Knee Osteoarthritis - early options

Patients are advised to diagnose their chronic knee pain early so that they may benefit from early intervention measures especially if they have osteoarthritis. However, the patient should always be assessed with the need to maintain a healthy lifestyle to prevent worsening of other medical conditions e.g. cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity.

Some of the early treatment options often offered to patients are:-
1. Individualised exercise programs and weight management
2. Electrotherapy
3. Daily Glucosamine Sulphate supplementation
4. Pain medication (under doctor's supervision)
5. Hyaluronic acid injection (3 - 5 weekly doses)

If the patient works closely with the treating physician and physiotherapist, such treatment would result in a better outcome.

Team Physician of the KL Dragons

Dr Aston has been appointed Team Physician to the KL Dragons in the Asian Basketball League (ABL). The league started on the 14th October 2009 as is expected to end in February 2010. Find out more about the match schedule to support the KL Dragons.

1ST MALAYSIA INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY TOURNAMENT 2009

There's an exciting adrenaline pumping Ice-Hockey International event coming up this weekend. Paramedics and doctors volunteers are wanted during the whole tournament.


Important Details:
Sept 2-5 (Wednesday to Saturday)
Time: Sept 2 :8pm to midnight
Sept 3 & 4 :8am to midnight
Sept 5 :8am to 7pm
Venue: Sunway Pyramid Ice Rink
Estimated number of players: 180-200
Players' ages: 5-50
Organizer: Malaysia Ice Hockey Federation (MIHF)
Contact person: EeLaine (012-2261048) or Dr Aston (019-2103787)

See the video of launch and join us if you love the excitement!

Chronic knee pain

Serious recreational athletes are often advised to stop sporting activities (e.g. jogging, fultsal and badminton) without diagnosing the condition of their knee pain. A proportion of these people do not remember even having a fall or injury while playing sports but have eventually started having knee pain lasting from weeks to months.

Many of such patients would benefit from a visit to their Sports Physician or Orthopaedic doctors for a detailed examination. Even elderly folks have returned to an active lifestyle when they started doing regular simple rehabilitation exercises. Within weeks to months, some recreational athletes would be able to return to sports if they do not require surgery.

Read up more on knee injuries here.

Dance and Rhythmic Gymnastics: Injuries Revisited

We have seen our dancers and gymnasts suffer from injuries which are preventable. Many still suffer as they would not allow pain to stop them from performing. But the time has come for us to equip ourselves with knowledge which could set us apart from the others.

Find out what we should know about injuries in dance and rhythmic gymnastics. Why do these injury occur? How can we prevent such injuries? How do we treat such injuries?

Date: Postponed to a future date
Venue: Dr Aston Sports Clinic
No.6, Jalan SS2/3,
47300 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor.

Kindly contact me to indicate interest in attending this course. A minimum of 20 participants required. A registration fee of RM30 is chargeable.

Taping workshop for athletes and coaches

Athletes and coaches are invited for a taping workshop at DASC!

Date: 13th June 2009
Time: 2.00pm-5.00pm
Venue: Dr Aston Sports Clinic
No.6, Jalan SS2/3,
47300 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor.

Contact: 03-78774399 or draston@gmail.com

Registration Fee: RM30/participant (includes athletic tape)
Kindly RSVP before 6th June 2009.

Google Map

Vital Treatment for the First 24 hours

If you have just sprained your ankle or twisted your knee, remember to do RICE Treatment i.e. Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation.

Rest the injured part and discontinue play.

Apply ice for 15 - 20 minutes only. Use ice cubes or crushed ice in a plastic bag and add water to ensure it isn't too cold! You may insulate it with a dry cloth. You would soon find the swelling less painful and swollen. Repeat the icing after every 4 hours for 2-3 days.

Apply a crepe bandage for compression. Ensure that it isn't too tight to restrict blood circulation of your toes or fingers.

Keep your injured limb elevated above the level of the heart. This would help it drain the swelling.

Do not try to massage the injured limb as it may worsen the condition. Check with your sports doctor first!

Athletic Taping - An option to feel more confident at play

Many athletes continue to suffer in silence despite having nagging injuries giving them recurrent soreness and instability during sports. Those who have the privilege of care from sports physicians or physiotherapists may have been offered athletic taping to reinforce weakened ligaments, support unstable joints or provide a pain-free range of motion during play.

In order to utilise this technique, you should do the following:-
1. Identify the injury and the problem
2. Determine the requirements of your sports
3. Obtain the skills to tape the injured part
4. Apply the tape and try out the skills required by the sports
5. Remove the tape after the training /match

Always seek the advice of trained personnel before attempting to tape on your own. Remember, practise makes perfect!

China Press: Interview with Dr Aston

Here's an interesting article in China Press on the 11th March 2009. You can find the link here.

Exercise therapy back to sports

Many athletes and patients suffer from recurring pain and injury due to inadequate exercise therapy. Most athletes would have been prescribed an exercise programme which takes a specified period of time by the sports physician or physiotherapist. However, some drop out of the programme once they are pain-free or more mobile before they are fully functional.

Various components of rehabilitation (e.g. strength, power, flexibility, endurance, sense of balance and position) have to be incorporated to the exercise therapy to ensure that the athlete does not re-injure himself or worsen the injury.

Talk to your sports physician and physiotherapist periodically to ensure that you are progressing well in your exercise therapy. Note that there is no short cut to full recovery as damaged tissue will take time to heal.

Former athletes who are now coaches get pointers on sports medicine

An exclusive interview with the Star Metro featured today (page M31) can be read here.

Here are some excerpts from the article: “Working with elite athletes during my tenure with the NSI from 1997 to 2005, we were required to be performance-orientated in getting the athletes back in action. Apply­ing a similar approach, we found that recreational and junior athletes also recuperate faster when they are given a specific target to meet in their recovery process,” he added.

Helping patients to get back on their feet and perform to their true potential is the most rewarding part of the job for Dr Ngai.

Sports Medicine Lecture & Workshop Series: 14th February 2009 - 21st March 2009

A series of Introductory Sports Medicine lectures / workshops was held at Dr Aston Sports Clinic every Saturday 3.00pm - 5.00pm from the 14th February 2009 - 21st March 2009. This event was held in collaboration with Sports Goodwill Ambassadors.

Venue: Dr Aston Sports Clinic (see Google Map)

Lecture 1: 14th February 2009

Title: Sports Participation - How can it be safer?

Lecture 2: 21st February 2009
Title: Sports Injury - The Do's and Dont's

Lecture 3: 28th February 2009

Title: Common Sports Injuries

Lecture 4: 7th March 2009
Injury Rehabilitation - The missing link

Workshop 1: 14th March 2009

Title: Athletic Taping Part I (Lower Limb)

Workshop 2: 21st March 2009
Title: Athletic Taping Part II (Upper Limb)

We would like to thank volunteers and participants who attended the lectures and workshops for making the educational event a success.

Sports Injury Consultation

Most sports injuries can be diagnosed by your sports physician or Orthopaedic Surgeon by asking a few questions followed by physical examination.

The following sports injuries are common amongst recreational and elite athletes:
1. Ankle sprain
2. Non-specific knee pain (knee)
3. Hamstring strain (thigh)
4. Rotator-cuff tendon injury (shoulder)
5. Low Back Pain
6. Tennis elbow and Golfer's elbow
7. Calf muscle strain (Gastrocnemius)
8. Adductor strain
9. Plantar fasciitis

It only takes your clinician 10 - 15 minutes to determine the nature and severity of the injury. Sometimes he may request for further investigations (e.g. X-ray, Ultrasound Scan or MRI) to obtain a more definite diagnoses and determine the extent of injury. These investigations may be useful to determine whether you require surgery.

Usually your clinician will suggest physiotherapy if the sports injury does not require surgery. Some injuries do very well without surgical intervention. If you are an elite athlete, you may undergo a more intensive rehabilitation programme required for your sports. Always discuss the options with your clinician, physiotherapist and coach before deciding on the options of treatment.

Internship and Vacancy: Physiotherapist & Sports Trainer

A Diploma / Graduate Physiotherapist with a keen interest in sports injury rehabilitation. Either Full-time or part-time. Able to work both in the clinic and in the field. Previous experience an added advantage.

Students who are interested to do a short internship at DASC are encouraged to write in with a letter from their university / college. Selected students will be offered a place for internship after an interview.

Send your CV to Dr Aston Ngai Seng Huey at draston@gmail.com.