Sports Medicine Basics
What criteria do you use to measure a person's 'health fitness'?
The criteria to measure a persons health fitness is actually fairly complex. All athletic endeavors are based on a combination of balance strength and flexibility. When we judge someone from an orthopedic standpoint for fitness, we're looking for a balance of all of those activities and all of those balances. From a general medical standpoint, I rely very much on the internist to help us with determining the cardio-logic standpoint, kidney standpoint, liver functions, and getting the patient in good general health, prior to us seeing them as a sports medicine or orthopedic surgeon.
Why should a person exercise?
Exercise is the key to cardio-vascular fitness, mental health, and really enjoying life. One of my favorite lines is that life is a contact sport, and you have to be in shape for life. People who are more active seem to enjoy life more, it helps keep you mentally fit, it keeps you more active. The more active you are the more things you can enjoy.
Why don't most Americans exercise regularly?
I'm not sure there is a boom in the health fitness in America - there is a lot of lip service given to staying in shape, but what we are seeing is that obesity is rampant in America and we are seeing more and more obese children and adolescents, so I'm not sure that the fitness craze of the 80's which was started by the baby boomers to stay in shape is staying and progressing in this country. There is a dirth of physical fitness programs for the general public, and we're certainly seeing schools not having physical fitness and physical education as part of their curriculum because of cost savings. We are seeing more and more kids spending their time in front of their Game Boys and televisions, and I think that sport for the adolescent at least is over organized - it's more for the parents sometimes than it is for the kids. I really believe that there is a problem with America staying active.
What is represented by the acronym 'RICE'?
RICE is a very common acronym that we use when we're treating an acute injury. RICE stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Those four things come to be the best way to treat any of these injuries, whether it's a bruise, a sprain, or a ligament tear. So, RICE: rest, ice compression and elevation.
