Archive for the 'Sports Injuries' Category

Cincinnati Golfers’ Most Common Injuries

Published
by
Dr. Edward Gould
on February 9, 2013
in Cincinnati Chiropractors, Conditions & Treatments, Fitness, Knee Pain, Low Back Pain and Sports Injuries
. Closed

Most Common Golf Injuries

What are the most common injuries suffered by golfers? How do you recognize them, what are the available treatments, and what are some ways you can minimize their impact? Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Larry Foster is the author of “Dr. Divot’s Guide to Golf Injuries,” and with his help, here are the conditions most likely to affect golfers. Click the links to Dr. Foster’s recap of each injury’s characteristics.

1. Back Pain

The golf swing (not to mention the hunched-over putting stance many of us get into) puts great stress on the golfer’s back, so it’s no surprise back pain is the most common problem for golfers. Back pain in golfers might be mechanical or disc-related, arthritis-related, or caused by a stress fracture, among other possible causes.

2. Tennis Elbow / Golfer’s Elbow

Tennis elbow is an inflammation, soreness, or pain on the outside of the upper arm near the elbow. Golfer’s elbow is an inflammation, soreness or pain on the inside of the upper arm near the elbow. Tennis elbow is actually more common among golfers than golfer’s elbow.

3. Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain in a golfer might be caused by any of several different underlying conditions, including: rotator cuff tendinitis, or a tear or impingement in the rotator cuff; A-C joint arthritis; or instability in the joint.

4. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a repetitive stress disorder that occurs in the nerves of the hands. At its worst, carpal tunnel is extremely painful and sometimes incapacitating.

5. DeQuervain’s Tendinitis

DeQuervain’s causes pain in the wrist near the base of the thumb, and is caused by an inflammation in the tendons that control the thumb.

6. Knee Pain

Knee pain in golfers can be caused by any of numerous underlying issues, among them: a torn meniscus; knee arthritis (osteoarthritis), or knee cap pain (chondromalacia).

7. Trigger Finger

Trigger finger can cause a finger or fingers to lock up. The condition is caused when the flexor tendon sheath, through which the finger tendons run, is inhibited.

8. Wrist Impaction Syndrome

Impaction syndromes of the wrist are caused when the bones of the wrist bang into one another due to excess or repetitive movements.

9. ECU Tendon Subluxation

ECU Tendon Subluxation is caused when the sheath holding the wrist tendon begins sliding in and out of its groove.

10. Fracture of Hamate Bone

The hamate bone is a small bone on the pinky side of the wrist. The hamate has a small prominence called the hook, which juts into the palm. The way most golfers grip their clubs puts the butt-end of the club right up against the hook of the hamate during the swing.

via Golf Injuries – Most Common Golf Injuries.

Cincinnati Golf Injuries & Prevention

Published
by
Dr. Edward Gould
on April 18, 2011
in Cincinnati Chiropractors, Golf Injuries, Lower Back Pain, Mid Back Pain, Neck Pain & Stiffness, Sacroiliac Pain and Sports Injuries
. Closed

Golf is an interesting sport that requires the coordination of all parts of the body.  Hitting a golf ball only requires a small amount of time, however, in that small amount of time the golfer’s body will undergo massive amounts of stress.  Because of this,  injuries occur on a regular basis.

A fluid swing requires maximum-joint-function throughout the body.  Any reduction of  joint function, will not only increase the chances of injury but will also change the characteristics of the golfer’s swing, which will contribute to a loss of swing velocity and improper impact position.

Many golfers overlook the obvious, they eagerly spend thousands of dollars on clubs and lessons, yet they ignore the most important component in their game, their body and its ability to move properly.

As we age “all” of our golf swings change.  Anyone that follows golf knows that Tiger Woods has been relentlessly working on a new swing.  Yes, even Tiger is susceptible to the aging process.  His mechanics are amazing but they are changing.

Common complaints and injuries in order of prevalence from playing golf:

  1. Sacroiliac pain
  2. Lower back pain
  3. Mid back pain
  4. Neck pain
  5. Shoulder pain
  6. Elbow pain
  7. Knee pain

If you are suffering from any of the above or you just want to maximize your body’s function, call me before your next tee time at 513-791-8110.

Yours in Health, Naturally!

Dr. Gould

Cherries found to control Inflammation

Published
by
Dr. Edward Gould
on April 12, 2011
in Aging, Cincinnati Chiropractors, inflammation and Sports Injuries
. Closed

Cherries Fight Inflammation

Cherries are important for their ability to control inflammation.  A growing body of scientific research indicates that inflammation contributes to diseases such as heart disease, arthritis, and obesity. Sweet or tart, cherries are a powerhouse of anti-inflammatory nutrients. A study from University of California at Davis found that regular consumption of cherries for 28 days produced a decrease in biochemical signs of inflammation in blood, including a 25 percent reduction in C-reactive protein CRP, the most widely studied marker of inflammation.  Elevation of CRP in blood is associated with an increased risk of heart disease and stroke.

Cherries Better Than Aspirin for Pain?

According to research done at Michigan State University the anthocyanins that make cherries red could also help relieve pain more effectively than aspirin. The study found that anthocyanins were potent antioxidants that could prevent oxidative damage and also inhibited enzymes called cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 Cox 1 and 2, which is similar in the way anti- inflammatory drugs seek to reduce pain.  The study appeared in the Journal of Natural Products published by the American Chemical Society. Lead researcher Muralee G. Nair, Ph.D., Professor at Michigan State University College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, noted about this cherry effect “It is as good as ibuprofen and some of the nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory drugs.”  Nair said that his lab results indicate that consuming 20 tart cherries could provide anti-inflammatory benefits. Finding a natural way to reduce pain is important, given the serious side effects from common pain relievers called NSAIDs, examples of which include Advil, Motrin, Aleve and aspirin.

Cherry Juice for Workout Recovery

A presentation at the American College of Sports Medicine Conference found that drinking tart cherry juice helped reduce pain after exercise for long distance runners. This research,  from the Oregon Health & Science University,  indicated that cherries could act like medications that runners use to reduce inflammation after workouts.Publishing their findings in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, the researchers explain: “Considering the natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capacity of tart cherries,  it is plausible that cherry consumption before and during strenuous exercise may have a protective effect to reduce muscle damage and pain. “For most runners,  post-race treatment consists of RICE rest, ice, compression and elevation and traditional NSAIDS non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,” said Kerry Kuehl, M.D., a sports medicine physician and principal study investigator, who added: “But NSAIDS can have adverse effects — negative effects you may be able to avoid by using a natural, whole food alternative, like cherry juice, to reduce muscle inflammation before exercise.” Please see References below for the link to the full text of this interesting study.

Cherries and Gout

Another study from the University of California at Davis found that a single dose of cherries reduced the blood level of uric acid in healthy women. Excess uric acid causes gout, a very painful type of arthritis. The use of cherries to prevent gout is well established in Western folk medicine. You can enjoy the benefit of cherries all year round with unsweetened cherry juice, unsweetened cherry juice concentrate, or frozen organic pitted cherries, which make a delicious snack or dessert. And don’t forget about incorporating anti-inflammatory foods like cherries into daily life.

via Leo Galland, M.D.: Cherries for Health: Better Than Aspirin?.

Rib Head Pain

Published
by
Dr. Edward Gould
on February 3, 2010
in Cincinnati Chiropractors, Mid Back Pain, Rib Head Pain and Sports Injuries
. Closed

Mid Back PainThis is a very sharp pain

Most patients describe it as knife-like pain. Why does this occur? A little anatomy will help you to understand this. Each rib actually attaches to the spine in two different locations. At each site of attachment, a joint is formed allowing movement. Yes, the ribs move. If it weren’t for this movement, we could not take a breath or bend in this area. Because of these joints, certain movements can create problems. Typically, “extreme” twisting of the upper body will cause these joints to become misaligned or subluxated. When this happens the ligaments that surround the joints (joint capsule) become stretched and on occasion pulled inside the joint allowing the capsule to be pinched. This is what causes that horrible knife-like pain. Treating this requires a thorough understanding of the anatomy in this area and the skill to adjust the rib head(s) back into their proper location.

Rib head pain, if not treated properly will become chronic.  If you are experiencing this type of pain and you live in the Cincinnati area, give me a call and schedule an exam.  Allowing this condition to become chronic is a mistake that all regret.

I hope this post was helpful.

Dr. Gould