The Record Special Sections Health Quarterly 07-28-2019 | Page 8

8 ❚ SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2019 ❚ THE RECORD
HEALTH QUARTERLY / ADVERTISING SECTION
OUTDOOR ACTIVITY
Protect Your Joints
Be Safety-Smart While Playing or Working Outside
deep it is, don’t dive,” says Dr. Femino.
! Treatment: Anyone with a water
sports injury should be stabilized by
a health professional, then taken to the
Emergency Department to get checked for
cervical spine and traumatic brain injuries.
“We may also treat for shock, neck trauma
and concussion,” Dr. Femino says.
ON THE FIELD OR COURT
The most common injuries from outdoor
team sports, tennis and golf are muscle
sprains. “We see many ‘weekend warriors’
with tennis elbow or
back problems from
their golf swing,” Dr.
Femino says.
! Prevention:
The best protec-
tions against strains,
sprains and joint
pain are starting
slowly, stretching
and warming up
before playing, and
then gradually build-
ing up your level of
play to build muscle
strength.
! Treatment:
“The majority of
strains and sprains
simply require rest,
PHOTO COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES hot and cold com-
presses, and pos-
Knee and joint injuries can sideline a runner indefinitely when
they most want to participate in daily runs and organized events. sibly a few weeks of
physical therapy,”
In addition, high-speed water sports
explains Dr. Femino. “More severe injuries,
like jet skiing and waterskiing can also put
like a ruptured hamstring or joint damage,
people at risk of bone fractures and joint
may require surgery that can put you out
injuries. “People get a false sense of secu-
of action for the season.”
rity when they’re on the water,” says Dr.
RUNNING
Femino. “But falling in the water at high
Running is an excellent way to exercise,
speed can feel like hitting concrete.”
but it has a high rate of injury. One study
! Prevention: Wear a life jacket and
found that, over the course of a year, 27
helmet during high-speed water sports and percent of novice runners and 32 percent
never jump or dive into unknown waters. “If of long-distance runners sustain injuries.
the water is murky and you don’t know how “Running in and of itself is not harmful to
healthy joints, but is not recommended
for damaged joints,” says Dr. Femino.
! Prevention: If you’re new to run-
ning, start slowly and use common sense.
“Don’t run five miles on your first outing,”
Dr. Femino says. “And proper footwear is
paramount — new running shoes are well
worth the investment.”
! Treatment: Acute pain from sore
muscles and joints will go away on its own
Dr. Frank Femino, director of Ortho-
with rest and over-the counter pain medi-
cations. Long-term joint damage and arthri- pedics at Clara Maass, recommends
caution when participating in warm-
tis may eventually require joint replace-
weather recreation and home projects.
ment surgery.
require surgery to repair or reattach
AROUND THE HOUSE
You may be most susceptible to injuries
affected body parts.
in your own home, especially if your chore
To learn more about orthopedics at
list has you climbing ladders or firing up
Clara Maass Medical Center, call 888-724-
a power tool. For example, half a million
7123 or visit www.rwjbh.org/ortho.
Americans get treatment
for ladder related injuries
every year, according to
the American Academy of
Orthopedic Surgeons. “In
summer and fall, people
have accidents while fixing
roofs or cleaning the gut-
ters,” says Dr. Femino. “You
also want to use caution with
power tools such as a lawn
mower or hedge trimmers.”
! Prevention: If a task
calls for using a ladder, make
sure it’s on a firm, level sur-
face and that the soles of
your shoes are dry and not
slippery. Have equipment
such as leaf blowers serviced
before you use them. As for
more complicated tasks,
“When in doubt, don’t do
it,” says Dr. Femino. “Hire a
professional or ask a skilled
friend to do home repairs if
you’re not sure how to safely
do it yourself. And always
have proper adult supervi-
sion around young people
and power tools.”
! Treatment: When
people fall off ladders, the
most common injuries are
broken bones. Treatment
PHOTO COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES
usually requires surgery or a
cast for up to three months, Muscle sprains and back pain caused by performing out-
followed by physical therapy. door household chores, like mowing the lawn, can usually
A power tool injury will usually be avoided by stretching and warming up beforehand.
I
f you’re like most people, you enjoy
the time of year that allows you to get
outside and be active. Unfortunately,
spending time in or on the water, play-
ing sports or even doing repairs around the
house can put you at an increased risk of
joint injury.
Frank Femino, MD, director of
Orthopedics at Clara Maass Medical Center,
breaks down the outdoor activities that
could lead to orthopedic injuries, and
shares how to avoid them.
ON THE WATER
Diving — whether it’s from the side
of a swimming pool or a cliff at the local
watering hole — is the fifth leading cause of
spinal cord injuries among men, according
to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical
Center. “Every summer, we see at least
a few spinal injuries at Clara Maass
Medical Center from diving injuries,” says
Dr. Femino.