Running After Hip Surgery

Can you really run after you’ve undergone hip surgery? New research says yes…and in less than a year!

 

When you have bone spurs on your hips, regular running can be a painful activity. But if you love to run, you likely don’t want to just give it up.

 

Bone spurs occur on the hip joints when extra growth along the bones causes an irregular shape and leads to pain as they rub together during movement.

 

Treatment can range from time off the track, or treadmill, to physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medication. For others, arthroscopic surgery is a great choice.

 

The new study published in a recent issue of The American Journal of Sports Medicine claimed that 96 percent of patients who were frequent runners were able to successfully return to the sport within nine months following the procedure.

 

Details of the 51-patient study include:

• Forty-nine patients (or 96 percent) returned to running at an average of 9 months following arthroscopic surgery.
• Activity scores on all other tests evaluating physical abilities, besides running, were favorable and had improved significantly after surgery.
• Females, interestingly, showed greater progress than males.

In addition, the pain experienced when running was reported to decrease after the surgery.

Arthroscopic surgery is a minimally-invasive procedure involving a small camera inserted at the hip joint so your physician can repair the bones.

To find out if arthroscopic surgery in Austin is a good fit for you, please contact us for an appointment.

(Courtesy of the AAOS-American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)

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Dr. Bergin on Osteoporosis Misconceptions

If you think you get enough Vitamin D from diet alone to fend off osteoporosis, think again. Dr. Barbara Bergin explains how you’d have to eat roughly a wheelbarrow full of kale, yogurt, and sardines each day for it to sufficiently add up.  She tackles these common misconceptions about the condition in her recent blog for 1010 Park Place. You can read the blog in its entirety right here: http://bit.ly/2oVPyup

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Good to Go After Shoulder Replacement

There's good news out now for those undergoing shoulder replacement surgery who fear they'll never return to the sports they love.

New research published in a recent issue of the World Journal of Orthopaedics found that 96.4% of recreational athletes (ages 55 and younger) were able to return to at least one sport within seven months following shoulder replacement surgery who fear they'll never return to the sports they love.

New research published in a recent issue of the World Journal of Orthopaedics found that 96.4% of recreational athletes (ages 55 and younger) were able to return to at least one sport within seven months following shoulder replacement surgery, or arthroplasty.

Shoulder replacement is needed when the ball and joint socket are worn down due to repetitive motions of playing the same sport over and over, or wear and tear caused by a condition such as osteoarthritis.

The damaged joint is removed and replaced by prosthetic parts, mainly a metal ball attached to a plastic socket.

The average age of patients participating in the study was 48 years old, with 80% of them needing surgery due to the effects of osteoarthritis.

The sports participants were most eager to return to following their joint replacement were golf, tennis, swimming, basketball, flag football, and fitness/exercise.

Before jumping back into your favorite activity, experts say you need proper rehabilitation and therapy, plus a doctors' approval.

All results from the study indicate that shoulder replacement surgery is a very good option for those wanting to continue an active life in sports, especially those younger than 55.

The U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality reports that approximately 53,000 people in the U.S. have shoulder replacement each year.

If you would like to discuss shoulder, or other joint replacement surgery, with one of our specialists, please contact us.

(Courtesy of the AAOS American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)

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Dr. Mukai Named Co-Editor of Professional Publication

Congratulations are in order for Texas Orthopedics' Dr. Ai Mukai who was named a co-editor of the physiatrist newsletter for the AAPM&R, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. The newsletter is published and distributed to the professional organization's membership nationwide ten times each year.

She will be introduced to the membership with the April issue, and will begin serving as co-editor in May.

Dr. Mukai is one of our specialists in the non-surgical evaluation and management of neck and back pain, pinched nerves, and other pains associated with orthopedic conditions.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Mukai on her new editorial endeavor!

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Single Sports and the High School Athlete

The spring sports season is underway, and then summer will be here before we know it. However, a whopping 45 percent of high school students continue to play sports, and specifically the same sport, right through summer making it a year-round commitment. 

A new study recently shared by the AAOS (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) examined the growing trend among student athletes to specialize in just one sport early on, as early as high school. This is earlier than the current generation of collegiate and professional athletes claimed to do so by two whole years.

This early specialization at a young age is leading to a higher rate of musculoskeletal and pediatric and adolescent overuse injuries due to their still-developing bodies.

The study, involving more than 3,000 athletes at the scholastic, collegiate, and professional levels, also showed that:

• Focusing on one single sport all year long is happening as early as 12-14 years of age.
• High school athletes are spending approximately the same time training for a single sport as professional athletes do, around eight to 10 months per year.
• Only 61 percent of pro athletes thought specializing in a sport early on helps advance your career, while nearly 80 percent of high school athletes believed the same.

Perhaps the most telling tidbit from this research was that only 22 percent of professional athletes would want their own kids to pick just one sport to play during childhood and adolescence.

We encourage parents to expose their child athletes to lots of different sports to see what they like. Remember to switch it up for them each season, and take a break between activities so their bodies can properly rest and recover.

Don’t forget we have same day appointments and after hours care, if your child does experience an overuse injury. 

(Courtesy of AAOS)

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There's No Place Like Home After Joint Replacement Surgery

One of the reasons people needing total hip or knee replacement shy away from the procedure is fear of an extended hospital stay afterwards for their recovery—often costing a large sum in extra medical fees and keeping them apart from loved ones.

For many patients, outpatient joint replacement surgery at Texas Orthopedics, may be an option at our surgery center.

And new research shows that returning home to recover may be just what the doctor ordered, even if you live on your own.

In the past, doctors have been reluctant to send a patient home alone following joint replacement, due to concerns over post-surgical complications. However, results of this research shared by the AAOS (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) show that most people are happier to recover at home, leading to an improved mental state and better physical healing.

Additionally, the presence of mobile devices at everyone’s fingertips these days means that help is just a call, text, or post away, if needed.  

Of the nearly 800 patients surveyed after joint replacement, most of whom were 75-plus years old, there was no increase in complications, unplanned office visits, or pain reported in those discharged to recover at home, even in those living by themselves.

And the cost savings can’t be beat. The estimated savings of a patient being allowed to recover at home was approximately $10,776, according to researchers from the Rothman Institute who authored this particular study—“Even If You Live Alone, There is No Place Like Home After Total Joint Arthroplasty.”

If you would like to discuss your options for total joint replacement, please contact us to schedule an appointment.

(Courtesy of AAOS)

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Update on Arthritis

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Vital Signs Reports just issued new statistics on arthritis, and experts say they are alarming.

Roughly one in four American adults, that’s about 54.4 million, has been diagnosed with one of the more than 100 different types of arthritis—a painful condition caused by joint inflammation.

And research suggests that number is only expected to rise over the next several years, with a projected 78.4 million people to be newly diagnosed before 2040.  Contributing to this increase is the number of people getting diagnosed for diabetes and heart disease caused by an unhealthy lifestyle, both of which are common triggers for arthritis.

Treating arthritis costs the country upwards of $81 billion in medical fees. That money is spent on therapy and rehabilitation, prescription medications, and even assisted living for those left immobile due this devastating condition.

The report also points out that, despite popular belief, arthritis is not just an ‘old person’s disease.’ More than 32 million suffering from it are under the age of 65.

Quality of life is often greatly compromised by arthritis. It can affect the ability to get around self-sufficiently, or perform simple tasks like climbing stairs, opening cabinets and doors, and bending over to pick up something.


At Texas Orthopedics, we frequently prescribe regular exercise as a way to help treat arthritis. The movement helps with flexibility and keeps joints well-lubricated. Exercise is shown to help alleviate arthritis symptoms and pain by up to 40 percent.


If exercise is not enough, and you still have trouble managing your arthritis, please contact us for an appointment.


(Courtesy of CNN-Health)


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