Get ready for spring with an Orthopedic Check-Up

Whether it's spring training for baseball and softball or a morning on the golf course, sporting activities are one of the most anticipated pleasures of spring. With sports training comes a greater need for sports medicine, which is why it's not a bad idea to schedule a visit with an orthopedic doctor before training starts particularly if you’ve had injury issues in the past. Throwing puts incredible stress on the complex joints of the shoulder, elbow and wrist. Practicing to throw the perfect curve ball can cause tendinitis in the shoulder, wrist and hand. From tennis elbow to carpal tunnel syndrome, repetitive motions such as those on the practice field can sideline any athlete. Arranging a visit with an orthopedic specialist before beginning practice to learn new and improved warm-up and cool-down techniques can keep your joints in good shape. Once again, if you’ve been susceptible to injury in the past, it’s wise to pursue a course of caution with the arrival of the new season of sports. And while you’re paying attention to better upper body strength and conditioning, don’t neglect your lower body. Professional athletes and weekend warriors alike must use their legs for complete training. Knees are a crucial stress point for any sport; more professional football players are sidelined due to knee injuries than any other kind. Repeated knee injury can lead to eventual knee surgery such as a knee resurfacing or even a knee replacement. Over time, degenerative joint disorders and damage from older injuries can necessitate a hip resurfacing or hip replacement surgery. Good preparation now may prevent the need for a procedure in your future. Even the best preparation doesn't always preclude an injury. When a serious injury occurs, prompt diagnosis, minimally invasive surgery (if necessary) and proper rehabilitation therapy can prevent a one-time injury from being a lifelong change to your knees, hips, hands and shoulders. In the Boise, Idaho area there are a number of qualified orthopedic surgeons who you can consult if surgeries such as, knee resurfacing, shoulder or hip replacement, or hand surgery is necessary to regain more of your mobility. One such clinic featured in this article, West Idaho Orthopedics, has sports medicine specialists such as Dr. Michael Shevlin, Dr. John Smith, Dr. Robert Hansen and Dr. Charles Schneider who specialize in assessing joint fitness and make recommendations of programs to help ease patients into greater physical activity. Additionally, one of the West Idaho Orthopedics doctors, Dr. George Nicola, is a pioneering physician in Quad Sparring, a minimally invasive knee replacement technique. This joint replacement procedure retracts important muscles during surgery in the legs instead of penetrating through them, as is often the case with traditional surgeries. The quad-sparing technique involves a shorter recovery time and less discomfort. Spring is just around the corner; get ready to play ball, hit the links or just shoot some hoops in the driveway with friends. However, if an accident occurs, you’ll be in good hands as the cities of Boise, Meridian, Nampa and Caldwell all have easy access to highly accomplished orthopedic specialists. Whether damage from old injuries or other conditions such as osteoarthritis are keeping you off the golf course or baseball diamond an area orthopedic surgeon can help restore more flexibility and function to your joints. From fracture care for an acute injury or have general questions about carpal tunnel surgery, knee surgery or hand surgery, or general sports medicine you’re covered. Get back out there this spring, but make sure you ease into your favorite sport. You may want to ‘sprint’ toward optimal performance, however slow and steady often wins the race against injury!