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Stay on your game
Working up a
sweat can feel great. And
we all know that exercise is essential to good
health. But everyone who works out—women
and men, elite athletes and amateurs alike—
also faces some risk of injury.
Some mishaps can’t be avoided. But you
can do things to make injuries less likely or to
speed your recovery if you do get hurt.
The first step is awareness. Here are some
of the most common sports injuries and how
to prevent and treat them:
Concussion.
This type of traumatic brain
injury (TBI) comes from a blow to the head
or to the body that causes the brain to shake
or bounce inside the skull. Concussions can
cause long-term memory, attention and learn-
ing problems. Football is one of the leading
culprits, but a TBI can occur in any sport.
After a suspected concussion, stop whatever
activity you’re doing. Return only after a pro-
fessional evaluation. One concussion makes
others more likely.
Shoulder dislocation.
These injuries
happen when the upper arm bone is forced—
partially or entirely—out of the shoulder
socket.They’re usually caused by a sudden im-
pact. One dislocation weakens the joint and
makes future incidents more likely.
Treatment usually starts with modified
activity, physical therapy and nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory medicines. For ongoing
problems, surgery may be needed to reattach
ligaments to the bone.
Rotator cuff tears.
The group of muscles
and tendons tying the shoulder blade to the
upper arm is called the rotator cuff. It can
tear after a fall or similar injury or because of
long-term wear and tear.The result is shoul-
der pain and weakness.
Sometimes, anti-inflammatory medicine,
steroid injections and physical therapy curb
symptoms. Otherwise, surgery may be needed.
Meniscal tears.
A wrenching twist or a
blow to the knee can tear the meniscus, the
cartilage that cushions and stabilizes this
joint. Pain, swelling and a locking sensation
often follow.
Small meniscal tears are treated with rest,
ice and anti-inflammatory medicines. Larger
tears are often fixed with surgery. Condition-
ing exercises that stabilize the knee joint can
sometimes help prevent this injury.
Stress fractures.
When someone exer-
cises too hard and too fast, tiny, nearly
invisible—but painful—cracks can form,
often in weight-bearing bones in the legs.
Treatment may involve up to six weeks of
limited activity and rest. To prevent stress
fractures, gradually increase exercise intensity
and duration, and alternate the activities you
participate in.
ACL tear.
The anterior cruciate ligament
(ACL) connects the top of the shin to the
back of the thigh. It can tear with an abrupt
change of direction.
Treatment often requires reconstructive
surgery and extensive rehab. Exercises to build
balance, strength and stability may help pre-
vent an ACL tear.
Achilles tendon injuries.
This tendon,
the body’s largest, joins the calf muscle to the
heel. Quick acceleration or jumping can tear
it, which often requires a surgical repair.
The most common cause of an Achilles
tendon tear is tendinitis.This inflammation of
the tendon is caused by overuse or exercising
too much before the body can adapt. Treat-
ment often involves rest, ice and nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory medicine. Stretching calf
muscles can also help.
Sources: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; American
Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine; National Institute of
Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Anter ior hip replacement at Samar i tan
Increased mobility.
Decreased pain. Rapid recovery.
Leo Chough, MD,
is Samaritan
Healthcare’s on-staff orthopaedic
surgeon and fellowship-trained
sports medicine specialist. He has
a wealth of surgical expertise in
arthroscopy and joint replacement,
years of training and experience
from coast to coast, and a sports
medicine fellowship with Philadel-
phia’s Eagles and Flyers.
One of Dr. Chough’s special-
ties is the anterior hip replacement
surgery, which utilizes minimally
invasive surgical techniques. He has
successfully performed anterior hip
surgeries for more than 10 years—
and he has even instructed surgeons
in the state-of-the-art procedure.
An anterior hip replacement
means the surgeon opens the hip-
bone area from the front of the
hip, rather than through the back
(posterior approach) or from the
anterior lateral (from the side).
The anterior hip surgery technique
performed by Dr. Chough results in
a minimal incision at the front of
the hip—allowing the muscles to be
moved aside rather than cut.
The anterior hip procedure per-
mits a more rapid recovery that is
as pain-free as possible with shorter
hospital stays—getting patients
back to their lives more quickly, the
way it should be.
If you are ready to enjoy life with-
out joint pain and want to sched-
ule an appointment with
Dr. Chough, contact Samar-
itan Healthcare at
793-9789
.
No matter the injury, the right treatment given
as soon as possible can get you back in the game.
To schedule an appointment with a Samaritan
Healthcare primary care provider or specialist,
call
793-9780
.
Wellness
Fall 2017
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