Pain On and Off the Ice: Ice Hockey Shoulder Injuries

With the hockey season in full swing, many of you are out there on a regular basis, hitting the ice as part of an organized league or just for some fun competition among friends. Ice hockey is a fantastic way to stay fit during the winter, and it offers many fitness benefits. However, it also comes with its own host of risks, not least of which are hockey shoulder injuries – often the result of contact injuries – and therefore unavoidable.

Check out this video from Health Choices First, Hockey & Shoulder Injuries. In it, physiotherapist Behnad Honarbakhsh discusses common hockey shoulder injuries. These typically include:

• shoulder dislocation
• fractured humerus
• damaged collarbone or AC joint (often the result of being checked into the boards)

Depending on the severity of the injury, there are a number of different methods for treatment. These may include bracing for stability and to retain range of motion and avoid stiffness, kinesiotaping for stability and control, or physiotherapy to rehabilitate the injury to achieve normal functionality.

For more about treating hockey shoulder injuries, and how physiotherapy can help you deal with an injury that is causing pain both on and off the ice, please contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine today by calling 416 800 0800 or visit us online at www.aesm.ca.

Happy Holidays From Athletic Edge Sports Medicine

It is that time of year again! The decorations are out, the plans for holiday parties and get-togethers are made. The gifts are wrapped and the radio is playing nothing but holiday tunes.

Athletic Edge Sports Medicine wants to wish you a very happy holiday season and wonderful 2015! We are very excited for the year ahead!

Treating Osteoarthritis of the Knee with Hyaluronic Acid Injections

In Canada, 10 percent of adults are living with osteoarthritis, and osteoarthritis of the knee is one of the most common types of osteoarthritis, making life for those who struggle with this degenerative disease that much more difficult.

Osteoarthritis of the knee, or osteoarthritis in general, occurs when the natural cushioning (cartilage) between joints wears away, causing the joints to rub together without the necessary protective layer, leading to pain, swelling, stiffness and the decreased ability to move fluidly. This can flare up on occasion or constantly present problems, making even the most mundane daily activities difficult.

What causes osteoarthritis of the knee? It is difficult to determine the cause, but osteoarthritis is typically attributed to wear and tear on the knee joint. However, there are actually many different contributing factors which can lead to this condition, which whether hereditary, or resulting from trauma suffered to the knee, can include:

• Trauma to knee joint, including tearing of the meniscus
• Recurrent patellar dislocation or patella fracture
• Ligamentous instability, such as an ACL injury
• Fractures of the knee or knee dislocation
• Various genetic factors, including the presence of arthritis in family medical history

One of the most effective methods for relief of this painful condition is hyaluronic acid injections. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring fluid in your body, one that helps to lubricate the joints, allowing them to move smoothly, as well as acting as a shock absorber. When you suffer from osteoarthritis, this fluid is thinned, meaning that protective layer is compromised.

For those unfamiliar with the process, hyaluronic acid treatment involves the injection of this substance directly into the cavity around the knee joint, helping to add to your body’s natural supply. Following an injection, your doctor might suggest taking it easy for a few days, but after that things should start to improve. Also called viscosupplementation, this can significantly increase your body’s ability to combat the symptoms of this condition.

Depending on your unique situation, your doctor might use a combination of treatments to deal with your knee osteoarthritis along with the hyaluronic acid injections. This may include custom knee bracing to help provide stability, or physiotherapy to assist in increasing movement and reducing pain.

For more about the benefits of hyaluronic acid injections to soothe your osteoarthritis of the knee please contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine today by calling 416 800 0800 or visit us online at www.aesm.ca.

Winter Running Tips Just in Time for The Santa Shuffle

This weekend, Toronto is host to the third annual Santa Shuffle Fun Run and Elf Walk in support of the Salvation Army. This exciting event offers something for everyone – a 5km run for the more ambitious, and a 1km run for those that just want to take their time. The only real requirement? A Santa suit! Get ready to have some fun at this great, family-friendly occasion!

In the spirit of the season, we thought we’d provide you with some winter running tips to both prepare you for this event and winter running in general – check them out!

1. Wear layers – allows the warm air from your body to act as an insulator – but look for articles made of synthetic materials that will wick moisture away from the skin, rather than retaining the moisture and causing discomfort. Also, consider dressing as though it were warmer than it is – you should be chilled when you leave the house, otherwise you are just going to overheat as you get going.
2. Consider stretching indoors – avid runners know the importance of warming up before a run – but in the winter, think about doing these exercises inside – you are more likely to do a thorough warm up in a warm, comfortable environment.
3. Protect your eyes and skin. The cold can be a killer on the skin, and the glare from the snow can be harsh on the eyes. Wear sunglasses, and a thin layer of Vaseline on the face and lips can go a long way as far as preventing your skin from cracking from the cold.
4. Preplan your run according to the conditions. Ice, snow drifts, closed trails- these can all impact your running route, so be prepared. And, if it is beyond freezing, know when it is best to run indoors instead.
5. Hit up a running injury clinic to get more tips and ensure that you are protecting yourself from a running injury while enjoying the winter weather.

Use these winter running tips to get yourself ready for the winter weather. Whether you are an avid runner or just a beginner, the snow and cold does not mean that you need to take a running hiatus. Just be prepared for everything that winter has to throw at you.

For more winter running tips or to find out more about a running injury clinic please call Athletic Edge Sports Medicine today at 416 800 0800 or visit us online at www.aesm.ca.