Mark your calendars for these upcoming seminars by
ONS physicians!

Low Back Pain and Spine Disorders

Neurosurgeon Scott Simon, MD

Tuesday, February 7, 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Greenwich Hospital, Noble Conference Center

Join neurosurgeon, Scott Simon, MD as he dispels myths about what works and what doesn’t work to treat low back pain. He will talk about prevention of low back injury, the importance of proper diagnostics and review “what’s new” in treatments.

Dr. Simon specializes in the treatment of spinal disorders. He is one of a few physicians nationwide who is trained in both neurological surgery and orthopedic techniques to treat scoliosis in adolescents and adults and is an expert in minimally invasive spine surgery. Dr. Simon graduated from UMDNJ – New Jersey Medical School. He performed his residency at The University of Pennsylvania and did Fellowship training in spine surgery and scoliosis at The Schriners Hospital for Children, in Philadelphia.

To register, call 203-863-4277 or 888-305-9253.

A health education seminar, Exercise Safely During Pregnancy and After, will take place on Thursday, January 12 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in the Noble Conference Center at Greenwich Hospital at 5 Perryridge Road.  Orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist Dr. Katie Vadasdi of ONS, OBGYN Catherine Berzolla, MD of Putnam Gynecology and Obstetrics of Greenwich, and physical therapist Alicia Hirscht of ONS Physical Therapy will talk about the importance of exercise for pregnant women and address common concerns and safety guidelines for physical activity while pregnant.  The free seminar is open to the public. Registration is required. To register, call 203-863-4277 or 888-305-9253.

The Greenwich Hospital Community Health seminar will cover information on why exercise is recommended during pregnancy, what musculoskeletal injuries are common in pregnant women, exercises that should be avoided and some that should be a priority while pregnant.  Dr. Vadasdi; who is a triathlete and alpine climber and is expecting her second child in February, will focus her talk on changes to the body during pregnancy that can lead to musculoskeletal injuries, orthopedic injuries that may occur during pregnancy and which activities are generally safe and comfortable during pregnancy. Dr. Berzola will present recommendations for safe guidelines for exercising during pregnancy from the obstetrics side.  Alicia Hirscht, DPT will talk about and demonstrate some specific exercise recommendations.

“In my orthopedics practice, I meet many women who are concerned about exercise safety and pregnancy,” says Dr. Vadasdi. “They want to know if- and how- they should modify your routine, how long they can work out, and how much exertion is safe. Just because you’re pregnant doesn’t mean you can’t exercise, but it is important to know how to exercise safely.”

Orthopaedic and Neurosurgery Specialists PC (ONS) is an advanced multi-specialty orthopedic and neurosurgery practice in Greenwich, CT.  ONS physicians provide expertise in the full spectrum of musculoskeletal conditions and injuries, sports medicine, minimally invasive orthopedic, spine and brain surgery, joint replacement and trauma. The main office is located at 6 Greenwich Office Park on Valley Drive in Greenwich. For more information, visit http://www.onsmd.com/e  or call (203) 869-1145.

Osteoporosis, a disease that deteriorates bone and leads to fractures, affects 28 million Americans and contributes to an estimated 1.5 million bone fractures every year.  Half of all women older than 65 and one in five men is affected by osteoporosis.  On Wednesday, November 16 at 7 p.m., orthopedic surgeon Steven Hindman, MD, endocrinologist Yi-Hao Yu, MD and physical therapist Betsy Kreuter, PT of ONS (Orthopaedic and Neurosurgery Specialists, PC) will present Osteoporosis: Prevention, Treatment and Management in the Noble Conference Center at Greenwich Hospital located at 5 Perryridge Road. Topics to be covered include bone anatomy, osteoporosis risk factors and exercise to promote strong bones. The program is free and open to the public. Registration is requested. To register, call 203-863-3627 or register online at www.greenhosp.org.  For more information on topics related to orthopedics, sports medicine and neurosurgery, visit www.onsmd.com.

Most injuries in dancers, for both students and professionals, are not the result of a sudden or traumatic event but  usually occur over a period of time, and are often preventable.  With that in mind, on Tuesday, September 20 at 6:30 p.m., The Ballet School of Stamford and the ONS Foundation for Clinical Research and Education will team up to present a FREE injury prevention workshop for parents of dancers. Parenting a Healthy Dancer will feature a panel of experts who will discuss how to keep young dancers healthy in mind and body.  The panel will include Sports Medicine Physician Dr. Gloria Cohen, Dance Physical Therapist Samara DiMattia MSPT and Psychotherapist Becca Gaines, MS PC.

Because dance training involves repetitive movements done in classes, rehearsals, and performances, a lot of stress is put on dancers’ ligaments and muscles. Over time, this repetitive activity can lead to a number of overuse injuries.

The program, which is hosted by The Ballet School of Stamford at 175 Atlantic Street, will highlight the importance of understanding the signs and symptoms of the most common dance injuries including tendinitis, snapping hip, foot stress injuries, sprained ankles, and low back pain. “The panel will discuss the physical and emotional challenges for the young dancer,” said Dr. Cohen. “We will talk about the importance of proper technique and of identifying any muscle imbalances in the young dancer that might lead to an injury. There will also be discussion on proper strengthening and stretching exercises that can prevent injuries, basic rehabilitation exercises for dancers recovering from an injury, and how to know when to see a professional about a condition.” The FREE workshop will be conducted in an open forum. The public is invited, however advance registration is requested. For information, or to register, please send an email to info@Balletschoolofstamford.org, or call 203-358-8853. For directions go to www.balletschoolofstamford.org.

The Ballet School of Stamford is a not-for-profit school that provides professional dance training for children and adults from Fairfield and Westchester counties. The school is entering its thirteenth year and has moved into its new home at Old Town Hall. Through its relationship with Stamford Center for the Arts, the Ballet School is able to provide unique performance opportunities for its students, with a varied repertoire of original productions and classical ballets.

With fall sports getting underway, area athletic trainers (ATs) will soon be busy tending to the health care needs of student athletes.  In addition to the everyday sports medicine responsibilities of treating injuries and managing rehab, recognition and care of concussions has become an important focus of healthcare professionals on the field.  Concussions are mild traumatic brain injuries that are the result of rapid deceleration of the brain within the skull.  The injury is characterized by alteration in brain function.  It often takes several weeks to recover from a concussion and the process may negatively affect the student athlete both socially and academically.  However, the addition of ImPACT testing has taken some of the guesswork out of concussion management.

ImPACT (Immediate Post-concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing) is a neurocognitive test that is now routinely given to contact-sport athletes during the beginning of the season to establish a baseline.  The 25-minute test has been researched extensively and validated for use in high school athletes and is widely used in collegiate and professional sports.

As head athletic trainer for Greenwich High School, I have overseen 1500 baseline tests and seen the benefits of neurocognitive testing first hand.  A recent injury of a football player gave me an opportunity to demonstrate why ImPACT is such a useful aid in the neurological evaluation.  In this case, despite clearance by the student’s pediatrician and his own insistence that he was feeling “100 percent better,” his post-injury test scores were significantly lower than his baseline, indicating that he was not fully recovered.  At a critical point in the season, the pressure to return to the field was immense.  I suggested to the family that they hold the player out of sports and serial test him with ImPACT until his numbers improved.  Five days later, his scores were almost identical to his baseline and we began a supervised, gradual return-to-play protocol over five days, while closely monitoring his condition.  Three weeks passed before healing was complete but he made it back in time to play in the final game of the season.

It is important to remember that ImPACT neurocognitive testing is “one tool in the belt” of those treating concussions and should not alone be used as the deciding factor in return or not-to-return to sports decisions.  There is no substitute for a good neurological examination and proper evaluation done by a medical professional who specializes in head injuries.

-Pete Falla

For more information on the Management of Concussion, see this link to the ONS Foundation website.

For

Whether you’re a recreational golfer, hard-core triathlete or somewhere in between, when you get back into sports this spring, you’ll be at risk for a sports-related injury. The ONS Foundation for Clinical Research and Education wants to give people who enjoy sports activities, a range of tools and techniques to keep them enjoying their sport and out of the doctor’s office. Beginning March 8, a series of four, Free, injury-prevention programs will be offered by fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons, sports medicine physicians and physical therapists affiliated with the ONS Foundation. Topics covered include injury prevention for youth baseball players, adult tennis players and golfers, triathletes and runners.

The ONS Foundation is a non-profit organization devoted to helping reduce sports injury and supporting healthy living through educational programs and clinical research. Educational programs are offered to the community on a variety of topics throughout the year. All events are free of charge. For more information, visit www.ons-foundation.org.

Spring Program Schedule

Tuesday, April 5, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Golf Injury Prevention – Orthopedic surgeon James Cunningham, MD and physiatrist Halina Snowball, MD will present an injury prevention program for golfers of all levels. The doctors will discuss the common golf injuries and training strategies that will help players enjoy their sport to the fullest. Stanwich Club golf professional Mike Summa will talk about golf equipment and ONS Physical Therapy Director Laura Liebesman, PT will talk about conditioning and strengthening to prepare for golf. The program takes place at ONS at 6 Greenwich Office Park, 10 Valley Drive in Greenwich. Refreshments will be served. Registration is required. Call 203-869-3131 or email, info@ons-foundation.org to register.  For more information, visit www.ons-foundation.org.

Tuesday, May 10, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Preventing Injuries for Tennis Players: Presented by orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist Paul Sethi, MD and tennis professional Patrick Hirscht, the program will present the latest information on the most common injuries to tennis players including Achilles tendon injuries, shoulder and wrist injuries and rolled and sprained ankles. An ONS physical therapist Tatyana Kalyuzhny, DPT will talk about the most effective warm-up and conditioning techniques for tennis. Adult and youth players are invited to attend the program. Admission is free, however registration is requested. The program takes place at ONS at 6 Greenwich Office Park, 10 Valley Drive in Greenwich. To register call 203-869-3131. For more information visit www.ONS-foundation.org.

Tuesday, May 31, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Injury Prevention for Triathletes and Cyclists: Safety Strategies for Training and Competition: Come learn about the common causes of injuries in cyclists and triathletes, the biomechanical issues of combined training, proper stretching and strengthening techniques, training methods for returning to racing post injury, and treatments for injuries. Presented by orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist Dr. Katie Vadasdi, primary-care sports medicine specialist Dr. Gloria Cohen, and ONS physical therapist Abigail Ramsey, the seminar is timed to help athletes prepare for the summer and fall race season. The program takes place at ONS at 6 Greenwich Office Park, 10 Valley Drive in Greenwich. Admission is free, however registration is requested. To register call 203-869-3131. For more information visit www.ONS-foundation.org.

ONS Foundation for Clinical Research and Education, Inc. is a registered not-for-profit, 501(c)3 organization devoted to understanding the causes and optimal treatments of orthopedic injuries and musculoskeletal conditions. The ONS Foundation, in alliance with Greenwich Hospital, strives to improve standards of excellence for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders through clinical research, physician and patient education, and community outreach programs. The Foundation sponsors injury prevention and other seminars throughout the year. The office is located at 6 Greenwich Office Park, 10 Valley Drive, Greenwich, CT. For further information about the ONS Foundation, visit www.ons-foundation.org or call (203) 869-3131.

Skip Beitzel of Hickory and Tweed in Armonk, New York brought some of the latest equipment and spoke with guests.

The ONS Foundation for Clinical Research and Education presented their 9^th annual Ski Conditioning and Injury Prevention Seminar on Tuesday evening, December 7 at ONS on Valley Drive.  Orthopedic surgeons Dr. Steven Hindman and Dr. Tim Greene addressed 46 eager skiers on a range of topics from the most common skiing injuries to injury prevention strategies and information on the latest treatments for injuries such as a ruptured ACL. Chalon Lefebvre, PT of ONS Physical Therapy gave a presentation about the benefits of adopting a ski conditioning and strengthening exercise program before going skiing.

All the presenters agreed that each year, excited skiers and snowboarders head to the slopes but many do little to prepare for the physical demands of their sport. Even the best athletes are susceptible to injury when under-prepared muscles engage in activity they haven’t done for many months. “Physical conditioning can make all the difference,” said Dr. Hindman. “Most people go from the car to the ski lift without even a single stretch. Skiing requires muscles and muscle groups that are used very little the rest of the year. If you don’t prepare, your risk for injury increases.”

“Don’t think you will ski yourself into shape,” warned Ms. Lefevbre, who was a ski racer in Vermont. “The sooner you begin a conditioning program, the better off you’ll be. Start with basic stretches and strengthening exercises and build slowly. It’s never too late to benefit from a program. Find one that’s geared to winter mountain sports and you won’t be making an

Dr. Tim Greene, who worked with the US Ski Team, said you can tell by the conditions on the mountain what kind of injuries are most likely to occur.

appointment to see me in the coming months.”

“Have a good time on the slopes but be mindful of injury factors that I call, the three Ts; Tiredness, Terrain and Timing,” said Dr. Greene who worked with the US Ski Team in Vail, CO during his Fellowship training. “Your risk for injury goes up when you’re tired, when the terrain conditions aren’t good, and at the end of the day when the light and the conditions have deteriorated, and you become fatigued.”

“DON’T WAIT FOR THE SNOW TO START FALLING TO PREPARE YOUR BODY FOR THE SKI SEASON,” SAYS ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON DR. STEVEN HINDMAN OF THE ONS FOUNDATION FOR CLINICAL RESEARCH AND EDUCATION. “THE SOONER YOU START A CONDITIONING PROGRAM, THE BETTER.”

As further impetus, the ONS Foundation is holding its annual Ski Conditioning and Injury Prevention Seminar on Tuesday, December 7 at 6:30 p.m. at ONS building, 6 Greenwich Office Park at 10 Valley Drive.  Dr. Hindman and orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist Dr. Tim Greene will discuss the causes of common skiing injuries and how they may be avoided. The free seminar will include tips on safe skiing, and information on the latest treatments for common injuries such as a ruptured ACL. Chalon Lefebvre, PT of ONS Physical Therapy will talk about and demonstrate ski conditioning and strengthening exercises. Registration is requested. Call 203-869-3131 or email contact@ons-foundation.org to register or for information.

Each year eager skiers and snowboarders head to the slopes but many do little to prepare for the physical demands of their sport. Even the best of athletes are susceptible to injury when under-prepared muscles engage in winter sports activity for the first time in many months. Physical conditioning can make all the difference.

According to Dr. Hindman, there is a lot that can be done to avoid the common aches and more serious strains to joints and muscles that many experience. “Most people go from their car to the ski lift without even a single stretch,” says Hindman. “Skiing requires muscles and muscle groups that are used very little the rest of the year. Ideally, strengthening and conditioning should begin two to three months before the first trip up the mountain, but it’s never too late to benefit from a program. Find one that’s geared to winter mountain sports. If you don’t prepare, your risk for injury increases.”

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The ONS Foundation will present their Ski Injury Prevention Program on Wednesday, November 3 to the Pinnacle Ski Club at the Stamford Knights of Columbus at 507 Shippan Ave., beginning at 8 PM.  It’s time to get ready for ski season.  Don’t miss this opportunity to hear important tips for safe skiing and information about the most advanced treatments for common injuries such as a ruptured ACL.  Orthopedic surgeon Steven Hindman, MD will discuss the causes of the most common skiing injuries and how many of them may be avoided. Physical Therapist Chalon Lefebvre, PT will talk about the importance of a pre-season conditioning and strengthening program.

For older people, being a houseguest, and having guests, can pose injury risks

On Tuesday, October 26, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Steven Hindman, MD of the ONS Foundation for Clinical Research and Education, will present a talk on how to avoid “holiday injuries” in the Sterling Auditorium at The Osborn, 101 Theall Road. According to The AAOS, American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons, falls are the leading cause of injury in older people in the United States. The Osborn invites the public to join their residents to hear Dr. Hindman talk about preventing falls that are a particular risk during the holiday and tips on ways to keep safe.

About Dr. Hindman

Dr. Hindman is an orthopedic surgeon and has been “on call” at Greenwich Hospital for 22 of the past 23 Thanksgivings, and each year he sees a significant number of “holiday injuries”, many resulting from falls. Out-of-town guests, visiting a parent or grandparent, become the victims of throw rugs, electric cords, pets, toys, and icy sidewalks. The unfamiliarity of a dark hallway, staircase or even a kitchen can turn a normal home into a danger zone for unsuspecting guests. Add winter weather to the equation and the potential for a hip, wrist or ankle fracture is even greater. Dr. Hindman will recommend a number of measures to help keep holidays safe.

Contact ONS or call (203)869-1145 with any questions.