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Fall and Winter Joint Protection
Posted in: Whats New by elizabeth on November 14, 2011 | No Comments
Protect Your Joints for Fall and Winter Projects
As the seasons change there are new chores that face us in our homes and yards, and many different ways we can injure ourselves. Taking the right precautions to care for our joints will let us be active for longer periods of time.
The fall brings the chore of raking leaves, along with sweeping and cleaning outside.
- Make sure to protect your back by avoiding a lot of repetitious tasks.
- Avoid prolonged bending, trying to lift the leaves by using your legs and not your back.
- Don’t reach the rake too far in front of your body, take shorter strokes so there is less strain on your back and shoulders.
- When bagging up fall brush, avoid filling the bags too full.
Shoveling snow is another really good way to hurt yourself if you are not careful.
- Keep the shovel close to your body and don’t reach too far in front. This way, you can use the power in your legs to push the weight of the snow, and not strain your back.
- Try not to throw the snow over your shoulder, instead, push it off to the front of you.
Inside, we start projects like housecleaning and cleaning out closets.
- Try to avoid prolonged periods of keeping your arms overhead. This will take stress off of your shoulders.
- Do different tasks through the day so your muscles can get a break.
If you do feel a muscle or joint pain, rest the area and apply ice for 10-15 minutes. Also, try to keep up your normal exercise routine even when other chores seem to take precedence.
2011 15th Annual Joint Reunion
Posted in: Whats New by elizabeth on November 8, 2011 | No Comments
Each year, we host the annual Joint Reunion for all joint replacement patients, past and present, of Dr. Salvagno, and the late Dr. Altizer. This reunion started in 1996 at Robinwood Medical Center, and quickly grew so large that, for many years now, has been at the Elks Lodge on Robinwood Drive. On October 23, 2011, we held our 15th Joint Reunion, a great celebration of the practice, our doctors, and most important, our patients.
The hall at the Elks was beautifully decorated in the Center for Joint Surgery and Sports Medicine colors, blue, silver, and white. Potted flower arrangements centered the tables, and mints in colored cellophane peppered the tables. Patients began arriving an hour early, and were lined up around the building. We had a full house, with approximately 550 patients and staff! Volunteers were recognized for their hard work with the joint patients, and first-time joint replacement patients were recognized with a pin.
Special thanks must go to the volunteers at the hospital, for their hard work in helping orientate the patients with the Joint Program. Their time spent is invaluable to the program, and is greatly appreciated. If you have had a joint replacement, and would like to become part of the volunteer team, please contact us!
Special thanks must also go to the staff and volunteers of the Elks Lodge, who worked tirelessly to provide us with a delicious meal, and a wonderful evening. Their staff works hard to make sure that our event goes off without a hitch. Thanks must also go to the staff of the Center for Joint Surgery for setting up the beautiful decorations each year, and greeting patients.
Last, but not least, we must thank Dr. Ralph Salvagno for hosting this wonderful reunion, and making it possible.
We hope to see everyone next year!
Joint Cruise 2012 – New England
Posted in: Upcoming Events, Whats New by elizabeth on | No Comments
This year we are traveling to New England on the Carnival Glory from September 15th-22nd, 2012!
We will be leaving from New York and traveling to:
- Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
- Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Portland, Maine
- Boston, Massachusetts
If you are interested, please contact: Alex Bohn (Antietam Travel Service, Inc.)
Email: alex@antietamtravel.com — Phone: (301)662-8080 — Toll Free: (800) 722-3489
Get Started on an Exercise Program!
Posted in: Whats New by elizabeth on May 23, 2011 | No Comments
Warmer weather is upon us, and with it we have more options to get outside and get moving. Most individuals are more inactive during the cold winter months, therefore it is important to ease into an exercise program. Only exercise to your level of health and make sure you are cleared for physical activity by your physician prior to starting any new exercise regimen.
Begin by exercising three times a week for 30 minutes of moderate cardiovascular and light strength training. Allow time for both warm-up and cool-down with exercise, approximately 5-10 minutes. Light impact activities (i.e. walking, biking) are a good way to exercise without placing additional stress on your joints. Strengthening of your legs is also important for function and protection from injury. By increasing muscle strength, you can give support to the joints and allow energy conservation with daily activity.
It is not uncommon to have muscle soreness after starting an exercise program. A day of rest between exercise will help to decrease the onset of muscle soreness. If soreness does occur, ice can be used for 10-15 minutes. If you suffer a minor injury to a muscle or joint, make sure to rest. To avoid further injury or inflammation, you should elevate and ice the area 10-15 minutes, several times per day.
-Center for Joint Surgery Physical Therapy Department
2011 Joint Cruise to Bermuda
Posted in: Whats New by admin on December 7, 2010 | No Comments
On May 8th 2011, the Center for Joint Surgery and Sports Medicine set sail for Bermuda, carrying on board a total of 144 patients and significant others. We also took a few of our own crew members along on the vessel: Paulette, our office manager; Laura our physical Therapist; Shane and Luke our Biomet Reps.; myself (Pattie), the one and only surgical coordinator; and last but not least….Captain Dr. Ralph Salvagno.
The cruise to Bermuda and back was very relaxing. The food and entertainment were, in my opinion, first class (FYI I am easily impressed). Seeing the patients outside of our office setting was amazing. They were laughing, cracking jokes, telling stories, and trying to cause trouble, not real trouble, but truly having a wonderful time and enjoying every moment. Once we arrived, it was so easing to be off and on the boat and do whatever it was that each and every one of us wanted to do on our own. Shane and I walked…and walked…and walked some more. The churches, homes, stores, and vendors of Bermuda were like something that you would see in a postcard; except that actually being there allowed you to smell the flowers, feel the breeze, and feel the warmth of what you had envisioned on a piece of 3 x 5 cardboard.
Dr. Salvagno gave two seminars on the ship. The first one was about being in the “high-tech know-how,” called, “Social Networking.” He told us about the benefits and challenges of Facebook, texting, Twitter, etc… The second seminar was actually a game show spin-off that Dr. Salvagno named, “Joint Jeopardy.” With this one, we learned how quick our patients are with their knowledge of joints and how important it is to take good care of yourself.
Laura did two seminars as well. Her first was called, “Exercising Your Joints.” I cannot comment on this one… I must admit, I missed this one due to oversleeping. You see, no one told me about a time change so how was I to know??? Now for the second seminar, I was there and ready for action!! It was called, “Take a Walk with CJS.” Earlier I mentioned walking ‘round and ‘round – so this one was fun for me because I love walking and I also got to talk with patients the whole time. Some of them got pretty winded - that must be because I was moving so fast!
In addition to the seminars and our excursions to Bermuda, we had an Ice Cream Social with all kinds of delicious toppings. Doesn’t ice cream have calcium? So that’s good for the joints! We also had a Cocktail Party. I did not see any birds with cocktails, but we had a great time socializing and getting to know one another better. In the evenings when we would return back to the ship and get ready for dinner, we would have the opportunity to talk about the day - what we did, what we bought, what we saw – everyone would try to talk at the same time!
Sitting out by the pool; eating juicy, delicious hamburgers on the pool deck; hanging out in each other’s rooms; dining on fancy, hoity-toity four-course dinners; dancing the night away; listening to music; gambling at the ship’s casino (not me I am too much of a tightwad to do this); drinking martinis, biking on the rail trail; planning an escape to the other ship with the rock wall; traveling on boat taxis; snorkeling and kayaking in the clear water; touring the island; talking until the wee-hours; laughing at jokes; sometimes falling asleep early and taking naps; and last but not least, enjoying the baby blue water, beautiful sand, and chickens running free with their peeps…for me, this was truly…a wonderful time shared by everyone.
Pattie Hutchison, Surgical Coordinator
Center for Joint Surgery & Sports Medicine
2011 Dr. Tom Altizer Memorial Scholarship Recipients
Posted in: Whats New by admin on | No Comments
Each year, the Center for Joint Surgery and Sports Medicine gives scholarship awards to two deserving local high school seniors for $1,000 each. These awards are based upon applications and essays that each student submits to the Center for Joint Surgery and Sports Medicine. We had many excellent applications this year. After careful deliberation of all applicants, we would like to congratulate this year’s recipients, Sally Johnston of North Hagerstown High School, and Daniel Ridenour of Smithsburg High School.
Ms. Sally Johnston participated in many school activities, including the North High Key Club, North High Teaching Academy, Future Educators of America, and the National Honor Society. She is also an active participant in her community and helps teach Sunday school at Trinity Lutheran Church, and has volunteered her time with organizations like UNICEF, Children’s Miracle Network, March of Dimes, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Washington County Humane Society, Washington County Auxiliary, Boys’ and Girls’ Club (Hagerstown), Otterbein Church (Hagerstown), and Zion Church (Hagerstown). Sally has received several honors from her school, including Success Through Achievement and Recognition of Students Awards, Distinguished Officer of the Key Club, the National Honor Society, and the Honor Club of NHHS. Sally plans to attend Hood College in the fall to study Early Childhood and Elementary Education.
Mr. Daniel Ridenour also participated in many school activities. He was the president of the National Honor Society, Jr. Advisor and reporter to the The National FFA Organization (formerly Future Farmers of America), Class President, two years running, Class Vice President, Link Crew Advisor, and was a member of the marching band, jazz band, math club, All County Concert and Jazz Band, and the Math Honor Society. Daniel also participated on the varsity wrestling and varsity lacrosse teams. His community volunteer involvement includes the Washington County Humane Society and a Utility Relief Benefit Concert Fundraiser. Daniel has received several honors from his school, including Success Through Achievement and Recognition of Students Awards, Greenhand, Chapter, and State awards for FFA, Faculty Distinguished Honor Awards, Maryland Distinguished Scholar Honorable Mention, National Honor Society, and 2010 Trig Star Winner for the National Society of Professional Surveyors. Daniel plans to attend West Virginia University in the fall to study Engineering.
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Past Scholarship Recipients: |
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2011
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2010
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2009
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2008
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2007
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Applications are accepted each February. Check back in February 2012 for the 2012 scholarship application information. Thank you to all of our applicants this scholarship year, and good luck in your future endeavors.
Help for Haiti Continues
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It pays to have connections—or at least a well-connected parish member. Ron Spruill, an orthopaedic physician’s assistant, heard his pastor’s plea for medical help in Haiti. The pastor, who lived in the country for eight years, was part of Project Help Haiti and understood the magnitude of the situation. The following day Ron approached his friend and orthopaedic surgeon, Ralph Salvagno, M.D. “I tossed and turned the night before whether to ask Ralph to go,” says Spruill. “But when an opportunity is dumped in your lap, you gave to grab it.” When Ron asked the question, Dr. Salvagno responded with an immediate yes. Through a series of chain reactions, Dr. Salvagno, Ron Spruill, Richard Milford, M.D., and Jim Roupe, CRNA, were on their way to earthquake-ravaged Haiti.
Golf Swing Analysis (TPI Certified)
Posted in: Blog, Whats New by admin on November 22, 2010 | No Comments
Laura Blair, our lead Physical Therapist, recently became a TPI Certified Golf Fitness Instructor. The Titlesist Performance Institute (TPI) has developed a physical screen that identifies the areas of your body that are the limiting physical factors in your swing.