Hazards to watch for to prevent a fall

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Dr. Christopher Sforzo

 

It is estimated that nearly 30 percent of senior citizens have at least one fall each year. Forty percent of the seniors who fall fracture their hip or sustain another serious injury. The good news is that falls can be prevented. Below are some tips for preventing falls in the home:
 
Move all hazards out of the way
 
One of the simplest things that can be done to prevent a fall is to remove all of the hazards out of the way. Coffee tables, boxes, electric cords and newspapers are some of the most common things that cause people to trip and fall. Additionally, people also want to make sure that they immediately clean up spills and grease.
 
Exercise
 
Senior citizens who are physically active are much less likely to suffer a fall than those who are sedentary. That is why it is important for people to engage in regular physical activity. Physical activity helps prevent falls by improving strength and flexibility. However, those who have not previously exercised should consult with their doctor before they begin any type of program. A doctor may refer the patient to an occupational therapist. An occupational therapist is a medical professional who plans exercise programs for senior citizens and disabled people.
 
Wear the right type of shoes
 
Older people should avoid wearing high heels, flip flops or slippers in their home. Those types of shoes greatly increase a person’s chances of falling. People should also make sure that they always wear socks and the correct-sized shoe.
 
Use assistive devices
 
Disabled people should make sure that they always use assistive devices, such as canes and walkers. Because many falls occur in the bathroom, a person may also want to consider using a grab bar while in the tub or shower.
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Carpal Tunnel

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Dr. Christopher Sforzo

 

The median nerve is a nerve that is located in the wrist. This nerve supplies the hand with feeling and movement. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when constant pressure is applied to this nerve. Tingling and numbing in the hands are some of the most common symptoms of this condition. People who sew, drive, write or do assembly work are at the greatest risk for developing carpal tunnel syndrome.
 
Carpal tunnel syndrome can be very frustrating to deal with, but fortunately, there are things that can be done to treat it. Because this condition is commonly caused by overusing the hands, people need to make sure that they take frequent breaks when they are working. One may also want to consider wearing a wrist splint at night. Additionally, it is also very important to rotate and stretch the fingers and palms frequently.
Over-the-counter medications such as Ibuprofen and Advil can help lessen the discomfort of this condition.
 
If a person does not experience relief from his carpal tunnel syndrome with home remedies, he should seek professional medical assistance. A doctor may recommend a prescription that is stronger than over-the-counter medications. Patients with severe carpal tunnel syndrome may be required to have surgery.
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The Prevention of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome/CTS

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Dr. Christopher Sforzo
Early prevention of carpal tunnel syndrome is mandatory to alleviate the development of chronic pain and permanent nerve damage. Although there is no cure, and some may be more satiable due to heredity combined with occupational hazards. Many professionals believe that simple exercises and changes of healthy lifestyle habits can appear to drastically reduce the effects of this dread condition over an entire life span. So, here are but a few methods to consider as a beginning strategy to rid the symptoms of sharp pain, numbness, tingling sensations and loss of grip.
 
As with the body as a whole unit, simple exercise and stretching motions prepares the body to function better over a longer period of time. Even so, when there will be known repetitive stress on the hands and wrists due to typing, sewing or carpentry work to mention a few, "warming-up" is essential to long term success. Recent studies find that Yoga methods offer stretching and relaxing exercises of the joints in the hands to maximize their use from the investments of only 10-15 minutes every other day.
 
Some clients claim that this mere exercise has improved their flexibility without due pain substantially.
Another factor may be from the actual working environment. Is the temperature too cold that causes joints to tense while at a desk or a table? Perhaps, equipment may need an udated keypad with a wrist cushion or a proper chair to encourage good posture. Plus, miniature scheduled breaks may help too. It's all a beginning, and it does make the difference with daily slight variations from the constant pressure on the hands and wrists. These simple ideas to ponder may help lead to a more comfortable lifestyle free from the crippling effects of carpal tunnel syndrome.
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Tennis Elbow

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Dr. Christopher Sforzo
Lateral epicondylitis, commonly called tennis elbow, is the painful result of overworked tendons used in a repetitive motion. Pain is present where the forearm muscles attaches to the elbow, but it can radiate into the wrist and hand. The tissue may become inflamed and tiny tears may occur in the tendons.
 
A severe case of tennis elbow can make it difficult to complete ordinary activities. Pain may become chronic while performing tasks that require lifting or gripping with the hand or straightening the arm. The condition often gets better on its own with proper care. Quickly apply ice to the injury. Rest the elbow and arm, elevating them above heart level, but do not stop all forms of activity.
 
A compression wrap helps keep the elbow stable, and over the counter medications can ease the pain. If these steps fail, seek the care of an orthopedic physician. Tests that help make a diagnosis are X-rays to rule out other causes. A magnetic resonance imaging scan or MRI can provide a detailed view of the tissue and bones, while an Electromyography or EMG can rule out a pinched nerve.
 
An orthopedic physician may complete one test or all of them if he deems it necessary. An orthopedic physician may try physical therapy exercises to strengthen and slowly stretch the affected tendons. A brace will reduce stress on the tissue injured tissue, and the orthopedic physician will encourage changing the manner in which repetitive tasks are performed to avoid re-injury.
 
If a disabling injury does not respond to conservative treatment, an orthopedic surgeon will determine if surgery is necessary. Surgery requires one large incision or several smaller ones for the removal of damaged tissue. Afterwards, it is critical to complete a physical therapy program the orthopedic surgeon prescribed for a complete recovery.
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North Carolina PG Marshall breaks wrist in win

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Dr. Christopher Sforzo

 

 

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Top-seeded North Carolina advanced to the NCAA regional semifinals Sunday with an 87-73 victory over Creighton. But the Tar Heels may have to attempt to keep winning without their starting point guard.

Sophomore ballhandler Kendall Marshall has a fractured scaphoid bone in his right wrist, the team announced after the victory, and his status for Friday’s Round of 16 game in St. Louis is unknown.

Dana O’Neil spoke with Dr. Christopher Sforzo, a Florida-based orthopedic surgeon who says Kendall Marshall has treatment options that include allowing him to play in the tournament. 

Marshall, eyes red in the locker room, said the injury occurred with 10:56 left, when he was fouled hard by Creighton’s Ethan Wragge.

“I kind of got pushed to the ground,” Marshall said. “And I guess when I fell, I hurt my funny bone first, and that’s what I was most worried about. That’s fine. My wrist just got the worst of it.”

The second-team All-ACC selection kept playing, hitting the first of two free throws after a timeout. He came out of the game, but then re-entered it, playing about eight more minutes until he left for good.

When asked when he felt the most pain, Marshall, who is left-handed, replied: “Any time I tried to dribble with my right hand.”

Dr. Christopher Sforzo, a Florida-based orthopedic surgeon who works extensively with professional tennis players, said there are basically two options for Marshall — immediate surgery, which would stabilize the wrist and give Marshall a chance to play, or to play with a cast.

“It’s a roll of the dice either way,” Sforzo said. “But they’re going to have to make a decision by (Sunday night) or in the morning. If he’s going to have surgery, it would have to be first thing in the morning.”

Dennis Marshall, Kendall’s father, told CBSsports.com on Sunday night that his son would have surgery Monday morning to insert a screw in the injured wrist.

Scaphoid fractures are common, especially involving a fall, and treatment depends on where the break is, Sforzo said.

“If he wanted to play, it would be difficult with a cast and he’d risk that the bone could move and then he’d need surgery,” Sforzo said. “And it would be painful. I wouldn’t say it would be heroic for him to play under those circumstances, but it would be very difficult.”

A team spokesman said they would put a cast on Marshall’s hand Sunday night, “mostly for his comfort.”

“We’ll speak to the hand specialist tonight with Kendall and his family, and we’ll see what happens after that,” UNC coach Roy Williams said after the win.

There likely won’t be an update until Monday, the spokesman said.

“What hurts the most is that I want to be here for my team and help them out,” Marshall said. “It’s yet to be determined whether I’ll be able to or not, but we’ll find a way to get through it.”

Marshall’s injury reverberated around the country among the top seeds remaining.

"What I hope is that it’s not as bad as it sounds and that he can be able to play for him, for the program, and for the tournament,’” Kentucky coach John Calipari told ESPN.com’s Andy Katz. “I can’t answer what they’ll do because this has never happened to me this late in the season. It becomes an opportunity for someone else but it can change their team.”

Robbi Pickeral covers North Carolina for ESPN.com and can be reached at bylinerp@gmail.com. Follow Robbi on Twitter: @bylinerp. ESPN.com’s Dana O’Neil and Andy Katz contributed to this report.

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Knee Pain Causes and Treatments

Posted on March 15, 2012 by Dr. Christopher Sforzo

 

There are many issues that could cause knee pain. They range from simple Tendonitis caused by overuse use to more serious problems like Osteoarthritis in athletic and aging individuals. Just as the causes of knee pain are varied, so are the treatments. Once a doctor has identified the problem causing the pain, they will be able to take the proper course of action in relieving the pain and/or the cause of it.
 
Some other causes of knee pain could be due to previous injuries that are aggravated or not completely healed, a dislocation of the kneecap and iliotibial band or medial plica syndromes. Someone suffering with iliotibial band syndrome means that that connective tissue has become overworked and swollen. This in turn caused the pain. Medial plica syndrome is very similar except the tissue is located in the knee instead of running along the outside of it.
 
The treatment most often implemented by physicians is to have the patient rest. This can make a huge improvement in pain caused by overexerting the knees. Other treatments are to use ice packs on the effected knee several times a day, avoiding hot everything from showers to drinks and wrapping the knee with a light pressure. Sometimes keeping it slightly elevated can help relieve the pain as well. In rare instanced surgery may be required.
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Area lacrosse team is close-knit group

Posted on March 13, 2012 by Dr. Christopher Sforzo

 

KIDS PROFILE: Fathers on coaching staff bring plenty of experience

By CHRIS DELL Correspondent
Published: Tuesday, March 6, 2012 at 1:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Monday, March 5, 2012 at 7:34 p.m.

LAKEWOOD RANCH

Like father, Like son.

And so goes the mantra of the Lakewood Ranch Lightning.

With three former Division I players serving as coaches on the sidelines and all three of their sons among the players on the field, it is no wonder why the Lightning consider themselves more of a family than your run-of-the-mill lacrosse squad.

Lakewood Ranch was one of two youth lacrosse teams recently invited to participate in the seventh annual US Lacrosse's Champion Challenge at the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando.

"Fundamentals and fun are the two main themes of our programs, and from those perspectives this entire weekend was a tremendous experience for everyone involved," said Lakewood Ranch Lightning coach Chris Sforzo.

Hosted by defending world champions Team USA, more than 400 players and coaches gathered for clinics and one-on-one skill sessions throughout the weekend.

Members from both the Team USA men and women shared drills, skills and professional lacrosse wisdom before finishing with a private meet-and-greet with the Lightning.

"Our kids view the Team USA players as rock stars, but they certainly didn't act that way," Sforzo said.

"The national team players were genuinely excited to interact with our kids on a personal level, and they were very approachable," Sforzo said.

A former University of Notre Dame lacrosse player and now local orthopedic surgeon, Sforzo coaches the only youth travel lacrosse team in the area, the Manasota Monsters.

 

Fellow coaches Dan Rice and Chris Markowski played collegiately at Michigan State and Syracuse, respectively, and that experience is beginning to rub off on kids across both Sarasota and Manatee counties.

"Team USA has passed this down from one generation of lacrosse players to the next, and the entire weekend was a tremendous experience," said Sforzo, a son-in-law of ESPN's Dick Vitale. "We will make it a priority to be back next year."

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Causes of Shoulder Pain and Treatment for it

Posted on February 28, 2012 by Dr. Christopher Sforzo
Two of the main things that shoulder pain is diagnosed as would be tendonitis and bursitis. Both of these conditions involve inflammation in the shoulder. Another cause of shoulder pain would be a rotator cuff tear. This can happen very easily and can make doing normal activities extremely difficult and also very painful. There are other conditions that can cause problems with the shoulder. This can include but not limited to arthritis and also a person's age.
 
Many every day activities can cause different types of shoulder injuries. If someone is athletic and plays different types of sports, then they could very easily end up developing a shoulder injury. Also any type of repetitive motion can cause injuries to the shoulder. Most of the time a doctor will start out treating a shoulder injury with conservative treatment. This may include things like physical therapy, some form of medication, or maybe even injections of cortisone.
 
If the conservative treatment does not work, then the patient may end up having to have shoulder surgery. An ortho center in the area where you live would be somewhere that you would go for any type of shoulder problem. If you end up having to have shoulder surgery, there will be a recovery period and this may also involve some type of physical therapy to help get full range of motion back in the shoulder.
 
When you are suffering from any type of shoulder pain that does not seem to be improving on its own, you need to visit the closest ortho center in your area. An orthopedic doctor will be able to diagnose your condition and provide you with the best treatment to correct the problem as quickly as possible.
 
If you living in SW Florida and are in need of Shoulder Care or Therapy visit www.orthocenterflorida.com
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Advances in Knee Therapy and Knee Replacement Surgery: How They Benefit You

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Dr. Christopher Sforzo
Knee replacement surgery is one of modern medical technology's most amazing triumphs. Being able to fully or partially replace a person's knee with artificial parts so that they an continue their life free of knee pain yet still maintain an active lifestyle is nothing short of miraculous. In addition to new advances in this incredible technology there have also been advances in knee therapy as well, reducing the need for this kind of surgery. Here's what you should know about these two treatments if you're having knee problems.
 
Advances Knee Replacement Surgery
 
Traditionally knee replacement surgery would require very large incisions to remove bones and insert the artificial parts into the knee area. Thanks to new procedures known as MIS (minimally invasive surgery) which uses new techniques and instruments to drastically lower the area of incision. On average knee replacement surgery used to require an incision of eight to twelve inches but that has been reduced to three to five inches, a dramatic improvement. MIS also allows the surgeon to avoid having to cut through the tendon as well. Smaller incisions have resulted in less tissue trauma, shorter recovery times and less pain overall.
 
In addition to this computers are also being used more for knee replacement surgery. This allows for overall better navigation during surgery and better surgical precision.
 
Advances in Knee Therapy
 
While knee surgery is better than ever it is always best if this can be avoided. One such treatment is kneecap realignment. This process is needed in many cases due to the fact that when someone has a knee condition they tend to walk differently and place an uneven amount of pressure on one knee which causes the kneecap to more out of place. By moving the kneecap to its original position and then using physical rehab techniques to train the muscles to hold it there the kneecap can be realigned.
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Ortho Center

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Dr. Christopher Sforzo
Your knees are an important part of your body, as they are the body part that takes the brunt of the force and stress associated with walking, running, sitting and standing. In fact, you need to have healthy and pain free knees in order to be mobile and thus able to get around without pain, discomfort or other issues. Knees can be injured through a variety of ways and means.
 
One way knees can become damaged is through an accident or injury such as being hit while playing sports, falling down or being in an accident. Sports injuries cause many knee injuries, and sometimes just being active in a sport over time can place stress on the knees and eventually cause problems to arise. Though these injuries happen quickly, the recovery process may be long. Knees can also suffer from the aging process alone or the development of arthritis which commonly occurs in the joints of the knees.
 
Regardless of how you developed a knee problem, you need to seek help by a qualified knee specialist who can assess your condition, offer guidance for treatment options and help get you back to being able to do all of the things you were able to do before you injured your knees.
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