CrossFit Injuries – Are You Feeling the Pain?

cross fit trainingCrossFit is a mode of exercise that targets cardiovascular and respiratory endurance, strength, flexibility, mobility, stamina, power, speed, agility, coordination and balance. The workouts change daily and can be performed by individuals at all fitness levels.

Most Common CrossFit Injuries

The most common injuries from CrossFit are from use of poor form with the exercises. Standard push-ups, handstand push-ups, push press, push jerk, kipping pull ups, hang power clean, hang power snatch, ring dips, overhead squatting, and many more are all great exercises at high intensity.

However, they are very stressful, especially on the shoulder – if you don’t have proper scapular positioning and proper stabilizing strength throughout the rotator cuff and scapula. So the next time you are performing these, focus on where your shoulder blade is positioned and try to avoid what we call “winging” by keeping the shoulder blade “pinched back”.

High Intensity Exercise

The intensity level of CrossFit pushes an individual to their limits every day and over time, overuse of the shoulder and other joints in the body can lead to an injury if not attended to prior to performing another CrossFit session. Studies suggest that constantly exercising at high intensity may even provoke overtraining — a drop in energy and performance that happens when the body isn’t able to fully recover from workouts.

Intermittent high-intensity exercise is a great way to get fit, but only when the body can recover. By not overdoing it, you avoid the risk of injury. If you are considering a CrossFit regimen, call OSS and schedule an appointment with one of our physicians about how to proceed in getting the most out of your CrossFit workout without injury.

According to Dr. Reed, “CrossFit is an exercise regimen that can lead to huge performance gains and improved athletic and cardiovascular function when performed correctly and safely. It’s important that each individual concentrates on good form and optimal nutrition and hydration, and keeps on the lookout for signs and symptoms of overtraining.”

If you believe you are suffering from a workout-related injury and need specialized orthopedic care, the physicians at 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.

Orthopedic Specialists of Seattle (OSS) Physicians Recognized as 2014 Top Doctors by Seattle Met Magazine & Seattle Magazine

WebBadge_TopDoc_2014Congratulations to the doctors from OSS ! Recognized for the second year as “Top Doctors of Seattle” in their respective fields by Seattle Met Magazine, they were among 1,066 practitioners in 85 specialties who made this year’s list of top doctors and nurse practitioners in the Seattle metro area.

According to Seattle Met Magazine, “The panel’s criteria to select the finalists included a provider’s years of experience and competency within his or her specialty, rapport with patients, including patient satisfaction and compliance with care recommendations, and ability to work effectively with colleagues across specialties to deliver the best care for patients.”

Dr. J. Michael Watt was also recognized as a “Top Doctor of Seattle” by Seattle Magazine. According to Seattle Magazine, “… more than 1,300 doctors participated, with nearly 13,000 nominations, to create this list of 437 physicians judged to be at the top in their field.”

Physicians at Orthopedic Specialists of Seattle (OSS) perform highly specialized procedures for orthopedic surgery and general orthopedic care for adults and children. Each one of our eight physicians strives to be a leader in orthopedic medicine. They have extensive training and experience in general orthopedics, trauma, fracture care, total joint replacement, sports medicine, non-surgical treatment and overuse conditions. Below is a list of all the OSS physicians and their specialties:

Sports medicine, hand, shoulder and elbow surgery

If you believe you are suffering from an injury and need specialized orthopedic care, the orthopedic surgeons at OSS provide excellent treatment options for your injury. Treatment of injuries is performed in a relaxed setting, with an expert surgeon, as well as state-of-the art equipment. We are also the only orthopedic center in the state of Washington that offers Sonocur, a non-surgical treatment for tendonitis. Contact OSS at (206) 633-8100 to schedule an appointment.

Common Swimming Injury – Swimmer’s Shoulder

Swimmers shoulderSwimming is a sport in which there is a great diversity among participants. There are both recreational and competitive swimmers, ranging in age from preschool through college.

Although the lack of impact in swimming makes it a perfect choice for avoiding lower-body injuries, the intense involvement of upper-body muscles makes overuse injuries a real possibility.

The most common swimming-related injury is swimmer’s shoulder, shoulder pain usually caused by rotator cuff tendonitis. Many cases of swimmer’s shoulder can be successfully treated through physical therapy.

For competitive athletes, rotator cuff surgery may be recommended if shoulder pain continues after 6 months of guided rest and rehabilitation.

Signs and Symptoms of Swimmer’s Shoulder

  • Shoulder pain while swimming freestyle
  • A forward shoulder slouch while seated
  • Underdeveloped posterior shoulder musculature
  • A mild winging on the affected side’s left scapula
  • Tenderness in the acromioclavicular joint and coracoid process in the impingement area
  • Tenderness in the affected side’s bicep tendon and supraspinatus tendon
  • A full range of motion in all planes
  • Strength is slightly decreased in the supraspinatus and infraspinatus
  • Full strength in the internal rotators, arm extensors, and flexors
  • Moderate posterior and anterior laxity in both shoulders
  • A bilateral sulcus sign
  • Impingement and adduction-compression tests on the affected side were positive
  • An apprehension test on the affected side was negative

Swimming Safety and Injury Prevention

According to Dr. Franklin, “Proper warm up, stretching, technique and conditioning are crucial in preventing tendonitis and overuse injuries in swimmers.”

  • Learning proper technique goes a long way toward preventing injuries; if you’re just starting out, schedule some sessions with a swimming coach.
  • Remember to warm up and stretch before every swim, giving particular attention to your shoulders.
  • A strength-training program can help build up the muscles around the shoulder and upper back; ask a physical therapist or personal trainer if you need help creating a routine.

If you believe you are suffering from swimmer’s shoulder or swimming-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.

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.