Summer Baseball Camp at WSU

The Wayne State University baseball program will host its annual summer camp July 10-11 at the WSU baseball field in Detroit. Campers will receive fundamental instruction on all aspects of the game, plus have a chance to meet players from the Detroit Tigers. Those Tigers expected to attend include pitcher Justin Verlander, outfielder Curtis Granderson, shortstop Adam Everett and catcher Gerald Laird.

Clinicians for the camp will include WSU head coach Ryan Kelley and Detroit Tigers bullpen coach Jeff Jones, as well as local high school coaches, the Wayne State baseball coaching staff and WSU Baseball student-athletes.

Jones has over 30 years of experience in professional baseball, including over 20 as a pitching coach in the Detroit Tigers organization. He was named the Tigers’ bullpen coach in 2006, marking his fifth stint in that capacity.

Jones had previously served seven consecutive seasons as the pitching coach for the Toledo Mud Hens, Detroit’s Triple A minor league affiliate. His professional coaching career began with the Tigers organization in 1989.

Selected by Oakland in the 13th round of the June 1977 draft, his pitching career spanned 11 seasons (1977-87). He attended Southgate High School, helping lead his team to the Wyandotte League title in 1974.

The camp costs $75 per day or $135 for both days. Campers should be dressed prepared for baseball practice and are advised to bring their own equipment, if possible.  Additional Camp and Registration information can be found at Wayne State University’s Athletic website at www.wsuathletics.com

We Have a Winner!

Oakwood Sports Medicine was on the scene at Comerica Park promoting its orthopedic specialty services. As part of the multi-game promotion, Tigers fans had the opportunity to enter a raffle for an autographed Miguel Cabrera jersey. Thank you to the hundreds of fans that stopped by our booth, we enjoyed meeting and talking with everyone.

Congratulations to Mr. Earl Jones of Garden City, the winner of the autographed jersey!

Hydration and Heat Illness

 Heat illness is a concern for people of all ages.  Risk factors that can cause someone to be more susceptible to heat illness are previous dehydration, obesity and lack of acclimatization.

Hydration is an important factor in preventing heat illness.  It is imperative to drink fluids before, during and after physical activity.  Two hours prior to activity at least 16 ounces of non-carbonated, caffeine free beverages (water, sports drinks) should be consumed. The ideal fluid replacement beverage depends on the duration and intensity of exercise, environmental temperature and personal preference.

Thirst is not an accurate predictor of hydration, so it is important to drink before feeling thirsty.  Every 15-20 minutes during activity 6-8 ounces of fluid should be consumed.  The goal is to replenish what is lost through sweat.  After activity 16 ounces of fluid should be consumed for every pound lost during activity. 

                               

 

Whether you are working in the yard or at spending the day at the beach you should get out of the heat for a 5-10 minutes every hour. Frequent rest breaks in the shade or air conditioning will help to reduce body temperature.

 The three classifications of heat illness are described below.

 Heat Cramps Signs and Symptoms: 

*Muscle spasms in the extremities

*Heavy sweating

*Slightly elevated or normal core temperature

 Heat Exhaustion Signs and Symptoms:

*Cool, moist, pale or flushed skin

*Headache, dizziness, confusion and fatigue

*Strong slow pulse

*Core temperature between 102ºF and 104ºF

 Heat Stroke Signs and Symptoms:

*Hot, dry, flushed skin

*Rapid weak pulse

*Core temperature greater than 104ºF

*Heavy sweating and thirst

Oakwood Welcomes Sports Medicine Physician

Oakwood Healthcare and the Sports Medicine program are pleased to announce the arrival of Imran Hafeez, MD.

Dr. Hafeez is board certified in Family Medicine and is completing a fellowship in Sports Medicine . Prior to his fellowship, Dr. Hafeez completed a residency in both Family Medicine and General Surgery.  A graduate from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dr. Hafeez has published research, held a variety of leadership positions and is a member of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, American College of Sports Medicine and Amercian Academy of Family Physicians.

Dr. Hafeez will accept new patients beginning August 1st. His office is located at 29150 Ford Road Garden City, MI 48135. The office number is 734-762-3600

Welcome to Oakwood Dr. Hafeez! We look forward to working with you.

Oakwood and the Detroit Tigers!

In full support of the orthopedic physicians and specialists at Oakwood, the Oakwood Sports Medicine team will be at Comerica Park for Tigers games. Stop by our booth and register for a chance to win an authentic, autographed Miguel Cabrera jersey!

Sunday June 21st

Tuesday June 23rd

Wednesday June 24th

Thursday June 25th

 

Massachusetts to Screen/Report BMI in Schools

Obesity is a significant problem in this country and Michigan ranks third (worst) in obesity nationally. Michigan has been in the top ten for the past 14 years! More than 50% of adults in our state reported less than the recommended 30 minutes of physical activity each day and 25% take part in no leisure-time physical activity at all.

Recently, the Department of Public Health in Massachusetts approved the initiative to conduct BMI (Body Mass Index) screening in school aged children in grades 1st, 4th, 7th and 10th. Following similar initiatives in Arkansas and New York, the purpose of the Massachusetts intiative is to provide parents with important information on the health status of their child, and to help parents work with health care providers on ways to promote healthier eating and exercise habits for children. Body Mass Index is a number calculated from a child’s weight and height, using a standardized formula. To learn more and to calculate your BMI click here.

This initiative raises some eyebrows and creates discussion around stigmas, privacy and yes, denial. The focus on obesity is an after-thought in these discussion and should be at the front. Let’s face it, as a society we are less physically active than our parents and grandparents. Time is taken up by after school activities, family events and a household where both parents work. Or, in the case of a single-parent household, one parent likely holds more than one job. The changing family dynamic, time crunch and convenience of the drive-thru has helped our state to become one of the most obese in the country. This needs to change. Now.

The State of Michigan has begun to move toward a more wellness oriented approach by putting together the  “Michigan Steps Up” website in conjunction with the Sugeon General’s office. The public can access information here to help make the change. A free, on-line Health Risk Appraisal and plan are also available from Michigan Steps Up. Together with your physician and resources, there is hope and support for making the valuable changes in ones life.

Sports Medicine in the Community

All those April showers eventually give way to May flowers and May is a busy month for Oakwood Sports Medicine. As part of our outreach efforts in education and service, here are some of the scheduled events where you can find us.

Saturday May 2nd at the Taylor Recreation Center  Health & Fitness Expo 9a-3p

Wednesday May 6th Lincoln Jefferson-Barnes  Health Fair 5p-7p

Saturday May 9th at Livonia Churchill HS  Traditional Karate Tournament

Friday May 15th at Romulus HS Health Careers Fair for RHS students

May 22nd, 23rd & 24th Canton Cup 2009

Golf: Warm-Up Before You Play!

Playing 9 or 18 holes of golf requires a great deal of concentration, skill and physical ability—what? Physical ability to play golf? That’s right, in order to keep playing for many years, one must follow an exercise routine throughout the year.

 

The golf swing is very demanding on the muscles in the trunk and legs, as well as a high demand on the spine and associated ligaments. Proper warm up to prepare these structures for the rotation and movement is essential.

 

·         Maintain good flexibility of all the muscles involved, including the hamstrings, calf, low back, mid back, and shoulders. This program should be followed all year long.

·         Slow gentle movements that are similar to those in the golf swing including low velocity trunk rotation, shoulder movements, and partial squats.

·         Ideally, a 10 minute warm up should immediately precede the first tee off of the day. This warm up could be brisk walking, stationary biking or light jogging. Break a sweat and you know you are warmed up enough!

Lastly, if you develop pain in the body during a round of golf, give it a rest and apply the R.I.C.E. principle for the first 24-48 hours(Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation of the injured part) and see your doctor if pain or swelling continue past 24-48 hours.

Throwing Program Recommendations

As a leader in sports medicine and a with a focus on community education, Oakwood Sports Medicine is frequently asked to comment on shoulder/arm exercises for the throwing athlete, specifically pitchers.

First the reader must understand that strength training for youth has certain parameters that should be followed and proper instruction should come from qualified individuals. On many occassions the volunteer parent is assigned to overseeing the program or weight room. At other times, the program design is not fully developed to compliment the throwing athlete.

Secondly, to use an old phrase, there are many different ways to skin a cat. Some exercises are preferred over others, neither of which are “wrong”, just a personal preference. If the program is designed properly with the goals in mind you will get the results.

Current thoughts on strength training for a pitcher emanatemostly from the biomechanical research and rehabilitation perspective. This also includes a highly functional component as stationary exercises do not mimic the type of dynamics that take place on the body and shoulder/arm during pitching. Stationary exercise has its proper place in program design but let’s not forget the use of and transfer of force from the ground through the legs, hips, trunk and ultimately the upper torso.

Program design is critical to achieving the results desired. Proper instruction and oversight of the strength training program is essential to keep on track. Use available resources in your local community (Oakwood Sports Medicine), literature and seminars to assist in developing the type of program that will enable the throwing athlete to remain healthy.

 

 

 

 

March is National Athletic Training Month

Athletic Trainers Fill a Necessary Niche in Secondary Schools

Offering immediate, quality health care services on and off the playing field, athletic trainers give students, faculty and parents peace of mind

 

When an athlete goes down on the playing field, the athletic trainer is the first responder to prevent or treat an injury; yet only 42 percent of high schools have access to athletic trainers today. With the proliferation of school sports, and increasing student athletic participation, the importance of proper on-site health care has never been greater. Immediate care can reduce the onset of short- and long-term quality of life and financial consequences from injuries including concussion and heat illness among many other conditions. Parents should ask “who is taking care of my kids?” The answer should be the athletic trainer, a vital part of a school’s sports safety and health program.

In these challenging economic times, the importance of student sports safety and the cost associated with on-site athletic trainers remains critical. Athletic trainers can assess an injury to determine proper referral and eliminate unnecessary emergency room and physician visits which can be costly to the parents. Today high schools are hiring athletic trainers to handle health issues not only for athletes, but also for the entire student body. Athletic trainers can manage emergency situations when school nurses and other medical personnel are not present or unavailable.

“Athletic trainers can help give peace of mind to parents, students and school staff on and off the athletic fields,” said Brian Robinson, MS, ATC, LAT, chair of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association’s (NATA) Secondary School Athletic Trainers’ Committee. “Because they work on school grounds and at other school-sponsored athletic events, they are there to provide immediate, quality health care services, plus they educate students about healthy lifestyles, proper nutrition and safe exercise regimens that can help them stay healthier throughout their lives.”

 

Role of athletic trainers in secondary schools

As part of a complete health care team, athletic trainers work under the direction of a licensed physician and in cooperation with nurses, athletic directors, school administrators, coaches and parents. Duties of an athletic trainer in the secondary school setting include the following:

• Prepare athletes for practice and competition
• Develop and implement emergency action plans
• Advise on the safety of equipment and field/turf conditions
• Develop injury prevention and conditioning programs
• Implement treatment and rehabilitation programs for injured athletes
• Determine readiness for return-to-play
• Provide first response to acute and catastrophic injuries
• Participate in the development and implementation of a comprehensive athletic health care system
“Athletic trainers are the only health care providers specifically trained to work with athletes in a school setting,” said Robinson. “They quickly and expertly assess injuries, stabilize injured students and provide life-saving measures.”

 

 

Professional training leads to better health care coordination

 

The athletic trainer’s professional preparation is based on the development of specified educational competencies and clinical proficiencies. Through a combination of formal classroom and clinical instruction complemented by clinical experience, athletic trainers are prepared to provide health care to school athletes and other students.
Athletic trainers have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree (70 percent have a master’s degree or higher) and maintain certification through the Board of Certification, an organization independent of NATA. Athletic trainers differ from “personal trainers” who focus solely on fitness and conditioning and have vastly different education and certification requirements.
Teachers, coaches, administrators and other school officials wishing to learn more about athletic trainers can contact the National Athletic Trainers’ Association at 800-879-6282, or visit the NATA Career Center at www.nata.org/careercenter. For information on NATA’s youth sports safety education and its medically appropriate guidelines for high school athletes, visit http://www.nata.org/youthsports/index.htm.

March is National Athletic Training Month and this year’s theme is Health Care for Life & Sport:
Athletic trainers are health care professionals who specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries and illnesses. The National Athletic Trainers’ Association represents and supports 30,000 members of the athletic training profession. NATA supports the right of all patients to have equal access to the services of athletic trainers through the Athletic Trainers’ Equal Access to Medicare Act (H.R. 1137). Visit www.nata.org.