Knowing how to identify and prepare yourself for injuries, including how to identify the need for medical help, is an essential life skill that too many people overlook. During this time of the year, football is in full swing, so at Southeast Orthopedic Specialists, we want to educate people on the signs and symptoms of concussions. (more…)
Knowing how to identify and prepare yourself for injuries, including how to identify the need for medical help, is an essential life skill that too many people overlook. During this time of the year, football is in full swing, so at Southeast Orthopedic Specialists, we want to educate people on the signs and symptoms of concussions.
About Concussions
Head injuries happen every day, and may be more common than you originally believed. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of concussions diagnosed has doubled in the past ten years, and among adolescents aged 8 to 13 years old, that number has actually gone up more than 200 percent. Among that adolescent group, high school football accounts for almost half of all head injuries. Following close behind come soccer, ice hockey and lacrosse.
Whether you have kids playing sports or you are the one doing all the activity, knowing how to identify the signs of a head injury is important. A concussion is not something that should be ignored. While the tendency with many people is to shake off an injury or to see how something feels the next morning, doing so with a head injury can be dangerous. Sometimes, head injuries stem from injuries to the back or shoulders, and in this case, you may need support from a Jacksonville orthopedic doctor.
Signs and Symptoms of a Concussion
Here are a few tips on how to recognize the potential hazardous signs of a concussion:
- Difficulty thinking and trouble with memory, including feeling slowed down, having difficulty concentrating and difficulty remembering new information.
- Physical pain, which may include headaches, fuzzy or blurry vision, nausea or vomiting — especially directly after the injury occurs.
- Sensitivity to noise or light, issues with equilibrium and balance, and loss of energy or extreme fatigue
- Difficulty sleeping, including trouble falling asleep or the inability to fall or stay asleep.
In addition to these symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention without delay if any of the following issues develop:
- Headache becomes worse and does not go away.
- Weakness, numbness or decreased coordination.
- Slurred speech.
- Recurring nausea or vomiting.
If you witness someone experience a head injury and notice that they are having convulsions, are showing signs of extreme fatigue, have one pupil larger than the other or lose consciousness for any period of time, take them to emergency treatment immediately.
Not all concussions pose a severe health hazard, and for many people the symptoms will only last several days. The more concussions occur, the more troublesome they become. Remember when it comes to treating concussions that it is always better to practice the adage of “better safe than sorry.”
Why You Need Physical Therapy After Surgery
Undergoing surgery is always a big deal. It doesn’t matter how many injuries you’ve experienced in your life, or how many times you have to undergo the knife — the task of recovering from surgery never gets easier. This is because having surgery makes you completely rethink how you can use your own body. During the recovery period you are forced to stop using some portion of your body. When it comes to surgery on joints, such as the knees, hips, shoulders or ankles, this can be a painful, debilitating and frustrating process. For many who undergo surgery for injury repair, it means going from living an active lifestyle to staying bedridden or immobilized for weeks! (more…)
Common Orthopedic Conditions in the Elderly
There are nearly 45 million people over the age of 65 in the United States, and that figure is expected to rise to 98 million by 2060. This rapidly aging population and biological changes to older adults’ bodies mean that orthopedic injuries are increasingly common. Visiting an orthopedic doctor can help older individuals get the treatment they need. (more…)
Crossfit: Safe or Not?
There’s a lot to like about CrossFit. It packs a big-time workout into a short timespan, and it uses interval training along with weights. That means CrossFitters get fit while building muscle.
It’s super popular these days – thousands upon thousands of diehards have adopted the CrossFit “lifestyle,” working out at one of 12,000 locations across the country. And it shows – CrossFitters’ physiques are decidedly superhero-esque.
But is it safe? Or are there inherent risks associated with CrossFit? It depends on who you ask.
Partial Joint Replacement
Millions of Americans suffer from joint pain, with 40 percent saying that it is “very difficult” or they are “unable” to perform common activities like stooping, bending, kneeling or walking a brief distance, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A partial joint replacement from a Jacksonville orthopedic specialist may significantly decrease pain and improve your quality of life.
Should You Get a Bone Density Scan?
Bone density scans determine how strong your bones are and if you’re at risk for osteoporosis, a condition that makes your bones weak and more likely to break.
Bone density scans, also called bone mineral density (BMD), are noninvasive and take just a few minutes to complete. Scans can be conducted on your hips or spine using a scan called Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA). It’s similar to a traditional x-ray, but your body isn’t exposed to as much radiation. A smaller device can also determine bone density using your finger, wrist or heel. Oftentimes, these devices are used at community screenings or in drugstores that offer bone density scans to patrons.
Child Exercise: How Much Is Too Much?
You know it’s good for your kids to get regular exercise but can they get too much physical activity? Orthopedic surgeons say too much or the wrong kind of exercise can harm growing bodies.
That’s because growth plates can be more easily injured or broken during childhood and into the teenage years. Parents need to not only limit how much their children exercise but also restrict certain kinds of exercise. (more…)
Foods That Help Arthritis
More than 50 million Americans suffer from a form of arthritis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Even mild cases of arthritis can be very distressing for patients, preventing them from engaging in the activities they love. Fortunately, altering your diet may be a simple way to alleviate arthritis pain. (more…)
Sports Medicine Myths Part 2: Stretching Prevents Injuries
Before you take to the basketball court or engage in an intense workout, chances are you stretch. After all, you have been taught by coaches, peers and even sports medicine doctors that stretching before sports activities or workout routines will prevent injury, but what if what you’ve always been told is wrong?
It may come as a surprise to you, but stretching done before, during or after a workout or sports activity could actually do you more harm than good. (more…)
