SportsMD

What is Heat Related Illness?

Heat related illness occurs when the body is unable to adequately preserve a constant internal temperature due to both intrinsic and environmental stressors. It encompasses a wide range issues from simple heat edema and heat rash to the life threatening condition of heat stroke. It is estimated that up to 400 deaths a year occur due to heat related illnesses and is felt to be the 3rd most common cause of death in ... Read more

What are proteins and their building blocks?

Proteins and their building blocks, amino acids, have been ingested for years as dietary athletic performance enhancers. In fact, supplemental dietary protein intake is most likely the first, or one of the first ever performance enhancers taken. There exist 20 amino acids in total, 9 of which are essential and 11 of which the body can synthesize from other metabolism byproducts. The 9 essential amino acids therefore must be obtained through the diet since the body has no internal source of them. The great majority of the body’s ... Read more

Choice of birth control method for the adult female athlete is as individual a choice as it is for any other woman. However, the female athlete, particularly if she is a high level competitor, must consider additional factors when choosing a contraceptive method. This article will review the factors for consideration and how they relate to female athletes, but, as with any female patient, the final choice of the “best” method is left to the individual. The role of this article is to provide the female athlete with some of the general information she ... Read more

What is the Core?

To the rehabilitation world the core is the lumbar-pelvic (trunk) and hip complex. The Core is composed of as many as 35 different muscle groups connecting into the pelvic from the spine and hip area. In order to simplify the Core muscles I have divided them into four regions; back extensors, abdominals, lateral trunk muscles, and the hip muscles.

The core is the center of ... Read more

Jogger’s foot, otherwise known as medial plantar neuropraxia, is a chronic entrapment syndrome of the medial plantar nerve in the foot. It is an unusual cause of heel pain in long distance runners.

Jogger’s foot is seen in athlete’s that participate in running endurance sports such as marathons, ultramarathons and Iron Man competitions as well as any athlete that is repetitively training with long distance running. A runner with flat feet is more predisposed to this injury than someone with a ... Read more