The Orthopedic Clinic Association | TOCA

Happy New Year!

"Happy New Year" from The Orthopedic Clinic Association!

Want To Learn More About How MRIs Work? Find Out More Here!

Understanding how to treat potential sports injuries before they happen is an excellent way to prepare yourself for possible injury.  Similarly, before having an exam like an MRI, it’s good to learn what the procedure can be used for, and how the machine works.  For more information regarding either of these subjects, read through the following resources and contact your orthopedic surgeon in Arizona by calling (602) 639-4027. TOCA has experienced and talented physicians in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe and Glendale.

• This article from National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases offers guidelines to help you decipher whether you need to make a trip to the doctor or not. 
  
  
• To learn more about MRI testing, including how MRI machines function, what you can expect during an MRI scan, and what physicians can use MRI images to visualize, check out this article from WebMD.
  
  
• If you’d like to understand the science behind an MRI scanner, you should definitely read this in-depth article from How Stuff Works.
  
  
• Radiology Info, a website entirely focused on radiology tests and imaging, discusses MRI scans in this article. 

Happy Holidays from TOCA!

The TOCA team would like to wish you "Happy Holidays!" Enjoy the time with your loved ones and have a safe holiday weekend.

What To Do If You Have A Sports Injury

Anyone who is serious about their sport of choice is likely to eventually experience an injury on the field or court.  Before your first sports injury, learn what steps you can take to help recover from your injury as soon as possible so you can return to your passion as soon as possible.

When You Are Injured

When you experience injury, whether it is acute or chronic, you should never try to push through the pain.  As soon as you are injured, the first thing that you should do is stop the activity that caused the injury immediately.  If you continue said activity, you’ll likely worsen injuries.

Evaluating Your Injury

Most soft tissue injuries can be treated at home, but you’ll have to assess your injury to know if you need to seek medical help.  See your physician or sports medicine doctor if you experience the following:

• Severe pain, numbness, or swelling.
• The pain of an old injury coupled with an increase in swelling or joint abnormality and instability.
• Pain that prevents you from bearing weight in the injured area.

An injury without these symptoms can most likely be treated at home.  However, if you are treating your injury at home and your symptoms do not improve or worsen, seek medical care.

Treating Your Injury At Home

For soft tissue injuries, such as bruises, sprains, and strains, put to use the R.I.C.E. principle.

1. Rest: Resting your injury will allow it enough time to heal properly.

2. Ice: Ice your injury intermittently for 24 to 48 hours.  Applying ice to your injury will help manage pain and reduce inflammation.

3. Compression: Use a compression bandage to limit swelling.

4. Elevation: Elevate the injured area to reduce swelling.

If you have experienced an injury too severe to treat at home and you need a physician trained in sports medicine to get you back in the game, turn to the orthopedic surgeons and medical professionals of The Orthopedic Clinic Association.  At TOCA, our physicians serve the Phoenix, Scottsdale, Glendale, Tempe and Mesa areas with individualized care for our patients.  Call us at (602) 639-4027 today to schedule your appointment.

Girls' Sports Injury Prevention

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, as they say.  Preventing injury is one of the best ways that you can take care of your body.  In this video, you’ll learn how one program is teaching girls a new approach to sports injuries: prevention through dynamic exercises that strengthen core muscles and improve agility. 

If you have already experienced a sports injury and need an orthopedic surgeon in the Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, or Glendale areas, call the outstanding staff of The Orthopedic Clinic Association (TOCA) at (602) 639-4027.  With a wide variety of physicians and specialist available to treat you with individualized care, TOCA is an outstanding option for your orthopedic care.