Category: Sports Medicine

Hydration and the Elite Athlete

Posted on December 10, 2019

Proper Hydration for Peak Performance

One of the best ways to keep at the top of your game is easy to do, but often forgotten. Stay fully hydrated.  Research has shown that losing as little as 2 % of total body weight can negatively affect Hydration and Athletesathletic performance in intense, competitive sports.

“Your body loses fluids during practice or competition through sweat and through the lungs while breathing”, said Sports Medicine Specialist, Marc Kowalsky, MD. If those fluids aren’t replaced at regular intervals, the volume of blood circulating through your body will decrease, meaning the amount of blood pumped to your heart will decrease. Your muscles won’t receive the oxygen they need and you are more likely to feel fatigue earlier than you would if you were fully hydrated. Prolonged and severe hydration can create more serious problems, including death, so we don’t want to go there.

So how can you tell how much fluid you need to stay hydrated?

You may have heard that by the time you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated.  That’s true.  Studies show that people usually don’t feel thirsty until nearly 2% of their body weight is reduced through dehydration. By that time, your performance  has already begun to suffer.

The general rule of thumb is to weigh yourself before and after high level activity.  The loss in body weight represents the volume of fluids that you need to maintain to achieve your peak performance.  You need to consume three cups of fluid for every pound lost during a heavy training session or game.  One good measure of your hydration success can be seen by simply looking at the color of your urine.  Darker urine indicates dehydration levels.  You are fully hydrated when your urine is faintly tinted.  Over-hydration, which has a host of problems too, is indicated if your urine is completely clear, so don’t go overboard.

If you are having a moderate training day, water should suffice to replace lost fluids, However, intense training or activity, according to the National Athletic Trainer’s Association and the American College of Sports Medicine, calls for beverages that contain 6-8 percent carbohydrates, 110- 240 mg of sodium and some electrolytes, per 8 ounce serving. Avoid dehydrating beverages such as caffeine and alcohol and energy drinks that contain too much or too little sodium.

Timing of when you drink water or an appropriate sports drink is also important.  You should drink 7 – 12 ounces of cold fluid about 15 – 20 minutes before your activity, then 4 – 8 ounces of cold fluid at 20-minute intervals during the activity.  Weigh yourself when your game, practice or workout is over, then drink three cups of fluid for every pound that has been  lost.

Give Young Athletes a Break

Posted on July 13, 2018

ConcussionFor many of today’s young athletes, summer break includes a sports camp providing concentrated training in their specialized sport. But according to ONS Sports Medicine Specialist, Dr. Marc Kowalsky, early sports specialization is the last thing they should be doing with their free time.

“There is an increasing body of evidence indicating that early sports specialization does more harm than good. In fact, it seems that it actually decreases the potential for success in the sport in the long term,” he said.

Dr. Kowalsky said children who specialize in a single sport before the age of 13 don’t develop the protective neuromuscular patterns that help prevent stress to a single area of the body.  Because young athletes are less likely to perform technical repetitive skills properly, these children are more prone to overuse injuries that can sideline them later in life.

“The risk of injury doubles for children involved in excessive organized play at early ages over children who participate in an appropriate amount of free play,” Dr. Kowalsky noted.

Children who undergo early sports specialization are also at an increased risk for psychological burnout. Overtime it can manifest as mood disturbances, social isolation, and eating disorders. “These kids often drop out of the sport altogether as they get older,” he said.

Despite popular belief, early specialization does not guarantee elite performance later in life. A study of elite adult athletes at amateur and pro levels revealed that elite success did not require exclusive participation in a single sport until their high school years. Instead, top players participated in multiple sports in the preceding years, developing important movement patterns that made them stronger over time.

“Sports diversification actually increases overall athleticism, and the chance of a young athlete achieving elite status,” Dr. Kowalsky said.

The trend toward early youth sports specialization is relatively new. Twenty years ago, young athletes typically played a particular sport only during a given season (i.e. football in the fall, baseball in the spring, swimming in the summer), and most kids rested from competitive sports for a season or during the summer.

The surge in throwing injuries, stress fractures, and other overuse injuries in younger athletes reflects the physical pressures affecting today’s young athletic bodies.  A recent study found that high school athletes who had trained in one sport for more than 8 months in a year were more likely to report a history of overuse knee and hip injuries, than those who played a variety of sports throughout the year or played sports at less intense levels.

The vast majority of injuries associated with excessive specialization and training are overuse injuries. Overuse injuries develop slowly over time, starting perhaps as a mild twinge before progressing into relentless, often debilitating pain.

Thankfully, these injuries are relatively easy to treat when recognized early, with a period rest and activity modification.  All too often, however, players, their coaches and, sadly, parents, are often reluctant to have the athlete sit out a few practices and games.

Left untreated, overuse injuries can lead to more significant structural damage to an affected area. Therefore, it can require lengthier rehabilitation and sometimes surgery.

What’s more, repetitive activities such as throwing or running can lead to changes in the development of growing bones and joints. For instance, significant amounts of pitching during adolescence can change the rotation and shape of the shoulder.

“The musculature and bones of the developing thrower are not prepared for the excessive numbers of pitches they throw in a game,” said Dr. Kowalsky. This in part has contributed to an epidemic of young athletes suffering ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries, which sometimes requires the so-called Tommy John Surgery.

The solution is simple but that doesn’t mean it is easy.  Dr. Kowalsky recommends the following practices for kids younger than 13 years:

  • Make time for unstructured play

  • Keep the ratio of weekly hours of organized sport to free play below 2:1.

  • Weekly hours of sports participation should not exceed a child’s age, or total of 16 hours in teen players.

  • Athletes of all ages should participate in some sort of supervised strength and conditioning program.

But he admits, in today’s competitive environment implementation of these steps can be easier said than done.  Parents and coaches should keep in mind that the ultimate goal is to make sure their children remain injury-free so they can maximize enjoyment and success in their sport of choice.

 

ONS Shoulder Surgeon Katherine B. Vadasdi, MD, is Published

Posted on August 4, 2016

STUDY FINDS SUCCESS IN TREATMENT FOR FROZEN SHOULDER.Dr. Katharine Vadasdi, Shoulder Surgeon

Promising results of a new study by ONS orthopedic shoulder surgeon Katherine Vadasdi, MD and other researchers were published this month in the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. The study, The Effect of Myofibroblasts and Corticosteroid Injections in Adhesive Capsulitis, was conducted to investigate the effect  that steroid injections administered directly into the shoulder joint would have on the painful and limiting condition called Adhesive Capsulitis.

Also known as Frozen Shoulder, Adhesive Capsulitis is a common, severely painful condition that leads to stiffness and reduced range of motion in the joint.  In the study, Dr. Vadasdi and the research team evaluated the changes in the lining of the joint that contributes to or causes Frozen Shoulder. They discovered an increase in a certain cell type called myofibroblasts, which cause the capsule surrounding the shoulder joint to contact and form scar tissue, leading to pain and increasing stiffness.  Steroid injections directly into the joint, however, reduced the increase in myofibroblasts, and helped reverse and prevent progression of the condition.

Frozen Shoulder most commonly affects women between the ages of 40 and 60 years.  Most cases of Frozen Shoulder can be resolved non-operatively through stretching, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications and cortisone injections.  In severe cases, a procedure known as arthroscopic capsular release is performed to break up the adhesions. The findings in Dr. Vadasdi’s study suggest  a more rapid resolution of the condition and possibly a decrease in cases needing surgery.

The Effect of Myofibroblasts and Corticosteroid Injections in Adhesive Capsulitis, Carolyn M. Hettrich, MD, MPH, Edward F. DiCarlo, MD, Deborah Faryniarz, MD, Katherine B. Vadasdi, MD, Riley Williams, MD, Jo A. Hannafin, MD, PhD. 1274-1279. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery (25) 2016

Dr. Vadasdi is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine physician who specializes in conditions of the shoulder, knee and elbow. She is the Director of the Women’s Sports Medicine Center at ONS and is a sought after speaker on the topic of women and sports injury and prevention.  Her chosen area of medical specialty reflects her personal interests.  She is an accomplished triathlete, having completed Ironman competitions in 2007 and 2009. Dr. Vadasdi is also an alpine climber and has ascended Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Rainier, and the Grand Teton, among others.

The Dangers of Sports Specialization

Posted on July 14, 2016

Every young athlete dreams of the pride and exhilaration of hitting the game winning home run, or scoring the goal that clinches the championship.  In today’s competitive sports environment, youth are under more pressure than ever to train harder and longer to excel in their sport, often with debilitating consequences, writes sports medicine specialist and orthopedic surgeon, Demetris Delos, MD in the latest issue of The Magazine for Greenwich Hospital.Sports Medicine Discussion

The greatest shift in youth sports in the last generation has been the trend toward sports specialization and year-round training. Twenty years ago, young athletes typically played a particular sport only during that sport’s season (i.e. football in the fall, baseball in the spring and summer), and most kids sat out a season or a summer.  Today’s young competitors don’t seem to enjoy that luxury.  Unfortunately, this has also led to a surge of sport specific injuries.

A recent study at the Departments of Kinesiology, Orthopedics and Rehabilitation at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, for instance, found that high school athletes who trained in one sport for more than 8 months were more likely to report a history of overuse knee and hip injuries, than those who had played a variety of sports throughout the year or played sports at less intense levels.

The results of this study reflect what orthopedists have noticed in the last decade with the increasing number of kids showing up in our offices with throwing injuries, torn knee cartilage and stress fractures.

PROFESSIONAL LEVEL INJURIES 

 The growing corps of young adolescents and pre-adolescent baseball pitchers is now throwing excessive numbers of pitches during an unusually high number of innings for immature arm muscles. This has led to an epidemic of young athletes suffering ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries, requiring the so-called Tommy John Surgery. Tommy John was a left handed pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1970’s, who was the first baseball player to undergo UCL reconstruction surgery.  His successful recovery and return to achieve a record of 288 career victories.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears in youth athletes are also increasing at an alarming rate. While ACL tears are not so closely related to a particular sport statistic the way  UCL injuries are tied to pitch count, clearly the rapid rise of sports that involve running and sudden pivoting – think soccer, lacrosse, football, basketball and rugby – increases the likelihood of season ending ACL tears and reconstructive surgery.

OVERUSE INJURIES 

Unlike ACL injuries, which can be dramatic on-field experiences with players being helped off the field, the vast majority of injuries associated with excessive specialization and training are overuse injuries. Overuse injuries develop slowly over time, starting perhaps as a mild twinge before progressing into relentless, often debilitating pain.  Ironically, these injuries are relatively easy to treat with a period rest and activity modification.  All too often, players, their coaches and, sadly, parents, are often reluctant to have the athlete sit out a few practices and games.  Left untreated, overuse injuries can lead to tears in the muscles and tendons of the affected area, which require a lengthier rehabilitation and sometimes surgery.

Overuse injuries are typically sport specific. In baseball, the upper extremity is most often affected.  With Little league shoulder, the growth place of the humerus (arm bone) becomes inflamed by the repetitive motion of throwing with excessive force.  Similarly, Little league elbow involves injury to the growth plate along the inner portion of the elbow.

In the lower extremity, overuse injuries of the knee and ankle are very common. Osgood Schlatter and Jumper’s knee are injuries to the growth plate of the knee that can be a frustrating source of pain. These injuries are typically associated with repetitive impact activities (running, jumping, etc.) as seen in basketball, soccer and track.  In the ankle, Sever’s disease can lead to pain in the back of the heel.

HOW CAN WE PREVENT INJURIES?

The solution is simple but that doesn’t mean it is easy. Rest and activity modification can be difficult to execute in the middle of the season when the athlete is invested in playing and when parents have already invested much time and money to the sport.

Nevertheless, it is incumbent upon parents to insist their child rest to give the body the opportunity to heal before more serious injury occurs. If a week or two of rest doesn’t resolve the condition, the young athlete should be evaluated by an orthopedist or sports medicine specialist.

Repetitive activities such as throwing or running can lead to changes in the development of growing bones and joints. It has been known for some time now that significant amounts of pitching during adolescence can change the rotation and shape of the shoulder.

Moreover, there is a growing body of evidence indicating certain sports played excessively during adolescence are associated with the development of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (hip impingement), which can lead to hip problems often requiring surgery in adulthood.

In addition, numerous studies have shown that exposure in youth to a range of different sports that utilize different muscle groups and mechanical skills lead to the greater overall athleticism and better athletes.

Chocolate and Athletic Performance

Posted on April 25, 2016

Portrait Of Fitness Mature Man Eating A Energy Bar Of Chocolate

CAN CHOCOLATE IMPROVE ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE? SOME RESEARCHES SAY IT CAN.

Here’s one more study to suggest that indulging in chocolate and physical fitness are not mutually exclusive.  Past research has indicated that flavanols in cocoa beans have antioxidant effects the can help lower blood pressure, improve vascular function and reduce the cell damage involved in heart disease.  Now, research published in The Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition puts forward the notion that one of the flavanols in the cocoa bean and dark chocolate, epicatechin, can increase the production of nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide causes blood vessels to dilate and reduces oxygen consumption, which in turn seems to increase athletic performance.

Nitric acid is also a bi-product of nitrates in beetroot juice, which is popular among elite athletes because it enhances their endurance.  A  postgraduate research student from Kingston University in London, Rishikesh Kankesh Patel, wanted to know if dark chocolate could provide similar benefits.  His supervised study involved nine amateur cyclists who were put into two groups after establishing a baseline in fitness levels. For two weeks, the cyclists  replaced a daily snack with 1.5 ounces of chocolate, with one group consuming dark chocolate, the other  white chocolate. Following the two weeks, the participants performed  moderate cycling exercises and time trials while researchers measured their heart rates and oxygen consumption. The riders then took a week-long break from eating the sweet, then switched chocolate types and repeated the two-week trial and exercises tests.

Patel and his team, noted that after consuming dark chocolate, the athletes used less oxygen when cycling at a moderate pace and out-distanced their white chocolate eating counterparts in a 2-minute time trial.  While the results appear promising, more research with a larger study group is needed to determine such factors as the optimal quantity to consume, the time period in which to consume it, and the duration of benefits.

If those questions can be answered, however, dark chocolate may offer a tastier training tool to athletes who find beetroot juice too bitter to palate, and to anyone else looking for a good excuse to each chocolate.

ONS Surgeon Named Doctor of Distinction

Posted on April 20, 2016

PAUL SETHI, MD, WAS NAMED ONE OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY’S DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION BY WESTFAIR COMMUNICATIONS. 

Dr. Sethi, a sports medicine specialist and orthopedic surgeon at ONS, will be presented with the Cutting Edge Award  at the annual Fairfield County Doctors of Distinction Awards ceremony on Tuesday, May 3.  Dr. Sethi has received this recognition from Westfair Communications for his ongoing research into improving orthopedic surgical procedures  and help in creating international orthopedic surgical standards.  Doctors of Distinction

As President of the  ONS Foundation for Clinical Research and Education, Dr. Sethi’s research has recently included the establishment of  better methods for surgical skin preparation (cleaning) to lower the risk of surgical infection; development of a new technique to repair chronic or weakened biceps tendons; and the evaluation of surgical needles in tendon surgery to establish international guidelines on needle use. Additionally, Dr. Sethi has recently contributed a textbook chapter on shoulder fractures, and two chapters on treating elbow injuries in throwing athletes.

Learn more about Dr. Sethi’s outstanding career here.

 

An Added Level of Safety to Young Athletes

Posted on April 19, 2016

THE ORTHO ACCESS PROGRAM AT ONS OFFERS AN ADDED LEVEL OF SAFETY TO YOUNG ATHLETES WHO ARE INJURED ON THE FIELD. 

If you missed yesterday’s  Well column in The New York Times, it focused on the lack of national safety standards to protect student athletes from crippling or fatal injuries.  Individual states and theinjured on the field schools within them, for the most part, haven’t yet adopted injury prevention and treatment policies or procedures for children who play organized or league sports either. The responsibility is all too often left to coaches and parents to assess what measures to take when a young athlete is injured and when they can return to play. 500 student athletes died last year due to poor decisions made immediately following injury, according to the article. The ORTHO ACCESS program at ONS is designed to add an extra layer of medical support and injury prevention education for coaches, athletes, and parents. During the first critical moments after a player is hurt,  ONS ORTHO ACCESS sports medicine physicians helps to determine the best immediate course of action to take. Read  more.

 

 

ONS Featured in Greenwich Sentinel

Posted on January 25, 2016

sentinel_logo_transparentYou can learn about the early days of ONS and the philosophy that made us the most comprehensive and advanced practice the region. The writer, Sara Poirier Correa, did an excellent job explaining that with 22 top sub-specialty trained physicians, ONS is able to provide personalized services to patients. The article also highlights the Women’s Sports Medicine Center and the ONS Foundation for Clinical Research and Education, which has published internationally and competes among researchers at larger universities such as Harvard, Yale, and Johns Hopkins. http://bit.ly/1PNTkfh

 

Hip Arthroscopy: A New Solution for Hip Pain

Posted on September 30, 2015

TUESDAY, OCT 6th, 6PM 
FREE SEMINAR AT GREENWICH HOSPITAL 

Tim Greene
ONS sports medicine specialist Dr. Tim Greene will talk about common causes of chronic hip pain including hip impingement; a painful and often unrecognized condition that involves a tear in the labrum.

Now surgeons can repair labral damage and re-contour bone using hip arthroscopy, a minimally invasive technique that uses two small incisions, a small camera and miniaturized instruments.

WHERE:

Noble Conference Center
Greenwich Hospital
5 Perryridge Road, Greenwich, CT
Call to register 203-863-4277, or visit www.greenhosp.org.

 

Tim Greene, MD is a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon who specializes in Hip Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine will discuss treatment for hip pain. Dr. Greene graduated Princeton University and earned his medical degree at the Medical College of Georgia. He performed a residency in orthopedics at Emory University and served as associate team physician to the athletic teams at Georgia Tech. He completed fellowship training at the Steadman Hawkins Clinic in Vail, Colorado.

USA Rugby National Team Physician Marc Kowalsky, MD: Injury Prevention Strategy

Posted on July 22, 2015

Kowalsky MD World Rugby 2015 Pacific Nations CupONS Orthopedic Surgeon, Marc Kowalsky, MD, USA Rugby National Team physician returned from the Pacific Nations Cup this week.

“The USA Rugby National Team lost to Samoa in the first round of the Pacific Nations Cup, 21-16 at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, California. This match was a preview of the match-up between these two teams in pool play for the Rugby World Cup this fall. While the Samoans, ranked 9th in the world they jumped out to an early lead in the first half. The Eagles battled valiantly in the second half, but fell short of victory by only five points.” (more about the game)

Dr. Kowalsky traveled with the team during their week of preparation, and served as team physician for the match. The Eagles contended with a tough Samoan team, known for their physical style of play. Fortunately, neither team sustained catastrophic injuries during the match.

Now back in Connecticut, Dr. Kowalsky looks forward to the fall season of high school, collegiate, and men’s rugby, passing along to athletes these tips for injury prevention strategy:

  1. Adequate nutrition and hydration are imperative not only to optimize performance, but also to avoid overuse injuries during training and competition.
  2. A supervised strength and conditioning program is essential.
  3. Athletes must respond early to symptoms of impending injury when possible, and seek the care of their training staff and team physician.

Dr. Kowalsky is not only team physician for USA Rugby National Team but also for Iona College Rugby Football club and White Plains Rugby Football Club.

USA Rugby National Team Doctor from ONS

Posted on July 8, 2015
March 27, 2014; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; USA Men's Eagles training session before the second leg of the Rugby World Cup 2015 qualifier game against Uruguay at Life University
KOWALSKY, MD: March 27, 2014; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; USA Men’s Eagles training session before the second leg of the Rugby World Cup 2015 qualifier game against Uruguay at Life University

Rugby is one of the fastest growing sports in the United States, with a 33% annual increase in participation among youth athletes. In part, the popularity of rugby in the US can be attributed to an increased visibility of the sport at the high school and collegiate levels, and the recent success of the USA Rugby National Team. The US fields a “7s” and a “15s” team, characterized by the number of players on the field during competition. The 7s team recently qualified for participation in the 2016 Rio Olympics. This will be the first time the sport is featured in Olympic competition since 1924. The 15s team, otherwise known as the Eagles, is currently ranked 16th in the world, and qualified to compete this fall at the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England.

Orthopaedic & Neurosurgery Specialists have a long-standing tradition of providing orthopedic care for young rugby players. ONS doctors have served as team physicians for the Greenwich High School rugby team, one of the strongest high school teams in the country. Currently, orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist Dr. Marc Kowalsky is the team physician for the USA Rugby National Team. Having played rugby himself at Dartmouth College he understands the game from a medical and player’s perspective. He also serves as team physician for the Iona College Rugby Team and the White Plains Rugby Football Club.

“Injuries that are typically encountered in rugby encompass the entire spectrum of injuries treated in any collision sport.  As with American Football, there has been a significant increase in attention to concussion and traumatic brain injury in the sport. World Rugby, the governing body of international rugby, and USA Rugby, have devoted a significant amount of time, energy, and resources to optimize the prevention, detection and care of concussion and traumatic brain injury among rugby players.

Two of the important measures to prevent concussion from occurring are, avoiding contact in the sport at a young age, and proper instruction about safe tackling as contact is introduced.  At the elite level, techniques for safe tackling are certainly reinforced. From the perspective of the medical team, all members of the USA Rugby medical staff are required to complete the IRB Level 2 Immediate Care in Rugby Course to prepare for the management of catastrophic injuries during training and competition.  Physicians and trainers are additionally required to complete extensive training in the assessment and management of concussion in particular. 

Another key tool is a baseline neurocognitive exam to measure an athlete’s cognitive function, or the ability to process information. All players complete neurocognitive testing once they join the team, to establish baseline values for each athlete, which become important in the assessment of an athlete who may have sustained a concussion.”

Rugby,calcioWorld Rugby and USA Rugby continue to improve the medical team’s ability to assess injured athletes during competition. Clear guidelines have been established to guide treatment and determine an athlete’s ability to return to play.  All of these measures will be in place as the USA Rugby National Team prepares for competition in the Pacific Nation’s Cup, July 18, 2015. Dr. Kowalsky will accompany the team and serve as team physician.

ONS Stamford: Off to a Great Start

Posted on June 24, 2015
ONS_Stamford
5 High Ridge Park, 3rd floor, Stamford, CT 06905

On the evening of June 22, 2015, Orthopedic & Neurosurgery Specialists (ONS) held a grand opening celebration of a second ONS location at 5 High Ridge Park in Stamford, CT. The event was a first look at the new facility for the public, complete with informative stations about injury prevention, exercise tips and sports medicine stations with medical models and video presentations. Throughout the evening, around 200 guests toured the office, and learned about injuries and treatments of the foot and ankle, hand and wrist, shoulder and elbow, hip and knee, spine and Platelet Rich Plasma treatment. ONS physicians were available to answer questions. ONS Physical Therapy showcased injury prevention exercises for tennis, golf and running. Local businesses participated in the evening as guests enjoyed food and beverage and displays and a drawing of exciting prizes. The ONS physicians, clinicians and staff members were pleased with the opportunity to meet and greet the Stamford community! To learn more about our new Stamford office please visit https://onsmd.com/ons-stamford/.

STAMFORD OFFICE GRAND OPENING

Posted on June 11, 2015

ONS_GRAND_OPENING_Website

Orthopedic and Neurosurgery Specialists (ONS) in Greenwich and Stamford, CT has opened an expanded, state-of-the-art medical office and physical therapy facility in North Stamford. The new office is conveniently located off the Merritt Parkway at exit 35 at 5 High Ridge Park on the 3rd floor. Patients who choose to see a physician at the new location will find an aesthetically comfortable and healing environment that features the latest technology in imaging and electronic medical records.

A public grand opening celebration, “Your Prescription for Success: A Sports Medicine Event” will take place on June 22nd from 6 to 8 p.m. at the new office located at 5 High Ridge Park, 3rd floor in Stamford.

Come visit our brand new Orthopedic, Sports Medicine & Spine Center and Physical Therapy facility in High Ridge Park.

  • Tour the new facility and enjoy food and beverages.

  • Check out our golf, tennis and running stations to learn injury prevention tips and exercises from ONS Physical Therapists.

  • ONS physicians will talk about sports medicine related conditions and treatments.

  • Enter our drawing for exciting prizes.

To schedule an appointment at the new office in Stamford with the following physicians call, 203-869-1145.

James Cunningham, MD
Demetris Delos, MD
Tim Greene, MD
Marc Kowalsky, MD
Mark Yakavonis, MD
Scott Simon, MD
Christopher Sahler, MD
Katie Vadasdi, MD
Mark Vitale, MD

To schedule a physical therapy appointment call, 203-869-1145, option 3.

Directions

Northbound CT-15/Merritt Pkwy:

Exit 35 (CT-137/High Ridge Rd.), go straight at the light at the end of the exit ramp then continue on Buxton Farm Rd. In .7 miles, turn left onto Turn of River Rd. and continue into High Ridge Park. Building 5 is the 2nd building on the left.

Southbound CT-15/Merritt Pkwy:

Take Exit 35 (CT-137/High Ridge Rd.), at end of the ramp, turn right onto High Ridge Road (CT-137). In .1 miles, turn left onto Buxton Farm Road. In .7 miles, turn left onto Turn of River Rd. and continue into High Ridge Park. Building 5 is the 2nd building on the left.

  • Parking is in the rear of the building
  • Patient-drop off entrance and handicap accessible parking on lower level

ONS and ONS Physical Therapy are on the 3rd floor.

07/10/2019

An Arthritic Reality Check

Posted on May 7, 2015

“Arthritis affects more than 52 million adults in the United States and is the most common cause of disability,” according to the CDC. The pain from arthritis can set the stage for a decline in physical activity and make it difficult to prevent chronic health problems. Unfortunately, some who suffer from this ailment stop their activity and become depressed from thoughts of the mobility they once had.

Solutions for Knee Pain ArticleJane E. Brody, author of the “Keep  Moving to Stay a Step Ahead of Arthritis” article in The New York Times recently attempted to relate to those suffering from arthritis by speaking of her own battle with having to put down the tennis racket after decades of enjoying the sport, and her story did not end there. Two years after that, she had joint replacement surgery, picked up an assortment of other activities that successfully replaced tennis as a main source of activity. Therefore, encouraging others to do the same and not succumb to the depression that can sometimes come in hand with arthritis.

The reality is that the majority of people dealing with arthritis do not fully understand what they are capable of. Less than 10% of participants with arthritic knees in a 10-year study met the national guidelines of doing two and a half hours of moderate physical activity a week. Yes, you read that correctly, a week! It gets better though. Participants did notice a significant improvement of function when the amount of activity per week was increased. Additional weight on the body creates unnecessary stress on the major joints as well, leaving a 10% decrease in weight able to make a noticeable difference. With this fact a recommendation of starter exercises were mentioned, including walking laps in a swimming pool and then increasing activity as the muscles gain strength.

For more insightful tips, come to Dr. Delos’ talk about “Solutions for Knee Pain in Active Patients with Arthritis” tonight! The program is free and open to the public! Registration Requested. Aside from the talk, please consult your physician if this article has hit home and/or your quality of life is not what it once was; ONS provides excellent service and care for those in need, proudly keeping up-to-date with developments in the field.

ONS is Expanding!

Posted on April 23, 2015

Stamford announcment art.smWe are excited to announce that ONS will open an expanded, state-of-the-art office and physical therapy facility at 5 High Ridge Park in North Stamford in June. Construction began in January and is expected to be completed by the end of May.

The Stamford location will offer a team of physicians and clinical staff dedicated to that office. Some of our other surgeons from Greenwich will also maintain a schedule to see patients in Stamford on a weekly basis. In addition to the doctors’ office, the site will feature a state-of-the-art physical therapy facility outfitted with the latest equipment in an aesthetically comfortable and healing environment.

The new facility is being added in order to accommodate ONS’s growing patient population in the Stamford, New Canaan, Darien and surrounding communities. “Many of our patients come from the Stamford area. Now they can receive the excellent level of orthopedic and neurosurgical care they count on without having to drive to Greenwich,” explained Dr. Seth Miller. In house x-ray and a fully integrated electronic medical records system will make the ONS Stamford office a convenient choice for patients in that area.

Collaborative Solutions for Safety in Sport 2015

Posted on April 22, 2015
Gloria Cohen, MD
Gloria Cohen, MD

ONS specialists are on a mission to spread the word about health! Gloria Cohen, MD participated in the first Collaborative Solutions for Safety in Sport Meeting at the NFL Headquarters in New York City on March 26-27 with more than 20 other members of the AMSSM (American Medical Society for Sports Medicine); an organization of sports medicine physicians in multiple fields dedicated to education, research, and advocacy.

The meeting was strongly influenced by the “2013 Inter-Association Task Force for Preventing Sudden Death in Secondary School Athletic Programs: Best Practice Recommendations” giving it a focus on safety and health issues at the secondary sports level. Speakers encouraged best practices and protocols and this fit perfectly with Cohen’s belief in a comprehensive approach to prevention and treatment of injury. They concerned the establishment with heat-related illnesses, cardiac conditions (use of AEDs), head and neck injuries and the overarching need for emergency action plans in all high schools. ONS would like to thank the participants for understanding how important preventative care is.

Aside from the talk Dr. Cohen is not only a recognized authority in sports medicine, she is a successful competitive runner who has qualified twice for the New York Marathon. She has also held the title as head team physician for the Canadian National Olympic Cycling Team for 14 years while still enjoying off-road and road cycling herself. All in all, we are incredibly proud to have her on our team.