Stay on Stage with Performing Arts Therapy from a Sports Injury Clinic

When you live your life on stage, you depend on your body’s health, strength, function and ability to move. Being in top physical shape often dictates one's competence, and when your body is pain-free nothing can stop you. However, sometimes injuries are unavoidable, and a person finds their abilities drastically reduced. If you have sustained an injury as a dancer, acrobat, or gymnast, your main goal likely surrounds returning to the spotlight.

If you're suffering from the pain caused by an injury while performing, try "performing arts therapy" from a sports injury clinic.  Why? Because it's simple: every injury is unique, as are the needs of each individual performer. A specialist at a sports injury clinic can help diagnose your individual injury and devise a plan that meets those needs effectively. Forms of performing arts therapy treatment are varied and will depend on the diagnosis from the doctor.

What types of injuries are typical to performing arts? There are many, affecting all different areas of the body from top to bottom. Commonly these are ACL tears, separated shoulders, elbow dislocations, carpel tunnel syndrome, Achilles tears, osteoarthritis, degenerative disk or joint disease and general muscle weakness and pain.

Chiropractic care. Often performing arts injuries can be treated well with a regimen of chiropractic care. A registered chiropractor will choose from a variety of techniques to treat an injury, by both adjusting and manipulating misaligned joints. This helps to lessen your pain and works well to restore normal function.  Treatments such as Active Release Technique, Graston Technique and kinesiotaping all offer varying benefits and can be used separately or consecutively.

Physiotherapy. Physiotherapy is also a common treatment for many performing arts injuries. Acupuncture, orthopedic care and manual therapy are all typical treatment methods for performers, and can be used to reduce pain, restore function, improve strength, stability, flexibility and reduce the chances for future injuries.

Maybe your injury and subsequent removal from the stage has led to reduced personal motivation. Rebuilding confidence in your abilities as a performer is also a key component to performing arts therapy. Perhaps part of your unique treatment plan should include performing arts psychology? This can help you deal with the impacts of your injury, be they are lasting or temporary, and help you return to doing what you love - safely.

For more information about performing arts therapy, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine today by calling 416-800-0800. We'll get you back on stage!

You Don’t Have to be an NFL Player to Fall Victim to Football Concussions

With NFL season off to a roaring start, it seems like the perfect opportunity to remind you that football concussions are not restricted to NFL players! Football concussions, or any type of concussion for that matter, are very serious injuries. The initial symptoms can range from moderate to severe, but no matter the severity, a concussion (or suspected concussion) should be treated immediately by a physician.

What is a concussion? A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury typically caused by a blow to the head or another kind of injury that shakes the brain inside the skull. Sometimes cuts and bruises to the head can be good indications of a concussion, but more often than not there are no visible symptoms. Sometimes people lose consciousness – another important sign that a concussion has been sustained – but some do not.  The lack of visible clues is what makes exploring a possible and suspected concussion so important.

Symptoms of a concussion range, but may include a headache, nausea and vomiting, trouble remembering, blurred vision, dizziness or trouble with balance. Any or all of these symptoms may be a signal that an individual has suffered a concussion.

What happens if football concussions (or any concussions) are left untreated? Depending on the severity, the end result of a concussion differs, but if left untreated severe or repeated concussions can have devastating results. Long term issues with cognitive function can make everyday life difficult. Untreated concussions may also lead to the eventual need for surgery.

What is concussion management? Diagnosing concussions can be tricky, but with specific tools designed to make this diagnosis easier, your concussion management team can quickly recognize and identify when one has occurred, thereby establishing the best mode of treatment. Tools such as BESS, which is a standardized balance test, and IMPACT, a technology-based test to analyze cognitive triggers such as memory, reaction time and processing speed, are two of the most commonly used and effective devices.  Once a concussion has been diagnosed, your concussion management team can determine the best route for treatment, setting a timeline for recovery.

When football concussions strike, ignoring them is the worst thing that you can do.  Instead, turn to a sports injury clinic that offers concussion management.  A trained team of experts, proficient in dealing with concussion management and treatment is the best way to get back in the game safely.

For more information about treating football concussions or general concussion management contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine at 416-800-0800.

Why a Sports Medicine Specialist is Your Best Shot at Recovering from a Sports Injury

Whatever your sport of choice, your body needs to be treated with care - as you would baby the engine of a fine, expensive car! This may mean pre-game stretching and warm ups or an appropriate cool down routine to maintain peak physical condition. We all know that staying in shape requires work – but it's a different, less enjoyable kind of work when suffering through a sports injury.

To suffer a sports injury may mean dealing with a torn ligament, a sprain or a concussion, and the road to recovery can be a long, arduous one.  Your experience of healing is unique, and so, therefore, should be the treatment you receive. Each sports injury - and every person sustaining it - is different, so the expertise of a sports medicine specialist, (one with experience treating various different sports related issues), can be applied to catering to these individual needs to get you back on the field and ready for action.

How does the treatment you receive from a sports medicine specialist differ from that of a regular family physician? Whenever you suffer an injury you should always seek medical attention rather than idly leaving the injury, merely hoping that it will get better on its own (which can ultimately lead to more pain or, if you continue to play, make an existing injury that is even worse).  Your family doctor is a logical resource when you're in less than tip top shape, but your best shot at assertive recovery may be found at the hands of a sports medicine specialist.

Think about it this way. Your family physician treats all kinds of injuries – both sports and non-sports related. Do these require the same type of care? For example, does an individual injured in a car accident need the same treatment that a pro athlete does? The problem and end goal are not the same, so why should the treatment be?

If you are an athlete and have suffered a sports injury, your body is well served in the hands of a specialist. When a physician treats sports injuries on a daily basis their methods of treatment are based on years of experience and results for a wide spectrum of injuries.

The type of treatment you receive for any type of injury should greatly depend on what final results you're seeking. If your level of activity pre-injury did not include great deal of sport participation, the family doctor may suffice, but if you're an athlete, or know that your future goals include a high level of activity, consider investing in the results offered by a sports injury specialist.

For more information about sports injury treatment and recovery, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 416-800-0800 or visit www.aesm.ca 

Recovered from a Torn ACL? Get Ready for the MS Bike Toronto Tour with a Custom ACL Knee Brace

On September 8^th, the streets of Toronto will once again be host to the MS Bike Toronto Tour. Both casual riders and competitive teams will journey through the paths of Toronto’s parklands, choosing from 30km or 55km routes. It's a great way to wrap up the summer while raising money for a worthwhile cause!

Whether you're riding in the MS Bike Tour, out for a casual ride to enjoy Ontario’s scenic trails, or are an avid cyclist taking to the roads on a regular basis, biking is a great way to exercise.  But, if you have suffered from a torn ACL in the past, it might not be prudent to mount your bike without some form of knee protection. Enter the benefits of an ACL knee brace!

Since stability plays a big role in the recovery of a torn ACL, a custom ACL knee brace can deliver it comfortably and effectively. A torn ACL is often the result of contact in high impact sports (football, rugby, basketball, etc.), or when a sharp stop or change in direction causes the knee to stretch beyond its normal limits. Keeping the knee stable will allow you to participate in the sports you love without continually worrying about whether or not your knee is vulnerable following recovery.

Why bother with customizing your brace? There are many different generic knee braces out there that claim to do justice to an ACL injury. However, if you really want the best protection for your knee, consider the logic that your ACL knee brace is customized to fit your body – and no one else’s.  Our sports medicine specialists will take measurements and ensure that your custom knee bracing is made to your exact specifications.

Flexibility is key, and generic knee braces are bulky, limiting your ability to move. Although this may help keep the leg stable, it certainly doesn’t help to keep you active. By comparison, a custom ACL knee brace that is lightweight and comfortable will protect your knee without sacrificing your full mobility. This allows you to get back on the bike (or track, or court, etc.) without being constrained in any way.

Whether prepping for the fun of the MS Bike Toronto tour or just looking for some added protection during everyday activities, visit a sports injury clinic today to have a custom ACL knee brace fitting.

For more information about having a custom ACL knee brace made for you, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine today at 416-800-0800.