Kids; whether they’re your children, grandchildren, or even siblings, you tend to worry about them. Will they have trouble making friends? Will they do well in school? Will they be awkward? Confident? Active? Lazy? A way to minimize that worry would be to get them into sports. When children are athletes they benefit greatly from it. Be it a team based or individual, kids will build confidence, become team leaders, have better social skills and self-esteem, and will also help them excel in academic subjects. More importantly, they’ll have fun doing it. So, you help them sign up for a sport, now what? Here are a couple of tips so that the youth in your life has a healthy sports experience.

• Let’s Get Physical: Physicals, that is. Children cannot join a sport if they have not had their yearly physical yet. A qualified doctor can make sure that they receive a pre-participation physical exam (PPE). This is done so that you (and everyone else involved) can make sure that the child is healthy and ready to play.
• Hydrate, hydrate, and hydrate! Especially now in the summer, it is crucial that kids in sports drink lots (and lots) of water. Athletes need to drink plenty of water (16 ounces) specifically two hours before playing. They also need to stay hydrated while participating in their choice of sport. It’s recommended that they have between five and ten ounces of water (or sports drink) every 15 to 20 minutes while they compete. Studies have shown that many kids end up playing while being dehydrated. Don’t let the child in your life play that way. Staying hydrated will also help to ensure that they avoid any heat related injuries and/or illnesses, such as heat exhaustion or a heat stroke.
• Burnin’ Up: Warming up, that is to say. One of the easiest way to avoid injuries in sports is to make sure that children warm-up. Stretching muscles prepares them for physical activities and helps to prevent injuries. A good warm-up will increase blood flow, loosen joints, and elevate their temperature. Warming-up should only take about ten to twenty minutes, during this time athletes can mentally prepare themselves for the sport that they are about to partake in.
• Push It: Don’t overdo it though! When children are having fun, the last thing they want to do is stop playing. Even if that means not listening to what their bodies are saying. Make sure to remind them to take plenty of breaks and to use that time to hydrate or to keep their muscles warmed-up. Sometimes the injuries that come from overdoing a physical activity can be subtle, but they can become worse over times. Teach kids to listen to their bodies to prevent any injuries from becoming worse.

Children can have a great and fun experience when involved in a sport. However, if you find that the youth in your life has a sports injury, be sure to take them to a doctor. Request an appointment with a NJ sports medicine specialist at the Advanced Orthopedic and Sports Institute.

When it comes to exercising you can think of a hundred reasons why you would rather be doing something else; you’re too busy, it’s so boring, the gym is too crowded. What if there was an option that eliminated all of your excuses? If you want to try a simple type of workout that is actually worth all the sweat and sore muscles, then kettlebell training is for you.

• No Time? Make Time!: It always tends to feel like there just aren’t enough hours in a day. Between working, cooking, socializing, relaxing, and sleeping, exercising doesn’t seem to fit in. However with kettlebell training you only need five minutes for a full comprehensive workout. With a kettlebell you’ll receive a quick yet effective workout that will get your blood pumping and provide not only a cardio workout but also full body conditioning.
• If You’re Bored, You’re Not Trying Hard Enough: One of the cons of exercising that most people can agree on is how tedious it can be to do the same repetitions over and over. The fast pacing of kettlebell training in conjunction with the endless combinations of basic drills eliminate the boredom that comes with lifting a weight over and over. With kettlebell training you can have a different workout each time you exercise as long as you use your imagination to make each training session unique.
• The One Stop Shop of Exercising: When it comes to strength training lifting weights might come to mind, with cardio you might think of running or even those aerobic exercises from the 80’s. Doing kettlebell exercises will improve strength in your arms, shoulders, core, upper and lower back, and thighs while simultaneously improving your cardiovascular health.
• Bring The Gym to You: The kettlebell itself is a compact, easy to store and portable exercise equipment. Meaning that you don’t have to go to a gym to do kettlebell training, you can easily workout from home, the park or even the beach. No need for an expensive gym membership when you can exercise on the go.

• What’s a Kettlebell if Not a Grocery Bag?: The phrase ‘functional training’ gets thrown around a lot, but what does it mean and does it really apply to kettlebell training? Functional training is a type of exercise that trains your body for the same activities you do daily. When doing a kettlebell workout you work the same muscles that are used during everyday activities such as carrying a toddler, picking up a gallon of milk, or carrying a heavy bag of groceries into the house.

The benefits of training with kettlebells are numerous and seemingly endless. Overall you will feel healthier and build strength, mobility and flexibility which will help lower the risk of a sports injury. If you experience any aches or pains after kettlebell training, an orthopedic specialist can help you determine what’s wrong. Contact Advanced Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Institute today to request an appointment with a NJ physical therapy specialist.

Participation in team and individual sports is a valuable and rewarding experience for youth. Interacting with like-minded peers, staying physically active, and developing self-esteem and self-discipline are just a few of the many benefits of playing sports. However, there are a number of potential safety risks inherent in most sports which players, parents, and coaches should all be aware of. To avoid a sports injury, follow these tips from orthopedic specialist Michael J. Greller, MD, FAAOS of AOSMI.

• Have the Proper Gear and Safety Equipment. Some sports require cleats to avoid slips and falls in grass or twisting of ankles. Many sports require the use of a helmet, mouthguard, or other protective gear. Does your child’s sport recommend tight or loose fitting clothing? All of these considerations should be made when preparing for the season of sports to come.

• Warm Up–Every Time. It doesn’t matter if you’re practicing drills in the backyard or getting amped up for the championship game–stretching and getting warmed up is never optional. Warming up helps the muscles and joints prepare for an expanded range of motion, so they aren’t overwhelmed with the fast-paced twisting and stretching required in the game. Jumping into the game without warming up puts players at substantial risk for painful sprains and tears.

• Stay Positive. For the many physical risks in sports activities, there are many–often overlooked–psychological risks as well. Whether you are a coach, player, or parent, keeping a respectful and positive attitude toward oneself, one’s team, and the opposition is essential for the experience of sports to be a rewarding, character building one.

Most importantly, if your child does experience an injury while playing sports, it is essential to see a sports injury specialist immediately. Even if the pain is minimal, continuing to play with even a small fracture or tear can quickly escalate into a major injury that can keep even the best player out of the game all season. Contact AOSMI today if your child has experienced an injury on the field.

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome, otherwise known as ulnar nerve entrapment, happens when the ulnar nerve experiences increasing pressure or compression. Have you’ve ever bumped your elbow against a hard surface and felt a sharp stinging pain, otherwise known as hitting your ‘funny bone’? That’s your ulnar nerve in action.

Second after Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Cubital Tunnel Syndrome is the most common nerve compression that happens in the arm. The ulnar nerve can be found in a small tunnel of this in the elbow, also known as the cubital tunnel and can be compressed when your elbow is bent. This pressure on your ulnar nerve can cause a considerable amount of pain or discomfort, and may get to the point where you could lose the function of your hand (dominant or nondominant). In general, men are more likely to be affected by Cubital Tunnel Syndrome than women. People with jobs that have them doing repetitive elbow movements and prolonged elbow flexion are even more likely to experience Cubital Tunnel Syndrome.

You might have Cubital Tunnel Syndrome if you feel a numbness and/or pins and needles from the inside of your forearm to your hand. Typical symptoms of Cubital Tunnel Syndrome include; tenderness on the inside of your elbow, pain or numbness after keeping your elbow bent for a long period of time, and a difficulty in feeling the difference between sharp and dull objects when they touch the inside of your forearm. If Cubital Tunnel Syndrome goes untreated these are some symptoms you might experience; clumsy hands, having the small muscles of the hands waste away, and something known as ulnar claw hand which is when your fingers bend inwards.

If you find yourself experiencing any of these symptoms be sure to contact an orthopedic specialist. Make an appointment today with the Advanced Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute for a NJ pain management specialist.

What is Adrenal Fatigue? You may have heard about the term “Adrenal Fatigue.” Adrenal Fatigue is not an accurate medical diagnosis. As stated by the Endocrine Society, “no scientific proof exists to support adrenal fatigue as a true medical condition.” As stated in the journal, BMC Endocrine Disorders, systematic review from Cadegiani and Kater – “there is no substantiation that ‘adrenal fatigue’ is an actual medical condition. Therefore, adrenal fatigue is still a myth.” In general, the term “adrenal fatigue” is used to refer to a set of symptoms that occurs in people who experience long-term mental, emotional, or physical stress; the symptoms include: general tiredness, weakness, trouble falling asleep and waking up, and craving salt and sugar. These are generic symptoms, which means they can be found in numerous diseases (such as Adrenal Insufficiency) and are also normal occurrences in life. 

At AOSMI, we are committed to patient education. By addressing misconceptions and providing accurate information, we aim to empower patients to make informed decisions about their health and seek proper medical care when needed. This initiative aligns with our dedication to promoting transparency and ensuring that patients have access to reliable resources for managing their well-being effectively. We aim to arm you with the knowledge so that you can make the best decisions for your health – allowing you to live your strongest, healthiest life. 

An established adrenal condition is Primary Adrenal Insufficiency, also known as Addison’s Disease – in which a patient’s adrenal glands don’t work properly, so they do not make enough cortisol. Secondary adrenal insufficiency is when the pituitary gland does not signal the adrenal gland to make enough cortisol.  Adrenal insufficiency leads to a range of symptoms including muscle and joint pain, low blood pressure, craving for salt, sweating, darkened skin on face, neck, and back of hands, and irregular menstrual periods in women. It’s crucial to seek medical evaluation from an endocrinologist if you are experiencing these symptoms to confirm diagnosis and initiate appropriate treatment. 

However, as part of any treatment for endocrine, or orthopedic conditions, it is important to eat nutritious food, which includes fruits and vegetables as part of a well-balanced diet. Some examples of nutritious food to eat are: 

• Apples
• Pears
• Plums
• Kiwis
• Mangoes
• Papayas
• Cherries
• Grapes
• Broccoli
• Spinach
• Beets
• Carrots
• Sweet potatoes
• Bone broth
• Seaweed
• Sea vegetables
• Whole grains
• Unrefined grains
• Soaked raw nuts

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms above, reach out to your endocrinologist for proper evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment. If you are experiencing joint and muscle pain, we encourage you to request an appointment with our team of orthopedic specialists today.