Thursday, December 29, 2011

Rotator Cuff Injuries

The rotator cuff is composed of four tendons that works as a stabilization unit of the shoulder during movement and rest. These tendons are very susceptible to injuries because they are long and pass through different structures in and around the shoulders.

Since the rotator cuff is elastic, it can be stretched over and over again by shoulder injuries. This makes it loose, which causes even more shoulder dislocations. This is because the joint becomes more unstable as it acquires more injuries. If this happens to you a lot, it is best to go to an orthopedic doctor right away. Sometimes, they recommend non-surgical treatments like shoulder exercises and medications. However, there are times when surgery is the best option for you. The arthroscopic rotator cuff repair is a minimally invasive surgery that makes use of a fiber optic camera that is inserted to the affected area. This gives the orthopedic surgeon a clear view of the damage and a chance to repair it without putting too much trauma on the region. Since it is minimally invasive, recovery time is faster.


Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Treatment of ACL Strains and Tears

ACL strains and tears is a common injury among athletes. If you are active in sports or have a child that plays a sport, you will most likely end up looking for an orthopedic doctor that specializes in injuries that involve the ACL.

The ACL, or Anterior Cruciate Ligament, is one of the four joints that keep the knee stable. An injury occurs if the person slows down from running, suddenly stops, changes direction, or lands from a jump incorrectly. Symptoms usually include pain while walking, tenderness, and swelling. Often, patients report a popping sound when they move the knee. There are two options when treating ACL strains and tears. Sports medicine doctors recommends non-surgical treatments like physical therapy for older and less active patients, while they will recommend a minimally invasive arthroscopic knee surgery to younger and more active patients.

If you think you may have acquired this injury, go to your local Asheboro orthopedic doctor right away to have your knee checked.

Monday, December 26, 2011

Meniscal Tears: Diagnosis and Treatment

The knee is used a lot, making it very susceptible to various injuries. One injury are meniscal tears, which are common in people who play contact sports. Most of the time, this is accompanied by another injury such as an ACL tear.

A meniscal tear is often unnoticed in the beginning. People usually just hear a popping sound when they move the knee. After a few days, though, the knee will start to swell and pain will be felt. When this happens, go to an orthopedic doctor right away to have the knee checked. Doctors check the medical history of the patient before they start examining the knee. The examination includes checking the tenderness of the meniscus area, which will indicate injury.

Treatment is not the same for all patients. Smaller tears on the outside can be treated with the R.I.C.E. or Rest Ice Compression Elevation protocol. However, if non-surgical treatments do not work, orthopedic surgery will be required. A procedure called meniscal repair will be performed. After surgery, the knee will be braced and rehabilitation exercises will be recommended later on.

If you are suffering from meniscal tears, go to an Asheboro orthopedic surgeon right away for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Injured? Call an orthopedic doctor!

Injuries are easier to treat if diagnosed early. Ligament sprains and strains are some of the most common injuries that can happen to various parts of the body. A sprain is when the fibrous tissue bands that connect the bones within your joints are torn or stretched. This usually happens to the ankle. A strain, on the other hand, usually happens to the thigh muscle or lower back. This is when the fibrous tissue cords that connect muscles and bones are torn or stretched.

The initial treatment for both injuries is R.I.C.E. or Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevate. This often does the trick. However, if the injury does not improve within 24 to 48 hours and there is pain, swelling, or numbness, it is best to consult an orthopedic surgeon right away. Most of the time, strains can be treated non-surgically - unless the injury is too severe for home remedies.

Do you think you have a ligament sprain or strain? Early detection is the best way to avoid complications. If you have injured yourself, consult an orthopedic doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

Injured? Call an orthopedic doctor!

Injuries are easier to treat if diagnosed early. Ligament sprains and strains are some of the most common injuries that can happen to various parts of the body. A sprain is when the fibrous tissue bands that connect the bones within your joints are torn or stretched. This usually happens to the ankle. A strain, on the other hand, usually happens to the thigh muscle or lower back. This is when the fibrous tissue cords that connect muscles and bones are torn or stretched.

The initial treatment for both injuries is R.I.C.E. or Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevate. This often does the trick. However, if the injury does not improve within 24 to 48 hours and there is pain, swelling, or numbness, it is best to consult an orthopedic surgeon right away. Most of the time, strains can be treated non-surgically - unless the injury is too severe for home remedies.

Do you think you have a ligament sprain or strain? Early detection is the best way to avoid complications. If you have injured yourself, consult an orthopedic doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

Friday, December 16, 2011

Sports Medicine Doctors in Asheboro Takes Care of Injuries

Sports-related injuries are serious. This is why sports medicine doctors take extra care by properly diagnosing, treating, and rehabilitating patients who acquire such injuries. Moreover, these doctors also take extra effort in preventing injuries by providing the right training program for athletes as well as by educating athletes and coaches about injuries and how to treat them.

Although sports medicine doctors seem to just focus on patients with sports-related injuries, these doctors are also orthopedic doctors who also treat non-athletes who have acquired injuries from repetitive movements like hammering, painting, climbing, and many others. These work-related injuries are actually more dangerous since they are often ignored by people even if they are already feeling pain. If, in any case, you do feel pain from your normal day-to-day activities, sports medicine doctors recommend that you do R.I.C.E. or Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate. This will serve as first-aid treatment before you go to a doctor.

If you are unsure if you have an injury or not, it is best to schedule a visit with an orthopedic doctor in Asheboro to discuss your situation. Remember that proper diagnosis and early cure is very important in avoiding further complications related to the injury.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Diagnosis and Treatment Made Easier with Knee Arthroscopy

Knee surgery can sound a bit intimidating for many people. However, it does not have to be feared with a minimally invasive way to diagnose and treat knee problems now available to orthopedic patients. Knee arthroscopy makes use of a device with a camera that is about the size of a pencil. A small incision is made for the device, giving it a clearer view of the damaged area. Once a diagnosis is made, small surgical instruments are inserted through the incision to fix whatever needs to be fixed.

This type of diagnosis and treatment has made knee surgery more precise and recovery time faster. Diagnosis only usually takes thirty minutes to an hour and recovery may only last for a maximum of two hours, making it an out-patient procedure. Although recovery time is faster with knee arthroscopy, returning to high-impact activities right away is not possible. It is still important for patients to give their knees some rest until full recovery is reached. Low-impact activities, however, are allowed. Such activities are biking, swimming, water aerobics, and the like.

Knee arthroscopy is a faster and surer way to diagnose and treat knee problems. If you are interested, simply contact your local orthopedic surgeon in Asheboro for more information.

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Sports Medicine Advice for Asheboro Coaches and Parents

Many communities in Asheboro NC take sports seriously because this is a good way to promote a healthy and active lifestyle. With an active lifestyle, it is also important to know how to deal with injuries brought about by various physical activities.

To address this, sports medicine doctors conduct training programs for coaches and parents of young athletes on the prevention of injuries through proper conditioning as well as treatment of sports-related injuries to avoid complications or further damage to the affected area. This is very important since as adults, it is their responsibility to keep young athletes safe and injury-free.

If you are interested in joining such workshops, contact the skilled orthopedic doctors for more details.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Let your Asheboro orthopedic surgeon take care of your orthopedic needs!

Orthopedic surgeons who specialize in diseases and injuries involving the musculoskeletal system. Aside from attending four years of college or university and four years of medical school, these doctors also spent five years of residency and an extra year for training in their chosen specialty.

How are you sure that they will tend to your medical needs properly? With the schooling and training they have gone through, orthopedic surgeons will help patients with the best of their abilities. They make sure they give proper diagnosis, effective treatment, and a good rehabilitation program to help patients recover. If non-surgical procedures do not work, orthopedic doctors can recommend surgery. The patient just have to make sure that they go to an orthopedic doctor that specializes on the patient's specific case.


Friday, December 2, 2011

How is tennis elbow treated?

Tennis elbow is a condition that is usually seen in men between thirty to fifty years of age who are either active in sports or are in an occupation that requires them to use the arm in a repetitive motion. The people commonly hit by this condition are mechanics, carpenters, cooks, and the like.

The elbow joint is a hinge that basically just closes and opens. When performing a task that makes you use your arm in a repetitive twisting motion, extra stress is put on the tendon that connects your hand and forearm muscles to your upper arm bone. Over time, the tendons may become damaged, causing tennis elbow.

To diagnose tennis elbow, orthopedic doctors will make you perform various movements that will help them rule out other possible causes of pain like arthritis. Once diagnosed, a non-surgical treatment - such as bracing - is often prescribed. Healing time usually last from six to twelve months.

Although non-surgical measures are 90% successful, some patients still need to go through orthopedic surgery to fix the damaged elbow. This means repairing the muscle-tendon unit around the elbow by trimming damaged portions of the tendon tissue, cutting the tendon, and allowing it to mend on its own. Recovery time will last from three to six months and a rehabilitation program must be followed for full treatment.

You don't have to take the pain. If you think you are suffering from tennis elbow, talk to the nearest orthopedic doctor in Asheboro!