Category: Sports Medicine
It’s springtime again – or nearly there, anyway – and all sports fans know what that means: spring training and the return of Major League Baseball’s players to their winter training grounds. Unfortunately, as players come back to the stadiums, they also return to a heightened risk of back injury. Commonly known as overuse injuries, these lower back injuries can be subtle and usually occur over prolonged periods of time. They are the result of repetitive micro-trauma to the tendons, bones, and joints, typically caused by training errors involving a too-rapid acceleration of the intensity, duration, or frequency of a given activity. Studies show the …
Football season is still young, and already all eyes are on Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. The star player sustained his third back injury in 18 months during an October 27 game against the Washington Redskins, causing him to have to sit out the November 2 game versus the Arizona Cardinals. Romo is no stranger to pain or back injuries. Last April he underwent surgery to remove a cyst on his back. Just eight months later, he suffered a herniated disc and underwent a second surgery. This most recent injury is what’s called a transverse process fracture—two of them, to …
This past weekend, over 50,000 runners participated in the New York City Marathon, the largest race in the world. Months of rigorous training went into those 26.2 miles, but what happens after you cross the finish line is just as important when it comes to preparing for your next race. You may feel ready to take on the world after your marathon, but your body needs a break. You’ve likely iced your joints and muscles immediately after the race, but be sure to wait a few days before any sort of major heat. A session in the sauna or a …
You may have been able to stick to an exercise routine during the warmer months, but when temperatures drop, we all have the urge to hibernate. When figuring out the best way to continue exercising in cold weather, the obvious answer is to join a gym. But for those who can’t take things indoors (for instance, if you’re training for a marathon), there are some important exercise and equipment adjustments you can make so you can safely brave the cold. In winter, warming up is more important than ever. Consider adding time to your warm-up, and starting indoors so you …
Nothing says fall more than football, whether that means watching a professional game on TV with family and friends or having your child go out for the team. Even with all the excitement around the start of the season, there are still plenty of football safety concerns, especially for younger players. The biggest question for parents is usually “at what age can my child start playing tackle football?” This question made headlines recently when former NFL coach John Madden spoke out against younger children playing the sport. “I’m a firm believer that there’s no way that a 6-year-old should have …
You’ve been working hard on your serve, only to have to sit out your next tennis match because of back pain. While you may be in pain, you’re certainly not alone; tennis injuries, especially back pain, are common (even in the pros) and can range widely in their level of severity. The rotation needed to switch between backhand and forehand can wrench muscles in the low back, leading to acute pain. Serving is also a major culprit when it comes to back pain in tennis players because the hyperextension puts stress on the foot joints and disc. More serious problems …
Earlier this summer, a friend of mine herniated a disc in his neck after a bad fall while waterskiing. Around the same time, a Georgia woman made headlines when she was airlifted to the hospital following a tubing accident. This 31-year-old woman suffered major back injuries after her tube hit the wake of a second boat and she fell off the raft. Her story highlights how tubing and Jet Ski accidents can end in back injury. As you say farewell to summer this Labor Day weekend, reduce your family’s risk of injury with these water sports safety tips. Understand …
While Americans celebrated the 4th of July with fireworks and barbeques, Brazilians were on the edge of their seats during their team’s World Cup match against Colombia. Though Brazil won the match 2-1, the team was faced with the tough loss of their star striker Neymar de Silva Santos Junior, more commonly known simply as Neymar, who was carried off the field on stretcher during the second half of the game. Nearly 88 minutes into the game, Neymar was brought to the ground by a knee to the back from Colombian defender, Juan Zuniga. There are conflicting reports out of …
In a prior post, I addressed the risk surrounding all-terrain vehicles, otherwise known as ATVs. These recreational vehicles are often known to flip over and can cause spinal injury from impact, as well as other injuries including suffocation from the weight of the vehicle. ATV’s can weigh over 500 pounds. In the prior blog post I discussed the danger children and adolescents face when riding these motorized vehicles, but it is important to recognize that there is a high risk of injury for ATV riders of all ages. Earlier this month, six-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer Amy Van Dyken-Rouen was thrown …
Severe back pain can often deter patients from exercising as lifting weights, running, and even walking can become increasingly difficult when experiencing back pain. However, swimming is often a safe and pain-free way to get in exercise without putting pressure on your back and joints. The buoyancy of the water eliminates the stress that is usually absorbed by our joints during exercise, allowing you to remain active while simultaneously providing pain relief. And, you actually build muscle faster in water than on land due to water’s viscosity—water is 12 times as resistant as air. If you choose to swim to …
