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WHAT I DO: MORE LADDER SAFETY
"If I get just one or two of my readers to prevent a ladder injury...it will be a job well done!"
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LADDER SAFETY
"If resposting this blog every holiday season saves one life or limb...I'm going to do it."
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SHOULDER STIFFNESS
A neighbor asked if I could do a post on shoulder stiffness, and upon considering it, I figured I may as well discuss stiffness in general…especially the part on how to prevent it! As Ben Franklin said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” And I think it goes double for joint stiffness. The good news is that in most cases, it can be easily and predictably prevented. The most common joints to stiffen as we age, and even more importantly, to cause functional problems, are our shoulders, knees and ankles. Let’s get down to business, starting with shoulders, per my neighbor’s request. Most shoulders stiffen because…
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NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
Looking back on my career, we all recognized the “seasons” of orthopedics. No, not like summer and winter…but instead, times of the year when we see surges in our business. I hate to put it in those terms, but let’s face it. Orthopedic surgeons get paid to treat a lot of conditions you bring on yourselves. So, you’ve got your holidays, when we start climbing ladders to hang ornaments and lights. That used to start after Thanksgiving, but now that Halloween has become less about trick or treating and more about decorating the house, I’d have to say that season starts in October. You’ve got winter, which refers to a…
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ICE AND THE ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON
It’s not the title of a romance novel. Orthopedic surgeons have an ambivalent relationship with ice. Think about it…we hate it, because we know no matter how much warning people get about the dangers of ice…many won’t listen, they’ll get hurt and we’re going to have to go out and work…in the ice! But on the flip side, it goes back to my old adage. Anything which makes your orthopedic surgeon money, is probably something you shouldn’t do. To that end…STAY OFF THE ICE! As soon as ice develops, this is what we see: -Lots of car accidents, and when there are car accidents, orthopedic surgeons are going to work…
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LADDER SAFETY
It’s time to hang lights and decorate Christmas trees, and it’s also a time when orthopedic surgeons get busy with ladder-climbing injuries! It never fails. I’ve always said that what makes your orthopedic surgeon money, is often something you shouldn’t be doing. All of us intuitively know climbing ladders is dangerous. I climb them all the time! But every time I do it, I know I’m taking my limbs, and potentially my life into my own hands. My first recommendation is to get someone else to do it, especially if you’re older, have poor balance or lack the proper ladder. If you’re going to ignore that solid recommendation, coming from…
