Gearing up for Fall Sports

Don’t Be Sidelined by Injuries

More than 8 million student athletes participate in fall sports and many of them will be sidelined before the end of the season due to a sports-related injury.  In fact, according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, nearly 1.8 million student athletes will be injured this year.

Heat exhaustion, sprains and strains, and acute injuries are commonly seen in athletes returning to fall sports. After a long summer, kids are less physically prepared to hit the playing field, which can lead to an increase in injuries. A pre-season physical, wearing properly-fitting equipment and recognizing pain early can prevent some of these injuries.

Following are some of the most common injuries faced by athletes that participate in the fall’s most popular sports, including football, basketball and wrestling:

Football
More than 920,000 student athletes are treated for football-related injuries each year – the most of any fall sport. The most common football-related injuries include:
• Strains and sprains: These are the most common injuries in football and usually affect the ankle, knee or wrist. Signs of this type of injury include pain, swelling, bruising and limited ability to move the affected muscle or joint.
• Fractures: Fractures to the wrist, arm and leg account for more than one quarter of all serious football injuries. Bruises, swelling, localized pain and the inability to move the affected area, are all signs of a fracture.
• ACL tears: Indications of a possible ACL tear include hearing a “pop,” instability of the knee, immediate pain and swelling.
• Concussions: If a player experiences a significant “blow” to the head it can be very serious. They should seek immediate medical treatment if they have a headache, nausea or confusion. Loss of consciousness is also possible.

Wrestling
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, wrestling ranks fourth in participation but second in the rate of injuries suffered by athletes. In addition to concussions, the most common wrestling-related injuries include:
• Prepatellar Bursitis: Also known as “housekeeper’s knee,” key symptoms include swelling and pain on the top of the kneecap along with limited movement.
• Rotator cuff tendonitis: The wear and tear on the shoulder during wrestling can cause tendonitis, which is an inflammation within the shoulder joint. This can cause pain with movement of the arm, trouble sleeping due to pressure on the shoulder and weakness of the arm when reaching overhead.

Basketball
Each year, more than 481,000 basketball-related injuries are treated, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Some of the most common basketball injuries seen are:
• Jammed fingers: Blunt impact to the tips of fingers can cause the joints in the fingers to jam, causing pain, bruising and swelling.
• Ankle sprains: Pay attention to tenderness, pain and swelling around the ankle. These symptoms, along with the loss of movement of the ankle, can indicate an ankle sprain.
• Plantar Fasciitis: A sharp pain in the heel of the foot, especially in the morning, is a common symptom of this injury.

As with any time of year, athletes that participate in fall sports must make sure their bodies are properly conditioned before hitting the playing field. If they do experience discomfort or an injury they should seek help from their onsite medical staff and follow up medical care from an experienced orthopedic surgeon.

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Hitting the Golf Links Safely

Preventing shoulder, elbow and wrist injuries on the course

Even though golf is a low-risk sport, injuries can occur. According to the Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, more than 100,000 golf-related injuries are treated each year.  Shoulder, wrist and elbow injuries occur most often in golf. Most shoulder injuries are due to overuse, while wrist and elbow injuries most likely occur due to improper swing or holding the clubs the wrong way.

Dr. Arthur Rettig recommends some simple ways you can prevent an injury from sidelining you from the links:

• Warm Up and Strengthen Your Muscles – Warm up your muscles to prevent strain. Also, by strengthening your forearm and shoulder muscles, it will help decrease shock in the arm when hitting the ball and reduce the risk of tendonitis or “golfer’s elbow.”

• Learn the Correct Technique and Practice Gradually – By learning the proper way to swing, you will put less strain on your muscles and joints.  Tendonitis or tears of the rotator cuff can occur with poor backswing or overuse. Lessons from a golf instructor will help ensure the correct form.

• Use Correct Equipment – Using clubs that are too heavy or light may increase the risk of shoulder strain. It is important to use the correct equipment for your body type. Also, replace club handle grips as needed and get larger, softer grips to decrease wrist injuries.

• Wear the Proper Clothing – Wearing comfortable clothing protects you from the elements and wearing shoes such as cleats help your feet grip the ground, allowing for a more stable swing.
If you experience pain for more than seven days, visit an orthopedic surgeon to determine the extent of your injury and treatment options. While most injuries are not severe, more extensive injuries such as a torn rotator cuff or carpal tunnel syndrome may require surgery.  A delay in treatment could cause further damage and keep you off the course when the greens beckon.

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Question of the Day

Question of the Day

Transcript from Indianapolis Colts “Medical Minute”

Question: My husband dislocated his shoulder two days ago.  He said it happened once before in high school but that it feels much worse this time.  Does he need surgery?

Answer: There is a very good chance that surgery won’t be necessary. 

When young people experience shoulder injuries, about 95 percent will have recurrent problems in the future.  However, if this is your husband’s first injury since high school, he should respond well to a combination of ice, pain medications and physical therapy. Of course, if the pain and disability continue, we could certainly consider surgery as another option.

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Game. Set. Health.

For someone who enjoys playing and watching tennis as much as I do, this is a perfect time of year to find your racquet and join a friend on the court. It’s also a good time to fine-tune your mechanics and prepare your body for the challenge to avoid injuries
Over the years, I have treated many recreational athletes and tennis pros alike at Methodist Sports Medicine / The Orthopedic Specialists. I had the great pleasure of serving as the orthopedic consultant for the Indy Tennis Championships (formerly the RCA Championships) for 13 years until it recently moved to Atlanta. The professional players sustain injuries that are primarily related to the extreme exertion they sustain over a season that now stretches over the entire year. Recreational players, on the other hand, sustain injuries that are primarily related to poor stroke mechanics, improper equipment, and suboptimal conditioning. Many common injuries can be prevented and that’s why we recently created three educational YouTube videos at the Five Seasons Family Sports Club in Indianapolis. The videos cover proper tennis mechanics, common tennis injuries and the benefits of youth tennis.

The Five Seasons tennis pros demonstrate some of the common mistakes made by recreational players that can lead to injury. They discuss the importance of footwork and balance as essential elements of putting the player into position to hit the ball properly. Additionally they emphasize the importance of the connection of the right and left sides of the body in producing smooth effortless strokes.

In the YouTube video about common tennis injuries, we explain the basic care of acute minor injuries following the R.I.C.E. (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation) treatment formula. Injuries which don’t resolve in a few days with the basic care may require the attention of a sports medicine physician.
Youth tennis is another important topic. I encourage parents to teach your children tennis at a young age because it’s one of the safer sports for them to play. In addition, there are long-term health benefits for children who start playing at a young age and continue playing as an adult. We discuss those positives and other benefits in the third YouTube video.
Visit our YouTube channel to watch the videos and tell us what you think in the comments section.

http://www.youtube.com/user/MethodistsSports?feature=watch

Read Dr. Sallay’s “Healthy Tennis” articles in Midwest Tennis Magazine.

http://www.methodistsports.com/physicians/peter_sallay/documents/Dr.SallayTennis_Articles.pdf

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Comment on Shoulder Pain At Night by duane

As many as 30 percent of the population will suffer some type of shoulder injury in their lifetime.  It’s bad enough that your shoulder injury can impact your daily activities but what if you have shoulder pain at night?  This can dramatically affect your sleeping pattern and cut down on the amount of sleep you get every night.

And we all know that people who get less than the 7-8 hours of recommended sleep each night are at a higher risk of developing many of the major diseases such as cancer and heart disease.

Before we learn why it is you have shoulder pain at night, it’s important to learn which type of shoulder injury it is you are suffering from so we can rule out ‘I just slept in weird position one night and that’s why my shoulder hurts’.

There are 4 common shoulder injuries that you could be suffering from which could be causing your shoulder pain at night:  Bursitis, Tendonitis, Rotator Cuff , or a Frozen shoulder injury.  Let’s examine more closely each of these type of injuries so you know for sure which one it is you are suffering with.

Shoulder Bursitis is typically described as pain that originates in the upper arm.  The bursa is a fluid filled sac that keeps the tendons and muscles of the shoulder lubricated and moving freely.  An injury such as shoulder bursitis typically occurs when you fall onto a hard surface with your shoulder or you receive blunt force trauma to your shoulder or upper arm.  Shoulder bursitis can sometimes occur from performing repetitive activities that involves excessive shoulder rotation over a period of time but some people report bursitis developing suddenly out of nowhere.

The way to really tell if you have shoulder bursitis is that if the pain sometimes radiates down your arm, past your elbow and into your wrist, then there is a good chance you are suffering from shoulder bursitis.  Pain in your shoulder increases when you lift your arm over your head or you lie on your injured shoulder.  Bursitis is common in people who perform activities such as hanging drapes, wallpaper, painting and/or washing windows – just to name a few.

Another common type of shoulder injury is frozen shoulder.  Frozen shoulder is typically described as a shoulder injury that decreases the range of motion of the shoulder.  Sufferers of frozen shoulder usually describe difficulties in moving their arm across their body, reaching behind their back or raising the arm above their head.

The strangest thing with a frozen shoulder injury is that the cause of this injury is pretty much unknown.  But what is known is that frozen shoulder commonly occurs in people who have extended periods of a lack of mobilization of the shoulder and arm, had experienced a previous shoulder injury or trauma or have had shoulder surgery in the past.

And last but definitely not least, a rotator cuff/shoulder tendonitis injury.  This is by far the most commonly reported type of shoulder injury that affects millions of people every year.  Rotator cuff injuries most commonly occur in the workplace, sports arena or pretty much any type of physical activity or sport.  It knows no gender or age.

But the real tell tale sign of a rotator cuff injury is shoulder pain at night.  As the day goes on, rotator cuff sufferers report an increase in muscle weakness and tenderness in the shoulder combined with a cracking or grinding noise when they raise their arm out to the side or in front of them due to their rotator cuff tear.  A rotator cuff injury rarely comes on all of a sudden.  It’s usually a result of performing some sort of repetitive actions on a daily or weekly basis that involves excessive shoulder rotation or lifting heavy objects overhead.

Some of the more high risk activities and groups of people who may develop a rotator cuff injury include:  weightlifters, tennis players, swimmers, skiers, any sport that involves throwing, rugby players, painters, postal workers, hairdressers, golfers, dentists, dental assistants, cashiers, construction workers, assembly line workers – just to name a few.

But here’s the good news!  You can completely eliminate your shoulder pain at night and get a good nights rest each and every night!  All it really takes to completely stop your shoulder pain and cure your nagging rotator cuff injury are 4 simple, step-by-step techniques that you can do from the comfort of your own living room without any special exercise equipment or gadgets!

If you’ve had enough of the sleepless nights, tossing and turning, and feel tired when you wake up in the morning, here’s your chance to fix your shoulder pain right now!

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Rotator cuff injury cause headaches?

Start having headaches can occur for people who have a rotator cuff injury. While there is no direct connection between these two, you can have headaches because of the stress of having an injury or perhaps due to fatigue from lack of physical activity.

To counter this and get back in shape, would be able to start to do rotator cuff exercises, particularly those found at the rotator cuff recovery Kit. Instead of getting a workout to chance, this is a highly organized program that will be able to afford tremendous relief and recovery with their superior rotator cuff exercises.

Moreover, these would be very convenient since the videos could be easily transferred and played on portable devices. There are also illustrations of exercises so that you wouldn't have to worry about getting lost. Get rid of Rotator cuff injury, as well as indirect headaches would be just a few days away, once you find the rotator cuff recovery Kit.

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Comment on Rotator Cuff Exercises by Should I Apply Ice or Heat for Rotator Cuff Injury | RotatorCuffInjuryTips.net

As with any type of injury, one of the most important elements for a successful recovery is following a specific set of exercises. And for an injury such as a rotator cuff injury, there are some very important rotator cuff exercises that everyone should follow if you want to completely cure your torn rotator cuff and eliminate your rotator cuff pain once and for all.

In as many as two thirds of all rotator cuff injuries, the sufferer has some degree of scapular instability and muscle imbalance.  As a result, it is very important to include scapular strengthening exercises as an early part of any good rotator cuff exercise rehab system.

There are dozens of rotator cuff exercises that will help you recover from a rotator cuff tear. Instead of going into all of these exercises I want to share with you, two rotator cuff exercises that I believe will give you the best chance for recovery.  The reason I am choosing these 2 is because there is a large degree of posterior(back) rotator cuff activation. It is very important that you always perform a combination of low weight and high repetition when you are doing these exercises.

Due to the fact that your rotator cuff muscles are small, high endurance and resistance are important as this will help improve the blood supply to your injured muscles which will help speed up your recovery time.

Rotator Cuff Exercise #1

External Rotation from Side-lying Position

Lie on the unaffected side of your body with your head supported by your hand.Put a pillow or towel roll between your torso and the affected armKeep your elbow bent and your arm tightly to your sideLift your arm in an external rotation, lower it and repeatCan also be done using tubingDo 2 sets of 15 repetitions

Rotator Cuff Exercise #2

Shoulder Extension with External Rotation

Lie face down on table or stability ball, with arms hanging down perpendicular to your bodyRaise your arms backward, your palms will be facing the floorLift your arms to body level and hold for a momentIn a controlled movement, return your arms to the original position.Do 2 sets of 15 repetitions

As you can see, you don’t need any special exercise equipment to perform these exercises.  The weight of a water bottle will provide enough resistance.  It’s important to keep a strict form throughout these exercises, less really is more when you are trying to recover from a rotator cuff injury.

I recommend you perform these rotator cuff specific exercises every other day for a week.  You should a vast improvement in your range of motion, an increase in shoulder strength and a decrease in should pain.

It’s important to know that the amount of money that you spend on trying to cure your torn rotator cuff does not translate into a speedier recovery.  How do I know this?  Because I too suffered from a rotator cuff tear just like you.  But I’m embarrassed to tell you that I spent hundreds of dollars trying to get rid of this disability only to discover that all so called “traditional treatment” methods did, was take away my money and not my pain.

And I don’t want you to make the same mistakes I did.

For those who are completely fed up with this nagging and stubborn injury and want to completely eliminate their torn rotator cuff and foot pain for good, all it really takes are 4 simple, step-by-step techniques that you can do from the comfort of your own home, sitting in the chair you are in right now without any special exercise equipment or rotator cuff exercise or medical gadgets!

Simply click on the button below and let me show you just how easy it is!

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How long after torn rotator cuff surgery can I bring?

Go through rotator cuff surgery can lead to a long path to recovery. He then followed to do certain tasks such as driving should be avoided, unless approved to do so. However, it should be understood that there are certain aspects that could be followed in order to speed up the recovery process.

Mainly, this could be done, doing exercises for the rotator cuff. The rotator cuff recovery Kit is the perfect way to solve this in your lifestyle. The efficient rotator cuff exercises are all clinically proven to be what you need to do to get your shoulders to function optimally again.

In addition to that, you don't need to use any medicines just to combat the pain, as pain relief in this program will be all yours in just 48 hours. Get the rotator cuff recovery Kit now and see how well you can drive again just to do rotator cuff exercises.

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Fixing a Rotator Cuff Tear

Rotator cuff tears are common occurrences that often happen later in life. For those with this injury, even the simplest tasks can seem daunting and painful.

Fortunately, there are ways to prevent a rotator cuff tear.  Many orthopedic surgeons recommend one or all of the following prevention techniques: regular exercise; resting after using repetitive arm and shoulder motions; and applying cold or heat packs to reduce shoulder pain or inflammation. However, if you are unable to prevent a rotator cuff tear, there are many things you and your orthopedic surgeon need to consider before determining the form of treatment that will best treat your injury.

The decision on how to treat rotator cuff tears is based on the patient’s severity of symptoms, functional requirements and presence of other illnesses that may complicate treatment. At first your physician might recommend a nonsurgical treatment approach, which may include activity modification (avoidance of activities that cause symptoms), anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy. 

Research shows that 50 percent of patients who use nonsurgical treatment options will receive relief from pain and discomfort.  However, the other 50 percent will need to consult with their orthopedic surgeon to determine if their injury requires surgery. Following are a few things to consider when making that decision:

• Degree of Symptoms – Patients with minimal symptoms may choose to delay surgery in an effort to achieve success with nonsurgical treatment options. On the other hand, patients who have more constant pain, difficulty with simple activities (e.g., getting dressed, lifting household objects), or pain at night interfering with sleep may opt to have surgery immediately.

• Requirement & Expectations – Some patients might not need rotator cuff surgery if their symptoms don’t interfere with their usual activities. On the other hand, athletic patients who injure their shoulder may choose surgery in order to return to their sport of choice.

• Type of Tear – Smaller tears can be monitored to determine if nonsurgical treatments can help alleviate symptoms. On the flip side, larger tears could benefit from earlier surgical intervention. Large tears can retract (leading to a permanently shortened tendon), and the muscle may irreversibly weaken, making it more difficult to delay repair. In patients with these tears, early surgery might help increase the likelihood of a successful recovery.

• Age of the Patient – Rotator cuff tears in people less than forty are rare but they do occur, and generally require surgery.  Rotator cuff tears will not heal without assistance and evidence shows that tears will likely increase in size as time goes by.  Admittedly, orthopedic surgeons do not know when this will occur, so those patients that have higher physical demands will likely need surgical intervention to repair a tear.

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What is Shoulder Stiffness?

Shoulder stiffness can be a symptom of many common shoulder problems. Unlike shoulder weakness, a patient with shoulder stiffness has a diminished range of motion even when assisted. Also, this patient will experience pain around the shoulder and arm and will have trouble raising his or her arm over their head.

This stiffness can be a symptom of a number of different shoulder conditions including frozen shoulder, rotator cuff tears, shoulder tendonitis and shoulder arthritis. Following are brief descriptions of these conditions.  However, it is important to seek the opinion of an orthopedic specialist to determine the cause of your particular shoulder stiffness.

Frozen Shoulder occurs when the capsule of tissue that surrounds the shoulder joint becomes contracted, and it affects about 2 percent of the general population between the ages of 40 and 60. It is a difficult condition for a patient to identify, and although it is twice as likely to occur in females, its causes are undetermined. Other risk factors include: diabetes or thyroid problems, a period of shoulder immobilization following injury or surgery and Parkinson’s disease or heart disease.

Rotator cuff tears are most common in people over the age of 40. Younger people often experience a rotator cuff tear as a result of an acute trauma. A rotator cuff tear is defined by pain, usually over the top of the shoulder and arm. It also causes weakness in the shoulder making lifting objects and your arm over the head difficult.  It can be caused by a single traumatic injury or overuse of the muscles for many years.

Shoulder tendonitis means there is an inflammation in the shoulder joint. It often occurs after an initial injury that becomes further irritated with additional use. Shoulder tendonitis causes pain on the top of the shoulder and arm, when lifting the arm above head height and while sleeping.

Shoulder arthritis usually falls into two categories: osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis and affects patients over 50 years of age. Osteoarthritis is caused by progressive wear-and-tear on the shoulder joint, and rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic condition that causes inflammation in the joint lining. The symptoms associated with shoulder arthritis are pain with use and activity, a limited range of motion, a stiffness, tenderness and swelling of the shoulder and a grinding feeling within the joint.

The symptoms for each of these conditions are very similar, so it is very important to seek the opinion of an orthopedic specialist to determine appropriate diagnosis and treatment, which may include:
• exercises and stretching
• application of moist heat or ice
• anti-inflammatory medications
• physical therapy
• cortisone injections
• surgery

Only your orthopedic surgeon will know the best treatment plan to treat your unique condition!

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Shouldering The Weight

Avoiding Common Weight Training-Injuries

Many athletes already have begun training and conditioning in preparation for fall sports. Activities such as weightlifting can help build strength and endurance, but if done improperly can lead to a serious shoulder injury. In fact, approximately 7.5 million people go to the doctor for a shoulder problem each year, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Some of the most common weightlifting shoulder injuries include a torn rotator cuff, tendinitis, bursitis, sprains and strains. Luckily there are ways to prevent, detect and treat these shoulder injuries. Follow these basic guidelines to lift weights more safely:

• Stretch before a workout: It’s important to warm up your muscles before lifting weights. Doing so will allow your muscles to become more flexible, which can help prevent future injuries.

• Don’t overdo it: A weightlifting routine should be done no more than four times a week for 20-30 minute sessions.  It’s always a good idea to conduct an evaluation with your trainer on a continuous basis to ensure you are using the proper lifting technique to avoid injury. Also, don’t increase weight amounts too quickly as this can place strain on muscles, which may cause you to use an improper? lifting technique.

• Know the warning signs of a shoulder injury:  There are several signs to look for to determine if you have suffered a shoulder injury. Those include a lack of movement and stiffness in the shoulder, inability to rotate the shoulder and arm in all normal positions, feeling that the shoulder could be dislocated and/or pain in the shoulder when doing daily activities. If you experience any or all of these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.

Shoulder injuries should not be ignored. If you do experience pain or lack of motion, it is essential to obtain a consultation with an orthopedic specialist who can diagnose your injury and determine the proper course of treatment. Depending on the extent of your injury, your doctor may recommend rest, prescription pain and anti-inflammatory medication, or possibly surgery.

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How many times is surgery needed with rotator cuff injury?

Even if surgery is able to fix problems in the rotator cuff in most cases, should not always be that the method should depend on people. On the one hand, it would subject the shoulders for a lot of trauma and pain. Also is very expensive because of the fees, as well as the necessary medication. The correct way to do this would be to do rotator cuff exercises that are intended to recover from injuries.

Large rotator cuff exercises for the rotator cuff recovery Kit are especially capable of ending the surgery, in addition to avoid future mishaps. With this program, you will get in an epiphany about why you always thought that surgery was the best option.

With the rotator cuff recovery Kit, you'll be fully educated on the pros and cons so that you wouldn't get yourself in more trouble. His shoulders will be subject to no trauma and will be much stronger. Get the rotator cuff recovery Kit now and see why surgery should be thought of as little as possible.

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You can see torn rotator cuff in x-ray?

To have an x-ray on his shoulders will be able to detect tears in the rotator cuff. However, it is not always as precise as getting an MRI procedure done, which is what most professionals would suggest. This will allow you to be more aware that part of his rotator cuff must be addressed.

In going about this, you may well choose to do rotator cuff exercises for the rotator cuff recovery Kit. The reliable rotator cuff exercises that could be found in this program are perfectly suited to allow people like you to recover from rotator cuff injuries. And eventually, you will be able to feel as if you are in better shape.

You'll get a daily workout with who is always on the way. Beside that, Mark Watson also shares a ton of advice that you need to be sharp on so you wouldn't have to endure any lesions in the future. Get the rotator cuff recovery Kit and feel this tear disappear before you know it.

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Shoulder pain from a torn rotator cuff be brought also to the neck?

Since the rotator cuff muscles cover a vast area of the shoulder, the side of the neck may also feel some amount of pain while the injury is still in its early stages. To remedy this inconvenience, there would be the need to engage in some form of physical therapy, like the rotator cuff exercises.

Preferably, only then should you seek medical attention if the basic home remedies do not progress. However, there would be high hopes for special cuff exercises that could be found since the rotator cuff recovery Kit. Mark Watson has designed a fantastic system that is focused on allowing the shoulders to recovery without having that catches fire in medicine and painkillers.

Yes. But it would take some time to do rotator cuff exercises according to a routine that must be drawn up in a training diary included. Moreover, there is a lot of useful tips and stretching exercises that could be followed to make the recovery most likely to succeed. Buy this program now to put an end to the pain in the neck, as well as the wear and tear of the rotator cuff that you have been keeping for a while.

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Male Athletes Suffer More Shoulder Injuries

A recent study published in the Journal of Athletic Training determined that male high school athletes in the United States are more likely than girls to suffer shoulder injuries. Researchers also found that shoulder injuries were three times more likely to occur during competition than in practice of football, baseball and wrestling.

The most common shoulder injuries included sprains, strains, dislocations, separations and fractures. Of those injuries, 6 percent required surgery, and dislocations and separations accounted for more than half of all shoulder surgeries. In addition to surgery, rehabilitation was extensive, with almost one in four athletes missing at least three weeks of their athletic season following their shoulder injury.

These findings illustrate that athletes need to take precautionary measures while competing. Following are a few things to consider:

• Do not ignore shoulder pain and “play through” an injury. This will only aggravate the condition and may possibly cause more problems.

• Early detection is key to prevent serious shoulder injuries.

• There are a number of shoulder exercises that athletes can do to strengthen their shoulder muscles, including:

- Basic shoulder strengthening – Attach elastic tubing to a doorknob at home. Gently pull the elastic tubing toward your body. Hold for a count of five. Repeat five times with each arm. Perform twice a day.

- Wall push-ups – Stand facing a wall with your hands on the wall and your feet shoulder-width apart. Slowly perform a push-up. Repeat five times. Hold for a count of five. Perform twice a day.

- Shoulder press-ups – Sit upright in a chair with armrest, with your feet touching the floor. Use your arms to slowly rise off the chair. Hold for a count of five. Repeat five times. Perform twice a day.
If you think you might be suffering from a shoulder injury, seek medical attention immediately. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

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Safety and Preparation are Imperative for Young Athletes

Medical Evaluations and Care for Injuries Should Be Top Priority

From baseball to soccer to football, everyday millions of children and young adults participate in sports activities. These activities teach children team work and improve their physical fitness, coordination and self-discipline.  It also increases their chance of experiencing sports-related injuries such as concussions, sprains, fractures, muscle tears, and back and neck injuries. However, there are measures that can be taken to help prevent these types of injuries, such as:
• Undergoing medical exams prior to the sport’s season, which should include concussion screenings and physical evaluations;
• Using proper protective gear, such as shin guards for soccer and helmets for football and baseball;
• Staying hydrated and always warming up before practice or a game;
• Never playing through pain or an injury.

If an athlete does experience an injury it is important that it is not ignored or taken lightly.
Sports-related injuries in children are of great concern because their bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments are still growing. To avoid long-term damage, young athletes should seek immediate care for any minor or serious injury.

Following are several signs to help determine if immediate care is needed:
• Inability to play following a sudden injury;
• Decreased ability to play due to a chronic or long-term complication following an injury;
• Visible deformity of the athlete’s arms or legs;
• Severe pain from a sudden injury, which may prevent the use of an arm or leg.

Sometimes, sports-related injuries occur after office hours or on the weekends.  If and when this happens I recommend that my patients visit the emergency room or an orthopedic walk-in clinic like the one we have at Methodist Sports Medicine / The Orthopedic Specialists. One of our fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons is available to treat patients with sudden or recent sports or active lifestyle-related injuries.  Patients can visit our Avon or Greenwood locations Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., or our Carmel location Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. For more information, please visit www.methodistsports.com or call 317-817-1200.

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How to care for a rotator cuff injury?

Caring for a rotator cuff injury is primarily important when it comes to restore shoulder function. Although there may be the option to visit the doctor, then just the rotator cuff exercises would be a better approach.

This is because there would be no chemicals involved, in addition to getting the body to work its way to repair the rotator cuff recovery Kit is an excellent program for effective rotator cuff exercises, which have been organised by experts in physical therapy, such as Mark Watson and his team.

There would also be a lot of videos and stretching techniques, in addition to the advice that he gives so that you would not find yourself going through the same injury again. To buy the program now and learn all there is to know when it comes to giving your unmistakable care of Rotator cuff injury.

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Comment on Ice or Heat for Torn Rotator Cuff Injury by crystal martin

When it comes to any type of injury, especially one that involves muscles, the first thing that comes to mind is heat – no – ice – yes, heat – yes – ice -no.  Should you apply heat or ice for a rotator cuff injury?  Which is it?

Some people say will tell you to put ice on an injured muscle and others will say completely opposite and tell you to apply heat first then ice.  Everyone claims to be an expert on this subject so I decided to write a blog post and give my thoughts on exactly what to do specifically for a rotator cuff injury.

If you’ve just suffered a rotator cuff injury, say within the last 48 hours, I recommend you apply ice to your shoulder.  With your new rotator cuff injury, there will be undoubtedly some swelling, pain and inflammation.  The first thing you need to do is to control keep the swelling to a minimum.  By simply applying ice you will immediately reduce the pain and muscle spasms and reduce any further bleeding of the damaged tissues and muscles.

As you apply the ice to your rotator cuff injury you will help prevent your shoulder from seizing up on you and allow you to have normal range of motion and functionality.  As with any repetitive stress injury such as a rotator cuff injury, part of your recovery will include a specific set of shoulder strengthening and rotator cuff exercises.  I recommend that after you perform these exercises, you apply ice immediately to your shoulder for at least 10 minutes.  This will help decrease any pain and help improve your shoulder’s range of motion.

If you don’t have an ice pack, you can use a bag of frozen peas or vegetables.  You should never apply ice directly to your skin as this can cause permanent skin damage.

After the first 48 hours of your rotator cuff injury, you can move onto using heat to help improve blood circulation for your muscles to recover and repair.  Heat helps blood vessels to open up which sends more blood to your injury.  Be careful when you apply heat as too much heat can burn your skin and cause as much damage as applying ice directly to the skin.  The easiest way to apply heat is with a hot water bottle or hot cloth.  Keep an eye on the color of your skin as to make sure you are not burning the skin.

Within the time it takes for you to recover from your rotator cuff injury, you will discover that ice will provide better pain relief than applying heat.  Icing provides a deeper penetration into your damaged muscles and tendons plus the relief you will feel will last longer.

So now that you know that ice is your best option for a rotator cuff injury, what you really need is a proven system that accelerates your healing process so you can get back to all your favorite sports and activities again – in the shortest possible time.

All it really takes are 4 simple, step-by-step techniques that you can do from the comfort and convenience of your own home without any special exercise equipment.  Simply click the ‘Learn More’ button below to learn just how easy it is to cure your rotator cuff injury and eliminate shoulder pain!

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QBS can come back from a torn rotator cuff?

Athletes have a tendency to worry about when it comes to going through an injury, as they may find themselves not being able to play the sport they love ever again. If you have gone through a rotator cuff tear, it is still possible for you to get back in the game as the QBS if you follow the right methods for getting better. It is ideal that you choose to do rotator cuff exercises.

One that is specifically designed to help in the recovery, just doing the exercises for rotator cuff would be the confidence of Rotator cuff recovery Kit. You must realize that a lot of athletes like you have already used this program with great success.

It would follow that if you adhere to the rotator cuff exercises in this program, you will be able to recover and improve your performance in sports, besides being far from any possible prejudice in the long run. However, you will also be informed of the things that you should refrain from making a smooth sail. Go back now rotator cuff recovery Kit and hop to their passion in no time.

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Can cause rotator cuff injury of elbow pain?

Although the rotator is just that innervate the shoulders, there are cases where the people would start to feel pain in your elbows. However, they must realize that there is a direct link between the two. Can be due to trauma experienced arm that also had to do with hitting your elbows hurt, or having it stretched during the event of injury.

Try massaging the area and avoid lifting heavy objects, using the injured arm. Another thing to do would be to rotator cuff exercises. Of course, to avoid any risk of random movements, it is better to use the rotator cuff recovery Kit. This program offers remarkable rotator cuff exercises that are able to work to remedy any type of injury, only making quick workouts at a specific time.

Without using any painkillers, full recovery would be achieved just by doing the stretching exercises and rotator cuff found at the rotator cuff recovery Kit. Buy your own copy now and feel better in your entire arm in a few days.

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Comment on Anti Inflammatory Creams for Rotator Cuff Injury and Shoulder Pain by crystal martin

I have to get something off my chest today!  I have a problem with rotator cuff  and shoulder pain sufferers who try to repair and cure their injured rotator cuff by simply applying topical anti-inflammatory creams to their shoulder.

Here’s Why…

When you take the risk of applying topical anti-inflammatory creams to your rotator cuff and skin, it can basically be the same as drinking the cream in liquid form or taking it internally as a pill or capsule.  This is not your best option for treating rotator cuff injuries.

You see the skin is a permeable membrane which means what you put on your skin gets absorbed into your muscles and tissues.

Pain relief creams are very popular today and are easily accessible without a prescription as you can access them over the counter or purchase them online via the internet but…

The danger is that people tend to apply these anti-inflammatory creams in excess which can be LETHAL in some cases!

Two recent deaths were reported as a direct result of using too much anti-inflammatory cream. One reported case was a high school track star in New York who applied the topical cream before a race. The second death reported was a woman who applied an anti-inflammatory cream to her skin before laser hair removal and skin treatments.

The active ingredients in the majority of these creams are lidocaine, tetracaine, benzocaine or prilocaine.  These ingredients are responsible for the numbing effect that you get when you apply it directly to your skin.  Most people choose to apply these creams in the comfort and convienence of their own home and this is when things can go all wrong!

These creams are only meant to be applied by a medical professional and for very short term use. In the case of a rotator cuff tear, I recommend you don’t apply the topical creams at all.

All you are doing is masking the pain with an anti-inflammatory cream and not getting to the root cause of your rotator cuff and shoulder pain. How is a topical cream supposed to treat, heel and cure a torn tendon and muscle tissue?

There are numerous of these dangerous products on the market and in my opinion you are wasting your money if you think this is how you can eliminate your rotator cuff injury and repair your torn rotator cuff for good.

I know how frustrating it is to try and get a good nights sleep every night when you are suffering from a rotator cuff injury.  Sometimes you want a quick fix to stop shoulder pain at night, so your desperation gets the best of you and you reach for some messy anti-inflammatory cream – even if the pain relief is only 2 minutes.

The decision to use these creams is entirely up to you, the sufferer but…

I thought it was important to share with you the potential dangers and risks of using these topical anti-inflammatory creams because at the end of the day, your health and well being is priority number one!

But if you are completely fed up with your nagging and stubborn rotator cuff and shoulder pain and want to learn 4 simple, step-by-step techniques that uses an instructional approach (with Videos & DVD Tutorials) from the comfort of your own home…

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