Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Bike Fit using Video Motion Analysis Dartfish


Many injuries that occur as a result of ridding a bike can be traced back to poor bike positioning.
The first step to correcting a problem or gaining some watts on the bike is with a proper bike fit. There are many schools of thought and methods but I feel that SICI ( Serotta International Cycling Institute) has the best methods, training staff and the ability to know its reproducible. Using Video to analyze motion has been around for years the first exposure I had was working with Dr. Robert Roe a chiropractor that had worked at the Olympic training center in Colorado in the early 90 using a much more cumbersome and primitive form of analysis. At that time we were using it to evaluate work loads on patients. Now I have been using Dart fish to analyze bio-mechanics of all types of athletes. At SICI we trained using there fitting principles and High Def cameras to evaluate motion down to the smallest detail. It is a more dynamic fitting process that can breakdown movement to a much higher degree. When you add power and HR data things get even more interesting. The amount of information and precision is really remarkable. I have added a video of a fit I did in Northern Virginia of a Pro cyclist that is having a few problems even after several Bike fits by other professionals.



This is an example of a marker that was placed on his right leg that is short when compared to the left and is not tracking properly. The patient feels like his right leg is wobbly and dives in medialy on the power stoke. He notes hitting the top tube. I will also let you know that after the exam I also found very specific weak core strength that needed to be address. Using this software and combining that my physical exam finding I am able to find a new starting point to make small adjustments until the correct fit is obtained.

Dr. Rick Rosa
Fairfax & Alexandria VA
703-876-5600



Thursday, February 11, 2010

Shoes for Achilles Tendonitis

Right shoe can protect Achilles tendon -
Sports Injuries -prevent injuries - Brief Article

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), Feb, 2002

Athletes who experience painful Achilles tendon injuries could prevent them by being more careful when selecting athletic shoes, according to Michael K. Lowe, a foot and ankle surgeon in Salt Lake City, Utah, and team podiatrist for the NBA's Utah Jazz. "Athletic shoes that bend in the midfoot area lack proper support and put more pressure on the heel and Achilles tendon. If you can bend a shoe in the middle, it shouldn't be worn for any sport that requires running or jumping."

The Achilles connects the calf muscle to the heel bone and is the largest tendon in the body. Injuries occur when it is stretched excessively, causing severe inflammation or a tearing or rupture of the tendon. "When the middle of the sole in an athletic shoe collapses, the pressure is transferred from the midfoot area to the heel, which can stretch the Achilles tendon too much," he points out. "Eventually, Achilles tendonitis will result or, worse, a rupture that requires surgery."

Lowe says that excessive wear weakens midfoot support, so athletes should replace worn shoes on a regular basis to reduce injury risk. "Runners, for example, should replace their shoes every 350 to 400 miles."

The warning signs of Achilles tendonitis are pain and swelling in the tendon area following exercise. It usually worsens over time, and often the leg will feel stiff or tired. Achilles tendonitis can be treated with rest, ice, and anti-inflammatory drugs. If symptoms persist, a consultation with a foot and ankle surgeon will determine the extent of the problem and the potential risk for rupturing the tendon. In many cases, orthotics are prescribed to provide additional support and protection for the heel area. Surgery, however, is the primary treatment for repairing a ruptured Achilles tendon, and recovery from this procedure is slow and requires extensive rehabilitation.

In addition to selecting the proper footwear, Lowe suggests other precautions athletes should take to reduce their risk for Achilles tendon injuries: "Stretching and walking are strongly advised before any strenuous exercise, and those who are beginning an exercise program should gradually increase the difficulty of their workouts to allow the calf muscles to adjust and become more flexible."

COPYRIGHT 2002 Society for the Advancement of Education
COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1272/is_2681_130/ai_82748804/



Chiropractor
Fairfax VA 22031
Alexandria VA 22304

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Chiropractic Care at Winter Olympics

A great article from www.tmcnet.com

Chiropractic Care Included in 2010 Olympic Vancouver Winter Games at On-Site Polyclinic - A First for Olympic Athletes

CARMICHAEL, Calif. --(Business Wire)-- For the first time in the history of the Olympic Games, the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada, will include chiropractic care inside the Olympic Village Polyclinic, a multi-disciplinary facility that offers comprehensive health care and medical services. While doctors of chiropractic (D.C.s) have historically been included on the Olympic medical staff, the upcoming events mark the first time that D.C.'s from the host country will be treating athletes and officials from around the world directly inside the Polyclinic.

"This is an historic event not only for the chiropractic profession, but also the athletes who will now have access to the care that will help them prepare their bodies for competition," states Michael Reed, D.C., MS, DACBSP, and Team USA Medical Director (USOC). "These athletes train hard and endure significant physical demands. Sports-focused D.C.s, along with other members of the sports medicine team, are specially skilled to assist them in reaching peak performance." Throughout the years, chiropractic has become a mainstay in the care of world-class athletes, leading to a growing number of D.C.s included in the Olympic Games. Countless athletes attribute the care they receive from their chiropractors -- working along-side other health care professionals - as a key to properly preparing their bodies to perform optimally.

Chiropractic care has experienced several major moments in Olympic history, dating back to Leroy Perry, D.C., who provided chiropractic care to athletes representing Antigua during the 1976 Games in Montreal, Canada. During the 1980 Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, NY, George Goodheart, D.C., became the first official chiropractor appointed to the U.S. team. With each subsequent Olympic Games and Pan American Games, the U.S. teams -- along with a growing number of other national teams -- have included at least one doctor of chiropractic on their medical staff, culminating with the 2010 Winter Games incorporation of chiropractic care inside the Polyclinic.

"Inclusion inside the Polyclinic is another major milestone for the chiropractic profession, and we are grateful to the Host City of Vancouver, the head of Medical Services at the Polyclinic, Jack Taunton, M.D., and to Robert Armitage, D.C., who helped make this possible," concludes recently promoted USOC Director of Sports Medicine Clinics, Bill Moreau, D.C., DACBSP.

About the Olympic Polyclinic: The polyclinic is a 10,000-square-foot multi-disciplinary facility that includes comprehensive health care and medical services including emergency medicine (available 24 hours); primary care and sports medicine; a full range of therapy services; dentistry; an eye clinic; imaging; a diagnostic laboratory; and a full spectrum of consultant specialists. Essentially, most health-care needs for athletes or officials residing at the village will be provided at the polyclinic. For life/limb-threatening conditions, Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) is a short distance away.

About F4CP A not-for-profit organization, the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (F4CP) embraces a singular mission to promote positive press for the profession in national, regional and local media. Through effective and ongoing initiatives, the Foundation's goal is to raise awareness to the many benefits provided by doctors of chiropractic. The F4CP relies upon strategic marketing campaigns that span prominent spokespersons, monthly press releases, public service announcements, and advertisements in high-profile media outlets. To learn more about the Foundation, please visit us on the web at www.foundation4cp.com or call 866-901-f4cp.


Chiropractor Fairfax VA 22031