Osteoporosis is a disease of the bones in which there is a loss of bone density and destruction of bone tissue.  Even though you may not notice a difference in your bones, over time they will lose many important proteins that are vital to keeping your bones strong.  As a result, your bones will have less strength and you will be much more susceptible to fractures, especially if you fall.

According to this article from Krames Staywell http://ssov3.staywellsolutionsonline.com/Conditions/Orthopedics/Osteoporosis/85,P00932 Osteoporosis affects over 10 million Americans over the age of 50, with women four times more likely to develop osteoporosis than men.

34 million Americans over the age of 50 have low bone mass which increases the threat for osteoporosis.  Loss of Estrogen is the number one cause of bone loss in women during and after menopause.  Woman can lose up to 20% of their bone mass in the five to seven years following menopause.

Other risk factors for osteoporosis –

• Age – Bones will become less dense and lose strength with age
• Heredity
• Overall poor health
• Tobacco Smoking
• Race – White and Asian women are most at risk, even though all races may develop the disease
• Alcoholism
• Low body weight
• Poor vision
• Thyroid disease
• Diabetes
• Leukemia
• Low levels of testosterone
• Early menopause
• Certain medications – Most associated medication risks are steroids and anticonvulsants, but there is evidence emerging with regard to other medications
• Low calcium intake
• Having a fracture occur as an adult

Many people are not affected with symptoms of osteoporosis and the disease is often referred to as the “silent disease.” Some people may have pain in their bones and muscles, particularly in their back.  On occasion, a collapsed vertebra may cause severe pain, decrease in height, or deformity in the spine.  Osteoporosis most often occurs in the hips, spine and wrists.

Blue Ridge Orthopaedic and Spine Center’s physicians, physical therapists, and pain management specialists have extensive experience treating nearly every kind of condition including osteoporosis.  We offer a range of non-operative treatment options as well as many minimally invasive options that are treated in our surgical center on an outpatient basis.  Please contact us today @ 540.347.9220 for more information or visit us @ www.broava.com.  Our number one goal – Get YOU back to GOOD health.

When trying to loose weight, most people focus all their effort on watching caloric intake with the foods they are eating. However, many people do not think about the extra calories that they are drinking. Many different beverages that most people drink on a daily bases, such as; soda, milk, coffee, flavored water, and energy drinks all have added calories in them. According to a recent study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the average number of calories that Americans drink on a daily basis is about 400. About 37% of our total daily liquid calories comes from sugar-sweetened drinks. To learn more about How Many Calories You Are Drinking or any other Nutritional advice, contact our Registered Dietitian at Blue Ridge Orthopaedic & Spine Center or call us at 540-347-9220.

Tennis elbow known as lateral epicondylitis or lateral epicondylalgia is a condition where the outer part of the elbow becomes irritated with soreness or tenderness.  The name “tennis elbow” has a unique link to racquet sports but can also be caused by other activities such as climbing, swimming, manual workers, playing instruments and everyday life activities!  Repetitive moments are usually the culprit.

Symptoms of Tennis Elbow

• Morning stiffness
• Pain on the outer part of the elbow
• Pain when gripping or extension of the wrist
• Soreness in forearm

Tips for Preventing Tennis Elbow Injury

• Stretching is a must!  Stretch your fingers, wrist, forearm and shoulder muscles before you begin.  Don’t forget to follow up with a proper cool down afterwards.  Ice is recommended for your shoulder and elbows.
• Use proper form.  Don’t flick your wrist when striking the ball.  Try using both arms when contacting the ball; this will cause less exertion from just one arm.
• Make sure your grip is the right size for you.  Grip size can be obtained by measuring the distance from the crease of your palm to the tip of the ring finger.  Don’t hold the grip too tightly.
• Tension levels for racquet strings should be evaluated and recommended by a professional.
• Counterforce braces can relive some tension of the elbow during your session.
• Listen to your body!  Above all – this is critical.  If you are a beginner start slowly with your activities.  Even if you are an experienced athlete your body will tell you when to stop!

If you feel you might be suffering with tennis elbow, or any joint problems, Blue Ridge Orthopaedic and Spine Center can help.  Whether you require physical therapy, pain management, or diagnosis and treatment from any of our expert physicians, we provide the patient care you deserve all under one roof.  Call us today @ 540.347.9220 to speak with a specialist or visit us at www.BroAva.com.

Come and visit Blue Ridge Orthopaedic and Spine Center’s booth tomorrow, 5/18 @ Nokesville Day (Sponsored by the Nokesville-Bristow Ruritans.)  Bring the whole family for a day of great fun and food!  The weather is going to be perfect!  The Nokesville Day Parade will start @ 11am, and will march down Fitzwater Drive, starting at RT 28/Nokes Street, and going towards Brentsville High School, ending past Nokesville Elementary School.  The Nokesville-Bristow Ruritans need our help – Please bring NON-PERISHABLE canned food items to the event!  These items will support local church food pantries!  There will be collection spots through-out the Nokesville Day Festival, and at the Ruritan Food Booth by Nokesville Elementary School.

Thanks for your support!  Hope to see you there!

3 Blue Ridge Orthopaedic physicians earn awards

The 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 3 percent were awarded the Compassionate Doctor Award in 2012.

Blue Ridge Orthopaedic and Spine Center’s award recipients are:

• 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 (2011-12).

• 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 (2011-12).

Blue Ridge Orthopaedic and Spine Center in Warrenton has eight physicians, a team of assistants and subject-matter experts in physical therapy, massage therapy and medical nutrition.

It’s hard to face the fact that most of us will have some type of spinal degeneration, a drying out of the discs and arthritic changes in the spine due to age.  If you have a job that requires hours of standing, you are more at risk, although those with desk jobs are certainly not immune to back pain.

Follow these strategies from Krames  Staywell to reduce your risk!

(http://ssov3.staywellsolutionsonline.com/Search/1,S,4024

Shape Up

Overweight and out of shape are a risky combination because of the stress and pressure they place on the spine.  Aerobic conditioning on a treadmill, stair machine, or elliptical trainer will accomplish two things:  Strengthen the trunk muscles so they can support the spine and burns calories, which in turn causes weight loss.

Lift Properly

Office workers on occasion may have to lift boxes of files or a heavy stack of mail at some point during the day.  Here is what you should do:

• Stand close to the object
• Place your feet shoulder-width apart.
• Bend at the knees and tighten your stomach muscles.
• Lift with your leg muscles as you stand up.
• Don’t twist your spine; pivot your feet to change directions.

Follow these same steps in reverse as you put the object down.

Adjust your Workstation

Start by adjusting your chair to support your back.  Adjust so the lumbar support fits into your lower back inward curve.  Then adjust the chair so your feet are resting flat on the floor.  For the most benefit, place your monitor and keyboard directly in front of you.

Keep Moving During the Day

Our backs require movement and lots of it!  Do your best to take a walk to the coffee or water machine.   Walking will keep your muscles strong and lubricate the spine.

The Spine Center at Blue Ridge Orthopaedic and Spine Center resolves everday aches and pain.   Poor posture, trauma, lifting, and aging are all factors that can injure your spine and cause pain.  Whether caused by an injury or the normal wear and tear of time, spine-related ailments require the best care available.  Call us today @ 540-347-9220 to schedule an appointment or visit http://www.broava.com/  to learn more about our services.

It’s that time of year!  Blue Ridge Orthopaedic and Spine Center loves baseball and is a proud sponsor of the Fauquier Babe Ruth 2013 Orioles baseball team!  Special thanks to coach Anderson Dart and assistant coach David Gould for your generous time and efforts!  Good luck Orioles and all the 2013 Fauquier Babe Ruth teams!  Here are a few tips to help keep your players safe this season:

• Proper warm up and stretching
• Proper Equipment – Helmets, molded plastic cleats vs. metal, sliding pants, mouth guards, shin and foot guards, athletic supporter with cup, catcher’s mitt (when catching pitches.)
• Always have a responsible adult on hand.
• Avoid excessive pitching.

Do you know bases cause the most frequent injuries on the baseball field?  This is especially true when players slide into a base.  Sliding into a fixed base can cause ankle, and foot injuries.  Make sure your league is using breakaway bases.  (Bases that snap onto grommets on an anchored rubber mat which will dislodge when a player slides into a base, reducing the risk of injury.)

Although, we try to keep our children safe, accidents do happen. The sports medicine experts along with our highly skilled team of Physical Therapists at Blue Ridge Orthopaedic and Spine Center are here to help.  Call us today @ (540) 347-9220 or visit our website www.broava.com for more information.

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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 6^th-May 12^th 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.