A recent study published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine found football to be the most dangerous high school sport measured in severe injuries causing at least three weeks of missed participation. Boys football was followed by wrestling, girls basketball, and girls soccer.

One of the most interesting aspects of this study looked at injury rates in comparable sports--sports having both male and female competitors. The rate of severe injuries was higher in females in all three of the sports (soccer, basketball, and baseball/softball). The rate of ACL injuries is known to be higher in female athletes, and it is possible other severe injuries could be the result of the same underlying issue.

Did you have a severe injury as a result of high school sports, and what were the circumstances of your injury? Leave your comments below!

Sources:

"New Injury Rate Statistics for High School Athletes Highlight Need for Increased Prevention Efforts"

A torn rotator cuff is one of the most common causes of shoulder pain, and new research has shown that rotator cuff tears may run in the family. Researchers found that there was a genetic predisposition to develop rotator cuff tears. Exactly what made a family more susceptible to developing the rotator cuff tear is unclear, but the link does seem to exist.

So what should you do about it? If you have a family history of close relatives with rotator cuff tears, it may help to participate in regular shoulder stretches and exercises. Shoulder exercise programs are designed to develop a health rotator cuff, and strong shoulder to resist the tendency for tears.

Related: All About Rotator Cuff Tears | Exercises for Your Shoulder | Rotator Cuff Treatments

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Tashjian RZ, et al. "Evidence for an Inherited Predisposition Contributing to the Risk for Rotator Cuff Disease" J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2009;91:1136-1142.

ACL reconstruction surgery is the standard treatment for young, active people who sustain an ACL tear. But what happens when that person is a child? Should ACL surgery be delayed until the child is older, or should ACL reconstruction be performed before skeletal maturity?

The concern of performing ACL surgery in children is that there is a risk of causing a growth disturbance in growing children. Growth plate problems as a result of ACL surgery could potentially lead to early growth plate closure or alignment deformities. However, recent research is showing that the risk of growth plate problems is much less then the risk of permanent knee damage if the ACL is not fixed.

Knees that are unstable as a result of ACL tears have a high chance of meniscus tears and cartilage injury. The risk of these events was found in a recent study to be higher than the risk of growth disturbances. Therefore, more surgeons are recommending early ACL surgery, even in children.

Related: All About ACL Tears | ACL Surgery Rehab

Sources: American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) Annual Meeting, July 2009.

Acupunture is one of the most widely used treatments for back pain across the globe. This treatment has been used for centuries, and many studies have found good results for relief of back pain with the use of acupuncture.

An interesting twist has emerged, when a recent study found that while acupunture is helpful in relieving back pain, "sham" acupunture performed without needles, also relieved symptoms. Patients either had acupunture, sham acupunture, or medications for treatment of their back pain. Patients who had the acupunture treatment did better than patients who had medications alone, but it didn't seem to do better than patients who were unknowingly just poked with toothpicks.

Finding an answer for back pain is a challenge, and acuputnure does seem to have a role in the treatment of back pain. Patients do better when acupuncture is used compared to those given only medications for back pain. But the exact mechanism by which acuputure helps relieve back pain is unclear.

Related: Back Pain | Alternative Treatments | Chiropractic Treatments

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Cortisone injections are among the most frequently used treatments in orthopedics. Cortisone can be used for a wide range of conditions from knee arthritis, to shoulder bursitis, to tennis elbow. Many patients will tell you about the success they have had with cortisone injections, but what if your pain increases?

There is a common side-effect of cortisone shots called a cortisone flare. A cortisone flare can cause an increase in symptoms in the first 24-48 hours after a cortisone injection. The good news is that there are treatments for a cortisone flare, and the symptoms usually subside within a few days.

Related: Side-Effects of Cortisone Shots | How many cortisone injections can you have?

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According to the recently published guidelines from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), glucosamine and chondroitin should not be prescribed for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.

Glucosamine and chondroitin are nutritional supplements that are sold over-the-counter in pharmacies, grocery stores, and health food stores. The supplements have been thought to help stimulate cartilage healing and repair in patients with osteoarthritis.

The recommendations from the AAOS cite six randomized clinical trials that have investigated the use of these nutritional supplements, either alone or combined, that found no significant clinical benefit when compared to placebo. While no harmful effects of these nutritional supplements were noted, the AAOS advises that these supplements not be used in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.

Sources:

Richmond, JC "AAOS adopts clinical practice guidelines on OA Knee" American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2009.

Trigger finger is a common problem that causes pain and snapping of the tendons in the fingers.

The name trigger finger is from the symptom of triggering or snapping. This occurs when relaxing a fist, the affected trigger finger remains flexed. When enough force has been gathered, the trigger finger will suddenly extend, like pulling a trigger.

The most common treatment of trigger finger is with injection of cortisone. If the problem does not resolve, a surgery to release the tendon may be necessary.

Related: What is a trigger finger? | How many injections of cortisone can I have?

A rotating knee replacement implant is designed to replicate normal knee motion. Some surgeons believe the rotating knee replacements may last longer than a traditional knee replacement. Whether or not the rotating knee replacements are actually better is still being investigated. Here you can learn more about rotating knee replacements...

Related: Knee Replacement | Knee Arthritis

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Pain is frequently associated with orthopedic problems, and proper treatment of the painful symptoms is one of your priorities. However, controlling pain is not always a simple process. Many patients are easily discouraged when their treatment efforts to control pain fail. So what options do you have.

The first thing to do is to understand pain is a complicated problem, and treating it effectively can take some time and effort. There are a number of options for medications that can be used to help treat pain. With your doctor, you can try to establish a regime to effectively treat your pain.

Several studies have recently confirmed the importance of exercise in association with knee arthritis, and after knee replacement surgery. The investigations found that patients who participated in regular exercise and rehabilitation programs tended to have better outcomes than patients who did not exercise.

Exercise can certainly be a difficult concept for people who have painful knee or are recovering from surgery. But it is important to understand that there are ways to safely exercise and in a way that will keep pain levels low.

Related: Causes of Knee Pain | Knee Arthritis | Knee Replacement Surgery

Sources: "Exercise Key Player in Knee Replacement Recovery" HealthDay News - Feb 4, 2009.