Everything Related to Orthopedics
Posts tagged Orthopedics
Anatomy of a Bone
0405 days
There are 206 bones that make up the human skeleton, yet many of us are unfamiliar with the structure and purpose of our bones. Obviously, our bones are our frame and allow us movement that many other mammals do not have. Bones are more complex than this and serve a greater purpose in our genetic makeup.
Bones are comprised of three different types of tissue – compact, cancellous and subchondral. The compact tissue is the hard, outer portion of the bones. Underneath the compact tissue, you will find the cancellous tissue which is a sponge-like substance. The subchondral tissue is the smooth tissue found at the end of bones. As a person develops, this subchondral tissue becomes covered with cartilage. All together, these 3 tissues create the periosteum.
Beneath this hard, outer shell blood runs through a series of canals and tunnels that carry nourishment to the entire body. Bones also provide critical protection for all of your internal organs. Without this protection, accidents would be much worse for the body. Another purpose our bones serve is storage for bone marrow. Bone marrow is the material which helps the body develop a constant source of red blood cells and is rich in nourishment for the body.
As you can see, our bones provide us with many different things and are complex structures. This is part of the reason why they are susceptible to different types of infection and disease. There are treatments for many of these bone diseases but research is still continuing. Bone marrow is a major player in the treatment of many diseases and in a lot of cases, can save someone’s life.
Common Baseball Injuries
0421 days
Spring is in the air and that doesn’t just mean warmer weather and more sunshine – it means baseball season is in full swing! Not only are the pros hitting the field once again, soon all the summer little league teams will start up keeping kids busy during their time off from school. In order to keep the baseball season all fun and games, let’s take a look at some common baseball injuries and how to both treat and prevent them.
The most common baseball injuries occur over time, from overuse and over stress of muscles and joints. There is a possibility of a traumatic injury in baseball as well, some of which can be quite serious. Possibly the most common injuries in baseball occur to the shoulder and elbow since this is a sport played mostly with the upper body. Throwing and hitting a baseball over a long period of time can cause shoulder tendonitis, torn rotator cuff and tennis elbow.
Other common injuries in baseball are to the ligaments, especially in the knees. Sports that require quick changes in direction with lots of stopping and starting can be tough on the knees. One wrong move or landing can result in a torn ACL, MCL or PCL. Besides tearing these ligaments, baseball players also often find themselves with knee tendonitis from the constant stress on the joint.
Most of these injuries can be treated without surgery and will simply require physical therapy to heal and strengthen the muscles. In severe cases of torn ligaments, surgery may be necessary to repair the injured ligament. These injuries can also be prevented if you take the proper steps before hitting the field. Make sure you warm up properly before the game doing both cardio and stretches. Stay hydrated while you play and if you should suffer an injury, get proper treatment right away to prevent the injury from getting any worse.
