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.

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.

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.

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.