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HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL
Parents' guide to student athlete injuries]
Special to the Journal
It’s time for fall sports!
Unfortunately, it’s also time
for sports-related injuries.
Orthopedic injuries can
occur as a result of trauma
or overuse. Knowing when
to seek medical attention
for an orthopedic injury is
important for proper heal
ing and rehabilitation.
According to Dr. Jeff
Easom, orthopedic surgeon
and member of the medi
cal staff of Houston Medical
Center and Perry Hospital,
traumatic injuries have a
known mechanism and are
usually characterized by the
major components of the
inflammatory process such
as redness, warmth, swell
ing, pain and loss of func
tion. “Traumatic injuries
include strains, sprains and
fractures which can occur
throughout the entire mus
culoskeletal system from
feet and ankles to knees,
hips, backs, shoulders and
necks,” he explains.
Easom advises seeking
medical attention following
a traumatic injury if any of
the following signs occur:
■ Swelling about a joint
■ Inability to move the
joint or decreased motion of
the joint
■ Any bony deformity
■ Inability to walk with
out a limp
■ Extensive bruising
In contrast, Easom says
overuse injuries are a result
of micro-trauma and are
common in sports that
involve repetitive motion
such as swimming, running,
Houston Healthcare to offer Diabetes Day Oct. 27
Special to the Journal
Diabetes is one of the most
serious health problems fac
ing Americans today, and
the statistics are worsening.
According to the National
Center for Health Statistics,
diabetes rates in the United
States have increased 27 per
cent between 1997 and 2002,
as a result of the increasing
rate of obesity and decreas
ing exercise among adults.
Nearly 12 million adults
have been diagnosed with
diabetes, however, many
people are unaware they
even have the disease.
Because diabetes often
Menopause: A natural
part of a woman’s aging
Special to the Journal
Menopause is a natural
and normal transition in a
woman’s life that usually
occurs between the ages of
45 and 55. For most women,
menopause is preceded by a
three to six year transition
phase during which they
can experience hot flashes,
mood swings, irregular men
strual cycles, insomnia, and
weight gain. Although no
two women experience this
transition phase, called peri
menopause, in exactly the
same way, the onset of any
of these symptoms is a good
indication that a woman’s
childbearing years are com
ing to an end.
According to Dr. Elisabeth
Wagner, 08/GYN and mem
ber of the medical staffs of
Houston Medical Center and
Perry Hospital, a woman
should visit her gynecolo
gist as soon as she notices
changes in her menstrual
patterns. “It is a good idea
to make an appointment
with your gynecologist to
make sure the irregulari
ties in your menstrual cycle
are due to perimenopause
and not another underlying
problem,” she explains. “You
may also want to discuss
whether hormone replace
ment therapy, or HRT, can
benefit you in the short term
to relieve some of the symp
toms associated with peri
menopause.”
The most common, and
probably the most annoying,
symptom of perimenopause
is the onset of hot flash
es. During perimenopause,
the body begins to decrease
its production of estrogen,
which in turn causes the
w jfl
Submitted
Jocelyn Frierson, Certified Athletic Trainer for Houston Healthcare, examines the knee
of a Perry High School student athlete.
jumping or throwing. “The
characteristics of overuse
injuries, such as tendonitis
and stress fractures, include
a gradual onset of symptoms
with no history of trauma
and usually no indication of
a major inflammatory pro
cess,” he explains. “Overuse
injuries can be the result
of many causes including
strength or flexibility defi
cits, training errors, abnor
mal biomechanics and
shows no symptoms, it is
essential that adults, espe
cially those at risk, have their
blood sugar level checked on
a regular basis.
According to Vicky
Alexander, RN, FNR Disease
Management Coordinator at
Houston Healthcare, Type
II diabetes, or non-insulin
dependent diabetes, is the
type which affects mainly
adults over the age of 40.
Adults who are overweight,
lead sedentary lifestyles,
have high blood pressure
and a family history of Type
II diabetes are most at risk.
If left untreated, diabetes
pituitary gland to release
bursts of luteinizing hor
mone. These “bursts” can
make a woman feel like she
is on fire for a few seconds
to a few minutes. “Your face,
neck and chest may redden,
and your body temperature
may rise several degrees
during a hot flash,” says
Wagner. “During the night,
these hot flashes may cause
excessive perspiration.” She
suggests dressing in layers
of natural fibers such as
cotton and silk. Exercising,
eating well-balanced meals
and avoiding stress may also
help reduce the intensity of
hot flashes. Also limit caf
feine, alcohol, spicy foods,
very sugary or salty foods
and hot liquids, all of which
have been known to trigger
hot flashes.
Experts say that the onset
of perimenopause is a clearer
indicator of what stage of life
a woman’s body is in than her
chronological age. Because
of this, it is a good time for
a woman to start evaluating
her bone and heart health
and determining what steps
she should take to offset or
prevent adverse changes in
her health. “A woman’s risk
of heart disease and osteopo
rosis steadily increases after
menopause,” comments
Wagner. “You should reduce
your alcohol intake and quit
smoking, both of which can
have a negative impact on
your heart and bone health.
Exercising regularly, eating
a high-fiber, low-fat diet, and
taking a calcium supplement
with vitamin D will help you
to maintain optimal health
before, during and after
menopause.”
improper equipment.” The
treatment of overuse inju
ries usually initially involves
activity modification with
local treatment such as ice
to decrease the inflamma
tory process, he adds.
Easom advises seeking
medical attention with an
overuse injury if any of the
following signs occur:
■ The symptoms do not
resolve after activity modi
fication and resumption of
can lead to blindness, chron
ic kidney disease, heart dis
ease and even amputation of
the foot or leg.
“The good news is that
Type II diabetes is treatable
by controlling blood sugar
levels through proper diet
and exercise along with med
ication if needed,” explained
Alexander.
“Diabetes differs from
It is an honor felt far beyond the hospital doors, an honor centered in our community and
lives of the people we serve. Houston Healthcare is extremely proud to receive the
Georgia Hospital Association's Community Leadership Award.
Because this prestigious award recognizes healthcare that goes out beyond our walls —
exemplary health education, wellness, and disease prevention-—Houston Healthcare is
confirmed in our mission: improving the health of our community.
From a prenatal outreach program for healthy births, to Senior Care for lifelong fitness, to a
nationally recognized diabetes management program, Houston Healthcare is working hard
for your wellness. We thank all of our staff, physicians, volunteers and community partners
for their compassion and commitment.
HEALTH
full sporting activity.
■ The symptoms are
occurring with daily activi
ties such as walking.
■ The symptoms persist
longer than 10 days.
For parents, in addition to
following the advice of their
child’s physician, first aid
for injuries such as strains,
sprains, contusions, dislo
cations or uncomplicated
fractures should include
the Rest, Ice, Compression,
other diseases because 90
percent of the treatment
necessary is the responsibil
ity of the individual patient
a person with diabetes
must decide daily whether
to test their blood sugar, fol
low the appropriate diet and
exercise regularly.”
Houston Healthcare is
sponsoring a Diabetes Day
on Oct. 27 from 10 a.m. until
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THE 'JIJ'
COMMUNITY LEADS 1
AWARD 8£
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IMPROVING THE HEALTH
OF OUR COMMUNITY
Elevation treatment.
■ Rest - stop using the
injured part. Continued
activity could cause further
injury, delay healing, increase
pain and stimulate bleeding.
Use crutches to avoid bear
ing weight on injuries of the
leg, knee, ankle or foot. Use
a splint for injuries of the
arm, elbow, wrist or hand.
■ Ice - hastens healing
time by reducing swelling
around the injury. Keep a
damp or dry cloth between
the skin and the ice pack.
Apply ice for 20 minutes on
and 40 minutes off at least
four to five times per day for
the first 72 hours. Do not
apply ice for longer than 15
to 20 minutes at a time or
tissue damage may occur.
■ Compression - hastens
healing time by reducing
swelling around the injury.
Wrap the injured part firmly
with an elasticized bandage,
compression sleeve or cloth
making sure not to impair
blood flow. Apply the wrap
over ice.
■ Elevation - elevate the
injured part above the level
of the heart to decrease
swelling and pain.
As part of Houston
Healthcare’s sports medi
cine program, a team of
athletic trainers work daily
in Houston County’s high
schools to keep student ath
letes safe while practicing
and competing in sports. Led
by Mike Edgar, AT, C, LAT,
Sports Medicine Coordinator
for Houston Healthcare, the
athletic trainers attend prac
tices, weight training and
2 p.m. at Middle Georgia
Technical College in Warner
Robins.
Designed for all people
affected by diabetes, the
free program will consist
of a variety of educational
and informational seminars
about diabetes-related top
ics including how to get the
very best care for diabe
tes, protecting the heart by
■sr
Houston Healthcare
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2006 ♦
conditioning sessions as well;
as sporting events. They also;
provide health education to!
area coaches, athletic direc-I
tors, students and parents!
on a variety of topics includ-l
ing sports safety, preventive!
and wellness measures, and!
treatment of minor injuries.
In the event of an injury,;
the athletic trainers serve as|
liaisons between the student;
athletes and the local physi-;
cians.
According to Edgar, the
primary concern of the ath
letic trainer is student safe
ty-
“ Our job is to keep the
student athletes safe,” he
explains. “When a student
is injured, we immediately
contact the team physician,
and we can make referrals
to orthopedic specialists
quickly without the normal
wait time. The relation l
ship we have with the local
physicians ensures a rapid
response time for treatment
of injuries.”
All of Houston
Healthcare’s athletic train
ers are certified through the
National Athletic Trainers
Association and are licensed
athletic trainers in the state
of Georgia. Together, the
team has more than 60 years
of training experience. ,
“Houston County is one of
the few counties in the state
that have certified athletic
trainers in the high schools,”
comments Edgar. “We truly
enjoy what we do for the stu
dents, coaches and parents,
and we work together as a
team really well.”
choosing foods and fats wise
ly, making the link between
diabetes, heart disease and
stroke, and more.
Registration begins at
9:30 a.m., and lunch will be
provided.
For more information and
to register for the program,
call 478-923-9771 or register
online by visiting www.hhc.
org/community_ed.
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