In Motion - Winter 2018 BSWORTHO_99_InMotion_NL_winter_2018_single_page_FB | Page 2

Slip away from a
herniated disk The Most Common
Sports Injuries
The disks in your spine provide a vital function—they transmit
forces between the bones in your spine (vertebrae) and provide
mobility. But sometimes, degeneration or injury can damage
the disks and cause neck or back pain. This can happen when
the herniated disk (also called a ruptured or slipped disk) slips
out of place, contacting and compressing a spinal nerve. Avoiding injury is key to top athletic performance. Sheena
Black, MD, a sports medicine surgeon on the medical staff
at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – McKinney and
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Frisco, says the
injuries she sees most often affect shoulders, knees and hips.
How can a herniated disk be prevented?
Ishaq Y. Syed, MD, an orthopedic spine surgeon on the
medical staff at Baylor University Medical Center, part of
Baylor Scott & White Health, says you can lower your odds
of developing herniated disks when you:
• Lift with proper technique
• Exercise regularly
• Use good posture
• Avoid nicotine products
• Eat healthy foods
• Control your weight
What does a herniated disk feel like?
Sometimes, herniated disks don’t feel like anything. Other
times, they might cause low back pain that radiates down
the leg or neck pain that goes into the shoulder or arm.
They can also cause numbness, tingling and weakness. If you
experience these symptoms, your doctor may recommend an
MRI to check for a herniated disk.
How is a herniated disk treated?
Disk herniations don’t necessarily require surgery, Dr. Syed
says. Ninety percent of disk herniations resolve on their own
and can be treated with rest, anti-inflammatory medications,
physical therapy or steroid injections.
If those treatments don’t work, a surgeon can remove the
herniated portion of the disk, relieving the compression on
the nerve. Minimally invasive disk surgery usually allows
people to have shorter hospital stays and faster recoveries.
Many people who need surgery go home the same day and
return to work and normal activities within a few weeks.
There’s No Need to Wait
Sources: Physical Activity Council,
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, JAMA (Journal of the
American Medical Association)
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears often affect the knees
of athletes. The injury typically occurs when the knee twists
as the foot is planted during sporting activities like tennis,
basketball, soccer and skiing. Strengthening
the core, hips and quadriceps muscle can
help prevent a tear. In the event of an
injury, rehabilitation can be effective, but
people who want to return to sports will
likely need reconstructive surgery.
Hip impingement occurs when the ball
of the hip doesn’t fit into the socket
properly and causes restricted
motion. People typically experience
pain in the groin when flexing the
hip during running or when sitting
for long periods. Core and gluteus
strengthening can reduce pain.
Impingement can be treated with
physical therapy, anti-inflammatories and
injections, but it often requires surgery to prevent
further damage.
Your Partner in Joint Health
If you have neck or back pain, help is near! Call 1.844.BSWDOCS
or visit BSWHealth.com/Spine for a referral to an orthopedic spine
specialist on the medical staff at a Baylor Scott & White Health facility.
By the
Numbers
In shoulders, rotator cuff tendinitis is common, triggered
by overuse and poor shoulder mechanics, like having poor
posture when sitting at a desk or performing manual labor.
People with rotator cuff tendinitis typically have pain and
difficulty with activities that involve lifting an arm over the
head. It’s usually treated with physical therapy and anti-
inflammatory medications, and occasionally it’s treated with
an injection. Rotator cuff tendinitis usually doesn’t need
surgery, unless it progresses to a full-thickness rotator cuff tear.
For a referral to an orthopedic specialist on the medical staff, visit
BSWHealth.com/Ortho or call 1.844.BSWDOCS.
213 million 1 $87.6 billion
Number of Americans age 6 and
older who participated in sports and
fitness activities in 2015. Rank of strains and sprains among the
most commonly diagnosed sports injuries.
The lower extremities (such as knees and
ankles) top the list of body parts affected. Amount of personal health care
spending in the U.S. for neck and low
back pain treatment in 2013.
2 In Motion | Winter 2018 Visit us at BSWHealth.com/Ortho