Falling Safely: Preventing Orthopaedic Injury

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Falling Safely

If you have ever taken a fall, you know that preventing injury can be tricky. Falling safely can be simple, however, if you are able to respond in without panicking. Given that you only have a matter of seconds to react, it is important to understand how falling safely works before you are in the situation.

Tips for Falling Safely

  • Don’t panic! Staying calm is one of the simplest and most effective things you can do to promote a safe fall. Panic tends to result in tightening up of the body. Of your body is rigid, the likelihood of orthopaedic trauma is higher. If you can calmly react, falling safely is much more likely.
  • Stay loose. This tip goes hand in hand with avoiding panic. If you mindfully fall with bent knees and arms, you are less likely to lock out with rigidity. Our instinct is to reach out to protect ourselves while falling. This however, makes for a more rigid frame that will buckle under the stress of a fall.
  • Protect your head. If you are falling backward, the best way to protect your head is tucking your chin to your chest. In a forward facing fall, turn your head to either side.
  • Keep falling and roll. One of the biggest issues with falling comes from trying to actually stop the fall after it has started. You can actually decrease the impact of the fall by rolling out of it. The more you allow yourself to fall, the more you can spread the impact out rather than focusing it on one specific body part.

Common Falling Injuries

There are several types of orthopaedic injuries that can result from falling. From life-threatening to minor trauma, a simple fall can easily land you in the office of your orthopaedic surgeon. Here are the most common injuries:

  • hip fracture
  • wrist fracture
  • head injury
  • rotator cuff injury
  • back injury
  • torn meniscus
  • wrist sprain

If you have suffered an orthopaedic injury following a fall, be sure to consult an orthopaedic surgeon for an appropriate evaluation.

Vitamin D Deficiency: Symptoms and Treatment

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Importance of Vitamin D

Vitamin D is one of the most important vitamins as it supports a variety of bodily systems. In addition to strengthening bones and muscles, vitamin D helps boost your body’s immune system. In addition, vitamin D has been found to help prevent certain types of cancers as well as type 1 and type 2 diabetes. With so much to offer, why do so many people find that they are vitamin D deficient?

Vitamin D Deficiency

Our bodies can make vitamin D when the skin is exposed to sunlight. The other main way to get the proper amount of vitamin D is through diet. Foods such as fatty fish, egg yolks, red meat, cheese and a variety of foods that are fortified with vitamin D, can be good sources. But for many people, these two methods are simply not enough.

Risk factors for vitamin D deficiency include:

  • staying indoors
  • begin obese or overweight
  • poor diet
  • dark skin
  • some vegan diets

Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency

If you have been diagnosed with low levels or insufficient levels of vitamin D, you might be at risk for a number of issues. Some of the most common symptoms include fatigue, getting sick often, stress fractures, bone loss, muscle soreness, poor wound healing and hair loss. If you are suffering from any of these symptoms, it might be wise to consult with your doctor about getting a test to assess levels of vitamin D in your body.

Treatment Options

If you have been diagnosed with Vitamin D deficiency, there are some simple things you can do to address this issue. While adjusting your diet to ingest more vitamin D can be helpful, the most efficient way to increase levels is through a supplement. Talk to your doctor about setting the correct dosage as it can vary from person to person based on age, weight and current levels at diagnosis.

Baseball Injuries: Causes and Prevention for Youth

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Baseball Injuries

As the summer weather rolls in, baseball season kicks into high gear. With over 3 million kids participating, baseball is one of the most popular sports in the United States. However, back on the field can also mean back in the doctor’s office with one of many baseball injuries.

Along with the steady growth in popularity, the demand to train harder, play longer and be faster drives the industry. Unfortunately, with the increase in competition, there is also an increasing number of baseball injuries. Some of these injuries happen on the field while others develop in conditioning workouts.

Common Baseball Injuries

If you have a youth athlete that is active in baseball, there are a number of common baseball injuries to look out for as the season jumps into action.

  • ankle sprains
  • concussions
  • overuse injuries including little league elbow and little league shoulder
  • muscle strains
  • rotator cuff injuries
  • labral tears
  • shoulder instability
  • fractures

Preventing Common Injuries

  • Develop skills that are age appropriate
  • Focus on conditioning exercises to strengthen the entire body
  • Communicate with child and coaches about any pain they are experiencing
  • Fuel properly with hydration and a nutritional plan rich in lean protein, whole grains, fruits and vegetables
  • warm up properly
  • Rotate playing positions to avoid constant, repetitive motions that lead to overuse injuries
  • Follow pitching guidelines proposed by Little League Baseball
  • Identify and treat minor injuries early to prevent further damage from overuse
  • Avoid pitching on consecutive days or playing the same position year round

Treatment of Baseball Injuries

The most important step of treating a baseball injury is appropriately diagnosing. If your child is experiencing pain whether from an acute injury or overuse issue, it may be beneficial to see an orthopaedic surgeon. Certain injuries can be treated with rest, ice and compression. Other types of injuries may need further medical intervention such as physical therapy, casting or in some cases, surgery.

Many acute injuries such as fractures or sprains happen in an instant and are unavoidable. However, overuse injuries can often be prevented and completely avoided.

COVID-19 and Overuse Orthopaedic Injuries

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COVID-19 and Overuse Orthopaedic Injuries

COVID-19 has altered the landscape of our world. Daily life has drastically changed for people of all ages. Our social interaction with others has decreased considerably and many people are working less or not at all. With this sudden shift, people are also experiencing an increase in physical activity and exercise.

As people try to navigate the new reality of COVID-19 restrictions, the increase in exercise has become a great outlet and opportunity to deal with stress and anxiety. While this has been a positive impact for many people, it can have some negative consequences.

Overuse injuries are orthopaedic injuries that result from repetitive motion causing stress or trauma to a certain part of the body. As people seek to add or increase their exercise level during the COVID-19 pandemic, overuse injuries can bring added frustration. Whether running, golfing, swimming, or throwing, any new routine should be approached with caution and patience.

Common Overuse Injuries Related to Exercise

  • shin splints
  • stress fractures
  • tennis elbow
  • swimmer’s shoulder
  • tendinitis
  • runner’s knee
  • jumper’s knee

If you think that you are suffering from an overuse injury, you might be able to treat it at home with rest, ice or over-the-counter pain reliever. However, some overuse injuries will require consultation with an orthopaedic surgeon.

The new regulations imposed by COVID-19 might make it more difficult to consult with an orthopaedic surgeon. Some offices are limiting their services to emergency cases only or offering telemedicine as an alternative to an office visit. Therefore, be sure to get information about your physician’s COVID-19 policies before scheduling an appointment.

Preventing Overuse Injuries

If you are seeking to prevent an overuse injury, there are a few simple things you can do to increase your exercise without these unintended, painful consequences. To start, take it slow! Increase your activity level in small increments. Additionally, be sure to give you body rest in between workouts so healing can occur. If you start to experience pain from your exercise, listen to your body and take some time off. Often, overuse injuries can be avoided if you are patient and avoid the temptation to just push through the pain.

Shoulder Pain: Time to See and Orthopaedic Surgeon?

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If you have been suffering from shoulder pain, you know what it feels like to struggle through basic tasks of daily life. From the time you get up in the morning until the time you lay your head down at night, you can’t make a move without physical discomfort in you shoulder. If shoulder pain has created inconvenience, loss of mobility and continued suffering, it might be time to see an orthopaedic surgeon.

There are many causes for shoulder pain. From acute trauma to overuse injuries, the shoulder joint is susceptible to a variety of issues. Pulling, pushing, lifting and carrying can become difficult activities. Pain can range from mild discomfort to excruciating. Does your level of shoulder pain require an assessment by an orthopaedic surgeon? See below for a list of the most common types of shoulder pain:

Due to the complex nature of the shoulder joint, there are a number of different reasons you are experiencing shoulder pain. For some, an acute injury is the known cause while for others, the pain may have started out as minimal but escalated over time.

You may have attempted to treat your injury at home with the use of over-the-counter medications, rest, heat or ice. If your discomfort persists or gets worse over the course of several days, you could likely benefit from an evaluation by an orthopaedic surgeon trained specifically in shoulder issues.

The sooner you get a diagnosis, the sooner a doctor can determine the best course of treatment. For some, surgery may be the best route. However, there are other options that an orthopaedic surgeon can recommend to get you on the mend and back to your normal level of activity.

Stress Fractures: Symptoms and Treatment

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Stress fractures create a great deal of discomfort and pain. Commonly diagnosed in feet, shins and wrists, this type of injury can significantly impact your daily life. Stress fractures are highly common and can present as a variety of orthopaedic issues.

If you have been coping with a nagging pain in your foot, wrist or shin, you might be avoiding a trip to the orthopaedic surgeon, hoping it will resolve on its own. So how can you tell if the pain you are experiencing is a stress fracture? And if so, what can be done to heal the injury?

Stress fractures are simply small cracks in the bone. They tend to develop as a result of overuse or repetitive motion in a certain part of the body. Running, jumping, or any other repetitive action, especially involving the feet, legs, and ankles, can result in a stress fracture.

One of the primary causes of stress fractures is doing too much too quickly or pushing your body beyond its normal routine. This is especially true with high impact exercises such as running long distances.

So how do you know if your pain is the result of a stress fracture or some other orthopaedic injury? Look at the list of common symptoms below to see if this might be the source of your discomfort.

Symptoms of Stress Fractures:

  • Pain that that increases overtime with continued use
  • Soreness/tenderness that can be pinpointed to a specific spot
  • Noticeable decrease in pain after periods of rest
  • Possible swelling of affected area

Treatment:

If you suspect that you might have a stress fracture, the best thing to do is stop activity involving the injured body part. You might also gain relief by employing RICE (rest, ice, compression and elevation.)

By decreasing activity and allowing the tiny cracks to heal, you may be able to treat this injury at home. If pain persists, seeing an orthopaedic surgeon for proper diagnosis is important.

If you are diagnoses with a stress fracture, you may be advised to use a boot, brace or crutches. Depending on the severity, you may even need to be non-weight bearing for a period of time to allow your bone to heal. Use of anti-inflammatory medications may also help with swelling and discomfort.

Once you begin to experience a noticeable decrease in pain, it is important that you not rush back to full activity level. It is very easy to reverse the healing process if you push yourself too soon. Allowing your body plenty of time to heal is key to a full recovery and getting back to your normal routine, pain-free!

Falling on Ice: Orthopaedic Injuries and Prevention

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When the peak of winter hits, temperatures become frigid and weather conditions can become dangerous. As sidewalks, driveways and steps become coated with ice, even stepping outside can be a scary situation. Falling on ice is one of the top orthopaedic injuries physicians seen in the office during the winter months.

How can you protect yourself from a serious orthopaedic injury during icy conditions? There are a few things that are within your control even when the weather makes for some treacherous situations.

Tips for preventing falls

  1. Avoid going outside unless absolutely necessary if you know surfaces will be ice covered.
  2. Wear proper footwear such as snow boots with good traction.
  3. Watch your step. Such a simple and obvious suggestion can mean the difference between a nasty fall and safely making it to your destination. Even a path that seems to be clear can have small patches of ice or even black ice. Take precaution when walking and look carefully with each step.
  4. Take small steps and try to shuffle your feet as much as possible.
  5. If you do start to fall, try to control how you land. Prevent injury to your arm, wrist and hand by resisting the instinct to break your fall by reaching out. Trying to bend your knees and falling to the side is your best bet for avoiding injury. If possible, it is also beneficial to tuck your head.

What are the most common types of orthopaedic injuries that result from falling? There are a number of common injuries that orthopaedic surgeons see in the winter as a result of a fall on ice.

Common injuries resulting from falling on ice

  1. Wrist sprains and fractures
  2. Hip fractures
  3. Torn meniscus
  4. Head injury
  5. Dislocated shoulder
  6. Torn or strained anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)
  7. Lower back pain
  8. Rotator cuff injury
  9. Bruised or fractured coccyx

The best advice to take when winter weather hits…stay inside and stay warm as much as possible! If you do suffer an injury from a fall on ice, be sure to consult your orthopaedic surgeon.

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injection: Is it Right For You?

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When it comes to the latest and greatest health trends, platelet-rich plasma (PRP),has created a significant amount of buzz. PRP is a type of injection that has been known to accelerate the body’s natural healing process using platelets from the patient’s own body. This non-surgical procedure targets the injured area, bringing about relief and healing with little downtime.

How Does PRP Work?

The non-invasive nature of platelet-rich plasma injections makes this procedure a desirable option for many patients. The process begins with drawing blood from the patient’s body and then running it through through a centrifuge. What results is a concentration of platelets that is injected directly into the patient’s injured area. The platelets contain hundreds of proteins called growth factors that stimulate reparative cells for healing. Therefore, the healing process is accelerated by using a more concentrated amount of platelets from the patient’s own blood.

When is PRP Used?

PRP can be used in a variety of ways including a number of orthopaedic issues. Orthopaedic surgeons commonly find success treating the following injuries:

  • Tendonitis
  • Partial tendon tears
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Muscle and ligament injuries
  • Back and spine conditions including herniated discs
  • Nerve damage including sciatica and carpal tunnel syndrome

Is PRP Right For You?

When it comes to treating an injury, patients are often looking for the quickest path to relief with minimal downtime. PRP can be a good option for patients that wish to avoid a surgical intervention.

One patient at Agility Orthopaedics recently had a great experience with PRP.

“As an avid distance runner, I was devastated when I found out that I had a tear in my Achilles’ tendon.  I feared I might never run again.  After seeing Dr. Nadaud and discussing my options, we decided that a PRP injection would best help my recovery.  I knew that I wanted a strong, but speedy recovery.  The platelet rich plasma injection helped to do just that.  After much hard work with physical therapy, I am back to running pain free just 4 months after my injection.  Dr. Nadaud made me feel comfortable with the procedure and answered any questions I had along the way.  I have been able to return to my normal life thanks to Dr. Nadaud and his team. “

If you have been suffering from an orthopaedic injury and want to explore non-surgical options, talk to your surgeon about platelet-rich plasma injections as a possible intervention. This type of treatment will not be applicable for all injuries but could be beneficial for a variety of orthopaedic conditions.

Cortisone Injection: Plantar Fasciitis Treatment

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If you suffer from plantar fasciitis, you know how painful and irritating simple daily activities can be. From the first steps out of bed in the morning, the discomfort is difficult to ignore. You have likely tried a variety of non-surgical treatments in an attempt to gain some relief. Stretching, orthotic inserts and physical therapy are sometimes enough to address the painful symptoms of plantar fasciitis. However, some people benefit from a nonsurgical technique called a cortisone injection.

What is a cortisone injection? 

Cortisone injections are shots given to a specific area of the body in attempt to reduce inflammation and pain. While results vary from one person to the next, most people enjoy a decrease in pain for several months. The relief is not immediate but will gradually start to take effect within a week after being administered.

Plantar fasciitis impacts the simplest of daily activities. Standing, walking and running are painful almost constantly. Once the effects of the cortisone shot are felt, patients usually report that these activities are much more tolerable.

Patient testimonial:

Plantar fasciitis is not something you should learn to live with. Take it from an actual patient that suffered for an entire year before taking action to finding relief with treatment from a cortisone injection.

“I had been dealing with the pain of plantar fasciitis for a year before I made an appointment to see Dr. Nadaud. I was hoping for pain relief so I could start enjoying running again, and walk without pain. After speaking with both him and his Physician’s Assistant, we decided on a plan of action tailored specifically to me. I am happy to say, that I am pain free now, and enjoying running again for the first time in a year! Not only am I feeling better, but my experience with Agility Orthopaedics was superb. Everyone I interacted with was friendly, professional, and, of course, very knowledgeable! I would highly recommend Dr. Nadaud and his staff anytime!”

If you are tired of suffering with pain in your feet or foot, consider talking to your foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeon about a cortisone injection as an option.

 

Biologic Therapy: Treatment Options for Healing

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If you are suffering from an injury impacting your tendons, joints or other musculoskeletal tissue, you are likely exploring options for the best treatment. Historically, surgery, rest, casting and physical therapy would be the best options to help heal and find long term relief. But have you considered Biologic Therapy? Perhaps this is a term you have heard of but are unsure what it is or if it is right for you.

What is Biologic Therapy?

Biologic Therapy is a type of treatment that uses substances made from living organisms to treat disease. It is designed to heal injuries in tendons, joints, and musculoskeletal soft tissues.

 Why Choose Biologic Therapy?

Biologic Therapy offers an alternative to surgery and traditional pain management. It enhances the body’s ability to heal using your platelets and stem cells to repair muscles, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. This treatment option is low-risk and minimally invasive.

 How Biologic Therapy May Help You

Agility Orthopaedics uses biologic therapy to treat a variety of orthopedic conditions and injuries, ranging from knee pain to heel pain. The conditions we treat include arthritis and cartilage damage as well as tendon, ligament, and muscle disorders. Some common diagnoses that can benefit from biologic therapy are: plantar fasciitis, achilles tendonitis, knee arthritis, peroneal tendonitis and posterior tibial tendonitis.

 

Treatment Options

 

Amnion Therapy:

Amnion therapy is an off-the-shelf option that helps stimulate the healing of tendons, muscles, and soft tissues for patients that prefer a non-invasive biological option.  Amnion helps provide supplemental support, protection, and growth factors to assist in the healing process.

 

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy:

Platelets are rich in growth and healing factors that activate stem cells to regenerate new, healthy tissue. Utilizing the body’s natural healing process, PRP therapy is a concentration of platelets that are injected into the damaged ligaments, tendons, and joints. These injections promote tissue repair and accelerate healing.

 

Because Biologic Therapy is still investigational, most insurance companies do not cover these procedures. This form of therapy is not for everyone, and surgery may be the best choice. Contact Agility Orthopaedics to schedule an appointment and find out which option is the best for you.