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Ask the Expert
Davis Tsai, MD
Orthopaedic Surgeon
Kennedy Center
for the Hip and Knee
at Mercy Medical Center
Q. What are your top tips for keeping my knees healthy?
A. Exercise: Development of leg muscles, particularly quadriceps and hamstrings, can help prevent knee trouble. It has been proven women are more likely to suffer a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which is a more serious knee problem impacting function and stability. Cross-training, stretching, and strengthening can all help knees stay pain-free and problem-free. While knee pain should always be checked with a doctor to rule out injury, early arthritis, or other serious conditions, the good news is that knee pain from overuse is usually remedied with ice, rest, and exercises that promote healing.
Pacing: Always warm up before you exercise, and choose your workouts wisely. Know your limits. Give yourself time to get in shape, and don't try to do too much too soon. Follow the 10 percent rule: Never increase the duration or intensity of your exercise or activity by more than 10 percent in a week. Train for at least two months before beginning stressful activities such as skiing or running in a race. Strength, flexibility, aerobic, and core exercises will help prevent knee and other injuries. Remember a cool-down stretch helps prevent injuries as well.
Weight management: The more a joint has to carry, the more damage it experiences in the long run. This is especially true for knees, which have to support your body weight. Every extra pound you carry puts an average of five pounds of added stress on your knees when you move, so being just 10 pounds overweight is like having 50 extra pounds of pressure on your joints and increases your chances of developing arthritis.
Let the doctor take a look: With new technologies like MRI scans and arthroscopy, diagnosis and treatment can be figured out quickly and easily compared to years ago. Many knee patients often need physical therapy and home exercises to treat their conditions, but if untreated these can result in more serious injuries.
Treatment plan: New and improved physical therapy treatments are making patients pain-free sooner. Work with your physical therapist for the recovery plan that fits your lifestyle. Back off from activities such as walking hills or knee-bending exercises that cause you pain. Wear shoes appropriate for an activity. Seek proper arch support if your feet roll in.
Have a question for our experts? Click here. |
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Try This!
Workplace Wellness Tip
Don't Gain,
Maintain
It's that time of year again! Time to start your "Don't Gain - Maintain" challenges. The goal is for employees to maintain their current weight over the holiday season, between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. Everyone whose pre-holiday and post-holiday weigh-ins prove steady will be rewarded with a prize.
For ideas, help, and resources to develop this or other fun fitness challenges to keep employees focused on wellness during the holidays, call Affinity Occupational Health at 1-800-541-0351. |
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Breakfast
With the Experts
Foot and Ankle Issues
in the Work Environment
Presented by
Richard Hammond, DPM
Affinity Medical Group
Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011
7:30 - 9:30 a.m.
Bridgewood Resort and Conference Center
1000 Cameron Way, Neenah
Your feet may be the furthest from your mind both physically and mentally. We take them for granted, but healthy feet are fundamental to the quality of your life. They are often the indicators of overall health, so we need to take care of them.
Richard Hammond, Doctor of Podiatric Medicine at Affinity Medical Group, will discuss prevention and treatment for foot and ankle problems common in all workplaces. Topics include heel pain, foot and ankle conditions, and foot and ankle trauma.
Dr. Hammond will also cover foot-related issues that diabetics may face and how proper diabetes management can help avoid serious complications.
Dr. Hammond is board-certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery in Foot Surgery and Reconstructive Rearfoot and Ankle Reconstructive Surgery and graduated from Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine.
To register for this free seminar, contact Tammy Davis at (920) 628-1532 or tadavis@affinityhealth.org. |
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Greetings!
Bodies were made to move. At work, at play, and everywhere in between, healthy bones, muscles and joints are vital to an active lifestyle. But what happens when an injury or illness affects your flexibility? Affinity Occupational Health works hand-in-hand with Affinity's Orthopaedics experts to get employees back to work and back to regular activities as quickly and safely as possible. In this edition of Health e-News, read about how to keep your knees healthy, meet our new northern region Orthopaedics providers, and discover the benefits of case management for employee and employer alike. Plus everyone can glean some wisdom from our feature article, "Why Stay in Shape?" It's not your typical list of do's and don'ts. As always, an employee version of this newsletter is available at: http://conta.cc/sd0EDY. Please pass it on!
In good health,
Lisa Kogan-Praska
Director, Employer Solutions and Urgent Care
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Why Stay in Shape?
I'm in shape. I'm round. Round is a shape!
That old joke may be funny, but the truth is there are plenty of benefits to staying fit -- not just for the mirror's sake, but for your personal and work health as well. Here are some reasons you may not have considered for why it pays to get in shape and stay in shape.
Longevity on the job. If you work a manual labor job, you know it helps to maintain strength and endurance. Regular exercise and smart eating can keep you "young" through the years. But even if you work a desk job, don't think you're exempt. Staying fit can help ward off chronic illness such as heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer. The healthier you are, the more time you'll spend in the board room than the exam room. Which means your career ambitions can charge ahead uninterrupted.
Maintain your A game. Just like athletes train for the season, all workers should equip themselves with the skills and tools to play their best. Healthy eating boosts energy. Exercise defends against weight gain, depression, and energy slumps. A fit body helps support a sharp mind -- something everybody needs in order to perform well at work and at home.
Bones have a shelf life. Bodies aren't made with spare parts. Excess weight can wear down joints, leading to painful mobility and eventually surgery to replace ailing knees and hips. If you want to keep your original components, staying in shape can help.
$avings. Your health insurance and life insurance premiums may be tied to your health status. Non-smokers in good health can spend hundreds of dollars less on insurance payments each year compared to their poor-health counterparts.
Little eyes are watching. The next generation is bombarded with opportunities to indulge in unhealthy habits. Soda, fast food, and sedentary activities such as computers, television and video games are tempting our youth into obesity and chronic illness. We can set a positive example for our kids and grandkids by staying active, planning healthy family recreation, eating balanced meals, and rewarding healthy behavior. After all, what better payoff can we see than to ensure our legacy continues in both the workplace and at home?
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 On the Case
Complimentary case management services expanded
Occupational Health case managers are priceless. And now their services are being offered at all major entry points to our system.
What does a case manager do?
- When an employee is injured, the case manager gets the patient on track, helping him or her better understand the medical maze and return to work.
- Communication starts with a phone call. The case manager contacts the patient to discuss the situation and answer questions.
- Case managers serve as liaisons, facilitating communication among the patient, employer, and care providers. They are the pivot point from which everyone involved can share information.
- They're also educators, keeping all parties informed of available resources and Worker Comp laws.
Who benefits from having a case manager?
Everyone! When all parties are communicating openly and knowledgeably, the provider can offer the most effective treatment while the patient and employer can enjoy a more efficient recovery and return-to-work process.
How can I learn more?
If you have questions or want to speak with an Affinity Occupational Health Case Manager, call:
Joy Marks - case manager, Menasha - (920) 727-8733
Karyn Tellock - case manager, Oshkosh - (920) 223-7254
Sue Meyer, case manager, both sites - (920) 727-8742
Did you know? Affinity Occupational Health case managers also assist truck drivers with meeting their medical requirements for the federal medical card. For more information, call Joy or Karyn.
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 What's Happening at Affinity?
Grand Opening - Emergency Care
Welcome to your new Emergency Department at St. Elizabeth Hospital! The newly renovated space opened Oct. 25, with much to offer.
- The new ED was designed by and for patients. The design process took into account more than 700 patient interviews and surveys, and input from more than 100 employees.
- The wait is over! The new ED is designed for immediate rooming, meaning no more lingering in the waiting room. Each patient is quickly escorted to a personal care area.
- Included are 48 private rooms, a four-bay infusion suite, and two oversized hyperbaric oxygen chambers.
- Tranquility abounds. Nature-inspired murals are painted on sound-absorbing material for maximum quiet. Soft daylight bulbs are provided for patient comfort. Radiant heat panels are positioned over trauma beds to keep patients warm.
- Safety and privacy are top priorities. Rooms are equipped with sliding frosted glass doors for privacy and infection control. The new ED also eliminates most horizontal surfaces to reduce infection risk.
- Affinity's commitment to sustainability makes its mark throughout new the ED. The facility is made from reclaimed, recycled and natural materials. It is designed to reduce energy consumption by 25 percent. And during construction, Affinity diverted more than 500 tons of debris from landfills.
With an estimated 40,000 patients visiting the ED this coming year, this state-of-the-art facility will make a significant positive impact on our community. See for yourself! Click here to take a virtual tour. |
| Get to Know Our Physicians
Orthopaedic care at Affinity is getting an exciting lift. Welcome our new team of orthopaedic specialists to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton.  Alex Garcia, MD, is an orthopaedic provider specializing in sports medicine and the non-operative treatment of joint and back pain. With a background in family medicine, Dr. Garcia focuses on developing relationships with patients and families. His goal is to help patients return to full function as quickly as possible, minimizing disability and time away from sports, work or school. He has special interests in wellness, fitness, and injury prevention.  Joseph McCormick, III, MD, is an orthopaedic surgeon with a special interest in sports medicine. Dr. McCormick is committed to getting his patients "back in the game" while improving their function and pain. He provides care to patients of all ages and athletes of every skill level. He specializes in arthroscopy of the knee, shoulder, elbow and ankle; sports-related injuries; knee and shoulder replacement; and fracture care.  Thomas Hoeft, DO, provides orthopaedic surgery care to adults of all ages. Dr. Hoeft believes in listening and developing relationships with his patients to provide the least complicated treatment. He has diverse experience in knee and hip replacement, arthroscopy of knees and shoulders, rotator cuff repairs, fracture care, and general orthopaedic surgeries. All three physicians see patients at the Affinity Medical Group Orthopaedics clinic located on the fourth floor of the Madison Center, on the St. Elizabeth Hospital campus in Appleton, 1531 S. Madison Street. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (920) 996-3700. |
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