Our Blog
The North Florida Bone & Joint Specialists blog provides the latest information on orthopaedic conditions, injuries and procedures. Search our articles below by keyword category as well as author.
Featured Articles
Common Types of Hip Arthritis
As we continue recognizing National Arthritis Awareness Month, our latest article explores what you should know about hip arthritis, including the most common types and symptoms.
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Causes and Symptoms of Hand Arthritis
According to the National Arthritis Foundation, 53 million Americans are impacted by arthritis, making it the leading cause of disability in the country. By 2030, the organization expects that number to rise to 67 million adults and children. To bring attention to this debilitating disease, we join the Foundation in recognizing National Arthritis Awareness Month during May. To kick things off, our latest blog post below highlights the causes and symptoms of Hand Arthritis. In general, arthritis can have more than one cause and come in more than 100 forms, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. However, the disease is divided into three major categories, which include:
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What to Know About Your Feet
Many of us tend to take our feet for granted, however, when there is a problem, we begin to realize just how important healthy feet really are. The muscles, ligaments, and tendons of our feet allow us to perform numerous complex activities that require motion and balance. These activities range from standing upright to walking, jogging, and jumping.
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Importance of Foot Health
A study in the journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise noted that the average person takes 5,117 steps per day. With so much time on our feet, Foot Health Awareness Month in April is an opportunity to focus on the health of our feet and give them the attention they deserve.
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Certified Hand Therapy 101
As a subset of occupational therapy, hand therapy plays a significant role in treating and improving patient outcomes related to acute and chronic conditions of the hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder. At North Florida Bone & Joint Specialists, our Certified Hand Therapists (CHTs) are board-certified in occupational therapy with an added qualification in Hand Therapy. Working with a CHT can have several benefits, including:
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Youth Sports Injury Prevention
Youth sports participation promotes physical health and leadership skills and is a positive outlet for children within our communities. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 3.5 million youth sports injuries occur each year in the U.S. Of those injuries, one in three participants seeks medical attention, resulting in lost sports and school time. Fortunately, the CDC also concluded that more than 50 percent of these injuries are preventable.
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Pediatric Injuries & Outdoor Activities
With summer in full swing and children taking advantage of more time to participate in sports-related or other outdoor activities, it’s essential to be mindful of injury prevention while encouraging their interest in activities that don’t involve screen time! The fact is, accidents can happen practically anywhere – on a swing set in your backyard, riding a skateboard in a park or biking on a neighborhood designated path.
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Reconstruction of ACL Tear- What You Can Expect
Anterior Cruciate Ligament tears are one of the most common types of knee injuries. The ACL is a ligament that crosses the inside of the knee, connecting the femur to the tibia while offering stability to the joint. Tears often need to be reconstructed surgically to restore knee stability and strength. Before surgery, many patients go through physical therapy to prepare for a successful recovery. If you are in need of an ACL reconstruction, here's a look at what you can expect from the procedure and your recovery.
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Diagnosing & Managing Arthritis
Arthritis represents a wide variety of joint inflammation diseases. Patients most often have chronic Arthritis in their wrists, hands, and fingers, experiencing flares of inflammation, soreness or stiffness affecting the joints. As we recently wrapped up Bone & Joint Action Week, this is an excellent opportunity to bring awareness to the most common categories of Arthritis, proactive methods for pain prevention and available treatment solutions.
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What is Runner’s Knee (Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome)
Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS), often referred to as runner's knee due to its prevalence among runners, is characterized by a dull pain that occurs around or behind the kneecap. While it's common among runners, it can affect anyone participating in an activity that requires repeated knee flexion, such as jumping, walking, or even biking. Here's a closer look at this common knee problem, the causes, common symptoms, how it's treated, and some helpful prevention tips.
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Top 5 Common Knee Injuries
The knee joint is a large, complex joint that connects the tibia to the femur. It absorbs an incredible amount of pressure and impact from routine, daily activities like walking or going up a flight of stairs. Since the knee joint is so complex, it is susceptible to injury, and any knee injury should be taken seriously. While many knee injuries are easily treated with conservative measures such as physical therapy and bracing, more severe injuries may require the skill of an orthopaedic surgeon.
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Dr. Ahmed to Cover US Olympic Team
Dr. Sonya Ahmed, a board-certified and fellowship-trained foot and ankle surgeon and Partner at the Nilssen Orthopedics Ankle and Foot Center, is proud to announce that she will provide orthopaedic and sports medicine coverage for the US Olympic Team at the ANOC World Beach Games Qatar 2019. The Games, which were originally slated to take place in San Diego, CA, will run from October 12-16 in Doha, Qatar. Dr. Ahmed is excited about the opportunity to once again provide team coverage on behalf of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee.
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Ultrasound Use in Sports Medicine
Musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging offers orthopaedic patients safe, painless, and real-time imaging, without any harmful ionizing radiation or the need for uncomfortable positioning. As the first sports medicine physician in the region to utilize ultrasound for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, Dr. Josh Hackel’s commitment to innovation has improved the accessibility of care for his patients.
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Selecting the Right Shoes
Footwear serves several useful functions, including protecting our feet, cushioning our body weight, providing comfort and, of course, adding a fashionable element to our wardrobe choices. However, selecting the proper footwear can also make a difference in your overall foot health. As you consider those fun new kicks, we encourage you to be mindful of how the correct type of shoe can help you avoid injuring or further exacerbating existing foot and ankle conditions. Specifically, ill-fitting shoes can be painful and cause issues like bunions, hammertoes, plantar fasciitis, Lisfranc injuries and more.
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Treating Ankle Arthritis
May is National Arthritis Awareness Month, and of the more than 100 forms of this painful condition, many can affect the ankle. In fact, almost half of people in their 60s and 70s have arthritis of the foot and/or ankle, but not all of them have symptoms.
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10 Questions to Ask Your Personal Injury Specialist
Orthopedic injuries can cause pain that lasts a lifetime. While many people associate orthopedics injuries with old age or contact sports, they are just as often caused by traumatic injuries resulting from car wrecks and on-the-job accidents. Accidents can cause a variety of orthopedic injuries, ranging in severity from mild to life-threatening. While you may seem fine in the immediate aftermath, the surge of adrenaline generated by your body during an accident can actually cover up serious but invisible injuries. These hidden injuries can surface in the days or weeks following an accident, and, if left untreated, they can lead to years of pain and suffering.