Orthopedics/Sports

The need for joint surgery is declining among rheumatoid arthritis patients, possibly because they can now more effectively manage the disease with medication, Mayo Clinic research has ...

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.

Whether you're a black-diamond skier or a novice on the bunny slope your day can be spoiled by an injury that happens on the last run of the day.  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.

In this Medical Edge Radio episode, Mayo Clinic Dr. Robert Trousdale provides a glimpse into what recovery from hip surgery is like. To listen, click the ...

Pain, swelling and stiffness in your joints. All are symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. But because these symptoms come and go, the condition can sometimes be ...

Dr. Brian Crum, a Mayo Clinic Neurologist talks about the diagnosis and treatment of ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) causes degeneration ...

A Mayo Clinic study presented at an annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons in Las Vegas, concludes that those 50 and younger who experience ...

With the growing success of joint replacement surgeries, patients have become accustomed to certain indignities related to having a metal replacement part in a hip, ...

Common sense suggests that extra body weight severely stresses bones and joints. But until the findings of a new Mayo Clinic study were presented at the ...

The concept of personalized medical treatment based on a patients DNA is one small step closer to becoming a reality. A Mayo Clinic Cancer ...

Mayo Clinic Orthopedic Surgeon Richard Berger describes the process that led him to discover a common cause of mysterious wrist pain, called a split tear ...

Dr. Ayalew Tefferi, Professor of Hematology and Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, discusses the findings of the largest ever study with the most ...