Backpack Safety for Back to School

It’s back to school season it’s time to clean out those backpacks to make room for the new school year!

Sure, you may have some items that should have been thrown out from the previous school year, but now, you need to make room for those new books and supplies to get you through the next school year.

Did you know that according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, injuries from heavy backpacks result in more than 7,000 emergency room visits per year? Sprains, strains, and “overuse” injuries were among the top complaints.

Safety Tips

OSS would like to offer some basic safety tips for you:

Your backpack should weigh only 15% – 20% of your total weight
Backpack straps should be wide and padded
Make sure the backpack has two shoulder straps
The backpack should have a padded back
Adjust the bottom of a full backpack and make sure it is not more than four inches below your waistline.
Consider using a rolling backpack, an air backpack or a light-weight backpack
Periodically check the contents and weight of your backpack; you may be amazed at the amount of unneeded items you are carrying

Prevent injury when using a backpack, do the following:

Use both shoulder straps to keep the weight of the backpack better distributed
Tighten the straps to keep the load closer to the back
Organize items and pack heavier things low and towards the center
Remove items if the backpack is too heavy and only carry items necessary for the day
Lift properly by bending at the knees when picking up a backpack

Here’s a great tip from Dr. Shapiro, “Take the time to lift your kids backpack. What could they leave behind to lighten their heavy load?”

If you believe you are suffering from a backpack-related injury and need specialized orthopedic care, Orthopedic Specialists of Seattle provide excellent treatment options available for you. Please feel free to contact OSS at (206) 633-8100 to schedule an appointment.

Hand Rejuvenation – New Trend with Women and Plastic Surgery

June is the quintessential month for weddings. The phrase “June Bride” is in our vernacular, conjuring up images of a beautiful bride, a handsome groom, family and a spectacular and exotic honeymoon.

Before the wedding takes place however, there is the all-important engagement photo shoot and for that, women throughout the country are acting on a new trend – plastic surgery for their hands, also known as hand rejuvenation or “handlifts” to show-off their beautiful diamond ring.

This new trend is rooted in today’s social media practice called the “selfie”. Newly engaged women are excited to show off the ring on their finger and post it in social media outlets like Facebook and Instagram. “Selfies” have made society more self conscious of their appearance including their hands. “Handlifts” have gone up 40% since the rise of social media.

According to Dr. Weil, “Next to our faces the hands are the most recognizable and exposed parts of the body. The hands are often forgotten when it comes to rejuvenation procedures. However, they are one of the first areas which are noticed by others, especially when there are years between the appearance of your face and hands. Just like our faces, our hands will show the signs of aging. In some cases our hands may even make us look older than we are. As we age our hands lose fat– along with collagen– which decreases the elasticity and leads to thinning of our skin. This can cause the skin to become loose and wrinkled and cause the veins and tendons of our hands to become more prominent. Today, however, Dermal Fillers (Juvederm, Restylane, Perlane, Radiesse, etc.) have become an excellent option for restoring the volume and smoothness that our youthful hands once had.”

Dr. Weil’s dermal filler of choice for hand rejuvenation is Juvederm Ultra XC. Juvederm Ultra XC works by restoring the volume of hyaluronic acid in your skin, helping to reduce wrinkles and smooth out folds. Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is a naturally occurring sugar found in the human body.

Hyaluronic acid creates volume in the skin by delivering nutrients and by holding in water, making sure the skin stays hydrated. Its function is very similar to that of a sponge–it soaks up and absorbs water–which in this case creates volume in the skin of your hands. Dr Weil goes on to say, “Think of hyaluronic acid as the body’s internal moisturizer!”

Youthful hands have a fullness of the skin and subcutaneous tissues. The skin is soft and without wrinkles except for the natural lines seen over the finger joints and knuckles. Veins may be visible, but not obvious.

Loss of skin thickness and volume in the tissues underneath the skin make the veins easily noticeable and unattractive.

Pigment changes and dark spots occur as a result of sun exposure. The thin skin becomes wrinkled and has far less elasticity.

Hand rejuvenation with dermal fillers is an affordable, non-invasive way to treat volume loss and thinning of the skin that occurs with aging.

Using dermal fillers to restore the volume and smooth away wrinkles of the hands is a procedure with little discomfort and no downtime.

If you would like more information about hand rejuvenation, call Orthopedic Specialists of Seattle at (206) 633-8100 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Weil.

Are you a Desk Jockey? How are your Joints?

desk jockey

The orthopedic surgeons at OSS and the physical therapists at Seattle Orthopedic Center (SOC) see a fair amount of orthopedic injuries from all walks of life ranging from body-related complaints – some from accidents, some from surgery and some from extreme sports. And yet, some of the most common injuries come from sitting at your desk all day.

“Desk Jockey”

Commonly dubbed a “Desk Jockey” means that most of your days is spent sitting at your desk, on the phone, pushing paper, and using your computer, laptop or tablet.

When compared to more physical occupations, a Desk Jockey wouldn’t seem like someone experiencing a joint injury but more like a paper cut or stapler accident. All the work you do on your computer, there are several ways to incur both a neck and shoulder injury caused by repetitive motion.

All the mouse click you make in a day, improper monitor positioning, chair height and keyboard position may cause neck and shoulder pain that can become acute, causing a severe amount of fatigue. Although most of these injuries may not become chronic in nature, for some, the shoulder pain and neck pain persists.

OSS offers these tips while working at your desk to help alleviate neck and shoulder pain:

Simple Ergonomics – Set up your workstation so that your keyboard, mouse, monitor, and chair are in the optimal position for your body.
Move – Take breaks; stop working for a moment, get up and move. Change positions into your day to help relieve the tension and reduce strain in your neck, back, shoulders, hips and knees.
Stretch – If you spend several hours a day typing, there are common finger and wrist muscles that get used over and over again. This repetitive motion can cause strain and lead to repetitive stress injuries.
Sleep – A good night’s rest is a great chance to give your back and neck some support and relief for as long as you’re lucky enough to remain horizontal. Sleep also plays an important restorative role in healing injuries and keeping the body healthy.

According to Nicole Marble, PT, “As physical and occupational therapists, we help patients achieve structural balance through education, therapeutic exercise, neuromuscular re-education, and manual therapies that mobilize soft tissues and joints. This will decrease pain and maximize function whether our patients sit for prolonged periods or participate in high level sports and activities.

Here at SOC/OSS our physical therapists are able to offer personalized care with 45-minute one-on-one treatment sessions. We also work closely with the orthopedic surgeons to create and maintain a physical therapy program that is designed to get you back to what you love. “

If you are suffering from joint pain and injury, contact OSS to schedule an appointment with one of our physicians at (206) 633-8100.

Shoulder Dislocation and Treatment

Here in the Pacific Northwest outdoor activities are a way of life. From lumberjacks to the most experienced kayaker, healthy joints are important to perform various tasks and activities that involved upper body strength involving our shoulders.

The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the human body. To accomplish this, the shoulder requires a balance of stability and strength.

Shoulder Dislocation

Shoulder dislocation is a fairly common injury sustained by people of all age ranges. It is generally a sudden onset type of injury, which is caused by trauma to the shoulder region. There are many causes of this type of injury, from athletics to falling from a ladder. Most dislocations occur as the arm is outstretched to the side or overhead in conjunction with a force pushing the arm backward.

Dislocated shoulder signs and symptoms may include:

A visibly deformed or out of place shoulder
Swelling or discoloration (bruising)
Intense pain
Inability to move the joint

Shoulder dislocation may also cause numbness, weakness or tingling near the injury such as in your neck or down your arm. The muscles in your shoulder may be in spasm from the disruption, often increasing the intensity of your pain.

When the shoulder dislocates, the ligaments in the front of the shoulder tear causing pain and at least some loss of function in the affected arm. Although the ligaments may heal, the result is a shoulder that has even more laxity and instability than prior to the injury. Many athletes and active individuals will experience multiple occurrences of dislocation after the first event due to the increasingly unstable shoulder.

Successive dislocations, because of the increased amount of instability in the joint, often take significantly less force to occur. Whereas the first dislocation is usually the result of a traumatic force upon the shoulder, subsequent dislocations could result from ordinary, athletic or heavy use of the arm.

A common condition that may exist with shoulder dislocation is a SLAP tear, which is a tear to a structure in the shoulder known as the glenoid labrum. The labrum is a cartilage rim, similar to an O-ring, which covers the outside edge of the shoulder socket. This acts to deepen the socket and give the shoulder some extra stability. But under the extreme force of a shoulder dislocation, the labrum can be torn from the bone, creating a painful injury with reduced motion and strength of the arm.

Labral tears often produce a clicking or popping with shoulder motion, along with apprehension in the overhead ranges. Because these cartilaginous structures do not have a great blood supply, they often do not heal on their own and may require surgical intervention to re-attach the labrum to the bone.

Shoulder Dislocation Treatment

According to Dr. Shapiro, “A consistent strengthening program is often the key to shoulder stability.” There are many treatment options available for these types of shoulder injuries. Some are non-surgical such as physical therapy, while more extensive injuries may require surgical repair.

Dr. Joel Shapiro, MD, specializes in surgical and non-surgical treatment of shoulder injuries at Orthopedic Specialists of Seattle and uses the latest technologies and research studies to aid in the diagnostic process and treatment of your injury.

A good physical therapy program can help protect against instability. While this cannot help everyone, a diligent therapy program is always the first step. After evaluating your shoulder, a customized therapy program will be created.

If you believe you are suffering from a shoulder injury, Orthopedic Specialists of Seattle is here to help.

Zumba Craze and Injury Prevention

zumba Created in the late 1990s in Colombia by the fitness instructor Alberto Perez, Zumba is a high-energy aerobic workout based on dance steps borrowed from merengue, salsa and other dances.

An estimated 12 million fitness buffs worldwide are taking Zumba classes at about 110,000 locations.

The sessions are taught at big city health clubs and storefront yoga studios, in church basements and school auditoriums – even in nightclubs during the day.

The allure of Zumba is derived in part from the perception that it’s more a dance party than an exercise routine. But its popularity has come at a price. Zumba classes can be enormous, filled with enthusiastic but inexperienced exercisers who may be led by instructors with limited experience.

Common Zumba Injuries

Ankle sprains, hamstring injuries, muscle spasms and calf injuries are the most common Zumba-related injuries being treated. Brief warm-ups and inexperienced exercisers can create unstable conditions. The classes are fast-paced and can be quite strenuous. Few participants leave without being drenched in sweat and at least a little bit out of breadth.

Preventative Measures when performing Zumba

Always consult a doctor before starting a new exercise regime. If you are pregnant or have a major cardiovascular, pulmonary or metabolic condition, traditional Zumba is probably not appropriate for you. People with knee, hip or ankle problems should also consult a doctor, as they may need to modify the routine – avoiding jumps, for instance, or fast hip movements.

Dr. Mark Reed offers this advice, “Zumba is a great way to increase your cardiovascular health while burning calories and having fun. If you have ankle instability or have been diagnosed with arthritis in your foot or ankle, you should be careful as many of the moves put stress on the ankle ligaments and can put pressure on the foot and ankle joints because of the impact.”

Wear the right shoes – Any thinly soled pair of sneakers or comfortable workout shoes will work well for your feet. Avoid running shoes as they are designed for forward movement and the treads get in the way when doing Zumba’s many side-to-side and pivot moves.

Before joining a Zumba class, ask how long the instructor has been teaching and about his or her background, including fitness certifications. The best instructors have a dance background and an understanding of Latin steps, as well as a strong background in fitness. Good instructors also will ask who is a beginner and whether anyone is pregnant or has special health concerns.

If your class doesn’t offer warm-up stretches and other moves, be sure to do some calf, hamstring and abdominal stretches on your own before you begin.

Move at your own pace, and don’t get too caught up in the whirlwind around you. The beauty of a dance class is that you can easily move in place or just do the basic moves while you become familiar with the more complicated dance steps.

If you believe you are suffering from a Zumba-related injury and need specialized orthopedic care, Orthopedic Specialists of Seattle provide excellent treatment options available for you.