June is Men’s Health Month in the United States, making it the perfect time to investigate orthopedic injuries that tend to occur more often in men. Orthopedic injuries affect the joints, cartilage, muscles, ligaments, tendons, or bones of the musculoskeletal system.
Board-certified orthopedist and surgeon Dr. Sumit Dewanjee and our team at FXRX in Tempe and Phoenix, Arizona, are well-known for their expertise in treating orthopedic injuries that can impair mobility and quality of life.
They’re happy to provide information about these common orthopedic injuries, their symptoms, and treatments.
Anyone can experience an orthopedic injury, but these five tend to occur more frequently in men:
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint, keeping the head of the upper armbone within the shallow socket of the shoulder.
Men involved in repetitive overhead activities (like construction work or weightlifting) are more susceptible to these injuries.
Symptoms of a rotator cuff injury include pain, especially when lifting or lowering the arm, weakness, and reduced mobility of the affected shoulder.
The menisci are two C-shaped pieces of cartilage that act as shock absorbers between the thighbone and shinbone in the knee joint.
A meniscus tear can result from twisting or turning movements, often during sports and other activities that require abrupt pivoting or a sudden change in direction.
Symptoms include a popping sensation in the knee at the time of injury, pain, swelling, stiffness, and locking or catching of the knee.
The Achilles tendon, connecting the calf muscles to the heel, can rupture suddenly during activities that involve intense bursts of speed, such as sprinting or jumping.
Symptoms include sudden, sharp pain, swelling, and bruising at the back of the ankle or calf. You may also notice a popping or snapping sensation or sound at the time of injury and have difficulty walking, especially when pushing off the foot.
A herniated disc occurs when the soft center of a spinal disc pushes through a crack in the tougher exterior casing, pressing on nearby nerves. Any disc can herniate, but they occur most often in the lower back (lumbar spine) and neck (cervical spine).
Degenerative changes in the spine are more common with aging, but overuse during sports, work, or training can cause early changes.
Symptoms include:
Proper lifting techniques, maintaining a healthy weight, and strengthening the back and abdominal muscles can help prevent early disc degeneration.
Plantar fasciitis (inflammation of the plantar fascia) affects the thick band of tissue running across the bottom of the foot that connects the heel bone to the toes.
Jobs that require prolonged standing or heavy lifting, higher body weight, and participation in high-impact sports increase the risk of plantar fasciitis.
Symptoms include aching heel pain or sharp, stabbing pain at the bottom of the foot near the heel that’s worse with your first steps in the morning or after prolonged inactivity
Dr. Dewanjee develops customized treatment plans for orthopedic injuries that depend on the type and severity of your injury, overall health and fitness level, and future goals. For instance, individuals involved in sports at the professional level may benefit from more aggressive therapy.
Thus, your strategy may include medication to relieve pain, orthopedic bracing, injection-based therapies to reduce inflammation and soothe nerve irritation, and surgical procedures that help correct the problem when necessary.
He also develops customized rehab plans and ongoing strategies for preventing future injuries, including appropriate training and exercise techniques, equipment recommendations, and other ways to reduce your injury risk.
Schedule a visit at FXRX today to protect your musculoskeletal health throughout the year. Call our office or request an appointment online.
