MMI Provider's Blog

Every spring, along with the increase in monkey bar, trampoline, and scooter injuries, I see a spike in the number of children presenting to my clinic with heel pain.  As soccer season swings into full gear along with other cleat-wearing and barefoot sports, and the physical education teachers begin the cycle of outdoor running, heel pain becomes more prevalent.  This heel pain varies in intensity from a dull ache at the end of practice or a game to a child who will toe walk  and not put his or her heel down on the ground.  Most often this is diagnosed as Sever’s Disease or, more technically, calcaneal apopyhisitis.

Read the rest of this entry »

With medical advances we have prolonged the years of our lives but many of these years are spent in morbidity.  For this reason it is imperative that we encourage physical fitness at all ages. Recent figures released from the Center for Disease Control reports that 20% of our children are obese.  This problem can often lead to secondary problems throughout adulthood including but not limited to Diabetes, Stroke, Heart Disease, and general poor health status as we age. 

Read the rest of this entry »

Spend a lot of your day at a computer? Feel aches and pains in your neck, shoulders, arms, wrists, and hands? Want to know what you can do about it? I’ve evaluated many offices that have required simple, inexpensive modifications that help to reduce neck and upper extremity discomfort. Here are a few simple ideas:

Read the rest of this entry »

In my practice I treat a large number of acute ankle and foot injuries, many of which are initially diagnosed as “ankle sprains” at urgent care facilities. The largest study to date shows that males aged 15-24 had higher rates of ankle sprains than females, whereas females over 30 years old had higher rates than males.

Read the rest of this entry »

As winter approaches, so begins the snow removal season.  Shoveling snow is very strenuous; just ask any cardiologist or orthopedist.  Shoveling snow puts an extra strain on the heart, so if you have heart issues speak with your cardiologist before shoveling.  

Read the rest of this entry »

As a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon, the most common complaints I am asked to evaluate involve overuse syndromes.  These syndromes cause pain in many areas of the body including the knee, foot, heel, hip, elbow and shoulder – commonly where muscle and tendon units attach to bone via growth centers.  Often there is no specific trauma, just progressively worsening pain with activities which usually improves with rest.

Read the rest of this entry »

Both Washington and Frederick Counties offer opportunities to teach riding skills to people with disabilities.  Therapeutic riding is a very beneficial means of exercise and/or rehab for children and adults with a wide range of cognitive, physical and emotional conditions.  Currently, the two centers in Washington and Frederick counties are, Star Community Inc. in Hagerstown, Maryland, and Silverado Farm, in Thurmont, Maryland.

Licensed and specialized professionals perform equine assisted activities, often called hippotherapy.  Physical, occupational and speech/language therapy treatment strategies utilize equine movements as part of an integrated intervention program to achieve functional outcomes.  Equine movements provide multi-dimensional movement, which is valuable due to its rhythmic and repetitive nature.  The horse provides a dynamic base of support, making it an excellent tool for increasing trunk strength, balance, overall postural strength and motor planning.

Read the rest of this entry »

Shoulder problems become increasingly common in mid-life. Caused by different structural problems, most shoulder complaints can be solved with good orthopedic care including physical therapy.

Most shoulder problems, whether associated with rotator cuff tears, impingement, or sprain can be treated early in physical therapy to work on reducing pain and getting full movement back to the area.

Generally, shoulder problems include stiffness and pain, and patients report the pain limiting their ability to lift their arm overhead. It is common for patients to express concern with painful motion, worry that if they lift their arm overhead it will create further damage, and they avoid moving the arm in painful directions.

Read the rest of this entry »

Even my calluses have blisters!The dog days of summer have my dogs barking in my shoes. I thought my “wheels” were fully inflated, but with these “three-a-day” practices I need my tires changed and balanced with a realignment.

Sharp increases in volume of sport participation or exercise intensity; combined especially with the lack of sleep, poor diet or dehydration may lead to inflammatory conditions, strains or more serious injuries taking the fun out of the fundamentals of sports and exercise.

Read the rest of this entry »

Being fit is a life endeavor.Some years will be more successful than others. A lifetime of practicing these few principles will have a powerful impact.You will find getting and staying fit simple and possible when you put these 25 tips into practice.

Read the rest of this entry »