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Texas Orthopedics, Sports & Rehabilitation Associates

Monday, March 31, 2014

5 Foods to Improve Your Bone Health


We all have busy schedules so even cooking healthy at home can be a chore. It’s worth making the effort to eat the right foods that are rich in calcium, vitamin D, potassium and other nutrients to ensure that our bones will stay healthy and strong throughout our lifetime.

The Types of Foods to Eat and How to Add Them to Your Diet

What are those so-called ‘super foods’ that improve our bone health? We’ve provided a list of foods and examples for how you can add them to your diet.

1. Dairy Products: Low-fat milk and cheese, as well as yogurt are an excellent source of calcium. So don’t forget to drink the milk when you finish your cereal or try dipping fruit into some yogurt for a quick and delicious dessert.

2. Fish: Sardines, Salmon, Tuna, and any other fatty fish contain vitamin D. Fish is easy to book -- Just throw it in the oven for a few minutes with some oil and seasoning and you’ve got a main dish in no time.

3. Fruits: Oranges, bananas and prunes all have potassium. So next time you need breakfast in a hurry why not make a quick shake? Add a banana, some strawberries and pineapple (which have vitamin C for bone health too!), a splash of orange juice and a little yogurt to a blender and presto – you’ve got a yummy shake that provides tons of nutrients for your bones!

4: Vegetables: Dark leafy greens like collard greens, kale, mustard greens and turnip greens all have vitamin K. To get more of these in your diet, add kale instead of iceberg lettuce. Or you can sauté up any of these greens for a no-fuss side dish.

5. Fortified Foods: These are foods that don’t naturally contain calcium but that have been enhanced with different amounts of it. Orange juice is a great example. Just switch to a brand that has been fortified with calcium.

It’s almost impossible to overhaul your diet overnight, but you can slowly incorporate these foods to help you improve your bone health. And maybe you’ll even discover a new favorite!

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Friday, March 28, 2014

Texas Orthopedics Launches New Online Store



Texas Orthopedics is excited to announce our new, online retail store. Our doctors decided they want to make it easy for our patients with a one-stop, online shop with everything they need for recovery. No more running around town to find the right brace, bandage or book.  Our online store has everything you need in one place!

Go to txortho.com/shop where you can search and select products by keywords. Or you can call and place an order at 877-887-4449.
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Monday, March 24, 2014

Platelet Rich Plasma Treatment at Texas Orthopedics


What do Tiger Woods, tennis star, Rafael Nadal, and L.A. Dodgers pitcher, Takashi Saito have in common? Besides being super stars in their respective sports, they've all received a treatment known as Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections, for various problems such as sprained knees and chronic tendon injuries. Some athletes credit PRP with being able to return back to competition more quickly than other, more invasive treatments, like surgery. But do you have to be an elite athlete to get PRP? Fortunately, the answer is no.

What is PRP?

Although blood is mainly a liquid, called plasma, it's also comprised of small solid components, including red cells, white cells, and platelets. The platelets are best known for their importance in clotting blood, but they also contain hundreds of proteins called growth factors, which can be extremely helpful in healing certain injuries, especially in areas where there is poor circulation like tendon-bone junctions.

PRP injections are 'home-grown'

To develop a PRP preparation, blood must first be drawn from a patient. The platelets are separated from other blood cells and their concentration is increased during a process called centrifugation.

Studies have shown that the increased concentration of growth factors in PRP can potentially speed up the healing process. Currently, there is not enough research to definitely show superior effectiveness of PRP and most insurance plans will not cover this treatment option.

Conditions We Treat with PRP

Chronic Tendon and Muscle Injuries: According to research studies, PRP is most effective in the treatment of chronic tendon injuries. This would include injuries such as tennis elbow, Achilles tendonitis, partial hamstring tears, or inflammation of the patellar tendon at the knee (jumper's knee).

Acute Ligament and Muscle Injuries: PRP has received a lot of publicity around treatment of acute sports injuries, such as ligament and muscle injuries. This is another area that is being studied.

Surgery: More recently, PRP has been used during certain types of surgery to help tissues heal. It is mainly used in surgeries to repair torn tendons and other soft tissue injuries.

Degenerative Arthritis: Some initial research is being done to evaluate the effectiveness of PRP in the treatment of the arthritic joint such as the knee and hip. There are major studies being done at institutions to look at the use of PRP and stem cell therapy in these conditions.

Fractures: PRP has been used in a very limited way to speed the healing of broken bones. So far, it has shown no significant benefit.


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Monday, March 17, 2014

Texas Orthopedics Sees Spike in Springtime Sports Injuries



Spring is in the air – finally! That means it’s time to pull out your favorite sports gear and get back to those outdoor activities you haven’t done in months. But not so fast.
You may be surprised to learn sports injury rates increase dramatically in the spring, as many sports enthusiasts and fitness buffs don't take time or care to ease back in to their activities. Keyword folks: ease back into it.
Many people who’ve been inactive all winter make the mistake of suddenly returning to physical activity without proper training and conditioning. We typically tell folks to return to activities gradually, taking four to six weeks before going 100 percent.
Jumping into things could translate to painful, acute injuries, like wrist fractures, ankle sprains and shoulder dislocations, as well as overuse injuries, such as tennis elbow, swimmer's shoulder, runner's knee and shin splints. Overuse injuries typically occur when someone tries too much, too fast.
And when considering activities for your kids, remember some sports carry a greater risk of injury than others. Bicycling, basketball, football, baseball/softball and soccer are the leading cause of spring and summer sports injuries among children ages 5-14. We see all kinds of injuries from these sports such as fractures, dislocations, strains and abrasions/contusions.
Exercise these safety these tips from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons' STOP Sports Injuries campaign:
  • Use proper equipment. Replace worn athletic shoes and wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes
  • A fitness program should include cardiovascular, strength training and flexibility exercises.
  • Warm up and stretch before exercise, and make cooling down the final phase of your exercise routine.
  • Drink enough water to prevent dehydration.
  • Take days off from exercise and rest when tired.

Remember, the old training rule of ‘no pain, no gain’ is a recipe for injury, so take your time, go easy and enjoy!

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High Heels and Foot Injuries: The Ugly Truth About Those Beautiful Heels



The perfect pair of high heels can make any woman feel like Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City – sleek, sexy and gorgeous.
But the truth is, while wearing a fabulous pair of heels can do wondrous things for your confidence, wearing them puts a tremendous amount of stress on our bodies and can lead to a myriad of orthopedic problems for years to come.

Pump problems
High heels cause you to bear your weight on the balls of your feet. Three-inch-high heels put seven times higher pressure on this area than when you are wearing flats, which can lead to metatarsalgia (pain and inflammation at the ball of your foot.) Other foot problems related to high heels include bent or curled ‘hammertoes’, corns, bunions and even a shortened Achilles tendon over time.

Muscle and joint pain
Because your body is not structurally designed to wear high heels, you’re required to do a great deal of compensating when walking because your spine and hips are pushed out of alignment.  This can lead to knee problems, lower back pain and even neck and shoulder pain. And over time, you’ll also likely experience tightness in your calves as a result of wearing heels.

The Right Height Heels?
For every day wear, heels that are an inch to an inch-and-a-half are fine. If the heels are higher, limit wearing them to no more than a few hours at a time.

The American Podiatric Medical Association urges women to choose shoes with a wide heel that offers good stability. If you wear pointed shoes, make sure they only start narrowing past the ball of your foot. 

Finally, massage your feet and calves and stretch them out after a prolonged period of wearing heels over 2 inches.

Monolo Blahnik once said, “You put high heels on and you change”. Wise words. Keep that in mind next time you step in to that sassy pair of sky-high stilettos!

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Wednesday, March 12, 2014

MyKnee® Prosthetic for Total Knee Replacement Surgery


Anyone who’s undergone a total knee replacement will tell you that they would not want to go through it twice. Unfortunately, some total knee replacements fail prematurely, requiring a second surgery.  There are multiple reasons why a knee fails, but one common reason is malalignment.  A surgeon has to be meticulous when it comes to performing a total knee replacement, otherwise your leg may be malaligned, causing your knee to be unstable, wobbly, or fail early.

Here’s an x-ray of a proper alignment (on the left) and malalignment (on the right)       


What happens during Total Knee Replacement surgery?

In knee replacement surgery, the arthritic or damaged ends of the bone are removed and the bones are capped with artificial surfaces made of metal and plastic. It might sound easy, but it is actually fairly complex. Doctors typically secure joint components to the bones with cement, or medical-grade glue.

Dr. Tyler Goldberg with Texas Orthopedics is one of four international physicians who designed a technique called MyKnee®, which the surgeon uses to perform an accurate total knee replacement and avoid malalignments. Dr. Goldberg partnered with Medacta, a Swiss medical device company, to develop MyKnee. He has also developed other devices and technologies used in total joint replacement that help improve techniques and outcomes. He travels regularly in the United States and internationally teaching these techniques. Dr. Goldberg also serves as the U.S. Medical Director for Medacta USA. 

Dr. Goldberg performed the 2nd total knee replacement in the United States using the new MyKnee prosthetic in April of 2010 and has performed more than 600 since then. Worldwide, more than 15,000 MyKnee procedures have been performed to date. 


How does using a MyKnee Prosthetic help with my surgery?



MyKnee cutting blocks are anatomical pre-manufactured cutting blocks specifically designed for a single patient. A CT scan is performed on the patient before surgery, which is used to plan the procedure before the patient arrives to the operating room. Based on the planning, the MyKnee cutting blocks are made to fit exactly to the patient's bone and guide the bony cuts. With this technology, surgeons and patients can be confident of the outcome due to the planning performed prior to the surgery and the accuracy of the blocks in surgery. More accurate cuts hopefully make for a better, more aligned knee replacement. 

Click here to watch a video about how the MyKnee procedure works.


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Monday, March 10, 2014

Texas Orthopedics Educates Local Healthcare Professionals about Orthopedics in the Primary Care Setting



In a joint sponsorship with the Texas Academy of Family Physicians, Texas Orthopedics conducted a CME seminar about orthopedic care in the primary care setting. It’s another way our practice illustrates our commitment to quality care for Central Texans by educating family practice, internal medicine, emergency medicine and other healthcare professionals.

Dr. David Savage, Dr. Kenneth Bunch, Derrick Campbell, PT and Laura Vielma, PT, CHT participated in the hands-on seminar and provided valuable information about ordering physical therapy for the primary care physician, conducting hip exams with a musculoskeletal focus, management of low back pain in the primary care setting and a hands-on cadaver lab.

By the end of the program, attendees were better able to:

·         Evaluate patients with acute and chronic low back pain, including history and physical exam.
·         List current evidence-based recommendations for the diagnostic work-up and treatment of low back pain.
·         Perform the basic exam for patients with hip pain.
·         Understanding the clinical features of pain that help indicate source: axial skeleton vs hip joint proper.
·          Identify when normal plain films may not rule out significant pathology in patients with hip pain.
·         Identify when to order physical therapy (PT) vs refer to orthopedic surgeon for common musculoskeletal injuries
·         Understand the role of PT in treatment of low back pain.
·         Understand the role of PT in treatment of common hand and upper extremity conditions.

Texas Orthopedics conducts CME programs three times a year.

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Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Back Talk with Dr. Mukai at Freescale





Recently, Dr. Ai Mukai spoke to hundreds of Freescale employees about one of the most common reasons for missed work…back pain. It accounts for about 30 million visits to the doctor every year and comes with a price tag of $100-$200 billion for those doctor visits, x-rays, MRIs, medications and surgery. But here’s something you may not know…40-50% of people improve within one week of experiencing back pain symptoms, 85-90% improve in 6-12 weeks and 90% resolve without any kind of medical interaction.

Back Pain Culprits
Here are some common physiological causes of chronic back pain. While not all of them cause excruciating pain, they can definitely take its toll.
 
·         Mechanical Sprain or Strain

·         Bulged or Herniated Discs

·         Pinched Nerve or Radiculopathy

·         Spondylolysis/ Spondylolisthisis

·         Spinal Stenosis

·         Compression Fractures

·         Degenerative Scoliosis

·         Degeneration of the disc or facet joints

·         Sacro-Iliac Joint

·         Coccydynia – tailbone pain

Desk Jobs Can Cause Back Pain
Many of us don’t have a choice – being productive means sitting at a desk. And doing this for long stretches can be a major cause of back and neck pain.

Over time poor sitting posture and workplace ergonomics can damage spinal structures and contribute to recurrent back and neck pain. No matter how comfortable you are at your desk, prolonged, static posture is not good for your back. 

Try to remember to stand, stretch and walk for at least a minute or two every hour.  Moving about and stretching on a regular basis throughout the day will help keep your joints, ligaments, muscles and tendons loose, which in turn will help you feel more comfortable, more relaxed and more productive.

MYTH: Back Pain Treatment=Surgery
One of the biggest misconceptions people have about back pain treatment is that surgery is the best option. Nothing could be further from the truth.

After a thorough exam and patient history, our team at Texas Orthopedics will recommend the most appropriate course of treatment. It may be something as simple as exercise or physical therapy, use of NSAIDs/anti-inflammatory medications or bed rest. 

Contact us with questions about any back pain you may be experiencing.

Monday, March 3, 2014

Dr. Barbara Bergin Delivers Keynote Speech at National Charity League Annual Luncheon


Dr. Barbara Bergin, co-founder of our practice, was the keynote speaker this month at the National Charity League Austin Chapter Annual luncheon.  This year’s theme was ‘The Mad Hatter’ and Dr. Bergin’s talk was titled "Out of My Hat...10 Tips for Success”.  Dr. Bergin discussed ten specific and slightly out-of-the-box tips for young women to consider as they look toward graduating from high school.

National Charity League is an organization fostering mother daughter relationships in a philanthropic organization committed to community service, leadership development and cultural experiences.
 
Besides being a top orthopedic surgeon in Central Texas, Dr. Bergin is an accomplished author and has written a novel titled, ‘Endings’ and has another book , ‘The Wish’ in the works.

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