Common Shoulder Injuries Related to Sports

Clavicle Fracture (Broken Collarbone)
A broken collarbone (clavicle) is a very common fracture that occurs in people of all ages but occurs more commonly with sports related injuries. The clavicle is located between the ribcage and the shoulder blade and it connects the arm to the body. The collarbone lies above many vital structures, such as nerves and blood vessels.

What causes a clavicle fracture?
Clavicle fractures are most often caused by a direct blow to the shoulder area. These types of injuries occur during a fall on an outstretched arm, a contact hit (when a football player collides with an opponent), or any other type of direct impact to the shoulder that can occur during sporting activities.

What are the symptoms of a broken collarbone?
These types of fractures can be very painful and make it difficult to move your arm. Other symptoms include a sagging shoulder, inability to lift the arm due to pain, a grinding sensation with arm movement, a deformity or "bump" along the collarbone area, bruising, swelling, and tenderness over the broken area.

How is a clavicle fracture treated without surgery?
Broken collarbones do not always require surgery. If the bone ends are not shifted out of place and line up correctly, you may be treated with an arm sling and rest. Basically, the orthopedic specialist will have you wear this to keep your arm in proper position while the collarbone heals. Once your bone begins to heal, your doctor may order physical therapy for you to help you strengthen the muscle of your shoulder. The therapist will teach you exercises, too, to help prevent weakness and stiffness.

What is involved with surgical treatment?
If your bones are displaced (out of alignment) your orthopedic specialist may recommend surgery to align the bones. This is done to hold them in position while they heal.

During the procedure, the bone fragments are repositioned into normal alignment and held in place with special screws and metal plates that attach to the outer surface of the bone. After your surgery, you may notice a small patch of numb skin below the incision but with time this is less noticeable. You will also be able to feel the plate through your skin. These plates and screws are not removed until long after the bone heals.
Dislocation of the Shoulder

Many athletes who play tennis, baseball, or football tend to experience a dislocated shoulder. The shoulder joint is the body's most mobile joint, turning in many directions. This advantage puts this joint at risk for dislocation. A complete dislocation means that the humerus (upper arm bone) is all the way out of the socket.

What causes dislocation of the shoulder?
Your shoulder can become dislocated by throwing, hitting, and overuse. Many people who play softball or baseball injure their shoulder this way.

What are the symptoms of a dislocated shoulder?
Symptoms include numbness, weakness, bruising, and swelling of the shoulder area. Some dislocations are severe enough to tear tendons and ligaments and to damage nerves. The shoulder joint can be dislocated forward, backward, or downward. The muscles of the shoulder area may have spasms from the disruption, as well, leading to pain and stiffness.

How is a dislocated shoulder treated?
Your orthopedic specialist will have to place the ball of the humerus back into the joint socket. This procedure is called a closed reduction and no surgery is necessary. Once the shoulder is back in place, the pain stops immediately.

Shoulder Impingement (Rotator Cuff Tendinitis)
The rotator cuff is made up of tendons and muscles that allow for a great range of motion of your arm. This is a frequent source of pain for athletes and an area that is at risk for injury during sporting activities. Shoulder impingement is often referred to as rotator cuff tendinitis and is one of the most common causes of shoulder pain.

What causes rotator cuff tendinitis?
When you raise your arm to shoulder height, the space between the bone and rotator cuff narrows. The bone can rub against (or impinge on the tendon and the bursa, causing irritation and pain when the arm is used repeatedly. Young athletes who use their arms for overhead action are particularly vulnerable. This includes those who play tennis, softball and baseball, and swimmers.

What are the symptoms of shoulder impingement?
When the rotator cuff is irritated this can lead to local swelling and tenderness in the front aspect of the shoulder. You may also have pain and stiffness when you lift your arm. There is also a sensation of tenderness when the arm is lowered from an elevated position. Other symptoms include sudden pain when reaching or lifting, pain radiating from the front of the shoulder to the side of the arm, minor pain at rest, and pain when throwing or using the arm.

How is rotator cuff tendinitis treated without surgery?
Your orthopedic specialist wants to reduce your pain and restore function of your shoulder. He will consider your activity level, your age, and your general state of health. Many times shoulder impingement can be treated with medications and rest. It is not uncommon for athletes to be ordered physical therapy to help restore normal motion of the shoulder. Your therapist will teach you specific stretching and strengthening exercises to relieve your shoulder pain and help you get back to normal activities.

What is involved with surgical treatment?
The goal of surgery is to create more space for the rotator cuff and this involves removing a portion of the inflamed bursa. Your orthopedic specialist will perform an anterior acromioplasty, where part of the bone is removed to allow for movement of the rotator cuff. Many times, the surgeon opts to perform this procedure by way of arthroscope.

The arthroscopic technique allows for use of small thin surgical instruments to be inserted around puncture wounds around the shoulder. The doctor can see inside the shoulder through a small camera inserted into the joint that displays images onto a computer TV monitor.

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Getting Heart-Strong With Stats, Warning Signs, and Health Tips, Too

In case you missed it, red was the color of choice when choosing what to wear last Friday, as the first of February marked the tenth anniversary of the American Heart Association's National Wear Red Day. Its purpose: to help raise awareness of heart disease in women, while at the same time, launching American Heart Month.

Be aware, too, that The Million Hearts™ national initiative sponsored by the American Heart Association and others is also making headlines right now. Introduced by the Department of Health and Human Services in September, 2011, its aim is to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes in the U.S. over a 5-year period. To that end, this month Walgreens has engaged "its 26,000 health care providers to offer free blood pressure testing in consultation with a Walgreens pharmacist."

Is the need great? You bet. Just take a look at these unsettling facts of life about cardiovascular disease, the umbrella term for all heart and blood vessel diseases, including heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, and aortic aneurism:

1. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women.
2. About 600,000 people die of heart disease in the U.S. every year-or one in four.
3. Every year, some 935,000 Americans have a heart attack; about 610,000 first-timers.
4. Coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart disease, killing more than 385,000 people every year and costing the U.S. $108.9 billion annually in services, medications, and lost productivity.

Meanwhile, recognizing the warning signs is key to survival; experience any of them and call 911 immediately:

• Chest pain or discomfort
• Upper body pain or discomfort in arms, back, neck, jaw, or upper stomach.
• Shortness of breath.
• Nausea, lightheadedness, or cold sweats.

Know, too, that while the most common sign is chest pain or discomfort, women are somewhat likelier to feel short of breath, nauseous, and/or experience jaw pain.

Meanwhile, be advised that lifestyle is a determining factor, so be forewarned if you don't exercise, enjoy a high fat, sodium, and/or sugary diet, smoke, are overweight/obese, and/or have diabetes. To be in the know, head to your primary care doctor for a physical and make it an annual event. These are the numbers you'll want to hear:

• A blood pressure reading less than 120/80
• A total cholesterol that's less than 200 mg/dl
• An LDL ("bad" cholesterol) that's less than 100 mg/dl
• An HDL ("good"cholesterol) that's more than 50 mg/dl for women and 40 mg/dl or higher for men
• Triglycerides that are less than 150 mg/dl
• Blood glucose levels that are less than 100 mg/dl

To get you there, take time to de-stress every day, allowing yourself some "chill" time to meditate, garden, walk, and so on. You get the idea. And then:

• If you smoke, promise to stop. There's lots of quitting help out there, everything from gums and lozenges to patches and hypnosis. Online assistance is right at your fingertips, too. Need motivation? Quitting before 40 reduces the risk of death by about 90% finds an American Cancer Society study. Plus, smokers die, on average, about 10 years earlier than non-smokers.
• Get moving, aiming for at least 30 minutes a day of low to moderate intensity activity. The upside: lower blood pressure and triglyceride numbers, as well as higher HDL levels. Do it all in one outing or break it up into 10- or 15-minute workouts that can include walking, jogging, dancing, gardening, even playing outside with the kids. Then add just two weight training sessions a week-about 20 minutes or so each-and you're on your way.
• Start every day with a heart-healthy breakfast, as in oatmeal, a smoothie made, for example, with frozen berries, a banana, yogurt, and skim milk, a veggie-filled egg-white omelet, or even peanut butter on whole wheat toast sprinkled with ground flaxseed. Tempted to skip it and go right for the coffee? Keep in mind that eating breakfast cancels out the need for a mid-morning pick-me-up or heavy lunch, thus helping prevent weight gain.
• Eat a heart-healthy lunch and dinner, too, ones that are rich in fruits, veggies, fiber, whole grains, low-fat, calcium-rich dairy, and lean protein. Aim for two servings of fish each week, too. Not sure how much produce you should be consuming every day? The CDC has the answer for you.
• Take an inventory of what's on your pantry shelves when it comes to snacks, soups, salad dressings, etc. and consider tossing a few of them. As you read the nutrition labels, keep in mind that you want to limit your daily sodium intake to less than 1,500 mg and less than 150 mg of cholesterol. Then opt for better-for you alternatives like baked chips, nutrition-dense granola bars, heart-healthy soups and frozen dinners, and so on. While you're at it, put away the salt shaker and replace sugary drinks with plain water or sparkling water with a spritz or two of lemon juice.
• Be heart-savvy when eating out, too. Need some help as you peruse the menus of your favorite restaurant chains? There's actually an app for that, and it's called "Restaurant Nutrition."

In the meantime, need an easy, heart-healthy recipe to get you started? 

You will need:

• 1 cup halved walnuts or pecan (unless allergic)
• 1 cup dried cranberries or cherries
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta or blue cheese (unless allergic)
• 2 cored, thinly sliced apples or pears
• 1 bag of pre-washed spinach (or salad greens)
• 1/4 cup of balsamic vinegar
• 3/4 cup of virgin olive oil

Steps to Take:

1. Place spinach or greens in large salad bowl.
2. Add nuts, dried cranberries/cherries, sliced fruit & cheese.
3. Toss.
4. Add the olive oil and balsamic vinegar and toss well.
5. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

As they say in France, à votre santé.

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How Natural Soaps Help Keep Your Skin Beautiful

Proper skin care is essential to having a great complexion. The first step to having a great complexion is having clean skin. It is important to cleanse your skin daily because every day your skin is faced with dust, dirt, cosmetics, and air pollution. It is important to get rid of impurities every day, but many soaps and cleansers can contain ingredients that can actually damage your skin instead of improve it. There are certain chemicals that can have an adverse effect on a person's skin. It can be difficult to find the right product that will cleanse your skin without damaging it.

The best way to cleanse your skin is by using natural soaps, as these use naturally available ingredients that provide many benefits to the skin and they don't contain harsh chemicals as many other soaps and facial cleansers do. The ingredients used in these type of soaps are from herbs and plants that people have used for thousands of years to care for their skin; the benefits of these ingredients have been time tested and proven to be effective. After you make the switch to natural soaps you will begin to notice how great your skin looks and feels.

Natural soaps do not contain toxins because the natural ingredients used to produce them are grown without pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers. Such soaps do not contain dyes or synthetic fragrances and are not produced using chemicals. There are some soaps on the market that contain natural ingredients, but the difference is that although some soaps incorporate naturally found ingredients, they do not leave out the harsh ingredients or may use natural ingredients grown with pesticides or other chemicals. Such products are not only made with natural ingredients, but also adhere to a strict code regarding the method of production.

Using natural soaps can improve your skin and will help you to avoid many skin ailments. Many of the problems you encounter with your skin could be from a reaction to the chemicals and toxins found in regular soaps. The first time you use an natural soap, you will notice that your skin feels different; you won't feel any residue as you would with other soaps. After using this type of soap for a couple of weeks, you will see overall improvement and your skin will begin to heal from the previous damage done by other soaps.

Once your skin has healed from the problems caused by other soaps, you need to continue to use the natural soaps to keep it soft and smooth. When you have good skin, it improves your overall appearance. Avoiding chemicals and toxins will keep your skin healthy and looking great. The benefits of the natural ingredients used in the natural herbal soaps will do wonders for your complexion. You will be treating your skin to its very own little health spa when you wash with natural soaps.

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Get Your Queries Cleared on Human Hair Wigs

How long do these human hair wigs last?

If one is wearing on a daily basis, they should last typically 2 to 3 months.

What are the different types available?

The different types available are lace front, full lace wigs, remy wigs etc.

Things to know on their proper usage:

How long can I wear them each day?

It is recommended that you remove them every night. This is because the adhesive that is used to fix these to the skin is quite strong. As such, your skin would require a soothing cream to moisturize and soften it. This can be applied during night time.

Can these be worn while taking a bath or at the pool?

No. Never wear them while at the shower or while swimming. The adhesive that binds the piece to your head is water proof but the adhesive that binds together the piece itself is not water proof.

Once this is put on, will the web mesh be visible?

Once the adhesive is applied and the piece put on your skin, the mesh will not be seen. Even if others watch closely, all they will see is individual strands jutting out from pores.

Are these wigs suitable even for brown hair?

This will depend on where the brow is. In case of large vacant areas between the brows, these can be trimmed and only a portion attached. But if the brow area is a continuous and long one, then the adhesive can potentially get stuck to the strands and be pulled out while you remove the head piece. In such a scenario, a brow stencil or powder or an eyebrow filling in kit would suit the purpose.

Which color is suitable for me?

Pick a color that is closest to your natural hair color. In case you have a dark coloring, pick a dark one or a slightly light colored one than your own shade. You can always lighten them with the help of cosmetics. Note that a very dark colored piece cannot be lightened easily.

What are these made of?

They are made out of 100% human hair. Each strand is attached to a thin web mesh by hand. Then they are knotted around and combed into position.

What are the things to do for proper maintenance of these pieces?

Proper care includes washing and shampooing at regular intervals. Use the right or prescribed materials. Follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer carefully. Also keep your piece on a proper stand that will ensure that the styling is not lost.

Can these be altered to better fit the contours of my head?

Yes. This is possible with the help of adjusting the Velcro tabs on the hind side. If it is too ill fitting, you can consider the help of gripping accessories that would help to keep them in place.

What is the difference between these and synthetic ones?

Synthetic fibers are used to make the synthetic ones, while human hair wigs are made from natural hair. Thus they have a much closer to natural, look and feel.

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Why We Should Treat Our Hair Professionally

Our hair is probably one of the most important things that reflect who we are and how we express ourselves. Shiny and healthy hair always makes women feel better about themselves and shows others that we are really taking care of our bodies! But, most people don't realize what actually happens to their hair when it doesn't get properly treat.

Here are five reasons that you should go and treat your hair professionally instead of in a quick do it yourself way.

The damage

Chemicals in our store-bought shampoos ultimately damage your hair. These chemicals poured into every bottle essentially strip away the natural fatty acids our hair creates to keep it strong and healthy. When you get your hair treated most stylists use natural made products or deep conditioners that will help repair the damage done.

Dying your hair at home could be a horrible decision

Sometimes this is one of the biggest mistakes people make. Although it is cheaper and faster in the long run you're just hurting your hair. Most of the time after a home dye disaster many people end up going to a hairdresser to fix it anyways. So save the trouble and just go in and get it done professionally.

Cutting your hair by yourself turns into a huge regret

A lot of people pick up a scissors and just start snipping away for a new hairstyle... But, with not using the right type of scissors you are causing loads of split ends and a style you'll dislike! In the end after cutting your own hair you will probably regret having done it until your hair grows back. This could take months or years even. Better safe than sorry by just heading down to your salon.

Maintenance For Long Hair

If you have a hairstyle for long hair your hair actually needs trimming and thinning every 7 to 12 weeks to help your hair keep growing correctly. Only professionals can do this properly to keep the entire hair growing process running smoothly. Hairdressers use a special technique to treat your hair that would be nearly impossible to do at home.

Feel better In Better Environment

Lastly, everyone needs a day once in a while to treat themselves. It's proven that when you feel good about yourself you are in a better mind-set. Going and getting your hair treated will make you feel good and look good, too. It'll also help keep your hair healthy and shining.

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