The Large Impact of a Silence Bone Disease...

Osteoporosis, which can affect both men and women, results in about 1.5 million fractures each year in the United States. The majority of fractures occur in the spine, with about 700,000 per year. Other common areas fractured include the distal forearm/wrist ( about 250,000 per year) and hip fractures (about 250,000 per year). Through a multi-disciplinary treatment plan, patients can often improve their bone mineral density utilizing treatments such as: physical activity, medications, and dietary/vitamin supplementation.

Higher ACL Reconstruction Failure Rate Found With Allograft In Young Athletes...

A recent study presented at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine found that young athletes with ACL surgery using cadaver grafts had a failure rate three times higher compared with athletes undergoing reconstruction with their own hamstring graft. The average age of the patients in they study was 29 years. Failure rate for cadaver grafts was 26.5%, while 8.5% for autografts...

Are You At Risk For Knee Replacement?

A recent study found that a high body mass index (BMI) and intensive physical activity at work both contribute to the risk of having a knee replacement. The two risk factors appear to act independently. However, people with strenuous physical work and with a high body mass index are particularly at high risk for the development of degenerative joint disease of the knee.

Shoulder Pain? Get Your Rotator Cuff Checked...

Rotator cuff disease ranks among one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorders. Rotator cuff disease, which can cause pain, increases with age. About 25% of the adults will experience a rotator cuff tear at some point in their lives. By the age of 60, 25% of people have a rotator cuff tear on MRI, but only 5-40% are symptomatic. By the age of 80, 50% of people have a rotator cuff tear on MRI. Luckily, there are many treatment options available for rotator cuff disease, ranging from physical therapy to surgery...

As Football Season Approaches, Remember the Importance of Mouthguards...

A properly fitted mouthguard can prevent significant injuries to the teeth, lips, gums, and jaws. Non-mouthguard users are 1.6 to 1.9 times more likely to experience a dental injury compared to mouthguard users. The role mouthguards in preventing concussions is still debatable and under active research.

Here are some tips for a properly fitted mouthguard. It should:
 -adequately cover and protect the teeth and surrounding tissues
 -stay in position during impact
 -be at least 3mm thick in all areas
 -not interfere with breathing

Avoid Little League Shoulder This Fall...

Little league shoulder (LLS), or proximal humeral epiphysiolysis, is being diagnosed more often by orthopaedic surgeons. LLS is an overuse injury to the growth area of the shoulder joint. New research shows LLS occurs in patients ranging from 8-17 years old and occurs 97% of the time in males. Baseball pitchers and tennis players are at most risk. Treatment of LLS continues to focus on rest and physical therapy, but symptoms can recur. Continuing to participate in pain can result in growth arrest of the growth plate or fracture. Ways to avoid LLS include proper throwing mechanics, proper rest, and the identification and treatment of range of motion asymmetries between shoulders. Table 1 below, courtesy of Little League Baseball, provides recommended pitch counts and rest periods.

PRP May Not Provide Any Magic For Rotator Cuff Repair...

A recent study performed in Brazil suggested that the addition of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to an arthroscopically repaired rotator cuff tendon did not promote better clinical results at 2 year follow-up. While PRP continues to remain a hot topic in orthopaedics, this further demonstrates that continued study and research is warranted...

New Promise For Hamstring Injury...

A small published study in The American Journal of Sports Medicine suggested that an injection of platelet rich plasma (PRP) combined with physical therapy may offer quicker return to sports compared to physical therapy alone. Patients receiving the injection and physical therapy returned to sports after 26.7 days, while patients receiving therapy only returned after 42.5 days...