I’m sure pretty much everyone knows that exercise is a good thing and makes us fitter and better. The right kind of exercise will make you feel better, look better, and likely add to your healthspan. But the exact mechanisms that lead from exercise to better health are surprisingly hard to pinpoint.
A recently published scientific studyshows that certain groups of proteins in the body are present in larger quantities in people who exercise regularly, suggesting that the proteins are somehow responsible for actions leading to improved health status. This study did now investigate cause and effect, but it sheds light on a previously poorly understood area. The field of “proteomics”- the study of body proteins and their functions- may lead to exciting discoveries in exercise science.
It’s very easy to get caught up in moonshots, longshots, and fantasy in the world of medicine, but I believe there are three highly innovative technologies that will have an increasingly prominent role and impact sports medicine in 2019.
The first of these is increasing use of biologics in sports medicine injury treatment. Second is the rapidly expanding range of treatment options for active individuals with knee arthritis. And finally, I expect to see an exponential increase in telemedicine and mobile algorithms to provide initial injury guidance.
We truly hope you make 2019 your best year ever! We’ll be back with new posts starting next week to help you reach your potential. – Your friends at Sideline Sports Doc
We hope you had a great Christmas Day! From your friends at Sideline Sports Doc.
I’m sure this is true everywhere in the country but it seems to be particularly true here in Silicon Valley where I practice: people naturally consult the Internet for information about their injuries. But can you actually trust what you’re reading?
When a patient comes to see me in the clinic I will frequently ask them whether they have consulted any Internet sources as this helps me get some context behind the knowledge about their condition. As long as the source of the information is good I welcome this kind of research as it tends to improve their recovery from the problem.
In this time of “fake news” which sites can you trust? The most important factor is to consider the source of the information.
I’ve written previously about a remarkable new technology called CRISPR and the promise it holds for leading to genetic cures for disease, and possibly gene editing for performance enhancement. With recent news that a Chinese scientist used the technique to produce genetically modified twin girls, we’ve entered a very real era of human genetic manipulation.
The question is whether scientists will proceed responsibly, or whether some rogue individuals will hurtle headlong into ethically questionable areas. Do we aim to cure previously incurable diseases, make designer babies, or find new ways for athletes to enhance performance without getting caught?
A broken finger (“finger fracture”) is a pretty common sports injury, often seen with direct impact to the tip of the finger or from a twisting injury. It’s easy to dismiss these as “minor” injuries, but all finger fractures need to be managed properly to allow for normal function to the hand. Mismanaged fractures can lead to significant issues with grip and hand function. Fortunately, proper management of finger fractures will typically allow return to sport in 3-6 weeks, depending on specific factors.
We see a lot of ankle sprains in our clinical practices, and if they make their way to the orthopedic surgeon’s office it generally means it was a significant injury. Severe ankle sprains can take many weeks to properly heal, can be costly to treat, and can place the athlete at risk for future ankle sprains. What then can we do try reduce the number of ankle sprains, or reduce the severity of an ankle sprain if one does happen?
One simple and cost effective option is to wear a lace-up ankle brace. These braces are effective in stabilizing the ankle in side-to-side and landing movements (the type of movements typically risky for ankle sprains) but allow excellent movement for straight ahead activities such as sprinting and jumping.
Rules changes are among the most effective ways to make a sport safer for the participants, often immediately. I’ve written previously about various rules changes that have made youth sports safer. At the adult collegiate and professional level we see safety related rules changes in almost all contact and collision based sports. One sport that often doesn’t get the attention it deserves from a safety standpoint is cheerleading.
In acrobatic cheerleading, injuries unfortunately happen with some frequency, and the basket toss was a stunt with catastrophic injuries possible. A rule change started in 2006 has shown a dramatic reduction in catastrophic cheerleading injuries.
According to the Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee of the Department of Health and Human Services, a shocking 80% of US adults and adolescents are not physically active enough. The 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans was published yesterday in the Journal of the American Medical Association and comes up with a simple conclusion that all of us should live by: move more, sit less.
