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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 cmimmmmmwmmmmMmmmmm THE 'JIJ' COMMUNITY LEADS 1 AWARD 8£ , PRESENT! S.i G m 'JSi I : )M& iHiiiiiMiUjrii , 4 ’ 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. 5A