Fourth of July and Fireworks Safety

The Fourth of July is our nation's most celebrated holiday. Unfortunately, it is also the most dangerous.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), more than 10,000 people were injured on the Fourth of July in 2014 due to fireworks. The most common having been burns to the skin and eye injuries. Tragically, children under the age of 15 years old experienced the highest rate of injury.

Sparklers, which tend to be pretty tame compared to other fireworks and are popular with kids, are the greatest cause. Their festive spark burns at a temperature of nearly 2,000 degrees.

To keep your family safe the Fourth of July, the CPSC offers the following tips:

• Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks, including sparklers.


• Don't purchase fireworks packaged in brown paper, which indicates they may have been intended for professional displays only.


• Keep all body parts, especially the face, out of the direction of the fireworks when lighting a fuse. Then back up immediately to a safe distance one the fuse is lit.


• Fill a bucket of water, or locate a garden hose, and place it nearby in case of emergency.


• Give up on malfunctioning fireworks that don't ignite after several tries. Soak them in water and toss them.


• Avoid pointing or throwing fireworks at another person. And never aim them directly at a house, building, car, or trees.


• Always light fireworks one at a time.


• Once fireworks have burned out, douse them with plenty of water so they a good and soggy before being thrown out.

Also make sure that fireworks are legal in your city or county before ever setting them off on your own.

Enjoy this most patriotic holiday of ours, but please remember, safety first.

(Courtesy of the CPSC-Consumer Product Safety Commission)

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Walk Your Way to Fitness

Walking may not be the first thing you think about when planning a workout. But maybe it should be.

It is often overlooked as an important form of exercise. Yet walking is super affordable (pretty much free!), can be done anywhere, and all you need is a pair of comfortable and supportive shoes.

And the benefits are countless...healthy bones and joints, improved muscle tone, cardiovascular conditioning, and even weight loss.

In as little as 30 minutes a day, five days a week, you can achieve a great workout.

Here are some simple tips from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) on how to establish a successful walking routine:

• Warm up as you would before any workout--do a few gentle stretches, then walk slowly for five minutes, and later pick up speed to get your heart rate going.
• Swing your arms from side-to-side, or front-to-back. Choose any motion that is comfortable to add some momentum.
• Keep your back straight and pull in your abdominal muscles.
• Take long, lengthy strides rather than short, quick steps.
• Cool down with a slower pace again for about five minutes once you are done.
• Every two weeks, add another five minutes to your walk to build strength and endurance. Also, visit some hilly areas or stairs on your route for an additional challenge.
• If you are up for it, try using one to five-pound ankle or arm weights as you walk for an extra calorie burn.

Don't forget to bring a water bottle along to stay hydrated as you walk, especially during these hot summer months. A good rule is to drink one pint of water 15 minutes before you start walking, and another pint after you finish.

(Courtesy of AAOS)

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Training In Between Marathons

Unless you subscribe to the 'one and done' theory for marathons, you likely fall into the 'between marathons' category if you are an avid runner. There are countless tips on how to prepare leading up to a marathon, and also how to wind down afterwards. But what if you have multiple marathons on your dance card throughout the year? How should you train in between?

Here are ten tips to keep you on track and still stay motivated between races:

1. Reduce weekly mileages to about 30 to 40 perfect of your long distance training weeks.
2. Decrease running days by 1 to 3 days from your pre-marathon schedule.

3. Embark on a change of scenery. Explore new running routes. Check out hills, stairs, parking garages, trails and tracks to mix things up.

4. Run naked. Running 'naked' means unplugging and leaving your technology at home. Take off your watch, fitness trackers, and music. Experience the sounds of nature or the hum of your city streets.

5. Register for a shorter race, like a 5K or fun run.

6. Socialize and join a running group. Or invite a friend to run with you and check out a new restaurant or bar together afterwards.

7. Hit the books and read an inspiring story, such as Born to Run, Natural Born Heroes, The Boys in the Boat, or Unbroken.
8. Try a yoga class and focus on your stretching and flexibility.

9. Take a break from your rigid diet, and treat yourself to some foods you may have craved before your race. Or try out a new type of exotic cuisine.

10. Work on your running form. Count your foot falls, focus on your arm swing, play around with your gait pattern. Anything you can do while not in hard-core training mode, free of tracking times and distances, can help your next race to be more fluid and efficient.

In addition to keeping motivated and staying in shape between marathons, it is also important to build in rest time into your routine. Your body needs to recover from one race before gearing up for the next, or you may leave yourself open to overuse injuries, sprains and strains, fractures and torn ligaments.

(Adapted from Runner's World)

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6 Food Rules for People with Arthritis

Arthritis pain can be debilitating and new research shows eating a healthy, plant-based diet can help reduce those aches and pains. Texas Orthopedics' board-certified rheumatologist, Dr. Robert Koval, was interviewed by Grandparents.com, an online publication for the American Grandparents Association, about these new findings.

Two food groups to avoid, he explained, are sugar and simple carbohydrates: "It's difficult to resist sweet treats like desserts, donuts, chocolate bars, and soda, but sugar and other high-carbohydrate foods are associated with diabetes and have pro-inflammatory properties," Dr. Koval explained in the article.

Want to know the 6 foods that should fill your plate? Read the entire article here.

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Safe Lake Swimming

Swimming is an excellent sport on so many fronts. It is a great all-over body an aerobic workout, increases flexibility, and builds cardiovascular strength. While swimming in a pool is the obvious option, Austin offers a number of other places to log a few laps...Barton Springs, Deep Eddy, and the many surrounding lakes.

Lake swimming is very popular at this time of year. This year however, due to record rainfall, the lake levels are dangerously high. So whether you are swimming for exercise, or just hopping in while boating, please use extreme caution in and around the lakes this summer.

Here are some tips from the LCRA for safe lake swimming:

• Never swim alone, and always let someone on shore know when you or your group should be expected back.
• Keep tabs on family and friends in the water, and especially children. Drowning can take place in as little as 20 seconds, and often occurs silently with someone unknowingly slipping under the water.
• Swim only in designated areas, and respect any other precautions or warnings set forth by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
• Be careful even while swimming close to shore, as most drowning accidents usually occur within about 50 feet from land.
• Learn to perform CPR or get certified in First Aid if you frequently swim in lakes. The American Red Cross offers many classes and certification options.
• For those who are not strong swimmers, the very young, or elderly, make sure they wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket while in the water.
• Check that open wounds or sores are properly bandaged in waterproof dressing, as natural waters are not chlorinated and can harbor high levels of harmful bacteria that can lead to infection, or illness.

Finally, remember that swimming and alcohol can be a deadly combination.

And always take note of where the nearest lifeguard station or boat ramp/entrance is, and call 911 in the event of an emergency.

(Adapted from the LCRA-Lower Colorado River Authority)

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Men's Health Month and Osteoporosis

June is he month when we celebrate and honor fathers and the other important men in our lives. June is also Men's Health Month, dedicated to raising awareness of preventable health diseases among men and boys while encouraging early detection and treatment.

Men's Health Month is a great time to remind your loved ones to schedule a physical, if they don't already get a regular one each year. Recommended screenings for men, ages 40-64 years, include (according to the National Institutes of Health):

• Blood pressure
• Cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Colon/rectal cancer (if certain risk factors are present)
• Prostate cancer (if certain risk factors are present)

Another important condition to screen for in men, that often falls under the radar, is osteoporosis. Many tend to think of osteoporosis as a disease primarily affecting women, but millions of men also are diagnosed each year.

Osteoporosis is a serious condition that causes progressive bone loss and an increased risk of breaks and fractures. It is typically diagnosed via a bone density test.

Risk factors that may contribute to male osteoporosis are:

• Diseases affecting the kidneys, lungs, stomach, and intestines
• Regular use of certain medications, such as glucocorticoids
• Low levels of testosterone
• Unhealthy lifestyle habits such as smoking, excessive alcohol use, poor diet, and inadequate physical exercise

Osteoporosis can be managed with proper nutrition, exercise, medication (in some cases), and/or calcium and vitamin D supplements. It is recommended that men get each about 1,200 mg of calcium and between 600-800 IU of vitamin D daily.

If you are concerned about osteoporosis, or would like to schedule a bone density test, please contact us for an appointment.

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Dr. David Laverty Speaks at Local Trauma Conference

Dr. David Laverty recently spoke at the 2016 Austin Trauma & Critical Care Conference and delivered a lecture titled, "Traumatic Amputations," to a group of more than 300 attendees. The conference is held annually, in Austin, and is organized by the Seton Healthcare Family.

Dr. Laverty has been a featured guest speaker at this conference for the past seven years. He is one of Texas Orthopedics' trauma specialists.

Other speakers included experts in trauma and critical care from both the Regional Level 1 adult trauma center, University Medical Center Brackenridge, and Central Texas's only Level 1 pediatric trauma center, Dell Children's Medical Center.

The conference agenda addressed basic and cutting edge guidelines and technologies for the evaluation, diagnosis, and management of adult and pediatric trauma patients.

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