Lumbar Disc Herniation: Anatomy, Risk Factors, Symptoms, and Treatment by Mark Dumonski, MD

By Mark L. Dumonski, MD

Introduction

Lumbar disc herniations represent one of the most common conditions encountered in a typical spine clinic. Symptoms can range from a patient being completely asymptomatic, to leg pain (commonly referred to as “radiculopathy” or “sciatica”), to a profound and debilitating loss of bowel and bladder control. The latter condition is called “cauda equina syndrome”, and while much less common than radiculopathy, does have the potential to lead to permanent bowel, bladder, and sexual dysfunction. Continue reading “Lumbar Disc Herniation: Anatomy, Risk Factors, Symptoms, and Treatment by Mark Dumonski, MD”

The Downward Dog: An Age Old Yoga Exercise With Modern Day Shoulder Rehabilitation Application

John O’Halloran DPT,PT,OCS,Cert MDT,ATC,CSCS

Today’s rehabilitation environment involves providing services that ensure quality care that is designed to meet the needs of the patient, payer and provider. Practicing in this environment is quite a change from the days of yesteryear when you could treat a rotator cuff repair for 30 visits and no one would blink an eye. You were paid by performing a whole lot of intervention and reimbursement was determined by the adding up the units of CPT codes and procedures. Continue reading “The Downward Dog: An Age Old Yoga Exercise With Modern Day Shoulder Rehabilitation Application”

Industrial Rehabilitation: Proven Success

By Kelly Marie Hale

Those who suffer work-related injuries may require some type of therapeutic intervention to aid in the healing process. When physical therapy has been completed, a second step in rehabilitation may come in the form of work conditioning. Depending on the patient’s occupation, the program is tailored to the affected area and is specific with the demands that the patient would perform on the job. Continue reading “Industrial Rehabilitation: Proven Success”

The Dynamic Warm-Up

By Dave Van Zandt, CSCS, CEAS, Cert FCE

Warm-ups are generally designed to prevent injury and prepare the cardio-respiratory and musculoskeletal systems to meet the demands of exercise. They also mentally prepare individuals for activities they are about to perform. Prior to exercising, most people participate in a brief warm-up/stretching program to prepare the body for activity. The best way to prepare for more strenuous exercise is to perform specific warm-up exercises because they provide a rehearsal of the activity and increase body temperature. Continue reading “The Dynamic Warm-Up”

Turf Toe: Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention

By Maggie Catlin

As the football season gets underway, many look forward to months of great plays and great injuries. Already in just the first week of play, Patriots starting quarterback, Tom Brady, tore both the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his knee. Other injuries typically associated with football include concussions, spinal injuries, fractures, and muscle strains. One of the more prevalent injuries, however, is a sprain to one of the big toe ligaments. Continue reading “Turf Toe: Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention”

Age of Specialization: One Sport Vs. Multiple Sports

Age of Specialization: One Sport Vs. Multisports

By Detavius Mason

baseballpitcherKobe Bryant, Roger Federer, Tom Brady, Lebron James, Alex Rodriguez. When these names are brought up, a few things come to mind: excellence, transcendent talent, winning, but the thought of them specializing in one sport should not. Kobe & Federer were soccer players, Brady played baseball, Lebron played football and A-Rod played basketball, football and soccer. It’s kind of strange to think that each of these Future Hall of Famers in their respective sports didn’t spend every waking moment of their life dedicated to their chosen profession. Sure you have the story of Tiger Woods who was placed on the Mike Douglas Show to putt against Bob Hope at the ripe old age of 2. Or tennis great Andre Agassi who sometimes practiced with pro tennis players at the age of 5! But you never hear from the other side of the fence. What about the many athletes who specialize at a young age, only to fall short of their lofty ambitions. Wondrous success stories like Tiger Woods and Andre Agassi are aberrations, but as long as there are wealth and fame associated with professional athletes, people will attempt to make their child the next Tiger Woods. But the question you must ask yourself is “Is it really worth it?” Continue reading “Age of Specialization: One Sport Vs. Multiple Sports”

Strategies to Curb Risk Behaviors in Adolescent Athletes

Strategies to Curb Risk Factors in Adolescent Athletes

By Detavius Mason

Today’s athletes are bigger, faster, and stronger then ever before. From a young age, athletes know to play on the high school team, on a Division Ι college roster, and eventually on the pro level, they have to be “better” then their peers. Adolescents are faced with that type of pressure to succeed starting in middle school! With this type of pressure for success coupled with the negative examples presented to them by the athletes they see on TV and/or admire, it is not surprising to anyone why some high schools choose to random drug tests their student-athletes throughout the sporting year. Three of the top sports in America (basketball, football & baseball) have had great players tarnish their legacies due to illegal performance enhancing drugs, narcotics, alcohol related incidents, or steroids. These professional “role models” who get arrested for such buffoonery help to reinforce the “everyone does it so that makes it ok” notion, add to that the dream of playing professional sports & the win at all costs attitude makes high school kids the ideal target to implement an intervention program to attempt to reduce risk behaviors. Two of these programs, the Athletes Training & Learning to Avoid Steroids (ATLAS) program for males and Athletes Targeting Healthy Exercise & Nutrition Alternatives (ATHENA) program for females focus on anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS), alcohol, marijuana, amphetamines, narcotics, as well as sport supplements, dieting pills, and eating disorders. Continue reading “Strategies to Curb Risk Behaviors in Adolescent Athletes”

Baby Boomers’ Joint Replacement Questions Answered

Baby Boomer’s Joint Replacement Questions Answered

Baby boomers continue to receive attention as they reach different milestones of life.  One particular piece of attention currently revolves around the growing number of younger populations, particularly baby boomers, who are receiving joint replacement surgeries. Continue reading “Baby Boomers’ Joint Replacement Questions Answered”

Cumulative Trauma Disorders

Cumulative Trauma Disorders

By Dave Van Zandt, CSCS, CEAS, Cert FCE

Cumulative Trauma Disorders(CTDs) are caused from an accumulation of repetitive microtrauma to the body’s tissues.  CTDs, also referred to as Repetitive Motion Injuries or overuse injuries, can occur in both the industrial and athletic populations.  They are often seen in activities requiring prolonged, repetitive movements.  The symptoms of a CTD are often slow to develop.  Many people will avoid going to the doctor and just modify their activity until the pain subsides, while others will try to work or play through their pain.  After all, “No Pain, No Gain.”  However, this should not be the case with overuse injuries as long term medical problems, such as arthritis, can occur if CTDs go undiagnosed. Continue reading “Cumulative Trauma Disorders”