Sports Medicine

Achilles tendinitis

2010-05-16T02:52:00.000-07:00

Achilles tendinitis is inflammation of the Achilles tendon, the band of tissue that connects calf muscles at the back of the lower leg to your heel bone.
can be either Acute, meaning occurring over a period of a few days, following an increase in training, or Chronic which occurs over a longer period of time.
Often a running injury or other sport-related injury resulting from overuse, intense exercise, jumping,or other activities that strain the tendon and calf muscles.

The Achilles tendon does not have good blood supply or cell activity, so this injury can be slow to heal. The tendon receives nutrients from the tendon sheath or paratendon.

Symptoms: pain in the heel when walking or running. The tendon is usually painful to touch and the skin over the tendon may be swollen and warm.

Treatment: Treatment is possible with ice, cold compression therapy, wearing heel pads to reduce the strain on the tendon, and an exercise routine designed to strengthen the tendon.
Rest
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin and ibuprofen
Physical therapy.

How to Prevent it: Maintaining strength and flexibility in the muscles of the calf will help reduce the risk of tendinitis. Overusing a weak or tight Achilles tendon makes you more likely to develop tendinitis.Always warm up

Neck Strain

2010-04-27T07:05:00.000-07:00

Cause : Sudden stretched neck motions. As tennis players when doing serves.

Head postures for long time.Driving , sitting on computer,& studying.

Symptoms : Neck pain
Limitation of neck movement d.t Spasm.
Management:
REST
ICE
Gentle stretchihng exercises.

Tips for injury prevention

2010-04-06T13:05:00.000-07:00

Wear the right gear.
Strengthen muscles.
Increase flexibility.
Use the proper technique.
Take breaks.
Respect game rules.
Stop the activity if there is pain.
Avoid heat injury by drinking plenty of fluids .

Conditioning of your body

2010-04-02T10:24:00.000-07:00

Exercise has been extremely popular for its beneficial effects on our health.
I will discuss some of these benefits on differnt systems of our body,
1.Cardiovascular system
Decreases resting pulse rate that means your heart is more relaxed.
Decreases blood pressure (for hypertensive patients).
Increases blood volume and red blood cell's haemoglobin.
2.Respiratory system
Larger lung volume due it increased pulmonary function.
3.Metabolic
Muscles increse in size and increse capillary desity.
Increase size and number of mitochondria (responsible for generatin energy)
Increase myoglobin in muscles thus increses muscle capacity of oxygen utilization.
4.Others
Decrease body fat -that means you will look better-
Decrease blood cholesterol and triglycerides responsible for atherosclerosis.
Increase strngth of bone ,tendons and ligaments.

Trail Running

2010-04-02T08:34:00.000-07:00

Trail running is quickly becoming one of the most popular sports in the outdoor industry. Barely recognized as a sport a few years ago, trail running was viewed as a speedy alternative to hiking. However, with the emergence of ultra-distance running on trails the prestige that comes with winning a trail race has increased tremendously. As trail running becomes more mainstream, it is important that you as a runner remember a few crucial bits of nutritional information that will make any trail run all the more enjoyable.Hydration: The Key to PerformanceProper hydration is at the forefront of any activity you plan to participate in. If your body is in motion, then you need to make sure that you are hydrated. Water is essential to the human body. 60-70% of our body mass is water, up to 90% of our brain mass is water, and up to 75% of muscle tissue is comprised of water. Water is also the main component of blood – the important carrier of glucose, oxygen and other nutrients. In general, your body loses 64-80 ounces of water daily through urine, feces, sweat, skin, and expired air. This water needs to be replaced by daily fluid consumption of 64-80 ounces. Another, albeit much less scientific, way to determine daily fluid requirements is to evaluate your urine. Dark and concentrated urine is indicative of inadequate fluid intake. Urine should be pale yellow to clear, and copious. Trail running is a four-season sport. You can run in practically any weather condition, on virtually any terrain.In warm weather, the only way to ensure that you will not become dehydrated is to stop it before it happens. When you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated. That is why it is important to properly hydrate before any event. The cliché eight glasses a day does not take into account your standard active athlete. If you are training in the heat, you need not worry about how many glasses you are drinking but rather concentrate on drinking periodically throughout the day. Keep a water bottle close to you at all times and sip from it continuously. This will ensure that your cells with be maximally hydrated at the start of any workout. Although water is great to be drinking if you are planning on sitting still all day, if you are active you should be hydrating with a carbohydrate solution, preferably one with anywhere between 6-8% carbohydrates. This will ensure that your body not only gets the hydration it craves but also that it maintains the right amount of electrolytes. During the trail run itself, focus on continuing to sip continuously from your water bottle. It is best if you can either run with a handheld water bottle or find a comfortable hydration pack. Weigh yourself before and after a hot weather workout to ensure proper rehydration. For every pound that you lose while running, rehydrate with 24oz of liquid or 150% of your total water loss.In the cold you need to remember that you still have to hydrate. Your hydration needs in cool weather are just as important as in hot weather. You will not feel like you need to drink as much liquid; however, you still need to avoid becoming dehydrated. While you won’t be losing as much liquid through perspiration, you still need to have liquid on hand, especially if you plan to run over thirty minutes. Try to drink every ten to fifteen minutes to ensure that you avoid becoming thirsty.Choosing the right liquid is critical to your hydrating success. Find a carbohydrate drink that will sit well with your stomach and budget. If you are racing, train with the drink that will be provided on the course, since that will be what you will drinking once you get out there. Find an electrolyte containing beverages with 4% to 8% carbohydrate. Drinking a 10% carbohydrate solution can potentially cause gastrointestinal issues, which can be considerably uncomfortable regardless if you are training or racing. The high sugar content can slow the release of fluids into your intestine and delay the rate of absorption. With a 4-8% combination of carbohydrates your body is able to absorb a proper balance of electrolytes which is recommended for any events lasting longer than an hour. Though beverages with caffeine provide hydration, they are not the best choice as excessive caffeine consumption may interfere with sleep patterns and will have a mild diuretic effect. Try to limit your intake of these liquids throughout the day especially if you are planning on a long distance trail run.Get the Gear: Finding the Right Hydration SystemIf you are just getting into trail running you need to find the hydration system that will work best for you. This can take time and will only improve with experience, so be patient. For a long distance training trail run, find a hydration system that is lightweight, comfortable and will be able to carry enough liquid to meet your hydration needs. Personally, I prefer to run with handheld water bottles, because holding the water bottles reminds me of the need to drink. If I run with a hydration pack, I find myself becoming consumed in the run and forgetting to drink. However, by holding the bottles I have a constant reminder that I need to stay hydrated. The only downside to carrying water bottles is that you have something in your hands. This can become a problem on a long distance run when your body becomes fatigued and the last thing you want to do is hold onto a multi-pound water bottle. That is why running with a pack can be an advantage.In the beginning, hydration packs were cumbersome and not worth the discomfort that they brought. However, in recent years that has changed as the outdoor industry has consistently improved on the lightweight, comfortable hydration pack. In cool weather conditions a pack is ideal. When you first start out running more than likely you will be wearing excess clothing. Shedding a few layers with no where to stash them can be a problem; however, with a pack you can easily stuff them away. Then if the weather turns malo you can just pull them back out. Also, since more than likely you will not be drinking as much liquid you can better regulate how much liquid you are carrying by how much fluid you put into the bladder. If you enjoy running with a hydration pack in warm weather, look for one that will be able to keep your back cool. The main problem I found with early hydration packs was that they trapped the heat expelled off your back. I found myself loosing an enormous amount of liquid from the sweat caused by the rubbing of the hydration pack and my back. Either choose a hydration pack like the Patagonia Houdini Hydration Pack that has mesh shoulder straps and an air flow system or use a lumbar pack like the CamelBak Alterra Hydration Pack to remain cool and hydrated in the hottest of conditions.Watch Your Calories: You Need Fuel!If you are planning on running over an hour then you need to make sure that you take into account your nutritional needs as well as hydration needs. Your body size and the activities you choose will determine how many calories you need to consume while exercising. Typically, most experts recommend that athletes eat anywhere from 100 to 150 calories per hour to maintain proper glycolic and caloric balances. Regardless of what type of food or gel you use for fuel delivery, carbohydrates remain your best source of energy for training and racing. Remember not to shun real food for synthetic food options. Fig Newtons, Banana, Peanut Butter sandwiches and Larabars are all great options that can be easily packed into a hydration pack or carried on a trail run.As your body pushes the limits, make sure that you are providing it with the right fuel for the job. To sum up, staying properly hydrated throughout the day is crucial to your workout success. Find a 4-8% carbohydrate drink that your stomach can tolerate if you plan to be running longer than an hour and plan to consume 100-150 calories per hour of exercise. Finally, experiment with different hydrating options until you find a hydration system that works for you. Everybody is different, but taking the time and finding the right way to stay hydrated and fueled will yield major advantages for any athlete in any discipline. Josh Wheeler

Shin Splints

2010-04-02T08:15:00.000-07:00

Shin Splints are common runners injury.
what you should do is :
1- Must rest from the activity.
2-Apply ice regularly.
3-Stretch the lower leg muscles.
4- Heat and Massage are of the most effective treatments for speeding up the healing process of the muscles and tendons.
Preventing running injuries
a-right footwear.
b-Don't do too much too soon,Training too much at the start is a common mistake.
c-Always warm up and cool down.

Tennis elbow

2010-04-02T08:11:00.001-07:00

Also known as "shooter's elbow" and "archer's elbow".
The outer part of the elbow becomes painful and tender. It is commonly associated with playing tennis and other racquet sports, though the injury can happen to almost anybody.
What exactly occur is ("inflammation of the outside elbow bone").
Symptoms
•Recurring pain on the outside of the upper forearm just 2cm below the outer edge of the elbow joint.
•Pain caused by lifting or bending the arm.
•Doing simple tasks such as opening a door handle or shaking hands.
•Difficulty extending the forearm fully.
•Morning stiffness.
Treatment
•Rest the arm until pain disappears.
•Heat or ice -many times aday-
•massage to relieve stress and tension in the muscles.
•strengthen the area away from your specific activity to avoid being enthusiastic and injure yourself again,you may use hand weights.
Prevent re-injury
•Always start low and grade slow.
•A counter-force brace to reduce strain at the elbow, to limit pain and to protect against further damage.
•warm up your arm for at least 5 to 10 minutes with gentle stretching and movement before starting any activity.
•Take frequent breaks.
•You are susceptible to re-injury without adequate rest.

Groin Pull

2010-04-02T06:18:00.000-07:00

A groin pull is an injury to the muscles of the inner thigh.

These muscles pull the legs together, and also help with other movements of the hip joint.Most commonly, groin pulls are minor tears of some muscle fibers, but the bulk of the muscle tissue remains intact.

Symptoms

Pain at inner of your thigh .

Protective muscle contraction may be present to protect the injured area.

Treatment

R.I.C.E. treatment method. Rest,Ice,Compression,Elevation.

Rest : from the activity and you will gradually return to it to avoid re-injury.4 to six days of rest to pass the inflammatory stage of the injury.

Ice : wrapped in towel to avoid ice burn.4times aday.each 20 min.Ice will help reduce pain and inflammation.Ice applied after injury until you return to your activity, But heat only could be applied 48 hours after injury.

Compression : help you to support the injured area , and to reduce swelling.

Elevation : to improve drainage in the injured area esp. if there is significant swelling.Of course you will have to garde your exercise program until you return to your activity.

Rehabilitation

First you will have to

1-strengthen the muscle.

Do some resistance exercises to your groin such as :
Put Medicine ball -can be replaced by pillows-between your thighs and compress it with them.

2-Stretch your adductors, using different positions , remmeber doing the gently and don't bounce.

Remmeber : These exercises will be done after 4 to 6 days of injury for a week then return to your activity slowly.
Note: This article just for help if you have severe injury you should go to your doctor.