Get Golfing Tips at the Toronto Golf and Travel Show

This week the Metro Toronto Convention Centre is host to the Golf and Travel Show, a weekend-long extravaganza of all-things-golf-and-travel, presented by The Toronto Star. Visitors will be treated to such events as a live presentation from the Putting Doctor and from Michael Breed, host of the hit television show The Golf Fix. Whether you spend all summer on the green or just play the occasional Sunday game, this show offers something for every golfer.

In preparation for the imminent arrival of the 2014 golf season, here are our top 5 golfing tips to get you ready for the show (and the green)!

1.     Equipment. We've all heard it – this club does this, these shoes do that – but really, it isn’t what you are wearing or using that sinks the putt, is it? So, don’t just run out there and buy the most expensive golfing attire and equipment in the hopes that these will improve your game. Speak with someone who actually knows what you should be looking for. If you're playing with a club that you purchased just because Mike Weir uses it, you may actually be harming your game.

2.     Beginners (or those of you who have ‘experience’ but need more): don't be afraid to properly learn! At the end of the day your score may not be a reflection of your years of experience, but rather your level of knowledge regarding stance/grip/swing. If you are not playing properly, your game will suffer for it

3.     Practice. Once you know how to golf, practice, practice, practice. Get out there on the driving range and hit a bucket of balls. Then do it again. Just don’t overdo it – too much practice can lead to an overuse injury – then where will you be!

4.     Stretch. We know you're not running a marathon the day of the big game, but golf can be stressful on your body and therefore stretching is crucial to avoiding injury. Make sure to loosen up the muscles in your upper body to improve flexibility and range of motion. Don’t just head from the couch to the course – that has bad news written all over it!

5.     Visit a sports injury clinic that offers a golf injury prevention program. This will help with things like swing, grip and stance, underlying injuries that may be negatively impacting your game, and flexibility, core strength and bio mechanics.  A sports injury clinic can give you advice on future goals for your game and help you shape-up no matter your skill level or style of play.

After enjoying the Golf and Travel Show don’t just bolt for the golf course – use these tips to prep, condition, lower your score and keep that body in peak golfing shape!

For more golf tips or information about golf injury prevention, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 1 (416) 800-0800.

Snowshoeing with an Injury? Get Relief with ACL Rehab

Snowshoeing is becoming an increasingly popular sport among Canadians and a great way to get exercise over the long winter months. Getting out on the trails and enjoying the scenery can be a great way to work-out while still taking advantage of the beauty that winter has to offer. That being said, snowshoeing can be tough on the knees – and many snowshoers are not unfamiliar with a torn ACL.

An ACL injury can be common among those who snowshoe.  Think about it – the slippery ice and snow, the fast pace – these can wreak havoc on your ACL. A short stop or unintentional twist can mean an injury is painful and treatment that is time-consuming.

Ok, firstly, what is a torn ACL? Your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is in the middle of the knee, and its primary function is prevent the shin bone from sliding out in front of the thigh bone. It also works to stabilize the knee when turning. A ligament tear can be mild (a small tear) or severe (when the ligament is torn completely or when the ligament and part of the bone separates completely from the rest of the bone). These injuries commonly occur at the same time as tears to the MCL or cartilage of the knee.

Does an ACL tear always require surgery? Full ACL tears do not heal on their own, so treatment is always recommended. Surgery depends on the severity of the injury as well as your future goals. If you are an athlete or live a very active lifestyle, an ACL injury can keep you from this, and a severe ACL injury may need to be operated on. That being said, it is essential to consult with a physician regarding a knee injury and they can help determine the best route for treatment. An assessment is critical for proper treatment and future injury prevention.

ACL injury rehabilitation – An ACL injury rehab program may include a range of different treatment methods including physiotherapy (acupuncture, manual therapy) or a knee brace – just make sure that the knee brace is custom – not generic. Having a custom knee brace fit to your exact specifications means more comfort and flexibility when you return to your favourite activities, including snowshoeing.

Whether you are an avid snowshoer or just like to head out there on the trails a few times during the winter, treating an ACL tear correctly is crucial. For more information about ACL treatment and rehab, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 1 (416) 800-0800 or visit us online at www.aesm.ca.

Suffering from Sports-Related Pain? Visit a Sports Medicine Clinic

Basketball, hockey, soccer, running, and skiing may seem largely unrelated but they all have something in common! Each of these sports can lead to pains and strains – or serious injuries. So what options exist for treating pains and strains? You have several – but one of the more crucial options involves visiting a doctor at a sports medicine clinic.

How does a sports medicine clinic differ from a general family practitioner? Well, the most important difference is that sports clinic specialists are experienced in specifically treating sports injuries. This means that the majority of their patients seek treatment for a sports-related injury and sports-related pain. They know their stuff!

So what kind of treatment are we talking about? There are a number of different services that a sports injury clinic should offer:

-        Chiropractic treatment – Chiropractors use various different techniques, including things like Active Release or the Graston Technique to adjust and manipulate misaligned joints. This works to help reduce or eliminate pain, restoring normal function.

-        Osteopathy – Osteopathy is a form of treatment which focusses on the relationship between structure and function of the body and uses manual forms of manipulation to help the body heal itself naturally.

-        Physiotherapy – Physiotherapy often includes several varieties of treatment, including acupuncture and manual therapy. These techniques work to heal injuries, restore function, increase movement and help prevent future injuries.

-        Fitness training and nutritional counseling – Staying in shape is vital to avoiding sports-related injuries, so fitness training and nutritional counseling can go a long way to helping you achieve this.

-        Golf injury prevention program – Golfers: this type of program is geared at ironing out the mechanics of your swing; ensure that your equipment is best suited to you; and to help fix any issues with stance, which is a must for prevention.

And what about prevention? Isn’t that a big part of athletic therapy? Of course, it's paramount. In fact, having not sustained a sports-related injury in the past doesn’t mean you shouldn’t worry about preventing one in the future. A sports medicine clinic can help with this too. How? Programs such as fitness training can get you back in shape after an absence of any kind. Massage therapy can also help you relax and rejuvenate after particularly rigorous activity and help you avoid future strains. Prevention management should never be cast aside when you are active.

For more about the benefits of visiting a sports medicine clinic to help keep you in peak physical condition contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 1 (416) 800-0800 or visit us online at www.aesm.ca.

Hoop Stars on the Court – Beat Those Basketball Injuries

The NBA All-Star Game is coming up quickly and basketball fans everywhere are getting ready for basketball battle! AND, the Harlem Globetrotters are heading to Hamilton later this week so basketball fans can be treated two great events this February to get their b-ball fix!

And if you're a basketball player yourself, on the court on a regular basis, you may also be aware of Achilles tendinitis- a common overuse injury for b-ballers, no matter the level of skill. The constant or repetitive pushing-off, stop-and-go movement, or twisting that is necessary in basketball can wreak havoc on the tendons in the calf. Achilles tendinitis is an injury of the Achilles tendon, which is the band of tissue which connects the muscles in the back of the calf to the heel bone. Tendonitis actually means inflammation of the tendon, caused by the overuse of muscles.

Overuse can cause the muscles to tighten, thereby irritating the tendon, leading to inflammation and pain. Additionally, the pain from Achilles tendon issues is often caused by tiny tears in the tissue in and around the tendon – this is actually called Achilles tendinosis, but as an umbrella-term is most commonly referred to as tendinitis.

If you suffer from Achilles tendinitis, the worst thing that you can do is ignore the injury. Playing through the pain will often only make the pain and the condition worse, which in turn lengthens and complicates treatment. Seeking out advice and professional treatment is crucial to returning to the court and resuming peak-play status.

What might this treatment include?

Custom Knee Braces – A custom knee brace is one of the most common go-to forms of Achilles tendinitis treatments. Rather than a generic brace where one-size-never-fits-all, a custom brace made to fit your body will be light-weight and comfortable, thereby allowing you to continue playing uninhibited while still keeping the knee stable and supported.

Custom Orthotics – Having custom orthotics made to specifically fit you can significantly reduce the stress placed on your calf muscles and help to reduce the pain of Achilles tendinitis. Coupled with a computerized gait analysis to assess your issues and pain, custom foot orthotics (as well as the proper shoes) can make a huge difference.

Physiotherapy – A physiotherapy program can accomplish a number of important goals when it comes to Achilles tendinitis including healing the injury, restoring function, improving movement and increasing strength and flexibility. Typical forms of physiotherapy to treat your pain may include acupuncture, manual therapy or strength and conditioning work.

This season, stay on the court and rid yourself of the pain caused by Achilles tendinitis. For more information contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 1 (416) 800-0800 or visit us online at www.aesm.ca.

Dr. Grant Lum’s recent article in Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery

Check out this recent article, “The Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Treatment of Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis,” from Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery, co-authored by AESM’s own Dr. Grant Lum.

In it, Lum and his colleagues discuss the current research on platelet-rich plasma as a therapeutic intervention in the management of symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. Athletic Edge Sports Medicine has the experience and knowledge to get you moving again. Call us today at 1 416 800 0800.

Click here to read article

Super Bowl Fans: Avoid Common Football Injuries

Super Bowl XLVIII is just around the corner, and fans across North America are gearing up for the sport season's most watched game. This year, the Super Bowl is being held at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey where players will face off in the pursuit of the highly coveted Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Any competitive game comes part-and-parcel with a call for the stretcher. The most common football injuries are to the ankle, leg, knee, and head.  Some of our favourite players have either suffered these injuries in the past or are likely to sustain such an injury in the future. And those pros aren't the only ones on the field susceptible to a football injury. So here are some tips on how to treat injuries inflicted by football.

Ankle – sprains. These injuries are most often the result of the ankle being twisted inwards, causing soft tissue damage around the ankle joint. Bracing or taping the ankle for added support can help to lessen the likelihood of these injuries. Once sustained, rest and icing is important, and seeking rehabilitation to strengthen a weakened ankle is critical.

Leg – hamstring strains. This injury happens when hamstring muscles are forcibly stretched beyond their limits, tearing the muscle tissues, and leading to pain.  A warm-up can help to avoid a hamstring sprain because it readies the muscles and makes them more flexible. Depending on the severity of the strain, ice and rest can work to alleviate the pain, but visiting a sports medicine specialist for physiotherapy is also a smart idea.

Knee – ACL tear. There are a few different ways to injure the ACL, including direct impact or when the knee is twisted or landing on an over-extended knee.  Prevention can be difficult, but proper training can be beneficial to helping you avoid a painful ACL injury. As far as treatment goes, an ACL injury should be looked at by a specialist.  Treatment and rehabilitation may include physiotherapy or custom knee bracing.

Head – concussion. Most often caused by a strike to the head, concussions can be difficult to diagnose, especially because many consider simply passing out as confirmation that one has been sustained (but many concussions don’t even cause the person to lose consciousness). A helmet can be instrumental in concussion prevention too.  Regardless, if someone does suspect a concussion, diagnosis and treatment by a sports injury clinic experienced in concussion management should take place as soon as possible.

If you have sustained a football injury, don’t just suffer through it and try to endure the pain. Get the help and treatment necessary to living pain-free.

For more information about treating football injuries contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 1 (416) 800-0800.

Dealing with Osteoarthritis of the Knee this Ski Season

The snowy conditions are making many of the hills in our region bustle with skiers and snowboarders who live for the cold and snow! This time of year offers many physical diversions as far as exercise, and skiing is a very popular one. However, if you suffer from osteoarthritis of the knee, you are likely aware that partaking in this kind of winter activity can spell major pains (both during and afterwards).

If you're an avid skier or boarder, the chances of you hanging up those boards or poles in exchange for some extended comfort in your knees is highly unlikely.  So if surgery isn’t in your near future, are your only options to ski or board through the pain (thereby inevitably worsening it) or quit this favoured activity altogether?

Here are some options to take into consideration when seeking answers and dealing with this painful condition.

1.     Knee Brace – generic knee braces are relatively easy to find and are easy on the wallet. However, here's the thing with generic knee braces: they're often quite bulky and uncomfortable, not to mention the fact that a one-size-fits-all brace may only fit a minority of the population. Instead, think about getting a custom knee brace. These are often far lighter, more comfortable, and made to fit the exact specifications of your body. A knee brace will help to stabilize the joints and keep pressure on areas that can be weakened by osteoarthritis of the knee.

2.     Viscosupplementation – this is another non-surgical option to help relieve the pain from osteoarthritis of the knee. It involves the injection of hyaluronic acid solution into the knee joint, which acts as a lubricating agent for bones to move more freely and also to provide shock absorption. Because there is no surgery, this treatment can be very effective after only a very brief period, allowing you to return to the hill soon after. With long-term use, viscosupplementation can reduce pain significantly. It can also reduce inflammation.

3.     Physiotherapy – physiotherapy is a well-known non-surgical treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee. Physiotherapy treatment can help to restore function and reduce pain a number of ways, including through the manipulation of joints for the reduction of scar tissue. Typical physiotherapy treatments may include massage, manual therapy or acupuncture. These can be used separately or as a combined regimen to help lessen the pain from osteoarthritis.

If you're looking forward to getting back out there and enjoying the ski season but are worried about pain in your knee joints, don’t be. These three options offer very attractive pain and ailment relief options without painful surgery that requires lengthy recovery time.

For more information about treatments for osteoarthritis of the knee contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 1 (416) 800-0800 or visit us online at www.aesm.ca.