MLB World Series Kicks Off: Avoiding Baseball Injuries Like The Pros

This month's kick-off of The World Series of Major League Baseball sends players to the field to compete for the championship title. Whether you're an avid fan who plays on a weekly team or just like to head out for a friendly weekend face-off, baseball injuries are a common hindrance to any player’s game - not to mention potentially debilitating – keeping you from the plate for weeks at a time (or longer)! 

There are two main types of baseball injuries: cumulative and acute. Cumulative injuries occur overtime, largely as a result of overuse. Aches and pains caused by stress on the muscles, soft tissues or joints can quickly turn into incapacitating injuries if left untreated. 

Acute injuries are caused by sudden impact or force, rather than from stress. These can be quite dramatic.

The most common baseball injuries include damage to the shoulder, elbow, back, hand and wrist or knee.

Shoulder:

-        Shoulder tendinitis, bursitis

-        Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder)

-        Torn rotator cuff or rotator cuff tendonitis

-        Shoulder separation

Elbow:

-        Medial epicondylitis (also known as golfer’s elbow)

-        Bursitis

-        Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow)

Back:

-        Lower back pain

-        Herniated disks

-        Muscle strains

Hand and Wrist:

-        Sprains and fractures

-        Tendinitis

-        Tenosynovitis

Knee:

-        Injuries to the ACL, PCL, MCL or LCL

Whatever your game style, it's crucial to avoid these injuries wherever possible. Stretching, proper warm up and cool down routines, and appropriate gear go a long way in remaining pain-free on the field.  Also staying in shape, rather than just infrequently moving from the couch to the diamond, is the best way to avoid many of the common baseball injuries that players suffer from.

If you have already sustained a baseball injury, whether cumulative or acute, it is important to seek treatment immediately. Ignoring an ache or pain hoping it will improve on its own will often lead to further deterioration – and leave you in far worse shape.  Instead, head to a sports injury specialist for individualized treatment. Trusting a specialist with your sports related injury is a superior strategy to ensuring effective and efficient treatment!

For more information about common baseball injuries, how to avoid them, or how to treat them, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 416-800-0800 or visit www.aesm.ca 

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 

ACL Rehab and ACL Repair: Prep for the July 28th Beaches Jazz Run

Part of the charm and attraction to community races is the camaraderie.  And the Beaches Jazz Run on July 28^th is brimming with it. This 5km, 10km, or 20km race starts at the Beaches' Kew Gardens, and raises funds in support of the Toronto East General Hospital Foundation.  This event attracts all levels: the leisurely jogger, the competitive runner and even those using the event to condition for the subsequent Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon in October.  The Beaches Jazz Run is a seriously great time for everyone. 

But what if you are suffering from a torn ACL or have recently had ACL surgery? The Beaches Jazz Run may not seem all that useful if you can’t enjoy it. If you are suffering from the pain caused by a torn ACL, it's time to consider ACL rehab or treatment for an ACL injury.

ACL injuries are very common among athletes. The ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) is a joint inside your knee, and an ACL injury occurs when this ligament is torn. ACL injuries are common for athletes whose sports demand sudden stops and changes in direction, like soccer, basketball, tennis and volleyball. This injury can result in inflammation and acute or severe pain.

Does an ACL tear require surgery? It depends on the injury, and a sports injury specialist can help you assess this. It's never beneficial to avoid dealing with an injury, as ignoring it can be detrimental. If you want to get back to your pre-injury state, it's best to address the problem by seeking out ACL repair or ACLrehab. 

How can a sports injury clinic help with your ACL repair and ACL rehab? Firstly, the method for treatment involves a thorough assessment to evaluate your injury in order to develop the best customizable plan for you. After this, our various treatment options range from physiotherapy to restore function in your muscles and increase movement and relieve pain, to custom knee bracing to help support and stabilize, reducing the pressure impacting the injured or repaired knee.

Don’t let an ACL injury keep you from enjoying the sports you love. Seeking out the proper treatment is crucial in order to get back to peak physical condition, and working with a sports injury clinic experienced in ACL repair and ACL rehab is a smart choice.

To find out more about ACL repair and ACL rehab, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 416-800-0800 or visit www.aesm.ca.

Ontario Hockey Federation Announces the World Sledge Hockey Challenge

Get ready hockey fans – you were denied your sport for the last few months, but the Ontario Hockey Federation announces the World Sledge Hockey Challenge.  Canada’s World Sledge Hockey Team is gearing up to defend their gold medal in this year’s World Sledge Hockey Challenge, scheduled for December 2^nd to 8^th, in Calgary, Alberta. There, Canada’s national team will fight against other teams from around the world and make Canadians proud. 

Keeping this exciting tournament in mind, it is also important to think about your own physical health and how to stay fit while you are playing hockey. Keep these things in mind before you get out there on the ice to enjoy some fun winter activity. 

One of the most important things before even stepping out onto the ice is to make sure that you are prepared. Training properly is important no matter what sport you participate in, and with a physically demanding sport such as hockey it is especially important. Making an appointment with a sports injury specialist who can assess your physical health is a great idea. They can tell you what types of training you should partake in to keep your body in top shape before entering the rink.

Stretching before the game and cooling down afterwards are just as important. Making sure that your body is loose and limber can help you perform at your best and avoid hockey injuries.  Once the game is over, taking a cool shower to help your body recover from the physical exertion can help you keep any future aches and pains at bay. A sports injury specialist can also give you tips about how to warm up and cool down.

So what if, even after all of this, you suffer a hockey injury? We all know that they can be hard to avoid when on the ice, so it is vital to address them as soon as they arise. Ignoring a hockey injury, no matter what it is, can lead to long term effects that you will definitely want to avoid.

Hockey pains and strains can be dealt with in a number of ways, but the best way to ensure a great recovery is to attend a sports injury clinic and speak with a sports injury specialist who is able to give you the directions on how to get back into peak physical shape.  Some of their suggestions may include different recovery techniques, such as a massage, to help ease muscle strains and pains, or various treatment options to get you back to enjoying your regular activities.

Even if you do not play at the same level as those athletes participating in the World Sledge Hockey Tournament, that is no reason not to take your physical health seriously. Make sure that you are following an effective training and exercise regimen in order to avoid hockey strains and sprains. And remember to properly deal with any injuries that may occur.

For more information about how to stay fit or how to deal with hockey pains and strains, please contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 416 800 0800, or visit www.aesm.ca