The untimely death of actress Natasha Richardson from head trauma sustained in a fall while skiing brings to mind the tragic skiing deaths of other celebrities. In January 1998, Sonny Bono died of injuries after hitting a tree while skiing in Nevada and Michael Kennedy, one of son Robert F. Kennedy sons, also died while skiing in Aspen, Colorado. Neither of these men nor Richardson had been wearing a helmet.

The official cause of death for Natasha Richardson was epidural hematoma or bleeding between the skull and the covering of the brain. This is often a treatable condition but only if the victim can be hospitalized immediately. Health experts strongly recommend that all skiers and snowboarders wear helmets. The National Ski Areas Association reports that helmet usage in the United States has grown significantly in recent years. According to their studies, 43 percent of U.S. skiers and boarders wore helmets in 2007/08 compared to only 25 percent of skiers and boarders during the 2002/03 season. Here is a list of other celebrities who have died while skiing.

Unfortunately, it often takes a high profile accident such as Richardson’s to make the public aware of the importance of safety measures like wearing a helmet on the slopes. Hopefully, this incident will be incentive enough. Have questions about skiing or head injuries? Please post them at Healia Communities.

_{Photo: Rick Smit, Flickr, Creative Commons}

Whether you play sports competitively or just in your own backyard, the benefits to your fitness level and overall health can be incredible. However, a major downside of sports and exercise is the increased likelihood of suffering an injury. Depending on the activity, the severity of such injuries can range from minor to very serious. Some of these injuries are caused by accidents, while others may result from poor training practices, flawed technique, or improper equipment. Sometimes injuries occur when people are not properly conditioned for a particular activity. Failing to warming up or stretching out before you play or exercise can also lead to injuries.

The top 7 most common sports injuries are:

• Sprains and strains. By far the most common types of injuries that occur during physical activity are sprains and strains. Sprains occur when a ligament, a band of connective tissue that attaches bones to each, overstretches or tears. They can range in severity from minor to complete – in which the entire ligament is severed. They are most common in knees, ankles, or wrists. Strains (also referred to as a “pulled muscle”) occur when the fibers within a muscle or tendon – connective tissue that connects muscle to bone – stretch too far or tear. Strains can also range from minor to severe.


• Knee injuries.Anyone who has ever played competitive sports knows how common knee injuries can be. Each year, more than five million people visit orthopedic surgeons for their knee problems. Milder knee injuries include runner's knee (pain or tenderness near the front side of the kneecap, iliotibial (IT) band syndrome (pain in the outer knee), and tendonitis (inflammation or degeneration within a tendon). More severe knee injuries involve bone bruising or damage to the cartilage or ligaments. There are two types of cartilage in the knee. Four major ligaments that are commonly injured include the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), the medial collateral ligament (MCL), and the lateral collateral ligament (LCL).


• Swollen muscles. Also called “compartment syndrome,” muscle swelling can occur due to a blow or ongoing overuse move. When muscles swell, they enlarge and press against the connective tissue sheaths which surround them, kind of like blowing up a balloon inside a glass. This can causing interference with nerves and blood vessels and may also damage the muscles themselves.


• Achilles tendon injuries. The Achilles tendon (also called the calcaneal tendon) connects to two large muscles of the calf to the back of the heel. This thick tendon is under a lot of tension and so awkward blows can cause tears that are said to be incredibly painful. The most common cause of Achilles tendon tears is weakening due to tendonitis, which makes the tendon more likely to rupture.


• Shin splints. Pain along the shin bone (tibia) known as shin splints can occur at the front outside part of the lower leg, including the foot and ankle (anterior shin splints) or at the inner edge of the bone where it meets the calf muscles (medial shin splints). They are most common in runners, especially those who run on hard surfaces. Contributing factors to shin splints include failing to warm up or stretch out, improper running technique, running in shoes that lack proper support, and having “flat” feet.


• Fractures. Also known as broken bones, fractures are a common sports injury often caused by a one-time injury to the bone (acute fracture) but they may also be caused by repeated stress to the bone over time (stress fracture). Acute fractures can cause a small crack in a bone or a complete break. Most are emergencies and may require surgical intervention for proper healing to occur. Stress fractures occur almost exclusively in the legs and feet and are common in sports that cause repetitive impact from running or jumping such as basketball and gymnastics.


• Dislocations. Also known as a luxation, a dislocation occurs when bones in a joint are forced out of alignment. This type of injury is most common in contact sports such as football, but can also occur due to excessive stretching or a fall. Dislocations are usually emergencies that require medical treatment. Even if the bones can be put back into place, the damage done to the connective tissue surrounding the joint can be severe. The joints of the fingers and hand are most likely to be dislocated, followed by the shoulder. Dislocations of the knees, hips, and elbows are less common.

For more information about knee injuries, join the Healia Health Community for Knee Injuries and Disorders.


_{Source: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, NIH, Publication No. 04-5278, April 2004. http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/health/sports/injuries.htm}

_{Photo: Monica's Dad, Flickr, Creative Commons}

Some of the National Football League’s (NFL’s) biggest stars have been sidelined recently by staphylococcus (staph) infections. First it was reported that Cleveland Browns tight end Kellen Winslow had to be hospitalized for three days in mid-October after he contracted his second staph infection in the past three years. The Browns eventually admitted that seven such infections had occurred in Browns players over the past four years.

Next, the Boston Herald reported that New England Patriots quarterback and NFL MVP Tom Brady, who had two knee ligaments repaired in early October, had to have two additional knee surgeries because of subsequent infections. Staph infections are the most common cause of such surgical complications and can set back recovery by months. Brady is now on a six-week course of intravenous antibiotics, in the hopes that the infection does not compromise his surgically-repaired ligaments and force him to go under the knife yet again.

Then came the news that Indianapolis Colts superstar Peyton Manning’s off-season knee surgery in July was prompted by a staph infection in a fluid filled knee pad called a bursa sac. The sac had to be removed, forcing Manning to miss all of training camp as well as the pre-season.

Apparently, none of the NFL stars above had MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) infections.

There are more than 30 strains of staphylococcus and most of them are harmless. They live in soil or on the surface of the skin and can enter the body through a cut or during a medical procedure, causing an infection. Anyone can get a staph infection but athletes are at increased risk because they are more likely to suffer cuts and they also spend a lot of time in close quarters with poor sanitation, such as locker rooms and training rooms.

Steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of contracting a staph infection include practicing good hygiene (frequent hand washing is the primary defense against the transmission of most organisms, including staph) and doing your best to avoid cuts and abrasions, cleaning them thoroughly when they do occur.

To get answers to your questions about staph infections, join Healia’s Health Community on MRSA infections.

_{Photo: ckirkman, Flickr, Creative Commons}

Poor air quality is on the minds of many Olympic athletes in Beijing. Yesterday, a Portuguese cyclist withdrew from the Olympic Games and many American cyclists wore face masks when they arrived. Although the IOC medical authority believed yesterday’s air quality to be non-hazardous, many athletes took their health into their own hands.

Air quality has been a major concern in Beijing over the past few weeks, and many worry that the high air pollution levels may not only be a nuisance to spectators, but also hinder the performance of Olympic athletes if they deeply inhale the pollutants. With air quality unpredictable, Olympic officials were forced to announce emergency contingent plans today.

Jay Cutler, a quarterback for the Denver Broncos football team, has been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes, also called insulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic disease where the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. Patients with Type 1 diabetes require regular insulin injections.

Other professional athletes who have competed with diabetes include Hockey Hall of Famer Bobby Clarke, Charlotte Bobcats forward Adam Morrison, golfers Scott Verplank, Michelle McGann and Kelli Kuehne, and Olympic swimmer Gary Hall Jr.

A new study states that heart attacks and other cardiac emergencies doubled in Munich, Germany when that nation's soccer team played in World Cup matches. Now doctors warn that some of this same stress and anxiety can cause similar emergencies for fans of this weekend’s Super Bowl game.

While history suggests European soccer fans can get a bit more anxious and stressed than the average American football fan, doctors think there are some valid warnings to be shared. Sports fans can create a greater susceptibility to heart attacks by leading a sedentary lifestyle, eating junk food, smoking, drinking excessive alcohol, and getting stressed out by sports games.

As football season kicked off, our office chatter has centered around fantasy football leagues, teams, and individual players. This week we’ve been following Buffalo Bill tight end Kevin Everett, who suffered a major spinal cord injury during Sunday’s game.

Minutes after his injury, Everett received an experimental therapy, an intravenous ice-cold saline solution, which put him in a hypothermic state. The idea behind the treatment is to lower the body temperature to restrict damage to the spinal cord.

“Right now, it's not mainstream medicine” said Dr. Barth Green, co-founder of the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at the University of Miami, who has helped develop the treatment.

Amazingly, as of Thursday, Everett can wiggle his toes, bend his hip, move his ankles, elevate and kick his leg, as well as extend his elbows and slightly flex his biceps. While all are significant signs of improvement, Everett has yet to show any movement in his hands.

The experimental therapy is still under scrutiny and doctors don’t have enough information to give a long-term prognosis. They are being cautious because he is still susceptible to life-threatening events like blood clots, infection and breathing failure.

For more information on spinal cord injury and repair, search www.healia.com.

spinal cord injuries spinal cord ice-cold saline solution