Training for a Triathlon

The 2014 Seattle Seafair Triathlon and Kids Seafair Triathlon will take place on July 20, 2014. OSS is the Presenting Sponsor for these events and the orthopedic surgeons would like to congratulate the athletes who are coming out to be part of this event.

Training for a triathlon is tough but that’s part of the challenge. Consider this: Four out of five amateur triathletes are injured while training, and three of those four are injured badly enough to affect their daily activities.

The complexity of the sport and broad range of knowledge needed to train and compete safely are contributing factors. The triathlete must learn about appropriate equipment specifications, proper body mechanics, injury prevention and overall training programs that prepare the body for the stresses of triathlon.

Cross-training for three different events also increases the risk of certain overuse injuries, and an untreated injury in one part of the body can lead to problems elsewhere. For example, a knee injury from running can cause extra stress on the back, leading to lower back pain when cycling; and the cumulative effects of swimming and cycling can fatigue calf muscles, making legs more susceptible to injury during a run.

The good news is, most nontraumatic injuries are related to training errors that can be corrected – and professionals with specialized knowledge in triathlon training and injury prevention can help.

Prevention: Training Smart

The best way to avoid a traumatic injury is a training program that balances strength, flexibility and endurance through appropriate weight-lifting, stretching and cross-training. But training techniques are not one-size-fits-all. Every individual has a unique combination of anatomy, strength, endurance, and flexibility – so what works well for one athlete is not always the best advice for another.

Understanding the complex interactions between musculoskeletal groups related to swimming, cycling, and running is essential in triathlon training. An OSS surgeon can evaluate your physical conditioning, analyze your training techniques and correct errors that can lead to future injuries, and provide a training program optimized for you as an individual.

The best training program can’t prevent all injuries. When injuries do occur, there are three things you need to know: (1) how to evaluate the severity of an injury, (2) how to self-treat an overuse injury, and (3) when to seek professional help.

Dr. Weil has this to say about the upcoming triathlon and words of wisdom when it comes to training for a triathlon, “I’d like to congratulate all the triathletes participating in the 2014 Seafair Triathlon! I’d also like to send a special congratulations to the first time triathletes participating in this year’s event. As you all know training for and participating in the sport of triathlon involves a huge commitment on the part of athletes and their families. Unfortunately, sometimes things don’t go as planned and injury can derail even the most experienced triathletes. I have experienced this issue first hand from all perspectives, as a treating physician, as a 2013 Ironman Canada Finisher, and currently as an injured athlete in rehabilitation trying to get back to the sport. When the unforeseen occurs, it is always best to seek medical evaluation. Often times if issues are addressed early on, they can be treated without significant time loss from training and without surgery. It is my goal as a treating physician to understand athletes needs and to work together with athletes to help them return to sport as soon as possible.”

If you believe you are suffering from a sport-related injury and need specialized orthopedic care, the orthopedic surgeons at OSS provide excellent treatment options for your injury. 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!”

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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.
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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.

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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.

Save the Dates! OSS is Halibut Sponsor for this year’s 40th Annual Ballard Seafood Fest

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Save the Dates! OSS is Halibut Sponsor for this year’s 40th Annual Ballard Seafood Fest

Orthopedic Specialists of Seattle (OSS) is excited to be a Halibut sponsor for the 40th annual Ballard Seafood Fest. OSS encourages anyone with a love of seafood, or a love of Seattle to come out and support the Ballard Seafood Fest on July 12th and 13th.

This year’s free event will feature a variety of performances on three different stages. There will family friendly entertainment including superhero themed-kids activities at Ballard Commons Park. For adults, enjoy the Ballard Beer Fest and Salmon BBQ in honor of the mighty salmon and its Northwest heritage. For more information about the Ballard Beer Fest, join the conversation on Twitter: #BallardBeerFest

Stop by our booth and meet your OSS providers and staff. We look forward to seeing you there! To find out more about the Ballard Seafood Fest, visit: www.seafoodfest.org.

Event Details:

Saturday & Sunday
Saturday, July 12: 11 am – 9 pm

Sunday, July 13: 11am – 7pm

Save the Date! Orthopedic Specialists of Seattle invites you to “Green Up Summer” at the Wallingford Family Parade and Festival!

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Save the Date! Orthopedic Specialists of Seattle invites you to “Green Up Summer” at the Wallingford Family Parade and Festival!

The longest running Seafair children’s parade is in its 65th year! It is taking place on Saturday July 5th and will be led down 45th street by Grand Marshall Lisa Taylor, Program Director for Seattle Tilth.

Following the parade there will be the Wallingford Family Festival. Stop by the OSS booth and meet your OSS physicians and staff as well as enjoy the festival grounds for food, family activities and musical performances for all ages! There will also be a Beer, Bites & Wine Tasting Garden and a bouncy house for the kids! See you there!

For more information about the Wallingford Parade and Festival, visit: http://visitwallingford.org/conference/65th-annual-wallingford-family-parade-festival/.

Event Details:

Parade
45th Street starting at 11:00 a.m.

Festival
12:00 at Meridian Park, 4649 Sunnyside Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103