Category: Sports Medicine
When is it safe to return to activities after a concussion?
When you experience injury, one fact is true. Your body needs time to heal.
But, when the injury is a concussion, walking, mental activity and auditory and visual stimulation may prolong the healing time or in some cases, cause more damage.
When a concussion occurs, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible and rest as prescribed by your healthcare provider. Under no circumstances should a person return to activity the same day he or she experienced the concussion.
How long does it take to heal from a concussion?
The answer to that question is as […]
Meet Shauna L. Christopherson, APNP, FNP
Shauna Christopherson is an advanced practice nurse prescriber who is board certified as a family practice nurse practitioner. Shauna provides general orthopedic care to people of all ages. She has a special interest in sports-related injuries, fracture management and the treatment of acute back pain.
Christopherson provides Walk-In Care Services in Wausau
Shauna, along with other providers, staff Bone & Joint’s Walk-In Care Center. She cares for people who have non-emergency injuries or illnesses such as:
● Broken Bones
● Cuts and Scrapes
● Dislocations of Fingers and Toes
● Foot and Ankle Injuries
● Muscle Strains
● Muscle Sprains
● Painful Joints
● […]
Meet C. Kevin Martin, PA-C
Kevin Martin, PA-C, is a board-certified physician assistant who provides general orthopedic care to patients of all ages. He has a special interest in sports medicine and treating sports-related injuries.
Martin earned an Associate of Science degree in respiratory therapy at Vincennes University in Vincennes, Indiana. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in human biology and his Master of Medical Science degree at Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri.
To body check or not to body check? That’s the question circling many youth hockey teams.
Parents watch anxiously from the cold bleachers of the hockey rink as two players fight for the puck.
Grainger gains control for a few seconds. Then, Simmons body checks him. Grainger goes down hard. A crescendo of opposing cheers rattles the iron rafters.
Grainger’s mom watches in dismay as the medics help her son off the ice. It was a hard hit. She worries about her son’s injuries as she steps down the bleachers on her way to the locker room.
Hockey, by design, is a physical sport. With the recent concerns about concussions and other serious injuries, […]
Does Bone & Joint offer ImPACT testing?
We currently do not offer ImPACT concussion testing.
We do treat concussions and reference the baseline ImPACT testing done by area schools, athletic trainers, and sport medicine specialists.
What is ImPACT testing?
ImPACT testing can be used before and after a traumatic brain injury. Each test should be administered by a trained sports medicine specialist or athletic trainer. Upon completion of the test, a neuropsychologist interprets the scores. According to impacttest.com, the 25-minute test consists of six modules that measure;
- Attention span
- Working memory
- Sustained and selective attention time
- Response variability
- Non-verbal problem-solving
- Reaction time
When combined with a […]
What should I expect at my first sports medicine appointment?
Your appointment will be similar to meeting with any other orthopaedic specialist.
During your exam, your provider will ask you questions about your condition.
- When did you first notice discomfort or pain?
- Did the pain happen suddenly or did it gradually progress?
- What types of movements do you do most at work and home?
- Did you fall recently?
- Were you injured recently?
- Which movements cause more pain?
- Which movements do you find hard to do?
- Are there positions that relieve your pain?
- Have you tried any treatments in the past?
Your provider may ask you these questions […]
Is your child at risk for a stress fracture?
Yes, if your child plays hard and is very active.
What are stress fractures?
Stress fractures are hairline cracks in the bone caused by forceful, repetitive movements. More than 50 percent of these micro-traumas occur in the feet, legs or hips.
Physical stress is important for your child’s muscle and skeletal growth. But when, young people practice long hours, train on hard surfaces, or rush their training program, they can overwork their muscles and connective tissues to the point of fatigue. Tired and stretched soft tissues cannot protect the bones from the repetitive impact, leading to stress fractures.
Sports medicine […]
