FEELING GOOD
MedSport physical therapist measuring knee tightness.
Transplant recipient Charles
Ashworth who had suffered seven
heart attacks-before receiving his new
heart in January, has participated in
the Center's rehabilitation program
since September. Twice a week, the
40-year-old electrical engineer from
Royal Oak shows up for his closely-
monitored program of treadmill work-
outs, and bike and ergometer exer-
cises. He also often attends classes in
subjects like stress management and
dieting that are held at MedSport reg-
ularly.
When you can see the results in
things like lower blood pressure, lower
cholesterol, and less fluid retention,
it's impressive," he says.
But cardiac patients aren't the
only non-athletes you'll find at sports
medicine centers. A high percentage of
the people in center training rooms
and rehab. areas may be there simply
to participate in individualized sports
medicine programs which, when fol-
lowed properly, can take them out of
the flabby ranks of the unfit and make
them into better-conditioned indi-
viduals who feel better and look better,
too.
Many sports medicine centers
offer comprehensive examinations in-
cluding endurance testing and analyz-
ing the percentage of body fat. Physi-
cians can then provide individualized
exercise programs.
Preventing Injuries
While some injuries are purely
accidental and unavoidable, many
of them can be prevented, according
to sports medicine specialists we
talked with. Following are sugges-
tions and advice offered when we
asked how some of the most com-
mon injuries can be avoided.
Dr. Nathan Gross, physiat-
rist at Sinai Hospital:
"I see a lot ofsoft-tissue injuries
in my specialty. We deal with mus-
cle and ligament problems, a lot of
back and neck problems, rotator
cuff strains, twisted knees, ten-
donitis. Many of the injuries I see
are simply due to overuse — run-
ners, for instance, who, without any
warm-up exercises, go out and run
six to eight miles.
"That runner should definitely
be taking the time to warm up —
maybe just do a slow jog beforehand.
But something needs to be done to
increase the blood flow and the
temperature of the muscles, so that
they're more able to be stretched.
Stretching exercises are especially
important, too, for any athlete par-
ticipating in racquet sports."
Dr. Robert Burks, an or-
thopedic surgeon at Harper
Hospital:
"What we see too often is too
little warming up and stretching.
You get to the tennis court a little
late, then start playing, with little
or no warming up, and you can have
real problems.
"Also, people really try to do too
much too soon. Runners who run too
little will suddenly run much too
much. People who ordinarily play
one tennis game a week will enter a
tournament and play five or six
games. Softball players will do the
same thing."
Jack Moores, a certified ath-
letic trainer at Riverside Osteo-
pathic Hospital:
People decide one day that they
just want to get into a sport. They're
not in shape. They're not into car-
diovascular fitness. They don't
warm up.
"Softball players who are
grossly out-of-shape will put on
their old shoes, go out one day, and
think they're in high school again.
They come here with knee, ankle,
rotator cuff injuries all the time. It's
very frustrating. The same goes for
out-of-shape skiers who get out
there on the slopes and think they
can go through the moguls at 60
mph, with na problem.
"Runners try to run too many
miles too soon — on surfaces that
are too hard, in shoes that fit poorly.
You may find a cheap pair of shoes
and think you've got a real bargain.
But that 'bargain' may end up cost-
ing you a thousand dollars. You
should always try to buy the very
best shoe you can. We see a lot of
_runners with shin splints."
Although summer may seem
far away at this point, Moores adds
a warning for those runners who
wear heavy sweat suits on hot days,
thinking it will hasten weight loss.
"You won't get thinner," he says.
"You'll get heat stroke or heat
exhaustion, and you can put your-
self in very serious jeopardy."
Lastly: Racquetball players
should always wear goggles when
they play. I've seen significant eye
damage occur with players who
didn't."
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