Blood Injuries in Boxing

Although a physical, high impact (and let’s face it somewhat violent) sport – boxing comes in as having the fewest blood injuries. In American Football or Rugby for example, most players will come out with cuts all over their bodies – some worse than others. The problem with boxing is, when there’s blood there’s a lot of it as there are no middle ground scrapes (usually) as found in other impact sports. Blood in boxing means that someone is going to need towel to clean up after.

When going toe-to-toe, if the head is the target – the nose is the bullseye. If you get a good swing onto the opponent’s nose there is a very high chance you’re in for a win. The same goes with the eyes which can puff up badly and bleed profusely. Without putting you off your favourite sport, let’s take a look at how you can deal with bleeding in boxing.

If someone makes it through your guard and catches you in a groggy state, there will most likely be bleeding. The quicker the blood is stopped the less likely you or others around will be exposed to potential infection. You, or your coach, should have First-Aid supplies at hand to stop the bleeding until you can get to A&E or more help can get to you.

A nosebleed can be dealt by doing the following.

·       Pinch the nose bridge and lean forward – and probably try to avoid expensive equipment. The usual thought is to tilt the head backwards, but this is not recommended as it allows blood to flow down the throat and into the stomach.

·       Plug the bloody nostril with cotton nose plugs or cotton balls to help stop the flow of blood. Replace plugs as needed if blood flow continues. Carefully remove them as large blood clots may stick to the end.

·       If the blood flow continues take a small bag of ice and place it on the nose bridge for at least five minutes. If bleeding continues, the nosebleed may be more serious and need a doctor’s care to be cauterized.

If you’re sweaty a band aid won't stick. Or if the cut is too large (laceration) it may be hard to completely cover it. Keep the cut or laceration clean. Stop bleeding by applying pressure using a towel or gauze to stop blood flow so it can be covered.

Although boxing injuries tend to heal on their own, there are instances in which the injury could become infected, or necessary to receive stitching. Please contact our switchboard at (212) 241-6321 to discuss options if your sustained injury needs looking at.

Tips from Coach Sinai – Drills to Prevent Musculoskeletal Disorder

When athletes compete on the world stage we know that their results are dependent on the work, discipline, and commitment they have dedicated “off the field”. We never see them practice, but we know they do. Minimizing sports injuries is just like this. It takes commitment when not in your sports gear to ensure your body is functioning in the best way possible when you are. Musculoskeletal disorder develops as a result of our habitual actions but has a severe impact during sporting activities. It is one of the leading causes of sporting injuries – and it is usually the result of seemingly unrelated facets of our lives, like our jobs (assuming our reader isn’t an Usain Bolt of the world). This week, continuing from last week’s preventative approach to physical health, we are going to outline how you can look after your body in the workplace to reduce the risk of a work-related musculoskeletal disorder.

Musculoskeletal Disorder

Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) are injuries or pain in the body’s joints, muscles, ligaments, nerves, tendons and structures that support the spinal cord (from the upper neck down to the back). MSDs are distinguishable by their deep and dull pain, and numbness or stiffness in joints. Common conditions related to MSD include muscle strain in the neck, pinched nerve, carpal tunnel syndrome, and sprains. It can weaken our spine and supportive muscle groups which are then vulnerable when we engage in sport.

The Warm Up

Some injuries are the result of accidents and poor form during physical activities. Most injuries, however, are the result of or are worsened by, poor habits. That means that lifestyle is often the cause of serious sporting damage.

Experts at Mount Sinai’s Rehabilitation Center have identified that MSD is not necessarily the result of a sudden event but that it gradually develops over a period of time and is often aggravated in our work environment.

Some known factors of work-related MSD include:

·       Performing repetitive actions

·       Lack of physical movement

·       Poor body mechanics when lifting, bending or reaching

·       Poor posture at desks (such as computers and workstations)

Your Off-Pitch Coaching

The Mount Sinai team have compiled these top prevention tips to help avoid long-term problems during your work hours. By following these tips, you encourage a healthier lifestyle and minimise the risk of long-term damage during sports.

·       Take breaks during your day. This is important for people who work on their feet and those behind a monitor all day – ensure you rest your body from repetitive strain or ensure your body has time to move around.

·       Incorporate stretching and movement into whatever you do. Your body is like an engine – and stretching it is like keeping it well-oiled.

·       Practice good posture. Avoid slouching and bending in awkward positions. Always lift heavy objects with a straight and stiff back and avoid straining the neck by resting your phone between your ear and your shoulder.

·       Reduce repetitive or prolonged activities regularly. If this is impossible, then look for time to allow those muscles to rest.

·       Adjust your work area so to reduce awkward bending and stretching. If you are bleeding a radiator make sure your tools are near or don’t strain yourself trying to drag a pen with your foot.

It seems unintuitive that seemingly unrelated activities can have such a major effect on our part-time sporting careers, but they do. Reclaim your health by following these tips and ensure you do not create the musculoskeletal conditions that subsequently lead to serious damage.

If you have suffered a sports-related injury or would like to discuss a bespoke plan for dealing with MSD, please contact us at Mount Sinai Department of Rehabilitative Medicine. Contact our switchboard at: (212) 241-6321

The Light at The End of The Tunnel

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression stimulated by the changing of the season. In previous articles, we have reviewed what SAD is, how it manifests itself, and the physiological and psychological approaches to understanding the disorder. The best ways to deal with SAD are to ensure you are aware of it, sleep well, and eat well. However, your physician may recommend you use a light box. This week, we will investigate light therapy and explain its uses when fighting SAD.

Light box therapy is an effective and non-invasive treatment for SAD – it stimulates your brain as much as sunlight does. It probably will not cure SAD, “nonseasonal” depression, or other conditions – but it may ease symptoms, increase energy levels, and make the condition more bearable as it has a positive effect on mood and helps with vitamin D deficiency.

Here are some tips on ensuring you get the most out of your lightbox:

·        Get the right light box. Brands like Lumie make fantastic products, but you need to know what specifications to look for.

·        Be consistent by sticking to daily routines of light therapy sessions. It’s better to do more frequent but shorter sessions than fewer but longer sessions.

·        Never look directly into the light as it can severely damage the retina. Ensure that you only look at something the light reflects off, such as a book or magazine.

·        Do not interrupt your schedule as the symptoms could return stronger. Ensure you follow a plan set out by your physician.

Your physician will advise you on how to best purchase and use a lightbox. They will explain to you: which brands are most suited for your personal condition, how long you should sit under it, at what point in the day, and how far from the box you should be positioned. Like any other prescriptive medicine, light box therapy should be taken in “doses,” and there is not a “one size fits all” approach. Each dose should be appropriately prescribed as per your personal situation.

If your symptoms do not improve you may need to consider additional therapy. Your physician will advise you about other treatment options, such as antidepressants or psychotherapy.

To see whether a lightbox could improve your quality of life, contact your physician or book into Mount Sinai for expert advice.

SAD can have an extremely negative impact on your quality of life. If you need a consultation, or are suffering from any of the symptoms outlined at the end of the article, please contact us on (212) 241-6321 to book an appointment.

SAD – Nature’s Effect on Nurture

Historically, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) has been understood as being the result of one of two binary positions: biological (your genetic composition) or environmental (learned behaviours and other external influences). In more recent years, it has become widely accepted that the two elements feed into each other. That means that while people have predispositions toward depression, that depression is simultaneously affected by an external influence (in this case winter). SAD is made distinct from other types of depression due to its temporal pattern. Major episodes begin in the winter, and there is always a full emission in the spring.

Let’s take a quick look at the two factors before seeing how they link into each other.

Is It in The Genes?

The bracket of “Biological Vulnerability” covers a vast field of potential reasons one experiences SAD – but is generally understood as a rhythmic abnormality in the winter. This simply means, a biological composition or a natural disposition to biological changes in winter causes SAD. Some of the most well understood reasons are as follows: there could be a delay or advance in the release of melatonin (the hormone that tells us it’s time to sleep), a retinal sensitivity to light, a dysfunction between neurotransmitters (the chemical substance which sends messages between nerves), a genetic variation in brain composition, and a reduced release of serotonin. 

SAD can be a result of one or more of these biological aspects, but more often than not, they are emphasized by psychological factors.

How Our Environment Can Make Us SAD

Depression is understood as an interaction between a cognitive vulnerability to depression (as we looked at above) and a stressor. There are different cognitive models that propose different vulnerabilities, let’s take a look at the main ones.

Alongside the genetical predisposition, it is common for the sufferer to also be affected by one of the following: a dysfunctional attitude (learned negative attitudes and outlook on the world), rumination (focusing attention on dysphoric moods and/or potential negative consequences), and a negative attributional style (catastrophizing negative events to a global scale). These aspects are usually interwoven.

Once a predisposition is influenced by one of these negative cognitive aspects, this combinatorial (see below for a visual representation of this process). All of these cognitive aspects are stressors.

Combining the Two. 

Source: Biological and Psychological Mechanisms of Seasonal Affective Disorder: A Review and Integration. Kelly J. Rohan, Kathryn A. Roecklein, and David A.F. Haaga. Current Psychiatry Reviews, 2009, 5., 37-47

As we can see following the graph, the environmental aspect (on the left) can run its own path to SAD, as can the biological (on the right). It is widely accepted that the psychological vulnerability and the physiological vulnerability feed into each other (as seen with the double-arrow that links the two sides together).

If you would like to learn more about the symptoms of SAD click here.

If you would like an introduction to one of our physicians that specializes in SAD click here.

SAD can have an extremely negative impact on your quality of life. If you need a consultation, or are suffering from any of the symptoms outlined at the end of the article, please contact us on (212) 241-6321 to book an appointment.

A Physician That Can Stop You Feeling SAD – Dr Wayne A Gordon (PhD)

In a previous article, we explored Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), its manifestations, and some ways in which you can cope with this type of depression. As we said, symptoms tend to get better on their own, but sometimes they don’t. That is why this week we introduce Dr Wayne A Gordon, Mount Sinai’s response to SAD in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine.

Dr. Gordon is the Jack Nash Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine. He holds a PhD in Psychology from Yeshiva University alongside an internship in Neuropsychology from Rusk Institute. His specialization in Rehabilitative Psychology has finessed his clinical expertise toward dealing with SAD.

His clinical focus is centred around brain rehabilitation. That extends to fields of Anxiety, Concussion, Dementia, Insomnia, Parkinson’s, and all manifestations of Depression. His work in academia prove his profound understanding of how to help deal with SAD, and other types of Depression. He has published more than 100 articles and book chapters, and has received several awards during his career including recognition for “visionary work” in TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury).

When is the best time to see a physician about SAD?

One of the primary concerns with SAD is that it is difficult to diagnose, and equally sensitive to manage. The first step to dealing with SAD is diagnosis. This job is best done by a physician such as Dr Gordon, who can remove possibilities of other disorders that have similar symptoms. At this stage, it is possible to manage SAD using the step-by-step we supplied here. 

It is also important to see a physician if you feel the disorder is unmanageable. The step-by-step is helpful to some patients, but not to all. The symptoms of SAD don’t need to be managed alone. Dr Gordon has dedicated his life to helping people deal with SAD and equipping them with effective bespoke methods to deal with their personal battles. This can range from learning to deal with your symptoms to understanding what your symptoms are. SAD can manifest itself in “cycles” and become self-feeding. Dr Gordon can give you a metaphorical manual to your disorder which will help you understand what you are going through. This makes SAD manageable.

SAD can have an extremely negative impact on your quality of life. If you need a consultation, or are suffering from any of the symptoms outlined at the end of the article, please contact us on (212) 241-6321 to book an appointment.