One of the benefits of teaming with Sports Medicine Zanesville is being able to share our stories together on social media. Recently, we opened an SMZ Facebook page in hopes of creating an online community with our doctors, staff and most importantly, our patients. We encourage you to “Like” us on Facebook, just search for “Sports Medicine Zanesville” to find us.

Our page features dynamic photos, community and local sports news and timely information on our sports clinics and seminars. It is also a great way to find out more about our doctors. So log on and become part of our online community – you’ll be glad you did!

Football has supplanted baseball as America’s game. The only problem is football is one of our culture’s most violent sports. Last week, our partners, Sports Medicine Zanesville (SMZ) broke down the most common football injuries, from strains and sprains to fractures and concussions.

SMZ is committed to sports medicine and rehabilitation with a focus on local Zanesville athletes. We encourage you to visit smzanesville.com to read about these football injuries and for more information on the practice, location and contact information.

No – We’re not talking about the Vanilla Ice chart-topper Ice Ice Baby. We are referring to R.I.C.E. – Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. R.I.C.E. is the proper first aid for sprains, strains, muscle pulls or tears and should be used as an immediate first aid measure. It is believed to relive pain, limit swelling and protect the injured soft tissue. Below, we breakdown the R.I.C.E. method of treatment:

R – Rest is crucial to protect injured muscles, tendons and ligaments from further injury and can promote proper healing.

I – Ice is synonymous with reducing swelling by limiting blood flow to the injured area. Never apply ice directly to the skin and avoid leaving it on longer than 20 minutes at a time. A cold pack, crushed ice bag or frozen bag of peas wrapped in a thin towel are all effective methods.

C – Compression also helps limit swelling and can reduce pain. The easiest way to compress an injury is to wrap with an ACE bandage.

E – Elevation, like ice, reduces blood flow and limits swelling. Try to elevate the injured area above the heart. For example, if you hurt your ankle, lie down and prop it up on two pillows.

The P.R.I.C.E. method also advocates “protection,” and is one of many treatments for common injuries. Our orthopedic surgery glossary is filled with terms and acronyms you need to know in order to stay healthy.

OAZ is proud to support Sports Medicine Zanesville (SMZ), a local orthopaedic sports medicine and rehabilitation center. SMZ recently launched a beautiful new website showcasing some of the community’s success stories. Please take a few moments to visit www.smzanesville.com – you’ll be glad you did!

In addition to patient testimonials, the new website offers pre- and post-op instructions, a breakdown of common surgeries, helpful information on how to prevent and treat concussions, and even its very own sports-themed blog.

Dr. James Gasparine leads the SMZ team, which you might notice consists of some familiar faces! For more information or to make an appointment with SMZ, please call 740-588-1089 or email smz@orthozane.com.

Jamaican track star and Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt might claim to be the fastest man in the world, but he isn’t nearly as speedy as a cheetah. African cheetahs can run nearly 65 miles per hour; Bolt, on the other hand, can only manage a very pedestrian 28 miles per hour, according to the New York Times.

A recent study published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine monitored cheetahs’ running style in search of clues on how humans could move faster. The biggest takeaway was that leg turnover requires the most power. Researchers determined the stronger a person’s thighs, the faster he or she is capable of running.

In an earlier blog post, we shared how to avoid runner’s knee with the proper running form. Below are a few more running injuries to be aware of, along with symptoms and potential treatments:

Hip and Thigh Injuries:

• Hip Bursitis – Inflammation of the bursa near the hip joint. While treatment is often effective, this is a nagging injury that is likely to return.
• Snapping Hip Syndrome – This term describes three separate injuries: snapping of the IT band, snapping of the hip flexor and tearing of the cartilage, labrum or hip socket.
• Pulled Hamstring – A common injury in sprinters, the hamstring strain requires treatment and/or rest for a speedy recovery.
• Hip Stress Fracture – Long distance runners are more susceptible to hip stress fractures. Treatment requires time away from impact sports.

Knee Injuries:

• Patellofemoral Syndrome – Also called runner’s knee (see our earlier blog post).
• Dislocated Kneecap – Causes sharp pain during dislocation and can lead to long-term, chronic issues. Often, physical therapy is required during recovery.
• Plica Syndrome – Irritation in the lining of the knee joint causes tissue to become inflamed, resulting in knee pain.

If you have any of these symptoms or have questions about proper rehabilitation, please contact OAZ to schedule an appointment. You might not be able to outrun a cheetah, but hopefully refining your technique will improve your times and keep you healthy.