What is a Concussion?
The term concussion refers to a mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) resulting in a temporary loss of awareness or consciousness. Concussions can result from falls in which the head strikes against an object, or when a moving object strikes the head.
The length of unconciousness may relate to the severity of the concussion, [...]
From the category archives:
Skiing Injuries
What is Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness
The term delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is used to describe the discomfort that is often felt 24-72 hours after exercising. While DOMS is often attributed to a buildup of lactic acid, there is little empirical support for this view.
Rather, it seems more likely that DOMS is a byproduct of [...]
What is a Dislocated Shoulder?
Not to be confused with a shoulder separation, a dislocated shoulder refers to removal of the ball of the humerus (upper arm bone) from the shoulder socket. Partial dislocation refers to the case in which the upper arm bone is partially in/out of the socket.
Shoulder dislocation can potentially result in the [...]
What is a Groin Pull, Strain, or Tear?
A pulled groin occurs when the adductor muscles of the inner thigh are stretched beyond their limits. This stretching can result in small muscle tears that cause pain/swelling. In severe cases, these muscles can be completely torn or ruptured.
The adductors are muscles in the upper thigh that run [...]
What is a Separated Shoulder?
Not to be confused with a shoulder dislocation, the term shoulder separation refers to the stretching/tearing of ligaments where the clavicle (i.e., collarbone) meets the scapula (i.e., shoulder blade), which is referred to as the acromioclavicular joint (AC). A mild separation is sometimes referred to as a sprained AC joint.
A shoulder [...]
What is Sever’s Disease?
Sever’s disease, also know as calcaneal apophysitis, is a common source of heel pain in young, growing athletes. The most common symptoms are pain or tenderness in one or both heels, discomfort when the heel is squeezed, and more severe pain when walking, running, jumping, or playing sports.
The pain associated with Sever’s [...]
Please see separated shoulder for a description of, symptoms associated with, and treatment options for a sprained AC joint.
What is a Sprained Ankle?
The term sprain refers to the stretching and/or tearing of ligaments. The most common ankle injury is a sprained ankle, which can occur when the ankle is forced into an abnormal position. Sprained ankles are most commonly caused by ‘rolling’ of the foot in (inversion; as in the case of a [...]
What is a Torn Rotator Cuff?
The term ‘rotator cuff‘ refers to the muscles that support and stabilize the arm, allowing it to move up and down as well as rotate. The rotator cuff is made up of four muscles — the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapulairs, and teres minor. Injuries to these muscles can cause pain and [...]