Gearing Up For The 2013 Golf Season: Avoid Golf Injuries Before They Happen

As March winds down and the snow melts we start to see golf courses welcoming players onto the tee. It is also pretty common to see those early bird golfers out there perfecting their swing at neighbouring driving ranges at the first possible chance. If you’re hooked on golf, warm weather is constantly tempting and prompting you to fit a game in as often as you possibly can!!

But how do you prepare for the golf season before it starts? Do you head out and find yourself a new set of clubs? Purchase some new golf shoes? These tasks will make you look stylish but do nothing to prepare your body for the course.   

While some don’t see golf as a strenuous sport, those who play – and know the game – recognize that it’s a great form of exercise, working several different muscles in your body.  Like many other sports, golf too has common injuries that people struggle with. Golf injuries can come from a variety of different factors – be it inexperience or repetition. Avoiding golf injuries is crucial if you want to keep up your normal level of play. A sports injury clinic that offers a golf injury prevention program will help you no matter what your golf handicap!

A common complaint from golfers is back pain. When you spend the day on the course and find yourself suffering from back pain for days afterwards, this may be caused by your stance and swing. A golf injury prevention program can help you perfect those movements in order to avoid common golf injuries like back pain. 

Interestingly, tennis elbow is another of the most common golf injuries. Your grip, if too loose or too rigid, can cause the muscles on the outside of your upper arm to become inflamed and sore. Golfer’s elbow is also common among golfers (although ironically less common than tennis elbow), and effects the inside of the upper arm. A golf injury prevention program can help you work on that grip and help you avoid having to deal with these golf injuries.

Rather than settling for some programs that offer a conventional golf program that is meant to work for all, find one that is tailored and customized to fit your game. Recognizing that everyone does not play at the same skill level is part of what makes a good golf injury prevention program work, and customizing training to address your specific habits and tendencies will make your investment much more valuable.

Before polishing up the clubs for that first drive, make sure that you attend a sports injury clinic that offers a golf injury prevention program to brush up on your stance, swing and grip, and to help you avoid golf injuries throughout the season.

For more information about our golf injury prevention program and how to avoid common golf injuries, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 416-800-0800 or visit www.aesm.ca

Tim Horton’s Brier Men’s Curling Championship is Just Around the Corner – Don’t Let Knee Joint Pain Keep You From the Curling Rink

Early next month, Edmonton, Alberta will host the Tim Horton’s Brier. Held annually since 1927, the Tim Horton’s Brier is the Canadian Men’s National Curling Championship, bringing together the best of the best in the curling world from across the nation. Teams from each Province and Territory will compete against each other, keen to dominate the tournament and nab gold while moving on to represent Canada at the World Championships later this year.

Curling is sometimes viewed as a sport that is perhaps less strenuous than others. But if you curl, whether as a part of a competitive league or just for fun a couple of times a year, you know that curling is a great source of exercise, especially in the winter months when walking or summer sports may be less accessible. Just like any other sport, curling requires pre-game stretching. Also like other sports, curling can lead to injuries.

The most common curling injuries most often affect the knees, shoulders and back. This is thanks to the bending and extra pressure placed on the leg, knee and knee joints. Stretching before a game is a good way to avoid knee joint pain, but if you find yourself suffering from the pain caused by a curling injury, read on for methods for dealing with this.  

One of the best strategies for combating knee joint pain from curling is through the use of a custom knee brace. Wearing a custom knee brace while curling will help stabilize your knee by distributing weight evenly, balancing out pressure places on the area. This strategy works to reduce the wear-and-tear that can cause knee joint pain.

Why go with a custom knee brace instead of a generic one? Having a custom knee brace made specifically for your body ensures that your unique brace addresses your individual knee joint pain issues.  A generic knee brace cannot do this. Attending a sports injury clinic and having a custom knee brace made especially to your body’s specifications, ensures your knee joint pain is properly addressed.

Whether you curl like those amazing participants in this year’s Tim Horton’s Brier, or just enjoy curling as a social pastime at the local rink, make sure that you are not ignoring knee joint pain: get fitted for a custom knee brace.

For more information about how a custom knee brace can help you deal with knee joint pain, contact Athletic Sports Edge Medicine by calling 416-800-0800 or visit www.aesm.ca

Get Relief From Achilles Tendinitis Before the Achilles St. Patrick’s Day Run By Visiting a Running Injury Clinic

You don’t need to be Irish to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! And what better way to celebrate than participating in the Achilles St. Patrick’s Day Run in support of the Huntington Society of Canada?  This run raises money to help fund research and services for Huntington’s disease. You and your running shoes and stretching routine still have time to be ready for the March 17^th event. Whether you're an avid runner, or just run to keep fit, this fundraiser is a great opportunity to enjoy running in a social setting for a great cause.

This event also signals the beginning of what is, for many, the start of running season. As spring unfolds, and the snow begins to melt, it's almost an innate cue to dust of the running gear!  This spring event is a great motivator for beginning to enjoy the benefits of this season's regular running routine.

But if you suffer from a common running injury like Achilles tendinitis you know that the joy of running is replaced by agony - if not total avoidance of the sport. Achilles tendinitis is a common and painful running injury that comes from an overly stressed Achilles tendon.  This causes the muscles in the knee to tighten, which then irritates the Achilles tendon.  This domino-effect ruins any chances for a relaxing run around the track or neighbourhood…

So what can you do if you suffer from Achilles tendinitis? First of all, whatever you do, don’t just ignore it and try to run through the pain – chances are not only will this affliction not heal on its own but you can easily make the situation worse. Instead, visit a Toronto sports medicine clinic to get the advice and attention you need to return to a pain-free status.

How can a sports medicine clinic help you bounce back from a running injury like Achilles tendinitis? A sports medicine clinic offers a number of different treatment options: including custom knee braces, custom orthotics and physical therapy, just to name a few.  There are several great treatment options a sports medicine clinic will carry in their arsenal.

If you suffer from Achilles tendinitis or any other running related injury, don’t accept being kept off your feet and not enjoying your regular run. Attend a sports medicine clinic and speak to an experienced sport injury professional about the various treatment options that can nurse you back to conditioning in time for the St. Patrick’s Day run!

For more information about treating Achilles tendinitis or our running injury clinic, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 416 800 0800, or visit www.aesm.ca

March Break is Coming Up – Your First Step to Getting in Shape and Healthy Weight Loss is a Registered Dietician

With March Break just around the corner, you may be thinking about getting in shape and toning up.  Whether your options involve a vacation to a sunny destination requiring a week spent in a swim suit, or simply setting some quality time aside for some outdoor exercise with the kids, now is the time to get started.  A healthy weight loss plan can get you in better shape for March Break quicker than you think.

There are so many different diet and exercise plans out there promising quick results. Some offer instant fixes to curb cravings, or expect you to cut out certain foods entirely – many of which may actually be healthy for you. Other fads promise weight loss without exercise. Finding a long-term solution for healthy weight loss, through a realistic plan that includes increased fitness, will depend on your health and personal goals.

Registered dieticians, whether in one-on-one or in a group settings, can help you set and achieve goals for healthy weight loss. Motivation and support can do wonders to keep you on track, and a registered dietician serves as a healthy weight loss coach offering advice that increases your chances of success.

Be realistic about what results your healthy weight loss plan should offer.  Again, by sitting down with a registered dietician, you will be able to establish a meal plan for weight loss that utilizes your food preferences and helps you budget wisely. As part of your food management counseling, you will also get tips about how to control food cravings, understanding food labels, and tips for eating smartly when you are not at home.

We all know that exercise needs to be a part of any healthy weight loss plan, especially if you want to tone up, so another important benefit of working with a registered dietician is that they will work with you to create an exercise plan that fits your schedule. 

We all know it’s far easier to say we’re going to lose weight than to lose it. This is why a registered dietician’s input can be instrumental to your transformation and success.  Let their support, encouragement and advice help you achieve your healthy weight loss goals and get you March-Break-ready.

For more information about establishing a healthy weight loss plan or to speak with our registered dietician, Stephanie Senior, call Athletic Edge Sports Medicine at 416 800 0800, or visit www.aesm.ca