Unless you have a waterproof cast, you should keep your cast dry. However, even waterproof casts should be dried out thoroughly after getting them wet. If you don’t dry your cast out after getting it wet, the skin underneath stays damp and can become moldy and smelly. Also, don’t swim with your […]
Open wounds are common among athletes, particularly those who play contact sports such as soccer, American football, rugby, and ice hockey. Riders, orienteers, and cyclists, who are likely to sustain falls on to hard surfaces, are also vulnerable. The way in which a wound is inflicted determines its nature and extent, and the […]
Injuries to the peripheral nerves are relatively common, and, if unrecognized can have a devastating effect on the athlete. These nerves can be damaged especially by compression or traction. When nerves such as the common peroneal nerve at the proximal fibula head or the ulnar nerve at the medial epicondyle […]
Surgery always means a certain amount of risk to your well being. Surgery is a deliberate, skillful injury to your body. It may take you several weeks to months to heal. Infections and blood loss are two possible complications that your surgeon will want to help you avoid. […]
Nutraceutical is a new word, invented by Dr. Stephen DeFelice in 1989. It is two words put together: nutritional and pharmaceutical. Nutraceuticals are dietary supplements that are also called functional foods.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a nutraceutical is any substance that is a food or a […]
Neuropsychological tests are functional cognitive instruments that are used to assess changes in attention, concentration, memory, information-processing speed, and motor speed or coordination. These tests provide a validated means to quantify cognitive weakness, and it is increasingly clear that neuropsychological assessment is a useful tool for measuring both the initial and recovery stages of athletes […]
Traumatic events can lead to both primary injuries [e.g., scalp lacerations, intracranial bleeds, skull fractures, concussion, and diffuse axonal injury, (DAI)] and later, secondary injuries (e.g., herniation syndromes, diffuse edema, and hypoxic/ischemic injuries). Initial evaluation and treatment should progress through the ABCs (airway, breathing, and circulation) of trauma resuscitation. Glasgow Coma Scale is […]
Anyone traveling into remote places should first achieve basic physical fitness. A long hike should not be attempted before practicing its unfamiliar aspects, such as carrying a full backpack. Equipment The equipment carried must be carefully chosen to meet the demands of the hike. Shoes should always be well worn-in […]
Tears of the deltoid muscle, though infrequent, do occur in team handball and volleyball players, American footballers, weightlifters, wrestlers, and other athletes. The muscle is damaged in most cases by direct impact, but it can also be injured by overuse. The tear affects only a small part of the muscle, making it difficult to raise […]