Category: Injury Prevention
Stay safe and sound this hunting season
In Wisconsin, fall is the season for hunting. And the two go together like Cheeseheads and the Green Bay Packers. Take care and stay safe this hunting season.
Hunting is not for everyone. But those who take part are dedicated to the sport. It’s tradition. Hunters plan and prepare for months before the season opener. Scouting out the best spots. Constructing hunting blinds. And airing out clothing to remove all human scent.
Surprisingly, even though the sport of hunting uses equipment designed for deadly force, […]
Is your child’s backpack a blessing or a burden?
Is your child complaining about back or neck pain? It could be their backpack.
It’s hard to believe that thousands of central Wisconsin students have been in school for months now with backpacks filled with assignments and books strapped to their backs. But is your child’s backpack a blessing or a burden?
Many of these convenient carryalls will lead to back and neck pain.
Even the best-fitting backpack can cause health issues if it’s too full. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons […]
Use Fireworks Safely. Stay Independent this Fourth of July
Estimated Reading Time 3 Minutes
Fireworks and the 4th of July go together like brats and buns.
But, lighting the sky up at home has its risks.
An explosive injury can lead to the loss of independence and, in worse-case scenarios, the loss of life.
According to the National Safety Council, 17 people died, and more than 12,000 people were injured by fireworks in 2017. Half of those injured were under 20 years of age.
Even the most “harmless” of types cause injury. Firecrackers cause nearly a fifth of […]
What is tendonitis?
Tendonitis is a condition that describes the inflammation of the tendon.
Tendons are collagen-fiber tissues that connect the bones and muscles, which allow the body to move. There are thousands of tendons in the body. They allow each joint of the body to bend, flex, or rotate during movement.
As the tendon becomes inflamed, it swells and causes pain and stiffness during movement. Usually, people feel tendonitis pain near the joint. It’s often confused with arthritis.
Tennis elbow, trigger finger, De Quervain’s syndrome, and runner’s knee are common conditions affecting the tendons. Of course, tendonitis can also affect the shoulders, ankles, and toes.
Sometimes tendonitis […]
What is bursitis?
Bursitis occurs when the bursa, a synovial-fluid-filled sac is inflamed. Though slippery and tiny, the bursa has a big job. It acts as a cushion and allows the bones, tendons, ligaments, and muscles to work together without friction. When these tiny water-balloon-like sacs become inflamed and swell, movement is painful.
What causes bursitis?
Many cases of bursitis in the joints result from repeated movement of the joint. It is a type of overuse injury.
But overuse injury is only one cause of bursitis.
Age, arthritis, gout, injury, or surgery are other factors. Being overweight also applies more pressure to the bursa.
Bursitis can occur in any joint, tendon, or […]
Meet Samantha Kreutter, DPT, ATC
Samantha Kreutter, DPT, ATC, is a doctor of physical therapy and a certified athletic trainer who provides therapeutic care at Bone & Joint’s physical therapy clinics in Plover and Wausau.
Samantha joined Bone & Joint in March 2021. She works to improve her patients’ flexibility and range of motion so they can get back to the activities they love. Samantha has special interests in sports medicine, general orthopedics, injury prevention, dry needling, and concussion management.
Samantha earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, in La Crosse, Wisconsin. She received her Bachelor […]
Stay pain-free during your road trip
Road Trips.
Some people love them, and others, well, let’s just say road trips are not a favorite. But no matter which camp you’re in, it seems the pandemic has made road trips inevitable for many of us.
Besides paying attention to mask mandates, six-foot distances, and frequent handwashing, also consider your joints and muscles as you travel.
Driving or riding in a car can be a real pain in the sciatic nerve.
If you’re prone to sciatica, you know sitting in one position for hours can cause weakness, numbness, tingling, and sometimes sharp, piercing discomfort that reaches from your […]
How does cycling affect your bones?
No matter how old you are, summertime in Wisconsin is a beautiful time to ride your bicycle.
You can ride in your neighborhood or choose to use the miles and miles of trails winding through Wisconsin’s natural areas. These gravel or asphalt paths keep you off the main roads as you enjoy the surroundings.
If you’d rather bike to work, many cities and towns in our state have added dedicated lanes for safer travel from place to place.
But is cycling the best exercise for your bones?
Cycling offers some excellent cardiovascular health benefits.
A strong cardiovascular system improves blood […]
What’s the difference between an ankle sprain and chronic ankle instability?
Have you ever been walking with friends and hit a low spot? You felt your foot curl under, felt the searing pain, and just knew that you had sprained your ankle.
If you’ve not had that experience, you’re one of the lucky ones. Nearly 25,000 people of all ages sprain their ankles in the USA every day.
It’s easy to do. Whether you walk off the side of a curb, step wrong on a rustic trail, or quickly change direction while playing basketball, volleyball, or tag. It’s easy to pull and twist the ligaments in your ankle.
Your […]
How does sleep affect your bones?
Our bones are constantly being remodeled.
At night, when we’re asleep, the fixer-upper cells in our bones go to work.
Special bone cells called osteocytes regulate the body’s calcium levels, repair microscopic bone cracks, and heal fractures. These project-management cells direct the remodeling process. They signal cells called osteoclasts to remove minerals from the bones when the body’s calcium levels dip too low. They also send messages to bone-building cells called osteoblasts when cracks and breaks need repair.
Much of this activity happens overnight and into the early morning hours when we are supposed to be asleep.
But most […]