Monday, 23 March 2015

Spring Sports Injury Series: Common Baseball Injuries

The 2015 baseball season is up and running, and that means that pros and amateurs alike are out there on a regular basis running the bases and hitting home runs (we hope)! In the midst of all of this excitement however, sometimes we lose sight of the fact that baseball can be a source of major strain on the body, and for regular players, baseball injuries can be quite common.
What kind of injuries are we talking about? The most common occur as a result of contact (odd in a non-contact sport, we know), and as a result of repetition. These often include muscle strains and ligament sprains.
We’ve compiled a short list of some of the most common, what their symptoms are, and some of the most popular treatment options.
  • The repetitive yet abrupt motions unavoidable in baseball often lead to shoulder injuries, including a torn rotator cuff, rotator cuff tendonitis, shoulder tendonitis or shoulder instability. Symptoms of these types of injuries may include decreased range of motion, pain, and weakness in the shoulder. Treatment varies, and depends on the severity of the injury - but ignoring the pain in the hopes that it will go away will likely only make it worse - see a sports medicine physician right away.
  • Tennis elbow is another common baseball injury, occurring as a result of repetition or an abrupt injury. Symptoms typically include pain in the area, usually worse with movement, and weakness. Treatment: physical therapy to improve the muscle or a custom elbow brace.
  • Knee injuries, including ligament injuries (ACL, MCL), torn cartilage (meniscus tears), and ruptured tendons, are also common baseball injuries. These can be the result of overuse and thus degradation, or because of a sudden, sharp twist or stop that puts too much pressure on the knee. Pain and decreased movement are typical symptoms. Depending on the severity of the injury, treatment may include rest, physical therapy, knee bracing and sometimes surgery, but seeking medical advice is always the best place to start.
  • Although not as common as some of those listed above, a herniated disk is also a common problem in the sport. A herniated disk occurs when the disc is damaged - there are a number of different causes - but in baseball it is usually the result of a fall, repeated straining of the back, or a sudden sharp twist of the back. Symptoms may include pain, weakness, or numbness or tingling. Treatment for a herniated disk usually involves rest, physical therapy and massage therapy, or injections to reduce pain and inflammation.
  • Concussions are also a problem in baseball, and even with the use of helmets (and these make a huge difference), a concussion can still occur. A fall or a hit to the head can lead to a concussion - but since they are so difficult to diagnose they sometimes go untreated (leading to further issues). If you believe a concussion has been sustained, contact a sports injury clinic that specializes in concussion management right away.
No matter the level of play, baseball injuries need to be treated correctly to help get you back on the field. The best thing to do if you suffer an injury is seek treatment from a sports injury clinic to avoid further injury and decrease pain.
For more about dealing with one of these baseball injuries, please call Athletic Edge Sports Medicine today at 416-800-0800 or visit www.aesm.ca.

Monday, 16 March 2015

MLB Season Open: Players Start with a Physiotherapy Assessment

Baseball fans get your gear ready; Major League Baseball is up and running next week and that means fans and players alike with be suiting up and heading out on the field to get back in the game. Professional players have been gearing up for weeks now during spring training and are ready to give each game their all.
Part of spring training for all players includes a pre-training assessment - and before players even think about lacing up those cleats they head in for a physiotherapy assessment. But just because you may not play at the same level as the pros, doesn’t mean that those guys are the only ones who should be taking advantage of this! If you are prepped and ready, you want to make sure your body is too.
Check out this great video from Health Choices First. In it, Physiotherapist Behnad Honarbakhsh talks about the importance of a pre-training physiotherapy assessment.
According to Mr. Honarbakhsh, “People can end up with chronic repetitive injuries that they didn't have before they started, and all it took was a predisposing factor to be pushed a little bit further and bring up these issues. They can do a fitness assessment for you and figure out these things before they happen. You don't have to be in pain to see a physiotherapist - just like you go to your dental hygienist to clean your teeth when you don't have tooth pain, you can see a physiotherapist to find out if your wheels are aligned, if there is enough air in all tires, or if you're functioning on a flat tire.”
Before heading out onto the field make sure that an injury isn’t likely to occur because of an unknown, underlying issue. A physiotherapy assessment can help rule out any issues and get you safely back in the game.
For more about the benefits of physiotherapy and a pre-training assessment, please contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine today by calling 1-416-800-0800 or visit www.aesm.ca.

Monday, 9 March 2015

Resolution Re-Vamp: Nutrition Counselling for Eating Well at Work

It is the middle of March now - have you managed to stick to your New Year’s resolution to get in shape? If not, don’t fret; the Dieticians of Canada have made March Nutrition Month, and this year’s theme is eating well at work. We’ve got some nutrition counselling tips to help you re-vamp that resolution starting with your at work eating habits!
March nutrition counselling - tips for eating well from 9-5:
Breakfast: According to the Dieticians of Canada, almost 40% of Canadians skip breakfast, and often this has to do with not being able to fit it into the morning rush. However, this skimping means you are losing out - breakfast not only helps you achieve and maintain a healthy weight over time, it helps with appetite control and allows you to better take in those key vitamins throughout the day.
Tip #1 - Prep breakfast ahead of time so it is easy to grab on-the-go. For example, make quinoa or oat porridge and reheat in the morning. Add fruit or nuts for extra sweetness and fibre.
Tip #2 - Stock up on ready-to-eat items, such as yogurt or individual portions of healthy trail mix - these will help curb the temptation to grab at the drive-thru.
Tip #3 - Pre-make hard-boiled eggs - easy to grab on-the-go and packed full of protein!
Lunch: Thinking outside the lunchbox can really make a difference. If you easily get bored with the same sandwich every day, or don’t want to become a rabbit thanks to the same green salad, here are some lunch tips.
Tip #1 - Make extras of that healthy dinner so that you can have leftovers the next day - you can even reinvent them if you’re feeling creative.
Tip #2 - Lacking inspiration? Try creating your own lunch-a-ble with a few different, yet healthy, items: cheese, crackers, veggies, fruit, trail mix, eggs, etc.
Tip #3 - If you didn’t have time to prep, and are thus headed to the cafeteria, simple choices can make a world of difference. Craving pizza? Go with thin crust. Feeling a stir-fry? Ask for extra veggies and go light on the sauce.
Mid-afternoon munchies - it is a long time between 12 and 6pm (or whenever you sit down to dinner), so give your stomach what it craves with a healthy in-between stack. Here are a bunch of ideas to give you some inspiration:
  • Veggies and hummus
  • Apple slices and peanut butter
  • Edamame
  • Yogurt with some fresh fruit
  • A handful of nuts and some dried fruit
Want even more ideas, or better yet, a customized plan that suits your lifestyle? Individualized nutrition counselling is a great way to achieve and maintain your healthy goals. Meeting with a registered dietician, one who can assess your eating routine and help you set realistic goals, can help you get to where you want to be!
For more about nutrition counselling or to speak with our registered dietician, Stefanie Senior, please call Athletic Edge Sports Medicine today at 1-416-800-0800 or visit www.aesm.ca.

Monday, 2 March 2015

March Break Madness - Sporting Events in Toronto

Happy March everyone. It is that time of year again - spring is just around the corner and it is time to take a break from the routine - well, that is if you have kids off on March Break and are lucky enough to have some time off with them. That being said, it can sometimes be tough to think of things to keep the kids occupied over the course of the week, so we’ve compiled a list of sporting events in Toronto to help you stave off the boredom!
March Break Sporting Events in Toronto:
Into Lacrosse? Check out the Toronto Rock as they take on the Buffalo Bandits on Saturday, March 14th at 7pm. Where? Air Canada Centre. They come at it again on Saturday, March 21st against the Edmonton Rush!
If basketball is your game, Monday, March 16th the Toronto Raptors host the Indiana Pacers, starting at 7pm at the Air Canada Centre. They will follow up this game with another one at home on Friday, March 20th against the Chicago Bulls.
If hockey is your thing, Thursday, March 19th the Toronto Maple Leafs gear up to challenge the San Jose Sharks at the Air Canada Centre at 730pm. If you don’t want to shell out big bucks for the game, you can always catch a Toronto Marlies game - they play on Friday, March 20 at 7pm and Saturday, March 21 at 3pm on home ice at Ricoh Coliseum.
Or, check out the Mississauga Steelheads as they go up against the Kingston Frontenacs, Friday, March 20th at 730pm. Head to the Hersey Centre for this event.
Want to play some hockey of your own, or get out there for some family time on the ice? Check out one of the many rinks around the city offering free skate times. There are a ton to choose from, so there should be somewhere close. Check out the list here.
Just remember, when you head out there on the field, court or ice yourself, the risk for injury may be high - so protect yourself. If you’ve already sustained a sports related injury, don’t wait to seek treatment. Visit a sports injury clinic to have an individualized assessment and customized treatment plan established to get back to the game you love - whatever that may be.
For more about sports injury treatment or March Break sporting events in Toronto, please contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine today by calling 1-416-800-0800 or visit www.aesm.ca.

Monday, 23 February 2015

Ice Treachery - Treating a Running Injury

When the winter comes and you’re getting ready to trade those summer running shoes for your more sturdy winter pair, any negative thoughts regarding heading out on icy trails may not be foremost in your mind. The feeling of running in the cool winter wind can be enticing, and the knowledge that your trails, so often crowded in the summer months, will likely be yours and yours alone, can be enough to make you forget about the threat of those slippery slopes. But just wait. When you get out there and sustain a winter running injury – an all too common occurrence –proper treatment will be essential.

Any seasoned runner should know that running in the winter comes with a whole host of additional opportunities for injury, and as such, needs to be approached a bit differently than your summer running regimen. Clothing type, stretching, goals, etc., are all things that change with the changing seasons. For example, increasing speed and distance are often not advised in the winter months, and warming up is often suggested as an indoor activity when it gets colder, rather than outdoors in the summer.

So, you’ve prepped yourself as much as possible, but that icy patch was unavoidable (often because it went unnoticed), and you’ve sustained a running injury. What now?

Attending a running injury clinic is often the best place to start. Since every individual running injury is unique, by starting with a thorough assessment of your situation and pain, a registered sports medicine physician can better determine the best route to take to return you to your peak. This assessment will include a running shoe analysis, a treadmill running assessment, and a computerized gait analysis to help develop that customized recovery plan.

Once that plan is in place, what kind of treatment might you expect? Well, depending on the type of injury, its location, and its severity, treatment may include:
  • Physical therapy to reduce pain and inflammation
  • Strength training exercises to help build up the muscles in the injured area.
  • A custom knee brace to help reduce pressure and tension on the knee.
  • Custom orthotics to deal with foot pain.
In addition to these few treatment methods, various other forms may be used – with the added benefit of not only treating your running injury, but also preparing you for an injury-free future.


Don’t let a winter running injury hold you back from doing what you love. For more winter running tips or to seek treatment for a running injury, please contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine today by calling 416 800 0800 or visit www.aesm.ca.

Thursday, 19 February 2015

Treating Chronic Pain with Chiropractic Treatment

Whatever the cause, thousands of Canadians suffer through chronic pain on a regular basis. Whether as a result of an injury (a car accident or sports-related injury) or an unrelated condition (sciatica), chronic pain can be debilitating and make even the simplest daily tasks harder.

What exactly is chronic pain? Chronic pain is just that, pain that continues to persist after the expected time frame, and often doesn’t respond well to typical treatment or pain management techniques.  It can affect various parts of the body, and can be intermittent (coming on at different points during the day) or present all the time.

This is where chiropractic treatment comes in. A registered chiropractor, one trained to assess chronic pain and administer treatment can bring significant relief.

Prior to any form of treatment, your registered chiropractor will assess your pain, learning how and why this pain is present – it is essential to know what is causing the pain before attempting to treat it. Following this assessment and diagnosis, your chiropractor will develop an individualized plan to address the issue. A one size fits all approach to treating chronic pain will not work for most, and so a unique plan of attack is what will be the most effective.

After your chiropractor has determined the source of the pain, a variety of different treatment methods may be used to help decrease the pain and increase mobility. This treatment most often involves the use of manual spinal manipulation to help restore alignment to the structure of the body, thereby alleviating pain without surgery or medication.

Active Release Technique and Graston Technique are two forms of chiropractic treatment that are also becoming more popular because of their effectiveness at treating chronic pain. Both work (in different ways) to break down or reduce the amount of scar tissue that builds up following an injury.

Kinesiotaping is especially effective when treating a sports injury. It is used by chiropractors to help stabilize and support muscles and joints while offering flexibility – this can be a great way to help curb the pain while out enjoying your favourite activities.

If you find yourself suffering throughout the day because of chronic pain, stop ignoring the pain and get some actual relief. A chiropractor can work with you to find it!

For more about chiropractic treatment for chronic pain, please contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine today by calling 416 800 0800 or visit www.aesm.ca.

Monday, 9 February 2015

Beat the Food Blues at Winterlicious with Tips from a Registered Dietitian

This is the final week to taste test at Winterlicious Toronto 2015; this fun annual event is an exciting culinary experience that gives you a chance to indulge, tasting cuisine from around the world at a price point that won’t leave you feeling overdone. For all of you foodies out there, this is a great opportunity to get out there and try something new, exotic, or even traditional – and you’ve got 200 of Toronto’s top restaurants to choose from!

Wait – what if you’re trying to watch that figure? Does Winterlicious sound like just the type of temptation to make you fall off the wagon? Besides the usual ‘make reservations in advance’ type of tip, here are some others from a registered dietitian that will help you stay on track and let you enjoy everything this great event has to offer.

  1. Start by asking for the nutritional information for whatever dish you are most interested in.
  2. When dining with a friend, split the main course and start with a house salad with low fat dressing. These days, meal portion sizes are often far larger than we need them to be (we’ve all left a restaurant feeling full after attempting to finish everything on the plate), so splitting the meal not only saves the dough, it saves you from that doughy feeling afterwards.  
  3. When choosing from the menu, look for options that contain items from all four food groups: vegetables and fruit, grain products, milk and alternatives and meat and alternatives. This works to make the meal more balanced.
  4. Try to skip the fried dishes – we know this can be difficult – but baked, broiled, roasted or grilled foods taste just as good and are way better for that waistline. Use this tip any time you dine out – and it never hurts to ask the server if a dish listed as fried can be done differently.
  5. Also, try to skip those dishes that are covered in rich (meaning high fat and high sodium) sauces or gravy – or at least ask for them on the side so that you can control the amount you are eating.
Taking advantage of Winterlicious doesn’t need to mean gaining back those hard lost inches – just be smart about how you indulge and you will find that it doesn’t have to be that tough!

For more tips to stay fit and still enjoy food please contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine today by calling 416 800 0800 and speaking with our registered dietitian, Stefanie Senior, or visit us online at www.aesm.ca.