Motion Related MSDs

This week, with an intention of holistically covering MSDs – we are going to outline how poor body mechanics can contribute to this ailment.  To recap, MSDs are injuries or pains in the musculoskeletal system, including the joints, ligaments, muscles, nerves, tendons, and structures that support limbs. They are not only costly for people but companies too across the United States. It is estimated that 50 billion dollars a year is spent on direct costs of MSDs, and indirect costs could be up to 5 time more. Whether you are a worker or an employer – MSDs should be of concern to you.

 

The good news is that MSDs are highly avoidable – but they do pose a threat to people who are frequently lifting or moving heavy objects – either in the gym or as part of their daily work routine. The principle method of avoiding MSDs is using correct lifting techniques.

 

Gym Goers

 

Ensure you are aware of proper lifting technique – and get a personal trainer if you need to.

 

It is highly advisable that if you are new to the gym or weightlifting that you get yourself a personal trainer – even if its just for a couple of months. Use the trainer until you feel comfortable weight lifting alone. This will teach you good posture and technique that you can keep with you for the rest of your life. Good technique will mean that you don’t damage or overuse areas that are unintended with a particular motion, for example – curving the spine when deadlifting can damage your spine irreparably and lead to unforeseen MSDs down the line. Not only can bad technique give you MSD but it also increases the likelihood of them developing at a later stage.

 

 

Work Related Lifting

 

Make sure you follow protocol on lifting and/or moving heavy objects in the workplace.

 

There are probably guidelines at your place of work concerning how you should lift. The most famous example is keeping your back straight when lifting heavy objects off of the ground. The best advice we can give you aside from seeing you in person is that you should follow these guidelines. They are set out to prevent overuse of wrong muscle groups, joints, or tendons when lifting – which can lead to MSDs through repetitive strain. If you are a company, you should ensure that your workers all have access to lifting guidelines as high effort task repetition could seriously injure your workers if not managed properly.

 

If you are experiencing MSD related pain and would like to discuss it with one of our physicians then please contact us on (212) 241-6321) to see if we can further help.

 

 

 

When Should You See A Doctor?

This week we are going to give you our advice on an often dreaded question:

When Should A Niggle Become Visit to The Doctor?

Knowing exactly when to see a doctor when being affected by a minor sports injury is like asking “how long is piece of string?” Obviously, it depends on the string. It is a common question asked in our field as many players have niggling pains and aches but notice that often they go away on their own. When should you go and see someone?

 There is a general key we have created to help you decide when you should visit a doctor or specialist because ultimately it is up to you. But don’t worry, we aren’t copping out – we are going to guide you through a self-diagnosis soon. But firstly, due to the nature of sports injuries we cannot all diagnose over the internet for two reasons:

i)                 Everyone heals differently

ii)               Injuries vary in severity

It is therefore difficult to determine when the ideal time is to visit a doctor without knowing more. Of course, if you have recently suffered from a sport related injury and cannot see a physician, remember the PRICE procedure we discussed earlier this month (click here to learn more).

The first question you need to ask yourself is: is this injury preventing me from functioning? Generally, if your pain isn’t bad enough to shut you down completely but still preventing you from performing at your peak day-to-day then you should see your physician. This makes it difficult to time stamp when is most appropriate as it depends on your circumstances. A bricklayer who sustained a painful blow to shoulder while playing American football will want to be seeing a physician almost immediately as it would affect his capability to function day-to-day. An office clerk may on the other hand want to wait it out as it doesn’t affect their functionality.

Secondly, and this response is mostly applicable to sportspeople, are you doing what want to do as well as you could be doing it? That is, if you have a niggle that is preventing you from functioning at your highest potential level – then you should get it seen by a physician or doctor. A slight pain in the shoulder can be ignored by most people and left to heal by itself; however, a slight pain in the shoulder for a pitcher or quarterback can diminish their performance week-in and week-out. It is also at a higher risk of deteriorating as you are using the joint more frequently and more intensely. If this is you, get it checked out!

If you have suffered from anything mentioned above and believe you could benefit from a rehab plan or require medical attention, please contact us at Mount Sinai Department of Rehabilitative Medicine for a bespoke rehab plan. We’ll get you back on the field ASAP. Contact our switchboard at (212) 241-6321

What is Tennis Elbow? What Can You Do About It?

Noting that baseball season is well underway, let’s take a look at one of the more common issues affecting baseball players – tennis elbow. Most baseball players don’t play tennis, or at least that we know of, however, they seem to get this strange pain in their elbow? Why is that? This week, we will identify what tennis elbow is and how we can cure it.

What is Tennis Elbow?

Tennis elbow is a condition that causes pain around the outside of the elbow. It is clinically known as lateral epicondylitis and is often the result of strenuous overuse of the muscles and tendons of the forearm, near the elbow joint.

The elbow joint is surrounded by muscles that give dexterity to the elbow, wrist, and fingers. The tendons in your elbow join muscle and bone together and are what allow you to control the muscles of your forearm. Damage to this area causes the symptoms of tennis elbow.

Common symptoms of tennis elbow are pain around the outside of the upper forearm – below the bend of the elbow. This pain is usually exaggerated when lifting or bending the arm, gripping small objects such as pens, or when twisting your forearm – when turning a door handle or opening a jar. It is often difficult to fully extend your arm when suffering from tennis elbow.

Pain can range from mild discomfort to severe pain even when the elbow is still and worsens when you use the damaged arm. The episode usually lasts between six months and two years depending on treatment. The majority of people will make a recovery within a year.

What Can You Do About It?

Tennis elbow will tend to get better by itself and you can recover without treatment. In most cases, you won't need to do anything but rest. There are some things you can to help speed along recovery.

It’s important that you rest your injured arm and stop doing the activity that’s causing the problem. That can mean you will have to stop playing baseball, take a break from painting and decorating, and stop doing whatever activity that is damaging the area. Compressing the area with ice several times a day can help reduce internal swelling – alongside taking paracetamol or other pain reliefs.

You should follow our PRICE procedure which you can read about here.

Physiotherapy may be recommended by your physician for more serious cases. Massaging and manipulating the affected area can reduce stiffness and improve the range of motion in your arm.

If you have suffered from Tennis elbow, please contact us at Mount Sinai Department of Rehabilitative Medicine for a bespoke rehab plan. Contact our switchboard at: (212) 241-6321