With fall quickly approaching, this is the perfect time to get your child or teenager ready for their fall activities. Particularly for older children who may have tryouts coming up soon, it is important to start preparing in order for them to be ready and to reduce the risk of them sustaining various types of sports injuries. In order to help your child get the most of their sports experience, our Florida orthopedic specialists recommend you keep these six things in mind. (more…)
With fall quickly approaching, this is the perfect time to get your child or teenager ready for their fall activities. Particularly for older children who may have tryouts coming up soon, it is important to start preparing in order for them to be ready and to reduce the risk of them sustaining various types of sports injuries. In order to help your child get the most of their sports experience, our Florida orthopedic specialists recommend you keep these six things in mind.
1. Invest in High-Quality Footwear and Protective Equipment
Different sports require different types of footwear and equipment, and this is not something you want to cheap out on. Wearing the wrong kind of shoes can increase the risk of ]sports injuries as well as reduce the speed or accuracy of your child. In some cases, orthotic inserts may be needed. Similarly, in contact sports or other activities that require protective clothing or gear, make sure that you invest in high-quality equipment since using inadequate or wrongly sized equipment may not protect your child from injury as effectively as the appropriate equipment would.
2. Begin Conditioning Early
Fall sports are often highly demanding and require rigorous training. While it is tempting to take the whole summer off to relax and play in the sun, this is the perfect time to start to gradually increase the amount of physical activity your child is getting. Start slowly, and make sure that they always warm up beforehand.
3. Emphasize the Importance of Stretching
Proper stretching after exercise is one of the most important ways to reduce the risk of sustaining a sports injury. Teach your child how important stretching is and what the benefits are. For those of you who are current or former athletes yourselves, show them some examples and how to best execute the different stretches. Otherwise, talk to their coaches or other parents for some suggestions.
4. Make Sure That Your Child Eats Well
While eating well is important for everyone, it is especially Important for growing children. Foods high in protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals are essential for sustaining this rapid growth and allow children and teenagers to perform at their maximum level, both at school and while playing sports. A well-balanced and healthy breakfast is especially important to get them through each day.
The night before a large sporting event, make sure that your child eats plenty of carbohydrates as well as some protein while avoiding overly fatty meals. After a game or other sports activity, eating more carbohydrates as well as a moderate amount of protein will help with muscle recovery and provide some much-needed energy. Children will also need healthy snacks before and after exercise as well as throughout the day. Fruits, nuts and granola bars are some examples of healthy snacks that will keep them going.
5. Teach Them About the Importance of Hydration
In general, there is no need for your child to drink anything but water during exercise. However, if the activity is highly demanding and the duration of the exercise is over an hour, a sports drink may help them recover and prevent them from losing too many electrolytes and becoming dehydrated. Even when your child is not exercising, get them in the habit of sipping water throughout the day. Hydration is also important to control body temperature and to avoid heat stroke when exercising outside in the fall sun.
6. Make Sure That They Enjoy It!
It is important that your child enjoys the sport he or she is playing. If they aren’t, try to find another activity that they will. Staying active throughout both childhood and adulthood is associated with a healthier and longer life, and if they are not having a good time, it is unlikely that they will continue with the activity once they get older.
By following all of these simple suggestions, you can reduce the risk of your child sustaining sports injuries and instead be able to focus on how much fun sports can be and on all of the benefits that come with being active.
Is It Better To Exercise in the Morning or at Night?
The benefits of regular exercise include weight control, improved sleep, mood and energy levels, and a reduced risk of numerous diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, certain types of cancer, arthritis and various bone and muscular disorders.
In terms of weight loss, the experts at our Jacksonville clinic have found no solid evidence suggesting that either morning or nighttime exercise is greatly superior for burning calories. However, some studies have found that there may be a difference in terms of the consistency of exercising, which in turn may translate to increased fitness and weight loss. (more…)
See a Doctor if You Are Feeling Pain After an Accident
If you have been in a car accident or any other type of serious accident, it is essential that you seek medical attention immediately. According to our orthopedic surgeons, it is important to do this irrespective of how strong or mild the pain is or whether you are experiencing any other symptoms at the time. (more…)
How Obesity in Children Puts Their Muscoloskeletal Systems at Risk
In the last 30 years, the rate of childhood obesity has more than doubled in the United States, and the number of obese teenagers has increased four-fold! In 2012, roughly 20% of all American children and teenagers aged six to 19 were obese, and over one-third were either overweight or obese. These numbers are startling to say the least, especially considering the numerous and significant adverse effects on health that have been demonstrated to result from obesity, as well as the negative effects obesity can have on a child’s confidence and psychological wellbeing.
In addition to greatly increasing the risks of developing diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke and certain cancers in adulthood, obesity in children has also been demonstrated in a number of scientific studies to put their musculoskeletal system at risk and to increase the risk of orthopedic trauma.
Tips to Keep Your Spine Healthy
The majority of Americans will suffer from back pain at some point during their life, and while there is no way to fully prevent back pain from occurring, there are several things you can do to reduce your risk of developing chronic back pain and to keep your spine healthy.
Symptoms of a Torn ACL
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of four ligaments located in the knee joint, and is responsible for providing stability during walking and other activities. A torn or sprained ACL is a highly common knee injury, which affects more than 200,000 people in the United States each year, out of which approximately half undergo knee surgery. About half of all cases are moreover accompanied by other damages to the structures of the knee.
How to Prevent Sports Injuries
Sports injuries can affect anyone no matter how in shape they are. In fact, approximately 10 percent of all physically active adults suffer a sports-related injury every year, and more than 775,000 children under the age of 15 visit the emergency room with a sports injury each year in the U.S. alone.
4 Tips for Knee Pain Relief
The majority of American adults have experienced knee pain at some point in their lives, and many live with chronic knee pain. Fortunately, exercise and physical therapy have been proven to be just as effective as surgery for relief from osteoarthritis-related knee pain. Strengthening and stretching key muscles can help you to prolong your knee health and to relieve your chronic knee pain.
Occupational Therapist
General Summary
An exempt position responsible for helping patients improve their ability to perform tasks in their daily living and working environments. Patients may have conditions that are mentally, physically, developmentally or emotionally disabling.
Essential Job Responsibilities
1. Assesses patients and develops treatment plans in collaboration with physicians and other clinicians.
2. Assists patients to develop, recover, or maintain daily living and work skills. Helps patients to improve their basic motor functions and reasoning ability and to compensate for any permanent loss of function to reach the goal of having independent, productive, and satisfying lives.
3. Helps patients in performing a variety of activities from operating a computer to dealing with daily needs such as dressing cooking, and eating.
4. Assists with patients with exercises that increase strength and dexterity, visual acuity, and the ability to discern patterns.
5. Uses variety of equipment during treatment including computer programs to help patients improve decision making, abstract reasoning, problem solving, perceptual skills, memory, sequencing, and coordination to aid in independent living.
6. Teaches patients, particularly those with permanent disabilities such as spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, or muscular dystrophy, in the use of adaptive equipment including wheelchairs, orthotics, and aids for eating and dressing.
7. Follows medical practice policies related to compliance, safety, and infection control. Documents patient treatment and outcomes in medical record.
Education
Bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from accredited school plus master’s degree in field. Current state occupational therapist license, successful completion of national certification examination. Current CPR certificate.
Experience
Minimum two years of experience, preferably in clinic setting.
Performance Requirements Knowledge
1. Knowledge of occupational therapy principles, standards and applications.
2. Knowledge of physical, biological, and behavioral sciences as well as application of occupational therapy equipment, devices, and patient-specific therapeutic devices. Understanding of how to modify equipment as needed.
3. Knowledge of clinic policies and regulations related to infection control, safety. And quality improvement.
Abilities
1. Ability to collaborate with patients, families, and employers to modify workplace or home environment in line with patient’s condition, including identification of environmental factors and hazards.
2. Ability to communicate with patients and families in caring and compassionate manner to encourage behavioral changes.
3. Ability to analyze patient data and behavior and modify treatment plan as appropriate.
Skills
1. Skill in evaluating and treating patients.
2. Kill in proper use of occupational therapy equipment and devices.
3. Skill in assessing and recording patient activities and progress.
Equipment Operated
Variety of therapeutic equipment including wheelchairs, orthotics, and aids for activities of daily living. Computer hardware and software for record keeping.
Work environment
Medical office and exam room settings. May also require visits to patient homes and workplaces. Exposure to communicable diseases, biohazards, and conditions related to clinic setting.
Mental/Physical Requirements
Involves standing, sitting, walking, bending, stooping, and twisting. Must be able to transport/ transfer patient safely. Occasional need to lift/ carry and move equipment and supplies weighing up to 50+ pounds. Some stress related to dealing with concerns of patients and families.
