How A Trusted Orthopedic Surgeon Can Help Athletes with ACL Injuries

The anterior cruciate ligament is one of the four most important ligaments in the knee area. It is extremely vital for movement because it acts as the stablizer of the knee joint, reducing the stress caused by the applied pressure by limiting the knee’s excessively forward and rotational movements. An anterior cruciate ligament is important in a knee’s anatomy and function, and injuring it will need treatment from a board-certified Colorado Springs orthopedic surgeon. An article from LiveStrong.com states: “ACL injuries are one of the most common knee injuries among athletes. According to the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine, about 150,000 ACL injuries occur in the United States every year. The same source reports that ACL injuries account for more than a $500 million in U.S. health-care costs each year.”
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The Torn ACL: Every Athlete’s Nightmare

You’ve seen basketball star Derrick Rose, golf legend Tiger Woods, and countless others miss entire seasons just because of the same injury: a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). An ACL tear is a common knee injury that affects one of the four ligaments that stabilizes the knee, and is aptly considered a nightmare for athletes all over.

Characterized by hearing a discrete “popping” sound in the knee following a sudden deceleration or landing maneuver, a torn ACL is also known for the searing pain it causes. ACL tears are frequent in contact sports (i.e. boxing) or sports that require rapid changes in direction (i.e. basketball). Most of the time, the ACL is prone to tearing due to a twisting movement while supporting weight—landing from a jump, for example.

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome: Symptoms and Treatment

Cubital tunnel syndrome is a condition that affects the ulnar nerve near the elbow because of increased pressure. One may develop this condition if they:

• Repeatedly lean on their elbow, especially on a hard surface
• Frequent bending of the elbow
• Abnormal bone growth in the elbow due to intense physical activity

Symptoms include pain and numbness in the elbow, or on the inside of the hand and in the ring and little fingers. More severe symptoms include decreased ability to pinch the little finger and the thumb, decreased overall hand grip, and muscle wasting in the hand.

Skateboard With Care

Skateboard groups are an American staple. Young teens in kneepads and helmets (sometimes, none at all) take a risk by doing amazing stunts with their boards, from midair flips to grinding. Constant practice created legends like Tony Hawk, Tony Alva, and Ryan Sheckler; but they're not exempted from the risks that come with the sport.

Of the thousands of skateboard injuries recorded every year, more than half of them happen to children under 15, according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. The injuries can range from cuts and bruises to torn ligaments and twisted ankles. Tony Hawk's injuries over the course of his career, in fact, has already forced him to consider retirement.

Joint Replacement: The Procedure and its Benefits

A stiff and painful knee can make it difficult for a person to perform daily chores and activities. It can even be worse if over-the-counter medicines are no longer working. In such a case, the best long-term solution would be joint replacement surgery.

A joint replacement surgery does two things: it removes the pain and improves the function of the joint. The pain in the joint is normally caused by the friction created by the surface of the joint and the adjacent bone structure. Originally, the joint is covered with cartilage, a tissue more elastic than bone that serves as shock absorber. When the cartilage gets damaged, that’s the time actual bone surfaces start making contact, causing severe pain.