Blue Ridge Blog
We’re counting down to ready-set-go with the second annual Bodies in Motion 5k and 10k races, and the 1 Mile Fun Run. The event kicks off at 8 a.m. on Sunday, May 19. Have you registered yet? If not, there’s still time! Click here to register via the Bodies in Motion 5k & 10k website.
Once you’ve registered, it’s all about being ready. Whether you’re prepping for Bodies in Motion or another race, here are five tips that will help you get the most out of your race day:
- Take it easy. The week before your race is a good time to slow down and go easy with your workouts. Give your body a chance to rest up and be at its best by race day. You’ll still want to get some runs in, but keep them short and snappy. Nothing long and tiring.
- Get hydrated. Spend the day before the race priming your body with plenty of water. It’s also good to avoid alcohol and caffeine the day before a race or big run. Sure, your morning cup of coffee is fine. But, try to resist that double espresso in the afternoon. Your body will thank you come race day.
- Stick with your tried-and-true shoes. Now is not the time to be breaking in a new pair of running shoes, no matter how great they look on your feet. Stick with the shoes you’ve been training with, and leave the new shoes for after the race. That will give you plenty of time to break them in gradually.
- Eat a normal breakfast. Resist the temptation to load up on a “special” breakfast. Instead, stick with what your body is used to, whether that’s a bowl of cereal and fruit, or a three-egg omelet with bacon and hash browns.
- Warm-up and stretch. Before the race, spend 20 minutes warming up your muscles and stretching out your legs. A brisk 20-minute walk will do wonders for loosening up your running muscles. Follow your warm-up with a round of leg stretches, and you’ll be ready to go when the race begins.
We’re proud to be a sponsor of the 2013 Bodies in Motion 5k & 10k, and are looking forward to seeing you bright and early on Sunday, May 19. It should be a great day of running, fun and community. And, all for a good cause too! All proceeds will go to the Blue Ridge Community Foundation, which will then direct funds to local nonprofits and charitable organizations in need of support. Their goal is to raise more than $25,000 for local organizations in need. We’ll be there to help out. Will you join us?
Click here to learn more about the race: Bodies in Motion 5k & 10k
Neck Pain and the Spine. Myth or Fact?
Finding reliable information is crucial to having the best chances for recovery. This article from http://www.spine-health.com/blog/myths-about-neck-pain-and-spine will clarify a few of the most common myths about neck pain.
Myth: Rest Is the Best Way to Help Neck Pain
Fact: Brief short periods of bed rest may ease acute pain of the neck or back, but physicians generally advise against more than one or two days of bed rest. Ironically, resting and lack of activity can cause more pain as it leads to muscle wasting and other harmful effects, which can create more pain and lead to an unhealthy cycle of pain/inactivity/more pain/more inactivity.
Myth: With Its Sensitive Nerves, the Spine Is Easily Injured
Fact: The spine is a uniquely well-designed structure – the muscles, tendons and ligaments provide strength, flexibility and support for the spine. Generally, keeping the spine healthy requires proper conditioning, including stretching, strengthening and aerobic exercise. Poor posture and body mechanics, and other unhealthy habits, such as smoking, lack of nutrition or sleep can harm the spine.
Myth: My Doctor Didn’t Find Anything Wrong, so the Pain Must Be All in My Head
Fact: Pain is always real! While your physician may not find the anatomical cause of your pain, you still are experiencing pain. It’s especially important to proactively treat chronic pain (pain that lasts for more than 2 or 3 months.) While psychological factors (such as sleeplessness and depression) will often need to be a part of a comprehensive treatment program, it’s important to search out all treatment options that can help alleviate the pain.
Myth: My Pain Is So Bad, There Must Be Ongoing Spine Damage
Fact: With chronic pain, the amount and scope of pain is not related to the amount and scope of damage or injury in your neck and back. For example, severely degenerated discs may not be the source of much pain at all, and discs with minor degeneration can cause severe pain. Unlike chronic pain, acute (short lived) pain does link to the level of injury. For example, a deep cut in your skin is more painful and more damaging than a bruise, and the pain will lessen as it heals. With this, acute pain provides us with a protective reflex – so we can avoid things that cause tissue damage (such as we remove our hand from a hot burner.) However, with chronic pain, the pain does not have the same meaning-it’s not protective and does not mean there is any ongoing tissue damage or injury.
Whether you suffer from chronic or acute pain, the physicians of Blue Ridge Orthopaedic and Spine Center are here to help. Blue Ridge Orthopaedic and Spine Center offers comprehensive musculoskeletal care. Our team of professionals will ensure your experience here is comforting, respectful, and to your complete satisfaction. For more information, please contact our specialists at (540) 347-9220.
May 6th-May 12th is National Nurse’s Week. The physicians and staff of Blue Ridge Orthopaedic and Spine Center would like to recognize all of our nurses by sending out a big THANK YOU to all of our nurses and medical staff! We appreciate your compassionate care and contributions to our patients and to the practice. If you know a nurse, give them a BIG thumbs up this week.
Suffering with Acute or Chronic Pain? This Lecture is for YOU!
Join Dr. Daniel Heller for a FREE Community Q & A Lecture!
If persistent pain is interfering with the life you used to enjoy, we can help. Our team of caregivers has received advanced training in pain management. We work together across multiple healthcare disciplines to help manage your pain. We assess your condition, evaluate past treatments and discuss new treatment options to build a plan that is right for you.
Please come and meet Daniel Heller, M.D.
WHEN
Thursday May 9th, 2013
6:00-6:30PM Appetizers
6:30PM Presentation REGISTER TODAY TO WIN A $250 GIFT CARD!
WHERE
Holiday Inn MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN!!!
111 Hospitality Drive
Front Royal, VA 22630
PLEASE RSVP TO
Jill Smith
540.347.9298 ext 270
jsmith@broava.com
Come visit us! Blue Ridge Orthopaedic and Spine Center will be at the 2013 Culpeper Days! Hosted by the Culpeper Ruritans. It’s a fun filled day for the whole family in downtown Culpeper. May 4th, 2013 from 10am-4pm. Hope to see you there!
The physicians and staff of Blue Ridge Orthopaedic and Spine Center would like to say “Thanks” to you, our patients for voting three of our doctors in Excellence and Compassionate care for the 2012 Compassionate Doctor Award!
The Compassionate Doctor Award is given to select physicians every year in recognition of exceptional patient care, services and compassion, and is granted based on actual patient reviews.
More than 200,000 patients across the United States provide online feedback about their medical care every month. Patients rate their physicians based on the care they receive, including bedside manner, doctor-patient face time, follow-up care and the courtesy of the office staff. Hundreds of thousands of these individual patient reviews were written and shared over the course of 2012. Only physicians with the highest patient rating for their compassion and bedside manner are selected to receive the Compassionate Doctor Award.
Of the nation’s 870,000 working physicians, only three percent were awarded the Compassionate Doctor Award in 2012.
Blue Ridge Orthopaedic and Spine Center is proud of its award-winning physicians:
Dr. David Kim, director of pain management, specializes in medical acupuncture, pain management and interventional procedures. Dr. Kim is fellowship-trained in interventional pain management and is the founder of Blue Ridge Orthopaedic and Spine Center’s interventional pain clinic. He holds privileges at Fauquier Hospital, is a diplomate of the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and is American Medical Association board-certified in pain medicine. Dr. Kim is a two-time recipient of the Compassionate Doctor Award (2011 − 2012).
Dr. Robert Smith, orthopaedic surgeon, specializes in sports medicine and serves as the team physician for Fauquier High School. He is fellowship-trained in sports medicine, and helped care for the Baltimore Ravens and regional college teams. Dr. Smith is a first-time recipient of the Compassionate Doctor Award.
Dr. Jeffrey Wise, orthopaedic surgeon, specializes spinal care, joint replacement and general orthopedics. He holds privileges at Fauquier and Fair Oaks hospitals, is a diplomate of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery, and a member of the North American Spine Society. Dr. Wise serves as the team physician for Kettle Run High School and is one of the physicians for Virginia Gold Cup. Dr. Wise is a two-time recipient of the Compassionate Doctor Award (2011 − 2012).
Blue Ridge Orthopaedic and Spine Center (BROAVA) offers world-class orthopedic services, including expert diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation. Our practice features nine centers of excellence staffed with eight highly accomplished physicians, a dedicated team of assistants, and subject-matter experts in physical therapy, massage therapy and medical nutrition. The staff and service offerings combine to make BROAVA unrivaled in the region as a provider of comprehensive, multidisciplinary orthopaedic and spine services.
Please contact one of our experts @ 540.347.9220 for more information.
The knee is a hinge like joint, formed where the thighbone, shinbone, and kneecap meet. It is supported by muscles and ligaments and lined with cartilage. Over time, cartilage can wear away, causing the knee to become stiff and painful. An artificial knee joint can replace the painful joint and restore movement. This prosthesis lets you bend your knee easily again. With smooth surfaces, the bones can once again glide freely!
At Blue Ridge Orthopaedic and Spine Center we recognize that painful joints can interfere with your sleep, limit daily mobility, or keep you from participating in activities you love. If managing your joint pain is no longer working, our team of joint replacement specialists can help by replacing all or part of your problem joint. Please contact our joint specialists at 540.347.9220 to schedule an appointment or simply for more information.
Our goal – Get YOU back to GOOD HEALTH
Treat that someone special or make time to splurge on you!
Check out these May massage specials -
30 minute massage – $24 60 minute massage – $48 90 minute massage – $72
You are in good hands with our certified massage therapist Lindsay Barnes. Massage therapy relaxes the entire body; loosens tight muscles; relieves tired and aching muscles; increases flexibility and range of motion; diminishes chronic pain; calms the nervous system; lowers blood pressure; lowers heart rate; enhances skin tone; assists in recovery from injuries and illness; strengthens the immune system; reduces tension headaches; reduces mental stress; improves concentration; promotes restful sleep; aids in mental relaxation, and is a wonderful calming experience!
We offer: Therapeutic Massage, Sports Massage, Swedish Massage, Myofascial Release, and Deep Tissue Massage.
Please contact our Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Department @ 540-347-2918
to schedule an appointment or for more information.
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Offer only valid for massages scheduled between May 1st, 2013 through May 31st, 2013. Give the perfect gift to mom – Massage Gift Certificates are available! |
Congratulations to the FHS girls soccer team on a successful car wash – fundraiser held at Blue Ridge Orthopaedic and Spine Center on 4/27/2013. Also, we would like to send out a big thank you to our staff and patients who participated in this event! Go Falcons! Great fun! Hope to see you back again soon!
May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. Whether your kid is into soccer, baseball or gymnastics, May is a great month to review your child’s goals for the current and upcoming season, and set a plan for success. This is also a good time to ensure you and your child are planning for a safe and injury-free season.
Here are five tips to help plan for a fun, successful and injury-free sports season for your child:
- Expect bumps, bruises, sprains and strains. The vast majority of sports injuries require no care other than rest, ice, wrapping and elevation. When in doubt, give us a call. We can show you and your child the best way to wrap an injury to accelerate healing and reduce the risk of re-injury.
- Pay attention to size as well as age. Many sports leagues are divided by the age of the child athletes. But, children of the same age can vary dramatically in size and physical strength. If your child is either large or small for his or her age, consider signing them up for an athletic team that better matches his or her size and/or ability.
- Remember that children are still growing. Unlike adult athletes, children are still growing. Their bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments are not full-size, and may be more susceptible to injury. Watch especially for injuries at the site of your child’s growth plates. These are the areas of cartilage where bone growth occurs at the end of the long bones, like the femur and the tibia. Approximately half of all growth plate injuries occur from team or individual athletic activities. If your child complains of pain at the site of a joint — knee, elbow, hip, etc — we can help. Our team will diagnose the problem and identify a treatment course.
- Watch for over-use injuries. Because children are still growing, their bodies are more susceptible to over-use injuries than adult bodies . Throwing a ball — baseball, football, etc — is a common cause of medial apophysitis (aka. little leaguer’s elbow) and osteochondritis dissecans, two over-use injuries which affect the elbow. If your child hasn’t suffered a chronic injury, but is still complaining of joint pain, you may be dealing with an over-use injury.
- Know when to ask for help. Because children are still growing, relatively minor injuries can sometimes have long-term effects. When in doubt, please give us a call. A quick examination and/or x-ray will help diagnose the source of your child’s pain. Our sports medicine specialists will then work with you to develop a plan for treatment and recovery, if necessary.
Click here to learn more about injuries and treatments in child athletes:
We hope you and your child enjoy a fun, exciting and injury-free sports season. If an injury does sideline your child, please give us a call. We can help diagnose the injury, plan for treatment and get your child back in the game as quickly — and healthfully — as possible.
Contact us today to schedule a consult with one of our sports medicine specialists:
- email us at info@broava.com
- call us at 540-347-9220