Sports Medicine

Summer Exercise Tips

Summer has arrived on the East Coast, and after a long, cold winter, there is nothing New Yorkers are looking forward to more than soaking up the sun. However, as the temperatures rise, it’s important to take the necessary precautions to stay safe in the summer heat. Whether you’re training for a marathon, playing a game of basketball, or even just walking through the park, exercising in the summer months puts added stress on our bodies and increases the likelihood of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, so I’ve put together a few tips to help you stay cool and safe while active this summer. Acclimate yourself to the change in heat and humidity levels. It can take up to 14 days for your body to adjust to temperature changes. Expose yourself regularly to the outdoor heat without engaging in physical activity in order to gradually become accustomed to the summer’s rising temperatures. While your body is adapting, beat the heat and exercise in the mornings or evenings when it is cooler outside! Don’t try to “sweat off” pounds. The weight you shed from sweating is water your body needs! These fluids need to be replenished after exercise. The best way

June 10, 2014

Proper Running Technique to Avoid Back Pain

Going for a run is a great way to get exercise, especially during the warmer months when the weather allows more frequent outings. I see many patients who are eager to get back to running after fully recovering from surgery. Because running is a repetitive action that can cause stress, I like to remind them that proper running technique is key to avoid unnecessary pain and injuries. Whether you are just a beginner or a full-fledged marathoner, these basic tips will help improve your form and avoid injuries. Getting the right shoes is the first step in running with great form. Recently, the once popular barefoot running shoes made waves, but have been forced to drop claims that they reduce injury and impact on joints. Shoes that provide cushioning and proper arch support are best to reduce the risk of injury. I recommend visiting a specialty running store that performs gait analysis, or spend time with a running trainer. A good evaluation like this can help with footwear choice, and give you tips on how to improve technique. Custom orthotics can be helpful for arches that require a little extra support, too! One of the most common problems for runners lies in their

May 20, 2014

Screen Time, Teens, and Back Pain

There is a lot of talk about how dependence on technology and a more sedentary lifestyle affects the health of children and adolescents. Much of the conversation revolves around obesity and its effects on cardiovascular health. However, a new study from the British Chiropractic Association is looking at how this affects back and spine health in still-growing teens. The study surveyed 460 parents with kids aged 11- 16 and found that 40 percent had experienced back or neck pain. Nearly a quarter of parents reported that their children spent between 2 to 4 hours each day watching television or using a tablet or computer. Spending long periods of time in front of a television or computer can lead to bad posture which is a common source of back and neck pain. Thirty-three percent of the children played video games regularly, while only 12 percent participated in active recreation like riding a bike. Most alarmingly, nearly 50 percent of parents admitted that their children do not get enough exercise. This lack of exercise gives way to weaker core muscles, which are needed to support the spine properly. As this sedentary lifestyle increases rates of childhood obesity, it may also lead to

April 29, 2014

It’s Baseball Season, and Injuries Abound

Injuries are common in all sports, and this is especially true in professional baseball, where players engage in repetitive movements on the field for 162 games each season. Back injuries can be detrimental for baseball players, often affecting an athlete’s swing or pitch. As this season kicks off, serious injuries and long-term recoveries are keeping a number of players off the field. Baltimore Orioles left fielder Nolan Reimold is still recovering after undergoing a cervical fusion surgery in July. He is now in physical therapy and remains on the disabled list until he is fully recovered. Texas Rangers pitcher Matt Harrison is still on the disabled list after having surgery to repair a damaged disc last May. This was his third surgery over the past two years and he is still recovering. Clayton Kershaw, starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, has been on the 15-day disabled list since March 30due to a muscle strain in his upper back that could affect his rotator cuff, but he is expected to return to the mound in May. Here in New York, Brendan Ryan, the Yankees backup shortstop, is currently on the disabled list for a minor “back issue” that he believes

April 16, 2014

Tiger Woods Sidelined by Bulging Disc

In August 2013, we saw Tiger Woods collapse on the course at the Barclay’s tournament from debilitating back pain. The star athlete suffered through competition to completion, but withdrew from his next tournament to rest. At the time, he blamed his heavy travel schedule and soft hotel beds for his pain and frequent back spasms. During the off season, Woods took time to rest and prepare his body for the 2014 golf season. Unfortunately, earlier this month, Woods was forced to withdraw from competition at the Honda Classic when his lower back pain once again became too much to handle. He later explained, “It’s my lower back with spasms… It started this morning warming up.” Luckily, through stretching and physical therapy, Woods was able to participate in the Cadillac Classic the following weekend. Tiger has such a powerful swing that, even though he is in great shape, it puts a lot of torque onto his lower back and disks. The full golf swing is a movement that can aggravate an underlying disk condition, as many of my patients have experienced. Tiger played a strong game at the Cadillac Classic and came in fourth place. However, he wasn’t as lucky

March 25, 2014

Lower Back Pain and Student Athletes

Across the board, I encourage my patients and their families to exercise regularly and participate in sports however they can. Competitive sports for children and young adults can serve as both a great learning experience, and an opportunity to make new friends. Sports also help kids to create building blocks for success later in life, and are a fun way to exercise among peers. However, a recent study in the American Journal of Sports Medicine showed that “excessive exposure to competitive sports activities during youth was associated with low back pain and symptoms in the lower extremities.” While strains and sports-related injuries are common among young athletes, the study found that wear-and-tear caused by improper motions or posture can have a long-term effect on athletes into adulthood. Young athletes may be exposed to sports injuries at a young age, which, if improperly treated, can lead to further pain throughout their lives. Common injuries include muscle strains, stingers, and disc injuries. Young athletes can also suffer overuse that lead to injuries as they continue to train. Specialization in sports at a young age can reduce range of motion in joints and create an imbalance in muscle strength. Intense or repetitive training,

March 19, 2014

Lower Back Pain and Core Strength

With over 31 million Americans suffering from lower back pain, this persistent ailment is one of the most common health problems plaguing adults in the United States. While some severe cases are the result of a deeper issue, temporary back pain is quite normal and can be reduced or eliminated through proper exercise and postural techniques. One way I recommend to reduce minor low back pain is through strengthening your core. The core encompasses all of the muscles from your hamstrings up to your neck, from your abdominals to your back muscles. Since all of these muscles work together to support your spine, keeping the core engaged and strong can eliminate minor back , improve posture, and reduce the risk of greater injury down the road. Yoga and pilates, two very popular forms of exercise, focus on engaging and strengthening core muscles. Yoga works the core muscles methodically through balance, flexibility, and relaxation. The core components of pilates are control, concentration, and centering the body. These are all achieved through engaging core muscles and, over time, building strength that can help reduce minor pain. Swimming is also a great way to engage your deep core muscles and hit different muscle

March 5, 2014

Sochi Olympic Skier Injured Spine, Now Recovering

The elite athletes representing their countries at the Sochi Olympics are in peak physical shape and are at the top of their sport. However, accidents and injuries still occur, especially in potentially dangerous conditions and courses. On February 15, we saw an unfortunate example of this when Russian skicross racer Maria Komissarova fractured her 12th dorsal vertebra and dislocated her spine during a practice session. Fractures or breaks of vertebrae in the lower back can be very dangerous and possibly lead to paralysis, if improperly handled. Spinal fractures often require a swift course of action from highly trained doctors. Komissarova was carefully moved to a stretcher to be transported off of the mountain to the nearest hospital. In these cases, it’s imperative to immobilize the patient until a doctor can diagnose the problem. Komissarova was rushed to the hospital and underwent a six and a half hour surgery to repair her spine. A team of Russian specialists inserted a metal implant in her spine to stabilize it and hold the bones in place. A metal rod insert is a common surgical option when approaching spinal fractures. Depending on the severity of the fracture and location, sometimes it is necessary to

February 26, 2014

Peyton Manning: Cervical Fusion and Return to Play

After a hard hit in the middle of a game, it can be a long nerve-wracking moment when a player doesn’t immediately rise to their feet. In football, specifically, there is always a fear of a spine or neck injury after a bad tackle. Neck problems are quite common in football, whether a “stinger” or something more serious. But when the injury is severe and surgery becomes a necessary option, there is life after surgery – even in professional sports. In mid-2013, a study was published of seven professional football players and eight professional wrestlers who underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. All fifteen were cleared to play following the surgery. Thirteen returned to their respective sports in 2-12 months, and eight are still participating in the most recent season. An earlier study from 2010 also showed that professional football players with cervical disk herniations who were treated surgically had higher return-to-play rates and longer careers than those who were treated non-surgically. Nearly 3 out of 4 NFL players treated surgically returned to play in an average of 29.3 games over a 2.8-year period. Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning completed a record-breaking 34 passes in Sunday’s big game, although it did

February 7, 2014

Paralyzed Rutgers Football Player Eric LeGrand’s Inspiring Story of Recovery

Former Rutgers defensive tackle Eric LeGrand was paralyzed from the neck down after a spinal cord injury during a 2010 football game. I want to share with you his inspiring story of recovery. Paralysis is a condition that affects 5.6 million people, many of whom are able to achieve fulfilling and active lives. Eric has recently finished his college degree in labor studies, a huge milestone in his recovery. At the time of his injury, LeGrand was 60 credits short of graduation. He began attending one class at a time via Skype as soon as he was able, leading to his eventual completion, after six years, of all necessary credits in order to graduate. Working around his paralysis, LeGrand also used a stylus on a tablet with his mouth as well as the iOS voice recognition app Siri to transfer his thoughts into the written word for class assignments. “It feels good,” said LeGrand after turning in his last paper. “It shows that anything is truly possible.” He plans to be present for graduation ceremonies in May with the rest of the class of 2014. Since the fateful game, LeGrand has been attending rehabilitation therapy for several hours each weekday,

January 28, 2014

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