ACL injuries are a common injury we treat at Orthopaedic Associates of Zanesville. ACL stands for anterior cruciate ligament and an ACL injury is a tear in one of the knee ligaments that joins the upper leg bone with the lower leg bone. ACLs keep the knee stable.

A common question from patients with a common injury is when can they safely get back to playing sports or participating in the activities they like.

We have included a clip from ABC News about returning to sports or athletic activities after an ACL injury. Sherwin Ho, M.D., at the University Chicago Medical Center explains.

Returning to Sports after an ACL injury

Winter is just around the corner and we want to remind everyone about common injuries that can occur during the wintertime. Earlier this year, Dr. Oz reviewed the top winter injuries and included the following:

• Slip and fall injuries
• Shoveling
• Driving
• Hypothermia
• Frostbite
• Burns and carbon monoxide poisoning

We are going to focus on only a few of the common winter injuries.

1. Slip and fall injuries are commonly seen in the ER during the winter. If you fall on a patch of ice, you could risk fracturing your wrist or, even more seriously, fracturing your hip. Depending on how someone falls on the ice, head injuries can also occur. If you must go outside, be sure to take your time and walk slowly, wear warm insulated footwear with good rubber tread and if you walk in the street because the sidewalks aren’t clear, be sure you are visible to cars.

2. Shoveling can add stress to your body, especially your back because of the twisting and lifting of the snow. When shoveling, pace yourself and take frequent breaks. As always, dress appropriately and wear slip-resistant boots. We recommend trying to push snow instead of lifting and throwing the snow either over your shoulders or away from your body. Listen to your body and if you start sweating, are short of breath or have chest pain, stop immediately. For those of you with snow blowers, never ever under any circumstance put your hand in the shoot to unclog the snow and even when you turn off the snow blower, the blades can still be running so be patient if you need to unclog your snow blower. Visit your local hardware store or visit Amazon for ergonomical shovels.

3. Frostbite can occur within five minutes of your body being exposed to outdoor temperatures of 0 degrees Fahrenheit (-18 degrees Celsius) and -19 degrees Fahrenheit. If you experience Frostbite, ice crystals literally form within the tissues around your cells. Repeated exposure to extreme weather conditions can cause permanent damage to the nerves, muscles and blood vessels.

If you or someone you know might have frostbite, do the following:
• Get the person out of the cold, immediately.
• Remove constricting clothing, especially around the area of frostbite.
• Elevate the area to reduce swelling.
• Never rub the affected area because it can further damage the tissue.
• Never re-warm a frostbitten area because more damage can occur if the tissue thaws and then freezes again.

These are just a few tips from us here at the Orthopaedic Associates of Zanesville. We want to emphasize that people need to use common sense and take precaution when playing outside in the snow, shoveling or participating in other outdoor activities during the winter.

Two previous posts were on the History of Sports Medicine and the History of Physical Therapy and we would like to continue to provide you with information on the history of surgeries, technology and other common injuries we see here at OAZ. Today we would like to give our readers 10 facts about total hip replacement:

1.     According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), the first total hip replacement was performed in 1960 (only 51 years ago!) and is considered one of the most important surgical advances of the last century.

2.     Improvements in surgical techniques and technology, like arthroscopy, have greatly increased the effectiveness.

3.     According to the AAOS, more than 193,000 hip replacement surgeries are performed each year in the U.S.

4.     Early designs had the potential to loosen from their attachment to the bones, becoming painful after 10-12 years.

5.     Initial hip designs were made of a one-piece femoral component and a one-piece acetabular component.

6.     Modern acetabular components are made up of two parts – a metal shell and a separate liner.

7.     Once an uncommon surgery for frail patients, total hip replacement is common among aging athletes.

8.     Hips are one of the body’s largest weight-bearing joints.

9.      In most cases, modern hip replacement surgery allows patients to walk almost immediately post-op.

10.    Various approaches to the hip can be done for replacement, including posterior, lateral, and anterior. Each approach is available at Orthopaedic Associates of Zanesville and your physician will be glad to discuss the options with you.

Anterior approach to Hip Replacement Surgery – Animation

Thanksgiving is two days away and with all the cooking and eating, the physicians here at OrthoZane suggest finding a local Thanksgiving Day 5K run or walk to participate in.

The Active website provides a plethora of Thanksgiving Day events that can be found here: http://www.active.com/running/turkeytrot/

In addition to our suggestion of participating in a local Turkey Trot, we also have some tips for a more healthy Thanksgiving.

Tips for a Healthy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving often presents itself with a variety of foods and desserts. We put together a list of tips to help you not overindulge too much.

1. Eat breakfast. By eating a small meal the morning of Thanksgiving, you’ll have more control over your appetite.
2. Lighten up. If you’re hosting or bringing some side dishes, here are some alternatives to make the dishes healthier:

• Use fat-free chicken broth to baste the turkey and make gravy.
• Use sugar substitutes instead of real sugar and replace oil with fruit preserves for sweet dishes.
• Reduce oil and butter wherever you can.
• Experiment with plain Greek yogurt or fat-free sour cream in mashed potatoes, creamy dishes and casseroles.

3.   Select reasonable portion sizes when heading to the buffet.

4.   Eat slow and savor each bite of food.

5.   Take a stroll after dinner.

We hope these tips help you to have a healthier Thanksgiving this year and we wish everyone a safe and fun Thanksgiving.

Just like sports medicine, physical therapy began in ancient Greece. Hippocrates, an ancient Greek physician and a prominent figure in the history of medicine, advocated for massage and Hector used water therapy.

The earliest documents of physical therapy only date back to 1894 when English nurses formed the Chartered Society for Physiotherapy.

Physical therapy began in the U.S. in 1914 at Reed College in Portland, Oregon. The first known graduates of a physical therapy program were known as reconstructive aides.

Like other medical professions, research is an important aspect of physical therapy. The first published research of physical therapy was in 1921 in The PT Review.

1921 – The year the American Women’s Physical Therapeutic Association was founded. Association changed to the American Physiotherapy Association in the 1930′s and officially became the American Physical Therapy Association in the late 1940′s. Educational institutions began establishing standards and programs became accredited.

1924 – Georgia Warm Springs Foundation came into existence and emphasized working on physical therapy related to polio.

1940’s – Physical therapy mainly consisted of exercise, massage and traction.

1950’s – Therapists started to move beyond hospitals.

1974 – Specialization in physical therapy started. The APTA formed an Orthopaedic section for those physical therapists focusing on the practice of orthopaedics.

1980’s – Technology and computers lead to more advances in rehabilitation. Computerized modalities, ultrasound and electric simulators are technologies that helped advance the practice of physical therapy.

1990’s – Attention to manual therapy and formal residency programs are becoming more numerous.

If you’re interested in finding out more about physical therapy and what we do here at OAZ, please contact the office.