Pain
Immediately after an injury, it’s often best to do what your body is demanding of you: rest. Take a few days off from normal activities, apply ice, and give the injury some time to heal. However, if its been three or four days, and returning to normal activity is still causing you to wince, it may be time to visit a physical therapist. They can figure out the source of the pain and prescribe a plan of action.
Low Mobility
Whatever the reason for it, sometimes your body’s mobility is limited. It can be caused by injury, disease or even simply aging. When it comes to reinvigorating your lost mobility and range of motion, often the best person to see is a physical therapist, as this type of health professional is trained to evaluate and treat matters of movement and flexibility.
Poor Posture
Is your posture suffering? When it comes to sitting for great lengths of the day, you might notice your shoulders hunching over and giving you back pain related to the way you sit up (or don’t). If you’re looking to improve this, a physical therapist may be your first step. He or she can work with your body mechanics to determine the best ways to build up your balance and sitting habits.
Recurring Injuries
When you’re out on the field or at work exerting yourself, you’re bound to encounter a pull, sprain or strain now and again. However, if you’re finding yourself experiencing the same pain over and over again, it may be time to call in the professionals. The best plan when you’re experiencing a moderate to severe level of pain due to a recurring injury is to see a physical therapist. He or she can work with you to determine exactly how you continue to injure yourself, as well as how to avoid pain in the future.
Know your needs
The most important thing to remember is that, if you have pain, address it. Even if you’re unsure to whom you should speak, make sure you’re seen in a timely manner to avoid worsening injury. We’re here to help.
/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/OI-logo-main.png00Christopher Holman/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/OI-logo-main.pngChristopher Holman2018-03-06 21:34:092019-05-09 15:04:06Should You See a Physical Therapist?
Whether it’s scheduling, varying degrees of urgency or fear of price tags, dealing with orthopedic emergencies or non-emergencies can be tricky. Thankfully, orthopedic walk-in clinics provide an option for those acute injuries and pain and they don’t require an appointment.
Here are four key benefits of an orthopedic walk-in clinic, a feature that Orthopedic Institute (OI) happens to offer.
Avoid Unnecessary ER Visits
Not every injury is alike. That’s why some minor, non-emergency injuries that require treatment but may not be urgent enough to foot the bill for an emergency room visit can be dealt with thanks to orthopedic walk-in clinics. Say you experienced a knee sprain or fracture during an evening sporting event—you may be more inclined to take this condition to an orthopedic walk-in clinic than to a potentially pricey emergency wing of a hospital.
Be Seen After Hours
Speaking of time of day, one of the biggest benefits of orthopedic walk-in clinics for daytime workers is the ability to be seen after hours for spur-of-the-moment issues such as flare-up pain, dislocation, fracture or muscle spasm that is causing loss of sleep. Timing may vary from clinic to clinic, but these walk-in-style situations will typically offer hours both after 5 p.m. on weekdays and on weekends for added availability. For example, OI’s own walk-in clinic in Sioux Falls provides weekday hours from 3 to 7 p.m., and Saturday hours from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. In Yankton, we see patients Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Reduce Costs
It can be expensive to see a doctor in an immediate situation. Luckily, walk-in orthopedic clinics often provide flexible hours for more immediate care in cases of injury or sudden pain. Better yet, specialty clinics such as OI have the equipment available for treating these types of injuries—which isn’t always true of a general walk-in clinic. These general clinics may be able to diagnose and offer minimal services and pain relief but will often times require a referral to follow up with a different clinic or physician.
A walk-in clinic at a specialized healthcare provider such as an orthopedic clinic can offer you highly personalized care that a general urgent-care clinic may not be able to provide—not immediately, at least. OI’s walk-in clinic puts you in front of an orthopedic health professional from the get-go to meet your specific needs.
See the Right Healthcare Providers
One of the key benefits of an orthopedic walk-in clinic is that, if you need to be referred to a specialist, such as a hand, foot and ankle, or back specialist, a walk-in clinic healthcare professional can supply you the connection you need to be seen by the appropriate people, often in a timelier manner than you may expect. OI’s team consists of a variety of caregivers, from physical and occupational therapists to interventional pain management services to orthopedic surgeons, so you have comprehensive orthopedic care at your disposal.
https://i0.wp.com/orthopedicinstitutesf.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/OIBlogPost4_700x300_v3.jpg?fit=700%2C300&ssl=1300700Christopher Holman/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/OI-logo-main.pngChristopher Holman2018-03-06 21:12:492019-05-09 15:04:114 Key Benefits of Going to an Orthopedic Walk-In Clinic
Most people wouldn’t describe getting a hip replacement as a “walk in the park.” Weeks of rehab and struggling to get around can cause many people to put off getting a necessary surgery. However, Lee Goldammer and Tony Bosch had excellent experiences with OI when they decided to pursue anterior hip replacements.
Lee Goldammer
How did you first learn about OI?
My wife worked for OI years ago, and that’s how I got there. I had Dr. Zoellner do my first hip replacement—my niece recommended him.
What was your first experience with OI?
My initial experience was my first hip surgery. They cut most along the side, and I underwent therapy for about a month. Although rehab took a few weeks, I still got along well. That’s just the way it was back then.
How did you decide to get the anterior hip replacement completed?
I heard about this new type of surgery and how Dr. Rothrock would perform the surgery. I knew I would be in the hospital two to three days, and Dr. Rothrock said the amount of therapy I wanted to take on was up to me.
I remember my hip hurt so badly that I couldn’t raise my leg, so I went ahead with the surgery. Afterward, I pulled my leg up immediately, and there wasn’t any pain.
What was therapy like for this surgery?
There was no therapy after that – the doctor simply gave me a few things to do. I used a walker for two or three days, and then I went to a cane. I was easily going up and down steps in about two weeks.
What would you say to someone who is considering this surgery?
I recommend it right away—I recommend it to everybody. I’ve talked to four or five people, and I tell them it’s a piece of cake. There was much less rehab than after my first surgery.
You can be on your way in no time. Everyone has a tendency to put it off. I know it’s hard to do, because no one likes surgery, but they always say they wish they had done it a long time before.
Tony Bosch
How did you first learn about OI?
My wife had some surgery done with Dr. Looby. She had a sciatic nerve problem. I had seen Dr. Looby before—I didn’t know who he was at time – but I went to the fitness center and I saw him, but didn’t realize he was my wife’s doctor until later.
What was your first experience with OI?
After my wife’s surgery, Dr. Looby came into the consultation room and we got to visiting. So I knew him when my hip started hurting. Next thing you know I have this hip causing me trouble. Dr. Looby said Dr. Adler was really good with hips. So I went in for an appointment, had the X-rays, and Dr. Adler told me my hip was full of arthritis. I asked him if we could do it soon, and he was able to make it happen for me the very next day.
I never missed one day of work after the surgery. I went to work after the surgery, set my walker off to the side, and I never used the walker, a cane or anything. The hardest part was training my head not to limp! Someone saw me afterwards and asked, “Didn’t you just have hip surgery? You’re limping pretty bad.” But my hip didn’t hurt at all. I was limping just because I was used to limping for so long because of my hip pain. So I took about a week for me to learn to stop limping.
What was your experience with the doctors like?
Dr. Adler is just one fabulous human being. Orthopedic Institute is very lucky to have him, Dr. Adler and Dr. Mitch Johnson. We are blessed to have this kind of medical facility, Orthopedic Institute, in Sioux Falls.
What was therapy like for this surgery?
I didn’t need any therapy. I mean, I had a total hip replacement. No therapy. Zero! You just knew when it started hurting that you needed to take a break.
What would you say to someone who is considering this surgery?
I wouldn’t look any further. Dr. Adler is the best there is as far as I am concerned. He’s not only a great surgeon but a great human being. He has patient charisma, he’s the whole package.
Kids have a way of getting into all kinds of mishaps. Whether it’s a fall from the monkey bars or trampoline, a collision playing sports or simply wrestling with the dog – elbow injuries are common with children. They can involve three bones: the humerus (upper arm), the radius and the ulna (forearm). Unfortunately, injuries that occur near the elbow may often require surgery.
Here’s how to tell if your child’s elbow injury is serious.
Home treatment with RICE (rest, ice, compression and elevation) plus over-the-counter pain medication can relieve minor aches and pains for a strained or “bumped” elbow.
However, serious elbow injuries will present much differently. If you child complains of elbow pain after a fall and/or experiences any of these symptoms, it’s time to see an orthopedic physician immediately.
Visible deformity in the area
Pain in the elbow and forearm
Tenderness, swelling or bruising
Discoloration of the elbow or hand (signs that circulation is affected)
Limited range of motion/ In children, change of normal use (won’t use the hand or arm to play with toys or bring food to mouth)
Numbness, a “tight” sensation or cool sensation of the forearm, hand or fingers (signs of nerve injury)
During the visit, expect your doctor to order X-rays to evaluate if a fracture has occurred. Because a child’s bones are still forming, your doctor may request X-rays of both arms for comparison. Soft tissue injuries such as ligament strains, sprains or tears can also occur particularly in “hanging” injuries commonly seen in playground accidents. No matter the injury, skilled evaluation can assist you in helping your child to heal as quickly as possible.
Childhood elbow injuries are all-too common and nearly always occur as a result of a fall. In other words, there’s no time to waste. Learn more about our convenient walk-in clinics.
https://i0.wp.com/orthopedicinstitutesf.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Heidi-Williams-OI_BlogPosts_ElbowInjuryKid_700x300.jpg?fit=700%2C300&ssl=1300700Christopher Holman/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/OI-logo-main.pngChristopher Holman2018-02-22 16:05:552019-05-09 15:11:23How To Tell When Your Child’s Elbow Injury Is Serious
The idea of an outpatient procedure is always an attractive one—the ability to have your surgery and return home the same day can be valuable. In fact, at Orthopedic Institute (OI), joint replacement surgeries can often be performed outpatient—as much as 90 percent of such surgeries at OI are outpatient for select scenarios.
From total shoulder replacements to knee and hip procedures, why does outpatient matter—and how should you prepare?
The Benefits
Among the obvious benefit of being in the comfort of your own home post-surgery, outpatient procedures can have other marked benefits. Without the expense of a hospital stay, outpatient surgery will typically save money on your final bill. It has also been shown anecdotally to be less stressful—the familiarity of home often makes a great recovery space. It also means less of a time strain on your schedule—you can book your appointment on an ideal day and keep any unnecessary time off from work or other commitments to a minimum.
Preparing for Surgery
Informing Your Team
One of the first steps of prepping for an outpatient joint replacement surgery is informing your team of physicians about what medications you’re currently taking regularly. Some medications may need to be halted in advance of your surgery day, including over-the-counter medicine such as ibuprofen or aspirin. Make sure to provide honest answers to medical history questions—these will play an important role in clearing you for the procedure.
Getting Tested
Your doctor may order some tests prior to the procedure—these pre-op examinations may include X-rays, blood tests and EKGs to determine your readiness for surgery. Your physician should also provide you with materials you may need to help you better understand what the surgery entails—including what to bring on the day of, what will be the goal of the surgery and joint exercises to try leading up to the date.
Post-Surgical Recovery
Upon leaving the clinic, your surgeon or physician will offer you advice on how to care for yourself from home. For starters, you should plan on having someone to drive you—post-surgery, it’s recommended you don’t operate a vehicle due to drowsy or dizzy conditions. You should use medication as prescribed or recommended by your doctor—and make sure you have a phone number handy to call a qualified nurse or physician if you have any questions about medications or other elements of the recovery process.
https://i0.wp.com/orthopedicinstitutesf.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/OI_BlogPosts_ReplacementSurgery_700x300.jpg?fit=700%2C300&ssl=1300700Christopher Holman/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/OI-logo-main.pngChristopher Holman2018-02-21 21:30:082019-05-09 15:12:31Outpatient Joint Replacement Surgery: The Benefits & How to Prepare
Years of working hard and participating in your favorite hobbies can potentially take a toll on your body, especially your fingers. Think about how much strain you likely place on your hands over your lifetime. It’s no surprise, then, that many people start to feel aches and pains in their thumbs.
Are you starting to feel pain or stiffness in your thumbs? Read into these three common causes of thumb pain.
1. Trigger Thumb
Trigger thumb occurs when your thumb remains stuck in a bent position, as if squeezing a trigger. This occurs when tendons become irritated and swollen and can’t move easily. Sometimes a bump may form on the tendon, adding to movement difficulty. Farmers, musicians or people in industrial occupations commonly experience trigger thumb due to the heavy reliance and strain on their fingers.
Signs of trigger thumb include:
Snapping/popping sensation when moving the thumb
Swelling or bump in the palm
Inability to fully flex the thumb
Locking in the bent position, requiring help from the other hand to straighten
Pain and stiffness when bending
Soreness at the base of the thumb
2. De Quervain’s Tendinosis
When tendons at the base of the thumb become swollen or constricted, they may cause pain along the thumb side of the wrist. De Quervain’s tendinosis may occur from overuse, but it’s also associated with pregnancy and rheumatoid disease.
Signs of De Quervain’s tendinosis include:
Primarily pain felt over the thumb side of the wrist, along with swelling
A snapping sensation when moving the thumb
Difficulty moving the thumb and wrist
3. Thumb Arthritis
There are several types of arthritis, but the type most often affecting the joint at the thumb’s base is osteoarthritis, a.k.a. “wear-and-tear” arthritis. This is found more often in women than men and tends to occur after 40 years of age. The most prominent symptom is pain at the base of the thumb when you grasp an object or apply force with your thumb.
https://i0.wp.com/orthopedicinstitutesf.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/OI_BlogPosts_Jan17_ThumbPain_700x300.jpg?fit=700%2C300&ssl=1300700Christopher Holman/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/OI-logo-main.pngChristopher Holman2018-02-03 16:05:562019-05-09 15:13:383 Common Causes of Thumb Pain
Osteoporosis in Men: The ”Silent Disease“ Affects You, Too
/in Fractures and Trauma /by Christopher HolmanThink osteoporosis only happens to women? Think again. This “silent” disease affects men, too. According to the CDC, osteoporosis affects about 1 in 20 men over age 65. Osteoporosis can weaken bones to the point that a break can occur more easily. Broken hips are especially serious, causing patients to be unable to live on their own – and significantly raising their risk of dying sooner.
Protect your bones and your long-term health! Learn more about risk factors, diagnosis and prevention tips for osteoporosis men.
Risk Factors
Men in their 50s do not experience the same rapid loss of bone mass that post-menopausal women, but by age 65 or 70 calcium absorption (essential for bone health) decreases in both sexes. That’s when osteoporosis becomes an increasingly larger risk for men. In fact, 1 in 8 men over age 50 will have an osteoporotic fracture.
Diagnosis
One of the reasons osteoporosis is call “the silent disease” is because it shows no symptoms. Patients realize they have it when they sustain a broken bone. What can you do? If you’re over age 50, ask your doctor about screening tests. In addition to X-rays, urine and blood tests, he or she may also order a bone mineral density test. This painless, non-invasive and safe test can identify osteoporosis and determine your risk for fractures.
Prevention
Both men and women reach peak bone density by their early 20s. That’s why good nutrition and calcium intake is so important for children and adolescents. So, what can you do as you get older? Two words: Live healthy!
Ready to learn more? Come see the bone health experts at Orthopedic Institute. Our team is trained in musculoskeletal diseases and treatments. We’ll help you understand your risks before you experience a fracture or a major surgery such as hip replacement.
Essential Strength & Stability Exercises for Female Golfers
/in Shoulder and Elbow, Sports Medicine /by Christopher HolmanAn average golfer makes roughly 50-60 full swings per round. Each swing puts our joints near their end range of motion, particularly in the shoulders, spine and hips. If one does not possess the range of motion or strength to do this, then we put ourselves at additional risk of injury – which is why 46% of women suffer from low back pain and injuries from golfing.
Reduce your risk of injury with these essential strength and stability exercises for all golfers—but especially women.
Working with many golfers, healthy and injured, I notice trends in the physical characteristics between male and female golfers. For example, women tend to have much better mobility while men typically possess more strength while lacking range of motion.
Because of this, female golfers usually benefit from strength and stability exercise routines to help their muscles better protect their body while swinging a golf club. A simple warm-up routine (before you touch a golf club) that activates these muscles will have drastic effects on your body’s capabilities.
Use these two simple exercises to increase stability in your back and core, and to help protect your spine while golfing. If necessary, I recommend a physical screen and swing analysis to determine specific areas of emphasis that can improve your golf game and keep your body healthy.
Arm/Leg Floor Stretch
“Y” Exercise Ball Stretch
Adam Halseth is a Physical Therapist and Golf Medical Professional with a Level 3 certification from the Titleist Performance Institute. He specializes in sports medicine and golf rehabilitation, and directs the OI Golf Medicine Program. Adam graduated from Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences with his Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2014.
Shoulder Pain Relief: What You Need to Know
/in Uncategorized /by Christopher HolmanThe shoulder joint is one of the most complex areas in your body. It allows you to move your arms 360 degrees, and also provides the stability needed for all the bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments in your shoulders and arms to work together. All this range of motion increases the likelihood of shoulder pain and mobility issues, especially as we age.
Check out these top causes of shoulder pain, and what you need to know to start feeling better.
Shoulder Osteoarthritis
Shoulder osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that occurs when the cartilage that lines the sides of the shoulder joint is worn or torn away. It’s seen most often in people over age 50, but can occur in younger people as a result of injury or trauma. It’s time to see a doctor if you’re experiencing:
Rotator Cuff Tears
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint, keeping the head of your upper arm bone firmly within your shoulder socket. Rotator cuff tears occur most often in people who repeatedly perform overhead motions in their jobs or sports – but can occur as a result of a single injury. It’s time to see a doctor if you’re experiencing:
Adhesive Capsulitis (Frozen Shoulder)
This condition is just how it sounds —“frozen shoulder” causes pain and stiffness in the shoulder muscles and joints that make it difficult or impossible to move. This condition can last for years and develops in three stages:
Chronic Shoulder Instability
Have you ever dislocated your shoulder? Chronic shoulder instability occurs when the head of the upper arm bone is forced out of the shoulder socket, usually as a result of a sudden injury or from overuse. Once a shoulder has dislocated the chances of it happening again increase – and can be the reason for repeated dislocations. It’s time to see a doctor if you’re experiencing:
Wondering what you can do to help relieve shoulder pain right now? Here are 5 tips for feeling better, fast.
We’re here to help! Make an appointment today or visit one of our walk-in clinics.
5 Alternative Non-Surgical Treatments for Head & Neck Pain
/in Neck and Spine, Pain Management, Physical Therapy /by Christopher HolmanHead and neck pain can occur for a variety of reasons. Some pain will go away with time, or through a change in lifestyle or behavior. But if you’re dealing with head and neck pain that lasts more than a few days and doesn’t improve with over-the-counter pain medicine, it’s time to make an appointment with one of our pain management specialists for diagnosis and treatment.
Depending on the cause of your head and neck pain, these five non-surgical treatments might be effective for you.
1. Physical Therapy
From muscle tenderness, tension and tightness to poor posture – certain types of headaches and neck pain can be relieved through physical therapy treatments. A trained physical therapist can design an exercise plan that strengthens your neck muscles and takes pressure off your spine. They might also apply heat or cold pads during a therapy session to either increase blood flow and range of motion (heat) or decrease blood flow and inflammation (cold). Still other physical therapy treatments could include therapeutic massage, chiropractic treatment and/or neck-strengthening exercises you can do at home.
2. Trigger Point Injections
Trigger points are areas in muscle that are very irritable, and, when pressed, produce a twitch within the affected muscle. A trigger point may produce not only pain in the affected muscle, but in a distant area, including locations in the head and neck, called referred pain. Trigger points may develop because of trauma, injury, inflammation, or other factors. A trigger point injection is a procedure where a medication, usually a local anesthetic, is injected into the painful muscle to provide relief. The pain relief should be experienced not only in the affected muscle, but in the area of referred pain as well.
3. Anti-Inflammatory Steroid Injections
If your pain is being cause by inflammation around the nerves in your neck, a cervical epidural steroid injection can help by “coating” the nerves in the area. Patients experiencing a herniated disc, a degenerated disc, osteoarthritis or inflammation that reduces the space around the nerves can benefit from this type of treatment. The goal of the injection is to reduce inflammation and associated nerve pain – and the injection itself is given with the patient laying face down under local anesthetic.
4. Botox injections
Think BOTOX® is just for wrinkles? Think again. It can be effective for the treatment of adults with cervical dystonia—a condition that causes the muscles in your neck to tighten or spasm without your control. BOTOX injections can reduce the severity of abnormal head position and neck pain. If you have chronic migraines (≥ 15 days per month) with headache lasting 4 hours a day or longer, this treatment could also be right for you.
5. Radiofrequency Ablation (Rhizotomy)
Yes, it sounds complicated. But in reality, Radiofrequency Ablation (or RFA) is a non-surgical, outpatient therapy procedure that’s used to help patients with chronic head and neck pain related to spinal arthritis. As with any non-surgical treatment, this procedure is only recommended after thorough examination and diagnosis. During the RFA procedure, heat is delivered to targeted nerve tissues, preventing pain signals from reaching the brain.
If you or a loved one are experiencing chronic head or neck pain, don’t wait. Learn more about our pain management program and all the options available to you at Orthopedic Institute.
Should You See a Physical Therapist?
/in Physical Therapy /by Christopher HolmanSo you know you’ve injured yourself. You’ve got the pain or the swelling to prove it. But with so many varieties of physicians, specialists and therapists from which to choose, how are you to know when is the right time to involve a physical therapist?
Take a look at some of the following common pain points and whether they necessitate a visit to a physical therapist.
Lingering Pain
Immediately after an injury, it’s often best to do what your body is demanding of you: rest. Take a few days off from normal activities, apply ice, and give the injury some time to heal. However, if its been three or four days, and returning to normal activity is still causing you to wince, it may be time to visit a physical therapist. They can figure out the source of the pain and prescribe a plan of action.
Low Mobility
Whatever the reason for it, sometimes your body’s mobility is limited. It can be caused by injury, disease or even simply aging. When it comes to reinvigorating your lost mobility and range of motion, often the best person to see is a physical therapist, as this type of health professional is trained to evaluate and treat matters of movement and flexibility.
Poor Posture
Is your posture suffering? When it comes to sitting for great lengths of the day, you might notice your shoulders hunching over and giving you back pain related to the way you sit up (or don’t). If you’re looking to improve this, a physical therapist may be your first step. He or she can work with your body mechanics to determine the best ways to build up your balance and sitting habits.
Recurring Injuries
When you’re out on the field or at work exerting yourself, you’re bound to encounter a pull, sprain or strain now and again. However, if you’re finding yourself experiencing the same pain over and over again, it may be time to call in the professionals. The best plan when you’re experiencing a moderate to severe level of pain due to a recurring injury is to see a physical therapist. He or she can work with you to determine exactly how you continue to injure yourself, as well as how to avoid pain in the future.
Know your needs
The most important thing to remember is that, if you have pain, address it. Even if you’re unsure to whom you should speak, make sure you’re seen in a timely manner to avoid worsening injury. We’re here to help.
4 Key Benefits of Going to an Orthopedic Walk-In Clinic
/in Orthopedic Institute, Walk In Clinic - OI Now /by Christopher HolmanWhether it’s scheduling, varying degrees of urgency or fear of price tags, dealing with orthopedic emergencies or non-emergencies can be tricky. Thankfully, orthopedic walk-in clinics provide an option for those acute injuries and pain and they don’t require an appointment.
Here are four key benefits of an orthopedic walk-in clinic, a feature that Orthopedic Institute (OI) happens to offer.
Avoid Unnecessary ER Visits
Not every injury is alike. That’s why some minor, non-emergency injuries that require treatment but may not be urgent enough to foot the bill for an emergency room visit can be dealt with thanks to orthopedic walk-in clinics. Say you experienced a knee sprain or fracture during an evening sporting event—you may be more inclined to take this condition to an orthopedic walk-in clinic than to a potentially pricey emergency wing of a hospital.
Be Seen After Hours
Speaking of time of day, one of the biggest benefits of orthopedic walk-in clinics for daytime workers is the ability to be seen after hours for spur-of-the-moment issues such as flare-up pain, dislocation, fracture or muscle spasm that is causing loss of sleep. Timing may vary from clinic to clinic, but these walk-in-style situations will typically offer hours both after 5 p.m. on weekdays and on weekends for added availability. For example, OI’s own walk-in clinic in Sioux Falls provides weekday hours from 3 to 7 p.m., and Saturday hours from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. In Yankton, we see patients Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Reduce Costs
It can be expensive to see a doctor in an immediate situation. Luckily, walk-in orthopedic clinics often provide flexible hours for more immediate care in cases of injury or sudden pain. Better yet, specialty clinics such as OI have the equipment available for treating these types of injuries—which isn’t always true of a general walk-in clinic. These general clinics may be able to diagnose and offer minimal services and pain relief but will often times require a referral to follow up with a different clinic or physician.
A walk-in clinic at a specialized healthcare provider such as an orthopedic clinic can offer you highly personalized care that a general urgent-care clinic may not be able to provide—not immediately, at least. OI’s walk-in clinic puts you in front of an orthopedic health professional from the get-go to meet your specific needs.
See the Right Healthcare Providers
One of the key benefits of an orthopedic walk-in clinic is that, if you need to be referred to a specialist, such as a hand, foot and ankle, or back specialist, a walk-in clinic healthcare professional can supply you the connection you need to be seen by the appropriate people, often in a timelier manner than you may expect. OI’s team consists of a variety of caregivers, from physical and occupational therapists to interventional pain management services to orthopedic surgeons, so you have comprehensive orthopedic care at your disposal.
Ready to Be Seen?
Click here for details on how to be seen at OI’s walk-in clinics, OI Now.
Hip Replacement Success Stories
/in Hip, Pain Management /by Christopher HolmanMost people wouldn’t describe getting a hip replacement as a “walk in the park.” Weeks of rehab and struggling to get around can cause many people to put off getting a necessary surgery. However, Lee Goldammer and Tony Bosch had excellent experiences with OI when they decided to pursue anterior hip replacements.
Lee Goldammer
How did you first learn about OI?
My wife worked for OI years ago, and that’s how I got there. I had Dr. Zoellner do my first hip replacement—my niece recommended him.
What was your first experience with OI?
My initial experience was my first hip surgery. They cut most along the side, and I underwent therapy for about a month. Although rehab took a few weeks, I still got along well. That’s just the way it was back then.
How did you decide to get the anterior hip replacement completed?
I heard about this new type of surgery and how Dr. Rothrock would perform the surgery. I knew I would be in the hospital two to three days, and Dr. Rothrock said the amount of therapy I wanted to take on was up to me.
I remember my hip hurt so badly that I couldn’t raise my leg, so I went ahead with the surgery. Afterward, I pulled my leg up immediately, and there wasn’t any pain.
What was therapy like for this surgery?
There was no therapy after that – the doctor simply gave me a few things to do. I used a walker for two or three days, and then I went to a cane. I was easily going up and down steps in about two weeks.
What would you say to someone who is considering this surgery?
I recommend it right away—I recommend it to everybody. I’ve talked to four or five people, and I tell them it’s a piece of cake. There was much less rehab than after my first surgery.
You can be on your way in no time. Everyone has a tendency to put it off. I know it’s hard to do, because no one likes surgery, but they always say they wish they had done it a long time before.
Tony Bosch
How did you first learn about OI?
My wife had some surgery done with Dr. Looby. She had a sciatic nerve problem. I had seen Dr. Looby before—I didn’t know who he was at time – but I went to the fitness center and I saw him, but didn’t realize he was my wife’s doctor until later.
What was your first experience with OI?
After my wife’s surgery, Dr. Looby came into the consultation room and we got to visiting. So I knew him when my hip started hurting. Next thing you know I have this hip causing me trouble. Dr. Looby said Dr. Adler was really good with hips. So I went in for an appointment, had the X-rays, and Dr. Adler told me my hip was full of arthritis. I asked him if we could do it soon, and he was able to make it happen for me the very next day.
I never missed one day of work after the surgery. I went to work after the surgery, set my walker off to the side, and I never used the walker, a cane or anything. The hardest part was training my head not to limp! Someone saw me afterwards and asked, “Didn’t you just have hip surgery? You’re limping pretty bad.” But my hip didn’t hurt at all. I was limping just because I was used to limping for so long because of my hip pain. So I took about a week for me to learn to stop limping.
What was your experience with the doctors like?
Dr. Adler is just one fabulous human being. Orthopedic Institute is very lucky to have him, Dr. Adler and Dr. Mitch Johnson. We are blessed to have this kind of medical facility, Orthopedic Institute, in Sioux Falls.
What was therapy like for this surgery?
I didn’t need any therapy. I mean, I had a total hip replacement. No therapy. Zero! You just knew when it started hurting that you needed to take a break.
What would you say to someone who is considering this surgery?
I wouldn’t look any further. Dr. Adler is the best there is as far as I am concerned. He’s not only a great surgeon but a great human being. He has patient charisma, he’s the whole package.
How To Tell When Your Child’s Elbow Injury Is Serious
/in Elbow, Fractures and Trauma, Pain Management /by Christopher HolmanKids have a way of getting into all kinds of mishaps. Whether it’s a fall from the monkey bars or trampoline, a collision playing sports or simply wrestling with the dog – elbow injuries are common with children. They can involve three bones: the humerus (upper arm), the radius and the ulna (forearm). Unfortunately, injuries that occur near the elbow may often require surgery.
Here’s how to tell if your child’s elbow injury is serious.
Home treatment with RICE (rest, ice, compression and elevation) plus over-the-counter pain medication can relieve minor aches and pains for a strained or “bumped” elbow.
However, serious elbow injuries will present much differently. If you child complains of elbow pain after a fall and/or experiences any of these symptoms, it’s time to see an orthopedic physician immediately.
During the visit, expect your doctor to order X-rays to evaluate if a fracture has occurred. Because a child’s bones are still forming, your doctor may request X-rays of both arms for comparison. Soft tissue injuries such as ligament strains, sprains or tears can also occur particularly in “hanging” injuries commonly seen in playground accidents. No matter the injury, skilled evaluation can assist you in helping your child to heal as quickly as possible.
Childhood elbow injuries are all-too common and nearly always occur as a result of a fall. In other words, there’s no time to waste. Learn more about our convenient walk-in clinics.
Outpatient Joint Replacement Surgery: The Benefits & How to Prepare
/in Foot and Ankle, Knee, Shoulder and Elbow /by Christopher HolmanThe idea of an outpatient procedure is always an attractive one—the ability to have your surgery and return home the same day can be valuable. In fact, at Orthopedic Institute (OI), joint replacement surgeries can often be performed outpatient—as much as 90 percent of such surgeries at OI are outpatient for select scenarios.
From total shoulder replacements to knee and hip procedures, why does outpatient matter—and how should you prepare?
The Benefits
Among the obvious benefit of being in the comfort of your own home post-surgery, outpatient procedures can have other marked benefits. Without the expense of a hospital stay, outpatient surgery will typically save money on your final bill. It has also been shown anecdotally to be less stressful—the familiarity of home often makes a great recovery space. It also means less of a time strain on your schedule—you can book your appointment on an ideal day and keep any unnecessary time off from work or other commitments to a minimum.
Preparing for Surgery
Informing Your Team
One of the first steps of prepping for an outpatient joint replacement surgery is informing your team of physicians about what medications you’re currently taking regularly. Some medications may need to be halted in advance of your surgery day, including over-the-counter medicine such as ibuprofen or aspirin. Make sure to provide honest answers to medical history questions—these will play an important role in clearing you for the procedure.
Getting Tested
Your doctor may order some tests prior to the procedure—these pre-op examinations may include X-rays, blood tests and EKGs to determine your readiness for surgery. Your physician should also provide you with materials you may need to help you better understand what the surgery entails—including what to bring on the day of, what will be the goal of the surgery and joint exercises to try leading up to the date.
Post-Surgical Recovery
Upon leaving the clinic, your surgeon or physician will offer you advice on how to care for yourself from home. For starters, you should plan on having someone to drive you—post-surgery, it’s recommended you don’t operate a vehicle due to drowsy or dizzy conditions. You should use medication as prescribed or recommended by your doctor—and make sure you have a phone number handy to call a qualified nurse or physician if you have any questions about medications or other elements of the recovery process.
3 Common Causes of Thumb Pain
/in Hand and Wrist, Pain Management, Physical Therapy /by Christopher HolmanYears of working hard and participating in your favorite hobbies can potentially take a toll on your body, especially your fingers. Think about how much strain you likely place on your hands over your lifetime. It’s no surprise, then, that many people start to feel aches and pains in their thumbs.
Are you starting to feel pain or stiffness in your thumbs? Read into these three common causes of thumb pain.
1. Trigger Thumb
Trigger thumb occurs when your thumb remains stuck in a bent position, as if squeezing a trigger. This occurs when tendons become irritated and swollen and can’t move easily. Sometimes a bump may form on the tendon, adding to movement difficulty. Farmers, musicians or people in industrial occupations commonly experience trigger thumb due to the heavy reliance and strain on their fingers.
Signs of trigger thumb include:
2. De Quervain’s Tendinosis
When tendons at the base of the thumb become swollen or constricted, they may cause pain along the thumb side of the wrist. De Quervain’s tendinosis may occur from overuse, but it’s also associated with pregnancy and rheumatoid disease.
Signs of De Quervain’s tendinosis include:
3. Thumb Arthritis
There are several types of arthritis, but the type most often affecting the joint at the thumb’s base is osteoarthritis, a.k.a. “wear-and-tear” arthritis. This is found more often in women than men and tends to occur after 40 years of age. The most prominent symptom is pain at the base of the thumb when you grasp an object or apply force with your thumb.
Signs of thumb arthritis include:
Experiencing thumb pain?
We want to help. Contact us today at (605) 331-5890 or set up an appointment.