Competing in Winter Sports When You Have Osteoarthritis Symptoms

Not everyone shies away from winter. Many Canadians pride themselves - in fact relish - in the knowledge that the snow and ice offers up our favourite winter sports.  For many, this time of year can be the best! Whether skiing, skating, snowshoeing or any other wintertime sport, this season presents a plethora of options for keeping fit and having fun.

However, for those suffering from osteoarthritis symptoms, competing in winter sports may not be possible, let alone enjoyable.

What is osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that occurs when cartilage between your joints breaks down, causing bones to (painfully) rub against each other. Although it is possible to experience osteoarthritis symptoms in any joints in the body, symptoms most frequently creep up in the knees, hands, hips, feet and spine.

What are some of the most common osteoarthritis symptoms? Someone suffering osteoarthritis symptoms might feel deep, aching joint pain, especially with activity. They might also suffer from joint stiffness, particularly after a period of rest. Swelling and stiffness of the joints, a crunching feeling when moving joints, a loss of flexibility in the joints, as well as back and neck pain with stiffness also define common osteoarthritis symptoms.

So when these osteoarthritis symptoms present themselves what can you do? Your best bet is to visit a sports medicine clinic to speak with a sports medicine specialist about controlling your osteoarthritis symptoms, especially when you're competing in winter sports. They will be able to perform a specialized assessment and determine the best course of action to deal the painful osteoarthritis symptoms you can't ignore.

Some of the treatments that a sports medicine specialist might suggest to deal with your osteoarthritis symptoms may include:

-          Physiotherapy – a trained and certified physiotherapist can employ a variety of traditional and modern techniques to help build up your strength and flexibility as well as restore function and increase movement to combat osteoarthritis symptoms.
-          Viscosupplementation – this treatment involves injecting a hyaluronic acid solution into the joint to help lubricate the joints. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring acid in the body that works to ‘grease’ your joints to make movement easy and painless.
-          Custom bracing – a custom knee brace or custom wrist or ankle brace can greatly reduce the stress and strain on joints, while at the same time strengthening muscles.  This can drastically reduce osteoarthritis symptoms.
-          Surgery – although usually seen as a last resort to what your sports medicine specialist will likely advise trying first, you may find other treatments just can't keep you from this time consuming and invasive procedure.  But many who resort to surgery may not have given themselves time and opportunity to try other options first, so remember surgery is not a sole option for relief, but a viable last option that may indeed help.

If you find yourself suffering from osteoarthritis symptoms while competing in winter sports, you do not have to suffer in silence.  Remember there are several options available for treating osteoarthritis symptoms, so you can focus on savouring the things you enjoy most.

For more information on how to deal with your osteoarthritis symptoms, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 416 800 0800, or visit www.aesm.ca.

How to Get in Shape After The Holidays to Ease Added Weight and Discomfort on Joints

We all know that the holidays present the perfect opportunity to take a break from your regular fitness and diet routine to indulge in all those delicious holiday treats. But relaxing with friends, enjoying big family dinners, and attending indulgent holiday parties can all add up. Don’t let added weight from holiday extravagance cause discomfort on joints. Use this easy to follow advice on how to get in shape after the holidays, and bring your body back up to speed.

One of the best ways to get back into the groove after the decadent holiday season is to develop a diet and exercise plan that works for you. If you were fairly (or very) regimented before the holiday season began, you may find it easy to return to that which worked best for you. But if you are having trouble kick-starting that diet and exercise plan, it may be time to let someone help.

Working with a registered dietician, one with experience creating unique yet effective diet and exercise plans and weight management, will not only help get you in shape after the holidays, but also help ease discomfort on joints.

Want to know how to get in shape after the holidays? And what types of guidance a nutritionist or dietician can provide?

-          Nutrition counselling – this is a great service for those without a plan in place but wanting to get things going (especially those who really want this year’s New Year’s resolution to stick).

-          Weight management – not only will this help you drop those unwanted pounds, but it will also help you get in better shape, and ease discomfort on joints.

-          Craving change workshops - this will help you recognize cravings and allow you to understand how certain foods impact your diet and how to eliminate them from it.

Another important way to get in shape after the holidays is to develop an exercise plan that is easy to follow and works with your lifestyle. This does not have to include going to the gym, running every day, or working out for an hour each morning. Being realistic is the only way to meet your fitness and weight management goals, ultimately helping you get in shape after the holidays and easing joint discomfort.

By working with a certified fitness trainer, you will be able to create a fitness plan that meets your needs while still remaining reasonable. Let’s be honest - trying to do too much often means getting nothing done at all. A certified trainer will be able to set out exercises that best suit your goals, allowing you to workout at your own pace, either in a gym or the comfort of your own living room.

So, to get in shape after the holidays and to ease discomfort on joints, maintaining a healthy weight and sticking to a smart fitness plan is a solid method.

For more information about how to get in shape after the holidays, how to ease discomfort on joints, or to speak to a registered dietician or fitness trainer, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 416 800 0800, or visit www.aesm.ca.

Docs on Ice Charity Hockey Tournament - Hockey Safety Tips for Mature Adults Who Play Hockey and Want to Avoid Hockey Injuries Like ACL Tears

From April 18^th to the 20^th, Stratford and St. Marys will host the 31^st annual Docs on Ice Charity Hockey Tournament in support of the Ontario Lung Association. This 3 day tournament will feature several games involving practicing MDs, retired MDs, Residents, and medical students. All funds raised will go to the Lung Association to be used to develop resources for children with asthma.

With the Docs on Ice tournament in mind, we felt like it would be a great opportunity to give out some hockey safety tips for those of you out there that like to take to the ice. These hockey safety tips will help you avoid hockey injuries, such as ACL tears.

We all know that hockey, whether it is contact or not, can wreak havoc on the body if you are not careful. We also know that many of these can be avoided if we employ some hockey safety tips when we train and play.

Some of the most common hockey injuries players suffer from are concussions, shoulder, hip and back injuries, and ligament tears, such as ACL tears. So how can you avoid hockey injuries such as these?

Hockey Safety Tips:

-          Make sure that you are stretching before each game, and maintaining a good fitness routine. If your body is not in good shape, stepping out on the ice on unworked muscles is only asking for trouble. Making sure that you are limber, not stiff, and ready, is crucial.

-          Attend a sports medicine clinic to have a preseason assessment done by an experienced sports medicine specialist.

-          Make sure that your equipment is in good condition. Even if you do not play on a regular basis, or if you are on a casual house league that plays for fun, it is essential to make sure that proper padding and well-fitting skates is always in use. Avoiding hockey injuries is often impossible if your skates are too loose or your padding too old.

So what if, even after you have used these hockey safety tips, you could not avoid hockey injuries, such as ACL tears? It is very important not to ignore the pain, but rather to seek medical assistance. Your best bet it to go to a sports medicine clinic to be treated by those with the experience and knowledge to treat sports injuries.

Whether you play hockey on a regular basis or just the odd pick-up game amongst friends, it is important to try and avoid hockey injuries that can keep you from the things that you enjoy. If you sustain a hockey injury, it is imperative that you do not ignore the injury and instead seek out a medical consultation to assist in your recovery and get you back on the ice.

For more information on hockey safety tips, to avoid hockey injuries or how to treat them if they do occur, please contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 416 800 0800 or visit www.aesm.ca

Sports Medicine Specialists Give You Tips For Dealing With Sprains and Strains During the 2013 Nordic Ski Season

Just because it may be cold and snowy out, doesn’t mean that your opportunities for winter fitness are limited. There are a number of activities out there that allow you to keep active over the winter season. Cross-country skiing, or Nordic skiing, is a great way to stay fit during the long winter months. Winter is in full swing and most trails are open and fully operational. If you haven’t been out yet, stop waiting and take advantage of the benefits available through this fun and enjoyable winter sport.                                                                                                                                    

As exciting as Nordic skiing is, and as great an opportunity as it can be to help you keep active over the winter, it is important to remember that, as with all sports, there is always a risk of injury. Some believe it to be a relatively low impact sport, but it does require technique and training – you can’t just buy a pair of skis and become a pro overnight. The most common injuries associated with Nordic skiing, sprains and strains, can leave you with very few options if you are intent on remaining active, so let the sports medicine specialists give you tips for dealing with those strains and sprains before you head out on the terrain.

Also important, especially before you head out on those Nordic Ski trails, is making sure that your body is in the right physical shape to participate. Visiting a registered sports medicine specialist will help you determine the best route to get you ready for those long days out on your skis, helping to ensure your safety and to avoid those unwanted and inconvenient injuries that all too often accompany Nordic skiing.

If you are already suffering from a strain or sprain that you are afraid will keep you from the trails, or if you find yourself with an ache as a result of your cross country skiing, don’t fret. Working with a sports medicine specialist will allow you to make the most from their training and experience and get you back out there in no time.

Whether you are an experienced Nordic skier, or if you have just started, taking advantage of the benefits offered by Nordic skiing over the winter is a great idea, and working with a sports medicine specialist can keep you on the trails enjoying the sport. Avoiding the strains and sprains that can come with Nordic skiing, or dealing with them if they do occur, doesn’t have to keep you from the trails. By keeping fit and active always, and visiting those experienced sports medicine specialists will help you keep your body in peak physical shape.

To speak with a sports medicine specialist about how to deal with Nordic skiing strains and sprains, please contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 416 800 0800, or visit www.aesm.ca.