Get Moving! Orthopedic Insights

Signs and Symptoms of Frozen Shoulder

If you’ve had a “frozen shoulder”, you know this is an extremely painful condition where you are unable to move your shoulder or lift your arm upward or backward, either on your own or with the help of someone else. It’s scary when everyday activities such as sleeping, dressing, washing dishes, combing hair, clasping and unclasping a bra, or reaching for a wallet in a back pocket can become difficult or impossible.

Take precautions when cleaning and avoid orthopedic injuries

Female with back pain after dusting floor During these unusual times, we all are busy cleaning our homes and wiping off delivered packages. Be sure to take adequate precautions to avoid musculoskeletal injury as you take care of your family and home. Here are a few tips for preventing or reducing accidents from happening.

Text Neck, It’s a Real Thing!

Man experiencing Text Neck discomfort Neck Pain? Texting too much at the wrong angle (15 to 60 degrees forward) for too long can lead to "Text Neck". Also called “Tech Neck”, it's a real, modern-age issue of neck muscle pain, headaches, and potentially "dowagers" hump.

Teacher and active senior women yoga class on chairs Anytime is a perfect time to make a resolution including moving more through exercise. Make an exercise plan that includes small, achievable goals that encourage and motivate you as you succeed. It takes 90 days to build a habit, so be sure to add the critical ingredient of patience to your mix of planning and activity. And be sure to include an attitude of flexibility, and adapt and change your exercise routines to keep them fresh and motivating. Combining different types of activities, such as Pilates with running, or yoga with cycling, can help you maximize muscle strengthening while bolstering your commitment.

De-stress this holiday season with a gentle yoga practice

Group of women in a yoga class, using blocks to assist in pose Practicing yoga can be a great way to get exercise and stay calm during the stressful holiday season. A consistent yoga practice has so many incredible benefits, including reducing heart rate, lowering blood pressure, reducing anxiety and depressive tendencies, and easing back pain -- not to mention the stretching and muscle strengthening benefits to the body.

mature couple raking autumn leaves in yard Fall in New England is synonymous with beautiful changing leaves, but it also a time for yard work, slippery leaves, and avoiding ticks. Here are some tips from OrthoConnecticut to protect you during leaf season.

Nine tips to help with Osteoarthritis

Arthritic seniors hands cutting flowers If you’re middle-aged or older, it’s likely you have some Osteoarthritis in your hands, fingers, hips, knees, feet or spine. The most common form of arthritis, Osteoarthritis occurs when cartilage between joints and bone gradually wears away causing joint swelling, pain, stiffness, deformity, and reduced range of motion. Most often X-rays are used to diagnose and assess the amount of joint loss, or other issues that can occur like thinning bone, reduced joint space, joint fluid, or bone spurs.

Girls and Sports is a Win-Win

Schoolgirl baseball team in a team huddle with their coach Girls participating in sports is a win-win that stretches far beyond known physical aerobic benefits. Being part of a team encourages cooperation, self-reliance, confidence/self-esteem, friendships, adventure, fun, health benefits and the joy of movement and teamwork that carries into adult life. Are there obstacles? Yes! There are fewer obstacles because of Title IX, but disincentives such as cost, access, and “throws like a girl” comments still exist. Even so, the benefits certainly outweigh them.

10 Tips for Managing Knee Pain When You Travel

Close up of woman leg with pain - long driving on the way. Knee pain while traveling is common, but if you’re prepared you don’t have to be sidelined.

What Causes Knee Pain While Traveling?

Sitting in tight, no-room-to-stretch airline seats, bouncing trains or buses, and sitting in one position in a car for too long can exacerbate pre-existing knee conditions or create knee stiffness and muscular cramping. Whether it’s arthritis, runner’s knee, kneecap, meniscus, ligament, or other knee conditions causing you discomfort, employing these helpful strategies can reduce or eliminate knee pain while traveling.

Today’s Youth Sports Injuries and How to Keep Up

By Dr. Joshua B. Frank, OrthoConnecticut

Lacross-girls Over the years we have learned a tremendous amount about sports, physiology, bio-mechanics, and technique. This advancement in knowledge has allowed athletes to become faster, stronger, quicker, and more efficient. Sports medicine has advanced concurrently, and there has been a particular focus on youth athletes. Sports injures can be thought of in two categories: acute and sub-acute, or chronic injuries.