Minnesota

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Many athletes know the frustration of being sidelined by tendon disorders, like Achilles tendinitis and tennis elbow. In recent years, doctors have begun treating overused tendons with regenerative therapies that jump-start the body's own healing process. One technique, a tenotomy, uses repeated needlesticks to break up scar tissue in the tendon, prompting the body's own cells to begin the rebuilding process. Another technique is an injection of platelet rich plasma (PRP), a concentrated dose of healing platelet cells that exist in the patient's blood. In a recent study published in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic researchers reported that the combination of tenotomy and PRP injections produced significant improvement in patients with long-standing tendon injuries. "These disorders can be hard to treat, and patients tend to receive one therapy or the other, depending on what a doctor happens to offer. Our study was the first clinical study to investigate the combination of both treatments in injured tendons," says study author Jay Smith, M.D., of Mayo Clinic's Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. The study included 34 patients with a wide range of tendon and soft tissue injuries, from rotator cuff tendinitis to plantar fasciitis, an inflammation on the bottom of the foot. In the first stage of the two-part treatment, researchers used high-resolution ultrasound technology to guide a needle to the injured area, and the physicians repeatedly poked the tendon with the needle, inducing minor bleeding within the tissue.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Even black-diamond skiers and snowboarders enjoying a weekend on the slopes can have their season spoiled by an injury that happens on the last run of the day. But the end-of-the-day tweaks and spills are more common than you'd think, says physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist Ed Laskowski, M.D., of Mayo Clinic. Muscle fatigue at the end of the day can lead to sloppy technique and injuries such as a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the knee, which can require surgery and intensive rehabilitation. Dr. Laskowski, a former elite skier who turned his career to medicine, says that recreational skiers can take steps to optimize their protection from injury. VIDEO ALERT: Additional audio and video resources, including excerpts from an interview with Dr. Laskowski are available on the Mayo Clinic News Blog. Physical preparation before a big ski weekend can go a long way, according to Dr. Laskowski, who specializes in fitness, wellness, strength-and-stability training, and sports injury prevention strategies. To gear up for a ski holiday, people can do conditioning exercises that make the sport safer: Endurance exercises, especially with an aerobic component, can help train the muscles so fatigue doesn't lead to injury at the end of an 8 hour ski day. Strength training that focuses on the major muscle groups in the legs, especially those used in skiing, can help skiers stabilize and control their bodies. Core exercises to help link upper and lower body movements are also important, as are balance exercises that emphasize stability. "Ski specific" exercises can help train for the side-to-side motions required by the sport. One simple but effective exercise to prepare for skiing is to practice jumping from side to side over a line of tape on the floor, using both feet and then using one foot at a time.

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — Mayo Clinic Healthy Living at Mall of America will host a fun, engaging and educational health fair centered on the facility's five themes: eat well, sleep, move, relax and discover. The fair will include healthy eating education, including a cooking demonstration featuring Saint Paul-based Cooks of Crocus Hill, a meditation area featuring the Mayo Clinic Meditation app, hands-on workouts for adults and kids, and complimentary blood pressure and body mass index screenings. Mayo Clinic Healthy Living wants to inspire and challenge people to stay healthy this year and in the years to come. WHO: Mayo Clinic health navigators and clinical staff WHAT: Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Fair WHERE: Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Rotunda, Mall of America 60 East Broadway, Bloomington, MN 55425 WHEN: Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012 1–5 p.m.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic nephrologist and researcher Rajiv Kumar, M.D., has been selected to receive the highest professional recognition from the American College of Physicians, the John Phillips Memorial Award, one of the most prestigious honors in internal medicine. Dr. Kumar is internationally recognized for his research accomplishments in nephrology, mineral metabolism and endocrinology, specifically bone disease in the context of kidney failure and the regulation of phosphate and vitamin D metabolism. "Dr. Kumar helped train a generation of nephrologists and served as chair of nephrology with distinction," says Morie Gertz, M.D., chair of internal medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. "His contributions to the understanding of vitamin D and its effects on bone are important enough to impact daily on the lives of patients."

ROCHESTER, Minn. — When back pain is persistent or slowly worsens, spinal stenosis may be the culprit, according to the January issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter. Spinal stenosis is a narrowing in one or more areas of the spine. Different types of problems can reduce the space within the spinal canal. Most are age related. One cause is osteoarthritis, which results in wearing away of the cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones in the joints. In the spine, osteoarthritis may narrow the space between the vertebrae. Bony growths or disk bulges may form. Bone surfaces may rub together, resulting in pain and inflammation. Disk degeneration is another common cause of spinal stenosis. With age, the cushions between the vertebrae flatten and bulge. Eventually, the outer coverings of the disk may tear, allowing the jellylike substance in the disk's center to protrude and press on the spinal cord and nerve roots. The result can be pain that starts in the buttock area and radiates down the leg. The range of treatment options include: Medications: Acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) or naproxen (Aleve, others) can help. Some studies have shown that certain antidepressants may reduce pain associated with spinal stenosis, too. For severe pain, doctors may prescribe medication containing narcotics for a short time. Exercise and physical therapy: Good options are exercises that strengthen the abdominal and back muscles, build strength and endurance, and maintain flexibility and stability of the spine. Steroid injections: This involves injecting cortisone into the space around the spinal cord to help decrease inflammation and swelling. Alternative therapies: Acupuncture and chiropractic manipulation may ease pain related to spinal stenosis. Weight loss: Maintaining a healthy weight can reduce the stress on arthritic joints and reduce pain.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — A flu-like illness isn't always the flu. It could be a fungal infection picked up when traveling. The January issue of ...

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Night leg cramps can be an unpleasant surprise. They disrupt sleep with a jolt of pain, most often in the calf. The January issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter offers ways to prevent these painful — but typically harmless — cramps. The pain from night leg cramps can vary in intensity and last from just a few seconds to 15 minutes or more. Cramps are most common in the calf, but also can affect the feet or thighs. While the risk of night leg cramps increases with age, pinpointing an exact cause is often difficult. Possible causes include dehydration; prolonged sitting; inadequate amounts of potassium, calcium and magnesium in the diet; and medications including diuretics, beta blockers and others used to treat blood pressure. Night leg cramps also can be associated with thyroid conditions, diabetes or cancer that has spread to the spine. The Mayo Clinic Health Letter offers tips for prevention: Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of fluids helps the muscles contract and relax more easily. Replenishing fluids is especially important when engaging in physical activity. Stretch before bed: For those who experience night leg cramps, stretching before bed can help. Do light exercise: Riding a stationary bike a few minutes before bed may help prevent cramps during sleep. Choose the right shoes: Wear shoes that offer plenty of support. Untuck the covers: Loosening covers at the foot of the bed may reduce the incidence of night leg cramps.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — With New Year's resolutions still fresh in mind, many people are taking bold steps to get fit and build strength. But some strength training exercises, which tend to get passed along at the gym like folklore, may not be based on how the body works best. "All too often, strength training programs don't take into account correct biomechanics or even individual body types," says Mayo Clinic's Ed Laskowski, M.D., of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Some strength training exercises, if performed with poor technique, can cause injuries ranging from spontaneous twinges to the aches that come from months of cumulative stress. The key to safe, effective strength training is doing it right. Dr. Laskowski is available to talk about techniques that get results and help avoid injury. Among his strength training advice is: Core stability is essential to upper body, lower body and trunk strengthening. Training the core involves not only activating abdominal muscles but also training back muscles. Workouts need to progress beyond fitness balls to upright positions that are similar to life and sport movement patterns. Many people focus on training the muscles in the chest and in the front of the shoulder. For balanced strength in the shoulder, a training program should emphasize strengthening the muscles in the upper back as well as the back of the shoulder. Physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists can help people review their workouts to optimize benefit and point out potentially dangerous flaws that may cause injury. Novice or seasoned athletes can ensure a proper foundation by making an appointment to review the appropriate biomechanics of a workout, a football throw, or even a golf swing.

In a joint effort, Mayo Clinic, Rochester Public Schools' Hawthorne Education Center, Winona State University and various community agencies are working together to identify opportunities to improve the health of immigrant and refugee families in Rochester. The National Institutes of Health has awarded a grant to Rochester Healthy Community Partnership (RHCP), a collaboration that includes community-based organizations, local health service organizations and academic institutions, to develop sustainable physical activity and nutrition interventions with and for immigrant and refugee families. The project is called, "Healthy Immigrant Families: Working Together To Move More and To Eat Well." RHCP takes a community-centered research approach whereby community agencies, academics and researchers learn and work together to promote a balance between research and sustainable action. This approach equitably involves all partners in the research process and recognizes the unique strengths that each brings. "It addresses health concerns brought up by the community and, in the process of community-academic collaboration, improves the health of the community," says Irene Sia, M.D. of Mayo Clinic's Division of Infectious Diseases, a lead researcher in the partnership.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic Center for Humanities in Medicine will honor Martin Luther King Jr. at a free concert featuring gospel singer Robert Robinson. The public is invited. WHO: Robert Robinson began singing with his family at age 6, and by 15 was directing his church choir. In 1990, he started a gospel choir at Minneapolis Community College before he became the leader of the Twin Cities Community Gospel Choir. The Star Tribune has called Robinson "Minnesota's master male vocalist." He has performed with many noted artists including Aretha Franklin, Andraé Crouch and Bobby McFerrin. WHAT: A gospel concert honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. WHERE: Lips Atrium, subway level, Charlton Building, 10 Third Ave. NW. Rochester WHEN: Monday, Jan. 16, 2012, at 12:10 p.m.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic Center for Humanities in Medicine invites the public to view Mni Sota: Reflections of Time and Place, a traveling exhibit that explores the cultural continuity of old and new practices in Native American art. WHAT: Mni Sota: Reflections of Time and Place is a traveling exhibit sponsored by the Minnesota State Arts Board, the Minnesota Clean Water Land & Legacy Amendment and the Fuad Mansour Fund of the Mayo Clinic Center for Humanities in Medicine. It showcases the innovative nature of Native American artists from Minnesota who embrace contemporary art forms while supporting traditional practices. WHERE: Hage Atrium, subway level, Siebens Medical Education Building, 100 Second Ave. SW. WHEN: Exhibit: Mni Sota: Reflections of Time and Place will be on display during business hours from Jan. 6 through Jan. 31, 2012. Opening Reception: Tuesday, Jan. 10, at 5:30 p.m. in Hage Atrium; please RSVP to humanitiesrochester@mayo.edu by Jan. 7.

Essam and Dalal Obaid Center for Reconstructive Transplant Surgery has been named to honor benefactor’s parents ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic announced today a ...