SJMO to Present Free, Monthly, Orthopedic Seminars

Pontiac, MI—St. Joseph Mercy Oakland (SJMO) will continue its series of free, monthly, orthopedic community seminars throughout 2010.  The one-hour seminars are held at 6 p.m. in the hospital’s Franco Communications Center, 44405 Woodward Ave., Pontiac.

SJMO orthopedic specialists will conduct the seminars, speaking on a wide range of orthopedic procedures and joint replacement.  Dates, speakers and topics include:

• March 23:  Paul Lewis, DO, “Shoulder”
• April 27: Bruce Henderson, MD,  “Arthritis and Back Pain”
• May 25: Shivajee Nallamothu, DO, “Total Joint Replacement”
• June 22: Matt Bahu, MD,  “Shoulder”
• July 27: Bill Kohen, MD, “Birmingham/Total Hip Replacement”

“SJMO has won numerous awards for orthopedic and joint replacement excellence,” said Jack Weiner, SJMO President and CEO.  “Every day, our skilled physicians, surgeons and medical staff provide exemplary care and outstanding outcomes for the patients they treat.”

The hospital’s board-certified orthopedic surgeons specialize in treating spine, hand, shoulder, hip and knee disorders.  They provide comprehensive care before, during and after surgery.  Among the orthopedic services SJMO offers are:

• Award-winning, nationally recognized Joint Care Center,

• Artificial ankle replacement and correcting and treating postural and post-traumatic deformities, diabetic conditions and arthritis,
• Cutting edge procedures such as kyphoplasty and minimally invasive, patient-specific surgery,
• MRI and custom-fit technology for total knee replacements, the first in Michigan do to so,
• Around-the-clock acute trauma care at the SJMO Emergency Center.

The seminars are free and open to the public.  Light refreshments will be served. Free parking is available on the north side of the hospital, adjacent to the Franco Center and Medical Office Building.

 Registration is required.  To register, call St. Joseph Mercy Oakland, 800-372-6094.

Shoes That Offer Comfort AND a Great Behind?

Wear a pair of shoes and give your derriere an instant lift? If it sounds too good to be true, a new line of women’s athletic footwear is promising that and more. But whether these shoes live up to their marketing promises is still to be seen.

Store owner of Foot Solutions in Shelby and board certified pedorthist (C.Ped), Elaine Pearson says that the concept behind shoes like the Reebok Easytone, Skechers Shape-Ups, MBT and Chung Shi, is actually not that new. In fact, the idea of a rocker shoe, the original albeit non glamorous term for which shoes like the Easytone and Shape-Ups are named after, was developed in Europe about seven years ago to promote foot health.

“Rocker shoes are not new. The main intention for the rocker shoe was initially for medical reasons. People with back pain, those who stand all day at work, individuals who suffer for plantar fasciitis or those who are prone to poor circulation were the primary customers for whom the rocker shoe was created,” says Pearson.

The Science

Rocker shoes, are heavily-cushioned shoes with a curved sole that forces the wearer to work harder to maintain their balance and posture while the shoe takes pressure off the forefoot. The result is less force placed on the hip and knee joints as well as on lumbar spine.

While in the past rocker shoes were sold as therapeutic orthotics for those with podiatric conditions like arthritis of the feet, today as the design and comfort of the shoe improves, its popularity has also increased.

The Benefits

As the shoes activate the deep muscles in the legs causing them to work harder, leg muscles strengthen and tone. Wear these shoes for a few hours every day or during your entire workday, and you just might feel and see a difference in not just your derriere but your quadriceps and calves as well.

In addition, the shoes can increase circulation and may reduce edema and the presence of varicose veins. Pearson often observes this in some of her customers who rely on the rocker shoes for their everyday wear.

Not only are the shoes comfortable – some wearers attest that they will never wear another flat or high-heeled shoe again – but rocker shoes almost instantly improve posture.

“The shoes give your body the experience of walking in a natural environment. This then takes pressure off your joints and your back and immediately helps you stand straighter,” says Pearson.

In addition, conditions like neck pain and TMJ, which is related to posture, may improve after wearing rocker shoes,” she says.

Cautions

But not every shoe is good for every foot. Pearson encourages any curious wearer to test them out for at least one hour before purchasing them. Since the shoes are inherently unstable, anyone who has problems maintaining  balance should avoid them. Additionally, someone who lifts heavy objects all day long should probably look elsewhere for a more appropriate shoe.

Yet despite these drawbacks, the rocker shoes can be worn all day long, especially if you have a job in which you are on your feet, rocker shoes can have numerous benefits. When it comes to exercising, walking on the treadmill is a safe activity to wear your new Easytones but running, jogging or engaging in any side-to-side movement like side lunges should be avoided, cautions Pearson, even if the manufacturer says it’s OK.

People with tendency to over-pronate should also avoid rockers shoes as the shoes’ instability can aggravate the condition.

It may be a bit presumptuous to invest in a pair of designer rocker shoes for the sole purpose (no pun intended) of improving your behind. Since these shoes are meant to be therapeutic medical devices, Pearson like other pedorthists is concerned that the money being used to market these shoes for strictly cosmetic benefits increases the risk that they will be placed on the wrong feet. Just as you would not get fitted for a pair of prescription eye glasses by a worker from the Sunglass Hut, similarly, rocker shoes should not be purchased by just any shoes sales person.

Ultimately, the choice comes down to your own personal preference, comfort, health and fashion sense. Just make sure to get fitted for any rocker shoe by a trained pedorthist but whether or not you can stop doing those squats and lunges still remains to be seen.

Henry Ford Hospital Offers Free Back Pain Seminar

Detroit – MI – Henry Ford Hospital’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery is offering a free seminar on back pain to answer questions about prevention and treatment.

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 80 percent of all people in the United States will have back pain at some point their lives, and it is the most common physical condition for which people visit their doctors.

Fred Nelson, M.D., orthopaedic specialist, will share information about the types and causes of back pain and tips on prevention and easing symptoms, 10:30 -11:30 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 1, at the Warren Racquetball Club, 29901 Civic Center Boulevard South in Warren.

Registration is not required. Walk-ins are welcome. Light refreshments provided.

For more information, call (313) 874-3508.

Hands Hurting from Texting, Typing, Video Games?

Here are tips to help your tech injuries

With millions of teenagers and young adults texting, pushing buttons on video game controllers, and tapping on computer keyboards for hours at a time, it’s no wonder they’re complaining of pain in their hands and wrists at a younger age.  Even students in elementary and middle school have reported physical discomfort in their hands, wrists, necks, and backs!

In fact, researchers tracked 476 elementary and middle school children who used computers and played video games. Their study showed that as the children became older they started to complain about physical discomfort in their hands and wrists along with neck and back pain, according to a 2005 Work journal article.

So what can teens and young adults do to prevent discomfort from keyboarding activities? Correct posture and taking frequent breaks from the computer, video games and smart phones can help prevent problems in the hands and wrists.

“It likely is not the act of using the keyboard or other gadgets that is the issue, but the position in which people are using them that makes them more prone to problems,” says orthopedic surgeon Rachel Rohde, M.D., who specializes in upper extremity surgery.

With respect to promoting healthy keyboarding, Dr. Rohde offers these tips:

• Your keyboard position should allow your elbows to be at 90 degrees or straighter and your wrists to be in a neutral position, or just slightly extended. Make sure you are able to maintain appropriate posture and that your feet are flat on the floor, not dangling, which can contribute to poor posture.
• Your mouse should be at the same level as the keyboard. This is easier on the tendons and muscles in your forearm and wrist.
• Your wrist rest should only be used when you are not typing. Leaning the wrist on a pad can contribute to nerve compression or tendonitis.
• Take a break every 30 minutes to stretch your muscles and relax your joints.

So what do you do if you are experiencing discomfort during keyboarding or game-playing activities?

“Most of these aches and pains are temporary and will resolve with a few simple measures,” says Dr. Rohde.

She suggests:

• rest (including temporary splinting)
• ice and/or anti-inflammatory use to reduce inflammation
• posture adjustment

“If these do not give you relief, or if you have bruising, swelling, numbness, or tingling, see your doctor for evaluation. Many people benefit from hand therapy or ergonomic education.”

Dr. Rachel Rohde is an orthopedic surgeon at William Beaumont Hospital and specializes in upper extremity surgery. She graduated from Harvard Medical School and completed her residency in Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh, followed by a Fellowship in Hand and Microvascular Surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.

Making Adjustments

At HealthQuest Chiropractors in Southfield, Dr. Raphael Okonkwor, 36, sees patients who suffer from a myriad of chronic ailments like back pain and migraine headaches. With a wife and two children, his six-day-a-week workweek is very different from a life he may have had if his family stayed in Nsukka, Nigeria, his birthplace 15 years ago.

In 1992, Dr. Okonkwor’s mother and father moved their family of six to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His parents’ intention was as noble and idealistic as any family uprooting their family from their homeland to relocate to another country in search of more opportunity. For Dr. Okonkwor’s family, his parents, who are both professors, landed teaching positions in Milwaukee. Their love and exploration of knowledge rubbed off on their eldest son.

After settling down in Milwaukee, Dr. Okonkwor was accepted into the University of Wisconsin where he played football and subsequently injured his knee. His knee pain became worse and intensified after graduation. On good days, Dr. Okonkwor walked with a pronounced limp. On bad days, he couldn’t feel his leg. He tried all approaches, from physical therapy to knee surgery. The interventions left with him temporary relief but soon the pain would surface with renewed vigor and intensity.

One afternoon while stumbling through a workout at the gym, a gentleman who saw how deliberately and cautiously Dr. Okonkwor was moving his body, approached him. The gentleman, who was also a chiropractor, was about to change Dr. Okonkwor’s life. He talked to him about his knee pain and encouraged him to come into his office for a chiropractic adjustment on his back. Not his knee. Curious and hopeful, Dr. Okonkwor sought the help of this man for the next six weeks. He gradually began to notice a slight difference in his level of pain. Bouts of numbness in his leg soon became less and less and then altogether disappeared. Within two months, he could walk without a limp.

Inspired and in awe of how the chiropractic adjustments were able to heal his knee pain, he began a one-year investigation into the field and study of chiropractics. After that year, he made the decision to become a chiropractor and applied to a number of schools throughout the country. He chose to complete his four-year degree at the Cleveland Chiropractic College in Missouri and then joined HealthQuest in Southfield two years ago after receiving his Doctor of Chiropractic degree.

“It wasn’t just that my knee was tremendously helped through chiropractics but it was also the philosophy behind this school of healing that drew me in and eventually inspired me to have a career in it,” says Dr. Okonkwor.

The basic philosophy of chiropractics is the body is a self-healing entity that will heal itself, given the right internal environment. The health of the spinal cord, which is an extension of our brain, is the basis for the health of the body.

The field of chiropractics does not aim to treat a kidney infection or cancer.

“It’s preventive medicine. A chiropractor tries to heal you before you get sick,” says Dr. Okonkwor, even though many of his patients are led to his office after exhausting other treatment modalities like medication, surgery or physical therapy.

Chiropractors use a drug-free, hands-on therapy called spinal manipulation or adjustments to treat a patient from neuromusculoskeletal complaints, including but not limited to back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches. Dr. Okonkwor says that low back pain and headaches are the conditions that he most often sees in his own practice.

Since no two spines are same, and how we use our bodies greatly affect our body’s alignment, back or neck pain has probably been developing from many years of using the incorrect postures as we go about our activities of daily living. From how we sleep, to how we carry our children, from what shoes we wear and to what we eat are all factors that affect the quality of our spinal cord. Given this philosophy, pain is the last thing to come and the first thing to go, says Dr. Okonkwor.

One of the chief complaints about seeing a chiropractor is that once you go, you must go again and again. Chiropractic healing is not a one-time fix, says Dr. Okonkwor. Even though a bone was moved after one adjustment, it will probably move back again to its previous place. This occurs because the body is so habitually used to having the bone(s) in this specific, albeit dysfunctional, place that it must be realigned numerous times before it is placed there permanently.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), chiropractic care is one of the ten most commonly-used complementary and alternative therapies. About 20% of American adults have received care from a chiropractor at some point in their lives. Side effects of a chiropractic adjustment might be temporary headaches or discomfort in the areas where an adjustment was given. The risk of serious complications following an adjustment, such as a stroke, appears to be extremely low and is related to the type of adjustment performed and the part of the body treated.

If you are interested in seeing a chiropractor, Dr. Okonkwor strongly encourages seeking out a qualified and licensed chiropractor that takes the time to find out who you are and is very attentive to your condition.

Dr. Okonkwor ‘s Tips to Prevent Back Pain

• Maintain a healthy diet and weight.

• Remain active

• Don’t cross your legs at the knees since this twists the spine and throws off the hips.

• Warm up or stretch before exercising or other physical activities.

• Maintain proper posture while throughout the day and while you exercise.

• Wear comfortable and low-heeled shoes

If you have low back pain, be careful of exercises that hyper extend the back

Fitness: Let the Good Times Roll

Warning: The techniques being presented here may reveal issues you did not want to know about!

Flexibility is often one of the most neglected areas of fitness. Some find it boring, too time consuming, painful, not worth the effort (after all, you cannot really “see” flexibility in most cases), or ineffective – this is what we are going to talk about.

There are many different types of stretching: static, dynamic, ballistic, and PNF (Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation). There are also many philosophies about how and when to stretch: pre or post workout, hold for 10 seconds or 30 minutes. While there are physiological principles that do determine all the variables of effective stretching, that is not what this article is about. Many people attempt to stretch to increase flexibility, diminish pain, or “warm up” – all to no avail; this is where foam rolling can help.

Foam rollers are tools which help relax muscles to allow proper stretching to occur. If a muscle is too tense and cannot relax it is very difficult to improve the flexibility. Foam rolling will help inhibit these overactive muscles. Conversely, foam rolling can also help stimulate underactive muscles and “wake them up” when they have been inactive due to immobility, injury, or misuse. All of this can help with flexibility, pain, and tissue warm up, as well as strength, speed, power, coordination, and overall performance.

Foam rolling is a fairly simple technique to understand, but more difficult to perform for most people in the beginning. It can be uncomfortable to the point of painful if the muscles are extraordinarily tight. It can be very physically taxing on the arms (they are supporting most of your bodyweight), and it can be time consuming. However, the dedicated addition of foam rolling to your exercise regime can be one of the most beneficial things you can do for your body, regardless of your fitness goals.

The rules are the same for all body parts: 10-20 rolls per part (you may need to build up to this); put as much weight from the chosen body part onto the roller as you can tolerate; avoid bony prominences; and DO NOT AVOID TENDER SPOTS – this is where you need it most. So let’s get to it!

HIPS

Common problems associated with tight hips: back, hip, and knee pain.

Gluteals/Piriformis – Sit on the roller (Fig. 1). Cross one leg over the other. Shift your weight onto the side of the crossed leg. Roll from your butt bone (the one you sit on) to the bone that sticks out just above your butt muscle (in the low back area). You will need to shift from the back of your butt to the outside of it to get the whole area rolled.

THIGHS

Common problems associated with tight thigh muscles: back, hip, knee and ankle pain.

Hamstrings – Roll along the back of the thigh from the butt to the knee. Roll directly on the back (in the middle), then also slightly rotate your leg in and out to get the inside and outsides of your hamstring.

Quadriceps – Roll along the front of the thigh from the hip to the knee (Fig. 2). Roll directly on the front (in the middle), then also slightly rotate your leg in and out to get the inside and outsides of your quads. Try to do one leg at a time.

IT Band – One of the worst exercises (and most needed) for most people. Lay on your side with the top leg crossed over the bottom one and the top foot flat on the floor (Fig. 3). Roll along the outside of your thigh – make sure you are not getting the front muscles (quadriceps) or back (hamstrings). The IT Band runs right along the outside from the side of the hip to the outside of the knee. Many hip, back, and knee problems come from tightness in this area.

Adductors – Lay down like you did for the quadriceps but bring your leg out from your body with the knee bent (Fig. 4). Position the foam roll so it makes a 90 degree angle with your thigh. Roll along the inner thigh from the knee to the groin. This is another “un-fun” exercise, but also another source of many problems.

LOWER LEGS

Common problems associated with tight lower legs: knee and ankle pain, plantar fasciitis, tendonitis.

Gastroc/Soleus (Calf muscle) – Roll along the back of the calf from the knee to the heel (Fig. 5). Roll your leg in and out to get the whole calf muscle.

Peroneals – Lay like you did for the IT band (Fig. 6). Roll along the outside of the lower leg from the knee to the ankle.

TORSO

Common problems associated with tight torso: pain anywhere in the body.

Lumbar/Thoracic Spine – Lay down and roll along the spine, from the low back through the upper back (Fig. 7). This may need to be broken up into two parts (low back, then upper back). Try to position your torso horizontal. Added bonus: your abdominals will get a workout, especially when doing the low back.

Latissimus Dorsi/Posterior Shoulder Muscles – Lay on your side with the bottom arm stretched out (in the direction of your head) (Fig. 8). Roll along the side of your upper back (outside of your shoulder blade) up to the armpit and back of the shoulder.

EVERYTHING ELSE

While foam rolling is certainly easier to apply to some areas than others, it can be done throughout the body in addition to what was presented here. There are other tools on the market that can be used similarly to foam rolls and should also be considered as supplements. Foam rollers can also be used for different training purposes, including balance training (generally done with foam rolls cut in half lengthwise).

Foam rollers can be purchased from $10-25 and range in length from 1-3 feet with diameters of 3-6 inches. Just make sure to use a quality roll that will not break down quickly with use. Quality foam rollers can be purchased at www.performbetter.com and/or www.power-systems.com.

Special thanks to Tara Egli, for subjecting her body to these demonstrations and allowing me to photograph it.

For more information on foam rolling, contact Bob at: bob@functional-strength-training.com, or visit his website at: www.functional-strength-training.com.