When is it too Early for Youth Sport Specialization?

Dr. Brian Feeley considers sports specialization to be intensive, year-round training in a single sport with the exclusion to other sports. There was a concern that early single sport specialization may lead to increased rates of overuse injury and psychological burnouts.

Dr. Brian Feeley, Julie Angel, AT-C and Dr. Rob LaPrade have come together to publish an article in the American Journal of Sports Medicine in January, 2015. They specifically addressed the question, “When is it too early for single sport specialization?” They noted that these activity levels in the United States today include extremes of inactivity versus overactivity in sports. Greater than any time in history we are seeing more children who are morbidly obese with earlier onset diabetes.

And on the flipside, we are also seeing kids who participate in one sport year-round or multiple sports year round under the guidance of a coach and on a specific team. The authors felt that the coach is a primarily driving influence on the decision to specialize in a single sport. An article described that this decision may establish a fundamental early disconnect where the interest in the goals of the parents and child are not the same as those of the youth coach whose focus is on success in a single sport.

Research Findings

Youth Specialization in HockeyThe authors also noted that over the past 20 years there has been a shift in emphasis from youth group and recreational sports activities, to skill development with an emphasis on achieving a high level of accomplishment in a single sport.

The evidence for contribution of an early sport specialization to mastering a particular sport is not clear. It makes intuitive sense in early development of a skill set in sport such as golf, tennis, and gymnastics where post-pubertal size and strength gains are not as important or could actually be detrimental may be beneficial in those sports. The authors noted there is not clear literature to support this. They noted that some studies have suggested that late specialization in a particular sport with a child greater than 12 years of age, may actually result in better achievement than early specialization.

Gullich and Emrich studied more than 1,500 German Olympic athletes and found that the lead athletes specialized later and were more likely to participate in one or more sports over age 11. They noted that Olympic athletes played multiple sports up to age 12 and then started to specialize after that. There was little evidence for and against early specialization in many sports that have a high level of early year round participation in the United States. Athletes are at risk, especially the young athletes for overuse injuries in sports such as baseball, gymnastics, swimming, and ice hockey.

Overuse Injuries

The concern about overuse injuries in the youth athletes relate to the fact that they have open growth plates in their bones, ligaments that are changing size, and muscles that have not reach full maturity.

Youth Pitchers

They noted that youth pitchers face the issue of overuse injuries. These athletes depend on rotator cuff musculature and trunk rotation to throw a baseball which in combination with excessive torque on their humerus which is their upper arm bone, underdevelopment on their muscles, and open growth plates predisposes these athletes to shoulder instabilities, stress fractures through the top part of the humeral bone, and rotator cuff tears and tendonitis.

Youth Baseball Players and Shoulder InjuriesIt has been documented that a youth baseball player pitching more than 100 innings per year resulted in a 3.5 fold increase in risk injury that resulted in time loss from competition in the 9 to 14 year old age group. It is important that parents and physicians consider participation times outside of competitions that occur with private coaches, parents, teammates, and count these athletic exposures as part of the overall time spent in training.

Young Hockey Players

They also noted another area of concern is in hockey players. Studies have documented that the hip position in ice hockey players who are sprinting in the pubic age around 11 years of age tend to externally rotate when pushing off and then internally rotate while increasing hip flexion during the recovery phase. This range of motion creates an impingement on the femoral neck – the top part of the hip bone – and can lead to early stress on the acetabular cartilage and labrum. This can cause potential labral tears and cartilage damage later in life. The youth hockey players’ hip actually develop differently than a child who does not play hockey. These findings have proven to cause problems later on in life.

The authors noted that there is some scientific evidence for early single sport specialization is a risk factor for injury. A case control study of 1,206 7 to 18-year-old student athletes demonstrated that over the course of three years, playing a single sport was an independent risk factor for injury. The authors noted that the age of the athletes in that group and the hours of training per week were not as important as the risk factors of only participating in one sport.

On the flipside, there was also scientific evidence that early single sport specialization has a negative effect physiologically,meaning higher burnout rates.

National Regulations

Some sport organizations are starting to set down rules regarding the amount of time that the youth athlete can participate, such as USA Baseball instituted at pitch count recommendations based on its expertise and review of the literature.

USA Swimming set competition time limits per day for youth 10 years and under. USA cycling hold competitions for youth 10 years and up and has set gear ratio restrictions. These promote positive pedal cadence and reduce the risk of injury.

Baseball:

The authors then specifically looked at youth overuse injury in specific sports. They noted with baseball pitch-count and no routine in youth baseball has become a major factor in major league games as well. Pitch counts have developed around 2001 where it became apparent that 1 to 75 pitches in a game reported increased shoulder pain. However, even with these recommendations, a cross-sectional study of 754 pitcher ages 9 through 18 reported that 45% of the pitchers had no pitch-count in place. They noted that 13% pitch more than recommended eight months in a one year period. Similar studies have shown that the incidence of elbow pain in youth baseball players is between 20 to 30% for 8 to 12 year-olds, approximately 45% for 13 to 14 year-olds, and over 50% for high school, college, and professional athletes.

What is very concerning is a report by Dr. Ahmad that found that 31% of baseball coaches, 28% of players, and 25% of parents do not believe that the pitch count is a risk factor for elbow injury.

An even more concerning statistic is that 30% of baseball coaches, 30% of parents, and 51% of high school athletes, and 26% of collegiate athletes also believe that the ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction also known as a Tommy John procedure, should be performed prophylactically on athletes without elbow injury to improve performance. The Tommy John surgery is done when the athlete has torn, stretched out, or has chronically inflamed interstitial tearing to the ulnar collateral Sports Specialization in Gymnasticsligament. The Tommy John procedure reconstructs the elbow ligament and it is a major surgery. The concern is that baseball coaches, parents, and athletes think that surgery will actually help the players. This shows that there is a lack of information and education among baseball players, coaches, and parents.

Gymnastics:

The authors specifically looked at gymnastics and noted that spondylolysis, a common finding that is hypothesized to be linked with back walkover type skills or excessive extension of the back, occurs in gymnast and is essentially a stress fracture of the back. Gymnasts also experience stress fractures at the wrist and growth plate injuries in the upper extremity because they are being used as weight bearing joints even though they were not designed to be weight bearing joints.

Hockey:

As mentioned above, the risk of femoral acetabular dysplasia or changes in the hip joint, occur in youth hockey players. Another study noted that hockey players ages 16 to 19 year-old have a higher incidence of labral tears as documented by MRI scan.

Swimming:

In reference to swimmers, these athletes swim between 4 to 9 miles per day and often swim 11 months out of the year beginning at age 10 to 12 years of age. Overuse injuries in swimmers can occur in both sprint and distance events as well as triathlons. The authors noted that a majority of swimmers Specialization in Youth Swimmingbelieve that shoulder pain is a normal process of the training process. This study evaluated 80 lead swimmers between the ages of 13 and 25 years. They found that 91% of the swimmers reported shoulder pain, 84% had positive impingement signs, and 70% had MRI evidence of supraspinatus tendinopathy. Supraspinatus tendinopathy indicates that the rotator cuff is highly inflamed and there are actual tendon changes that an MRI will detect.

In conclusion, the authors felt that it is increasingly important to educate parents, coaches, trainers and physicians on the risk of early single sport specialization. It is their obligation to notice early signs of injury to prevent more serious injuries from occurring. These injuries, if not treated properly could potentially limit the participation of competitive athletes not only at the youth, but as a lifelong athlete.

Dr. Grossfeld is a double-board certified orthopaedic surgeon. She loves to be active and play sports, but she also understands when it is time to give herself a break. As a parent, coach or young athlete, be aware of your pain and stress levels. It is important to take time for recovery and continue to enjoy all of the sports you love!

How Body Weight Affects Your Knee Pain

Knee pain can occur in anyone for a number of reasons. It is a vulnerable joint because of the many ligaments and tendons that work together to allow for full mobility. While anyone may be at risk for knee pain, it is much more likely to occur in people who are overweight. When you are overweight, there is also a greater risk of knee pain leading to more severe injuries. According to the Center for Disease Control, two out of three obese adults will suffer from knee osteoarthritis at some point in their life. Excess weight can also cause existing arthritis to worsen.   

Losing weight is not an easy task. It can be especially tough when you are fighting off knee pain. You may find it easier to lose if you understand exactly how much being overweight can negatively impact the health of your joints and your overall health. It is also important to note that there is no catch-all definition for overweight.

Weight loss can help alleviate knee pain

A chart indicating the levels of Body Mass Index.

If you feel that you may be overweight, you should research what a healthy weight is for your height and gender. So for example, 150 pounds may seem like a lot, but for a man who is 6 feet tall that would be a perfectly healthy weight. To help determine where you fall on the scale of healthy weight to obese, you should also talk with your doctor. An expert who you can speak with in person will have a much better understanding of your body type than any charts you can find online.

Weight Distribution and Knee Pain

Just from walking you are distributing 1.5 times your body weight across your knee joints. Say you weigh 200 pounds. While you’re walking around, you’re placing 300 pounds of force on your knees. That force can double, even triple when you walk up and downstairs. When squatting, the force on your knees can increase as much as 5 times your body weight. Something as simple as squatting down to tie your shoe can become laborious when you are overweight.

Losing Weight with Knee Pain

When walking, climbing up stairs, and squatting are already difficult it may seem near impossible to lose weight. Start out with simple exercises that don’t put too much strain on your knees. For example, a stationary bike on low resistance, or walking on a treadmill at a slow pace. Both forms of exercise are both good way to start out. Then as you build strength and endurance you can work your way up to more challenging exercises. Then you will be able to burn fat more quickly.

While exercise is essential to losing weight, it is not the only factor. Diet also plays a major role in weight loss. For every pound lost, you’re losing approximately 3,500 calories. It can take quite a lot of effort to shed those calories through exercise alone. Portion control in meals can help to decrease the amount of exercise you’ll have to do later on.

The Benefits

As you lose weight, the benefits will become apparent. One pound of weight loss unloads at least 4 pounds of joint stress to the knee. A 2005 study from Dr. Stephen P. Messier of Wake Forest focused on the effects of weight loss on knee pain. According to him, the accumulated reduction in knee load for 1 pound of weight loss is more than 4,800 pounds per mile walked. For people losing 10 pounds, each knee would be subjected to 48,000 pounds less per mile walked. Another report from the 2016 edition of Osteoarthritis and Cartilage showed that a 10 percent reduction of a person’s Body Mass Index over 48 months delayed the progression of cartilage degeneration.

If you’re experiencing pain in your knees and you believe it could be a result of your weight, reach out to your doctor. Here at Orthopedic Specialists we have developed a specific weight loss program to help our patients achieve a healthy lifestyle. For more information give us a call at (502) 212-2663 or visit our program page here.

Love Your Knees: 5 Ways to Keep Your Knees Healthy

Despite being the largest joints in your body, your knees are among the most vulnerable areas. It can be common, especially in women, for active individuals to sustain knee injuries because they are overworking the area. We often take our knees for granted because they are such a natural part of our everyday lives, but it is important to avoid putting unnecessary stress on your knees to prevent any injuries in the future.

Five Ways to Take Care of Your KneesBelow are some helpful tips in knee care that will allow you to maintain a healthy life overall.

  1. Wear comfortable shoes that support your arches. If you can’t, or don’t like to wear shoes with arch support already in place, you can purchase inserts that will fit into almost any kind of shoe. This will help to distribute your weight evenly across the soles of your feet, and prevent any strain in your kneecaps. You should also make sure you replace your shoes as they wear with age. Runners typically replace their shoes every 200-300 miles. If you are not tracking your mileage, then note when the sole of the shoe shows wear. That is when you’ll know it is time to replace them.
  2. Exercise. For best results you should exercise 4-5 times a week for 30-40 minutes each session. Scientific studies have shown that keeping the muscles around the knee joint strong will reduce the force and wear on the knee joint. It is important that you are not putting excess strain on your knees as you work out. A few good examples of knee-friendly workouts include swimming, speed walking, and leisurely biking.
  3. Cross train. Even if you have found a few simple workouts that minimize stress on your knees, you shouldn’t exclusively do those exercises. You should focus on building and strengthening a variety of muscles. By utilizing different muscle groups, you will help to strengthen the knee and also reduce incidents of overuse injuries.
  4. Keep your weight in a normal range. When you walk on level ground, the force on your knees is the equivalent of 1.5 times your body-weight. For example: a 200 pound person is really placing 300 pounds of force across their knees. The force on your knees is 2-3 times your body-weight going up and downstairs. The force goes up even more to 4-5 times your body-weight when you squat. One pound of weight loss unloads at least 4 pounds of joint stress on the knee.
  5. Avoid activities that cause knee pain. Activities as simple as running up and down stairs, or standing for long periods of time can cause serious knee pain. Even if you are young and generally in good shape, it is always good practice to minimize any potential risk of injury or pain.

Whether you are just interested in getting more information on practices to help maintain healthy knees, or if you have sustained a knee injury and are looking for medical attention, contact Orthopedic Specialists today at (502) 212-2663 to set up an appointment!

10 Items You Need to Pack for Spring Break Travel

spring breakSpring break is the perfect time to get away from day-to-day life and take a trip to the beach. Whether you are a college student travelling with friends or a family looking to spend some quality time in a warm area, spring break is a great opportunity to break up the long stretch of winter, soak up some sun, and relax on a beach for a week. However, it is important to be prepared for any bump in the road when travelling and smartly packing your bags can really help.

Are you traveling to the beach for spring break this year? Whether you are going to an exotic beach outside of the country or just out of town, follow along for a helpful packing list to ensure that you have a great trip!

10 Items You Need to Pack for Spring Break Travel

1. Proof of identification

If you are going out of the country then it is prudent you remember your passport. You will not be allowed through customs, or aboard international flights, without your passport. If you are flying within the country then your driver’s license will suffice as a form of identification, but it is always best to play it safe and have two forms if they are available to you.

2. Sunblock

Going to the beach in the middle or towards the end of winter often means that your skin will be exposed to more sun than it’s seen in the last few months. Sunblock is crucial for avoiding sunburn (which can quickly ruin a vacation) and by packing your own, you avoid paying high costs for sunscreen at your resort or store around the area.

3. Band-Aids®

In the same way that your skin is going to be sensitive to the sun after being covered up, your feet are going to be sensitive to your sandals or flip flops after months of no wear. Band-Aids® are a great item to have in your bag in case your shoes start to rub blisters on your feet. Blisters can ruin a vacation as quickly as a sunburn can, so be sure to pack for prevention instead of treatment!

4. Tylenol and Motrin

Yes, both. There are big differences between how Tylenol and Motrin treat fever, inflammation, and pain. Tylenol is an acetaminophen that relieves pain and fever but does not reduce swelling and inflammation whereas Motrin is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication which is great for managing both pain and swelling while also reducing inflammation. It’s good to have both with you so that you are prepared for any injury or pain that may arise while on vacation.

5. Zinc Oxide

Zinc oxide is often seen on the noses of life guards at the beach, but it is important to have some in your luggage in case someone is prone to severe sunburn. The thick, white paste is the broadest spectrum UVA and UVB absorber approved for use in sunscreen and has other uses as well. Zinc oxide is also called Desitin and used for diaper rash; however it is effective in treating sand rash, too!

6. Healthy Snacks

Be sure to bring healthy snacks with you for the airplane trip or long car ride to the beach. Health snacks can often be hard to find in the airport without paying a pretty penny or at roadside gas stations that are prone to selling sodas, potato chips, and candy bars over granola, dried fruit, and fresh cut vegetables. By choosing healthy snacks over junk food – you will stay fuller for longer on less food and also feel better for when you’re ready to get into your bathing suit and onto the beach.

7. Sunglasses

The beach is a sunny place most of the time and sunglasses are important to protect your eyes from excessive UV rays. When your eyes are unprotected and exposed to a lot of sunlight, you are more prone to get a headache which will dampen your spring break fun. We recommend packing a pair of sunglasses in your day-to-day bag, as well as your carry-on if you are flying, and bringing an extra pair in your suitcase. Like sunscreen, resorts and stores nearby know that sunglasses are in high demand over spring break and raise the prices.

8. Goggles

If you are swimming in the resort pool or in the ocean, you will want to pack swimming goggles in your bag. Swimming goggles will protect your eyes from chlorine in the resort pool and salt in the ocean water. Getting an eye infection or a bad case of dry eyes can ruin a vacation as fast as a sunburn or blister can and will require more care than what you can do for yourself.

9. Cash

It is extremely important to carry cash with you whether you are flying to your destination or driving. Cash is beneficial for giving quick tips to bellhops in hotels and wait staff at a restaurant. If you lose your debit or credit card then your cash will be your saving grace. We recommend keeping about $100 in cash on you to start vacation. Use your card when it available to save your cash for an emergency, but $100 should be enough money to keep you afloat if you are to run into trouble over the weekend and are unable to get to a bank until Monday.

10. Phone Charger

This may be last on the list, but that does not mean it is any less important than the other nine items. Be sure to pack your phone charger in your day-to-day bag or your carry-on for easy accessibility. Pack an extra phone charger in your suitcase, so you have a back up. Like other amenities, phone chargers are more expensive in your vacation spot than at home should you need to buy a replacement, so it is better to be prepared then in need.

We hope these tips help you prepare in packing your bags for your spring break travels. Remember that the more you can bring from home, the better you are going to be prepared and able to have an enjoyable, worry-free vacation! From the entire team at Orthopaedic Specialists, PLLC – we hope you have a safe and fun spring break!

 

The Hows and Whys of Three Common Shoulder Injuries

Shoulder injuries are common because of how frequently the area’s utilized in day-to-day life and how many joints are involved. We often think of our shoulder as one unified area of our arm, but it is actually made up of many different muscles and tendons. These factors make it particularly vulnerable to injury. Because of the many structures it can often be difficult to pinpoint exactly which part is injured. If you are experiencing shoulder pain and aren’t sure what’s causing it, here are examples of common shoulder injuries.

Understanding AnatomyThe shoulder is vulnerable to injury

Before trying to determine the category of injury, it is first necessary to understand the anatomy of your shoulder. It is comprised of three different bones: upper arm bone (humerus), shoulder blade (scapula), and collarbone (clavicle). The rotator cuff secures your arm within the socket of your shoulder. It also maintains fluid movement with the help of a lubricating sac called the bursa. The bursa is located in between the top of your shoulder (acromion) and the rotator cuff. All of these elements need to work together for you to fully use of your arms without feeling any pain.

Impingement Syndrome

Often referred to as “swimmer’s shoulder” or “thrower’s shoulder,” impingement syndrome happens when the acromion rubs against the tendon and the bursa, resulting in painful irritation. This injury often appears in athletes who participate in tennis, baseball, and swimming. It can also affect individuals whose jobs require repetitive lifting or keeping their arms overhead for lengthy segments of time.

One common symptom of impingement syndrome is experiencing pain in the shoulder while doing activities that include overhead movement, such as reaching, throwing, or swimming. The type of pain associated with impingement syndrome is more dull than sharp and often lingers which can lead to difficulty sleeping at night.

Frozen Shoulder

Frozen shoulder is named for the freezing of mobility and overall stiffness that affected individuals experience. This feeling is caused by the thickening and tightening of the shoulder capsule which, if left untreated, can lead to the development of stiff bands of tissue called adhesions. The pain is usually a dull and aching variety and is enhanced whenever the arm is moving.

Adhesive capsulitis, or frozen shoulder, can be a consequence of a specific injury or it can be linked to diseases like diabetes, or hypothyroidism. It can also occur as a result of long-term immobilization due to surgery, or another kind of injury that would inhibit any arm movement.

Rotator Cuff injuries are some of the most common shoulder injuries Rotator Cuff Tear

Injuries to the rotator cuff are very common. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, in 2013 almost 2 million people in the U.S. went to their doctor because of a rotator cuff issue. If you’re having pain in your rotator cuff it can greatly inhibit your ability to carry out even minor tasks.

There are multiple ways that a rotator cuff can be torn. An acute injury would happen as the result of one specific event such as lifting a heavy object improperly. More commonly, rotator cuff tears happen over time as a consequence of the tendons wearing down. This can be caused by repetitive stress in terms of constant and repeated movements, or sometimes due to lack of blood supply which happens more frequently as we grow older.

 

Just because these shoulder injuries are common does not mean that you should have to endure the pain they cause. There are many options available for healing. For those of you living in the Louisville area, Dr. Stacie Grossfeld is an expert orthopedic surgeon with years of experience treating patients who have sustained shoulder injuries. She specializes in shoulder reconstruction, arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs, as well as sports medicine. If you’re in pain, or struggling to maintain mobility in your arms and shoulders, don’t hesitate to ask for help. Call our offices at (502) 212-2663 to set up an appointment today!

How Does Sleep Impact Health?

Love Your Sleep

Sleep plays a vital role in good health and wellbeing throughout your life. Getting enough quality sleep at the right time can help protect your mental health, physical health, quality of life and safety. The way you feel while you are awake depends in part on what happens while you are sleeping. So follow along for answers to the question: How does sleep impact health?

how does sleep impact healthDuring sleep your body is working to support healthy brain function and maintain your physical health, according to the National Institute of Health. Sleep helps your brain work properly. While you are sleeping, your brain is preparing for the next day. Studies have shown that sleep improves learning, problem solving skills, controlling behavior and coping with change.

Sleep also plays an important role in your physical health. For example, sleep is involved in the healing and repair of your heart and blood vessels. Further, ongoing sleep deficiencies are linked to an increased risk of heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and stroke.

5 Tips for Improving Your Sleep 

Looking for ways to improve your sleep? Here are a few tips to consider:

  1. Get more exercise. Getting regular physical activity can greatly improve the quality of your sleep. According to a new study published in the Journal of Mental Health and Physical Activity, getting at least 150 minutes of exercise a week significantly improves a person’s sleep, and makes them feel more alert throughout the day. 
  2. Exercise at the right time day. The timing of your exercise is important. Exercising right before you are planning on going to sleep is not a good idea. However, exercise will help you sleep if done in the morning, afternoon or early evening.
  3. Watch what you eat and drink. What you eat or drink can also affect your sleep. Any sort of caffeine, sodas or sugar-rich foods are bad food / drink choices before you go to sleep.
  4. Sleep on a regular schedule. Going to sleep and waking up at similar times each day is important for the sleep cycle.
  5. Get the temperature right for sleep. While personal preferences vary, the suggested ideal bedroom temperature for sleep is typically between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit (as noted on www.sleep.org).

How Much Sleep Do I Need?

The National Sleep Foundation recommends 7 to 9 hours of sleep for adults including young adults.  Teenagers need more sleep, generally between 8 and 10 hours a night. And young school age children need the most sleep (an average of 9 to 11 hours a night). (more…)

Nine Facts/Tips about Hamstring Injuries in Soccer Players

When it comes to sports injuries, hamstring injuries in soccer players are very common.  As a board certified sports medicine doctor, Stacie Grossfeld M.D. has treated many soccer players suffering from hamstring injuries.

According to the American Journal of Sports Medicine, hamstring injuries are the most common type of sports injury. Hamstring strains are often caused by sprinting. And once you injure your hamstring, the rate of re-injury is estimated to be over 15 percent.

If you are an athlete, educating yourself about hamstring injuries is a good idea. Follow along for facts and tips about hamstring injuries in soccer players. And keep in mind that this information could really apply to all athletes.

Nine Facts/Tips on Hamstring Injuries in Soccer Players

  1. Hamstring strains are the single most common sports injury in the male soccer player.
  2. Your hamstring is made up of three muscles/tendons: the biceps femoris, the semitendinosus and the semimembranosus.
  3. The most common tendon/muscle injury within your hamstring is your biceps femoris.
  4. Your hamstring muscles are most likely to sustain injury during explosive running accelerations and kicking activities. This is because of the high biomechanical Soccer Players Hamstring Injury Factsdemands placed on the muscle tendon unit throughout the front swing phases in running and kicking.
  5. Researchers currently think that the biceps femoris is the most commonly injured muscle in the group of your hamstring muscles/tendon because of the way it is shaped and the amount of stretch and load that occurs during the front swing kicking or running.
  6. Research has also proven that when the three muscle bellies: biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus are not capable of engaging in a synergistic adequate contraction, it may cause one of the muscles to fatigue prematurely and cause the injury to occur.
  7. The important risk factor for sustaining a hamstring strain injury is the presence of having a prior hamstring strain injury.
  8. The risk of sustaining a second hamstring injury is more than twice as high as the risk of sustaining a third hamstring injury.
  9. Prevention for hamstring injuries can occur through strengthening of the hamstring muscles/tendons with a weightlifting regimen.

Pediatric ACL Injuries and Sports-Related Injuries

Pediatric ACL Injuries and sports-related injuries are a concern to parents, coaches, teachers, kids and physicians. As part of my work as a physician, I focus on trying to educate young athletes about injury prevention. For more information on ACL injury prevention, check out my recent video series.

Preventing Pediatric ACL Injuries

Louisville orthopedic and sports medicine physician Dr. Stacie Grossfeld is an expert at diagnosing and treating ACL injuries. Watch her new video series to learn more about ACL injuries and ACL injury prevention.

Follow along for more information about the latest research on pediatric acl injuries and sports injuries published in the JBJS, by Dr. D.M. Kelly and colleagues in February 2017, titled: Pediatric ACL Injuries and Sports Related Injuries in the Young Adult Patient.

Research Highlights on Pediatric ACL Injuries and Sports Injuries:

  • Overuse injuries in children and adolescents who compete in sports continues to be a serious issue.
  • High school athletes who specialize early reported more overuse injuries than those who did not.
  • Athletes in a large school were more likely to specialize in a single sport (over 8 months per year). They were also more likely to report more knee injuries and overuse injuries.
  • ACL injury prevention programs along with general sports injury prevention programs will reduce injury rates.
  • Girls are 1.6 times more likely to sustain an ACL tear than boys, based on the research.
  • The highest risk sports for ACL injuries are: soccer, football, basketball and lacrosse.
  • Participation in competitive sports significantly increases the risk of an ACL tear for youth.
  • Competitive female athletes carried 5 times the risk of tearing an ACL compared with their noncompetitive female counterparts.
  • Competitive male athletes carried a 4 times higher risk of sustaining an ACL injury compared to their non competitive counterparts.

The risks associated with an ACL injury or sports injury for youth athletes are a serious concern. If you are a parent (more…)

Dr. Stacie L. Grossfeld, Orthopedic Surgeon at Orthopaedic Specialists, Welcomes Spanish Speaking Patients to Her Office in Louisville, KY

Louisville, KY. March 8, 2017. Louisville orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine physician Dr. Stacie L Grossfeld is welcoming Spanish speaking orthopedic patients to her private medical practice Orthopaedic Specialists. In order to make this easier, Dr. Grossfeld recently hired staff member Ashley Milburn to join her team. Ms. Milburn, who is fluent in both English and Spanish, assists Spanish speaking orthopedic patients with communicating with the doctor, understanding doctor’s orders, translating paperwork and more.

spanish speaking orthopedic

Ashley Milburn (right) and Dr. Stacie Grossfeld stand in the Orthopaedic Specialists office. Dr. Grossfeld is excited to offer treatment to Spanish speakers in the Louisville area thanks to Ashley.

Ashley Milburn graduated from ATA College in Louisville, Kentucky. She completed the Limited Medical Radiography with Medical Assisting program (LMRMA) with an impressive 4.0 grade point average. During her time as a student, she did an externship at Dr. Grossfeld’s medical practice, Orthopaedic Specialists. And when she finished her degree, Dr. Grossfeld invited her to join the team.

Ms. Milburn’s Spanish Speaking Background

Originally from Willisburg, Kentucky, Ms. Milburn grew up helping her family on a tobacco farm. During this time working with many Spanish-speaking farm employees, she became very interested in learning Spanish. Though she never received formal training, she is now a fluent Spanish speaker. She explains: “If you want to know what people are saying, you try hard to learn.” Realizing the many benefits of speaking both English and Spanish, Ms. Milburn is also raising her three children to be bilingual.

Along with working as a translator for Spanish speaking orthopedic patients, Milburn is currently working on translating all of the paperwork at Orthopaedic Specialists into Spanish including: surgery packets, pre-op and post-op instructions, sign in slips, new patient paperwork, and worker’s compensation paperwork.

Right now, Orthopaedic Specialist is accepting all new patients including those who are Spanish speakers.

To read more, click here and get access to the entire press release.

What is Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction?

symphysis pubis dysfunctionDuring pregnancy, a lot of different things happen to women’s bodies that don’t occur at any other time in their life and that men will never experience. One occurrence is that the pelvic bone alignment tends to become relaxed, and even stretchy, due to a hormone called Relaxin.

A woman’s body releases this hormone so that their ligaments lose rigidity to prepare for childbirth. While this is a completely normal thing to happen to someone that is expecting a child, if it occurs too early on in the pregnancy, the symphysis pubis, or pelvic joint, becomes unstable and causes abnormal sensations and even pelvic pain. This is known as symphysis pubis dysfunction.

This disorder is pretty common in pregnancies and experts have diagnosed symphysis pubis dysfunction (further referred to as SPD) in about one in every 300 pregnancies. More than 2 percent of women are affected by SPD, but it is misdiagnosed often.

Signs and Symptoms of SPD:

It is important for pregnant women to understand the difference between acute pain related to the birth of their child and pregnancy-related discomfort. The  pain that accompanies SPD is localized to the pubic area and can spread into the upper thighs and perineum. Typically the pain is worsened by physical activities such as walking, going up or down stairs, getting dressed, and sometimes even moving in bed.

When SPD occurs, there is the small possibility that the joint could open up and gape apart. This is called diastasis symphysis pubis or symphysis separation. This tends to cause serious pain in the pelvis, groin, hips, and buttocks. In serious cases, SPD can make a vaginal delivery impossible and narrow down delivery options to only a Caesarean section.

While pain from SPD can continue shortly after delivery, a woman’s body eventually stops producing Relaxin and their ligaments  return back to normal.

Treatment Options:

If you have never experienced this type of pain and are reading up on possible issues that could occur during pregnancy then it might be a good idea to seek medical guidance. Your physician can ease your mind and let you know that you and your child will be healthy and fine even if you do end up suffering from SPD. If you are experiencing this kind of pain currently and found this article researching pain relief for SPD then it’s time to find you that relief. Here are some easy ways you can help relieve the pain:

  • Rest

    Avoid doing any weight bearing activities or making any movement that isn’t completely necessary.

  • Do Kegels or Pelvic Tilts

    These do not require any heavy lifting or straining and help strengthen the muscles located around your pelvis and hips.

  • Ask for Pain Relief

    Consult your physician on safe pain relief medications to use during pregnancy that will help to alleviate the symptoms.

  • Try Wearing a Pelvic Support Belt

    You can find several of these belts online. While they tend to look like a corset, they work to move your pelvic bones back in place.

A healthy pregnancy is extremely important for mothers and babies though not always in a mother’s control. If you are pregnant and notice any unusual discomfort, make sure you speak with your physician as soon as possible. Dr. Grossfeld wants all women to have happy and safe pregnancies. If you are experiencing unusual joint pain or symptoms related to symphysis pubis dysfunction, call 502-212-2663 to schedule a visit.