In sports and everyday life, minding your head is a top priority. A fall, hit to the head, or car accident are among some of the many possible causes for one of the most common brain injuries, concussions.

The fear of an ACL injury is always on the mind of many athletes. ACL injuries are one of the most common knee injuries, and while athletes are at a higher risk for ACL injury, it can happen to anyone. The anterior cruciate ligament—or ACL—is one of four main ligaments that connect the bones of the knee joint together. The knee joint is comprised of the femur (thigh bone), tibia (shin bone) and patella (kneecap). The four main ligaments of the knee joint, including the ACL, hold these bones together and stabilize the knee.

In the US, 54 million adults are living with doctor-diagnosed arthritis. That’s pretty staggering. In addition to the adults living with arthritis, three hundred thousand babies and children in the US are living with the condition. Young and old, around the country, people are suffering from this painful and life-changing affliction.

Shoulder injuries can be extremely debilitating. The pain and discomfort caused can lead to loss of sleep, difficulty lifting, and interfere with an ability to perform everyday tasks. Shoulder pain is often caused by injury to the rotator cuff resulting in inflammation.

If you’ve recently been injured or are experiencing chronic pain, it’s time to see a doctor. You may be wondering whether a visit to your primary care physician is worth the trouble or if going straight to a specialist is the answer. After all, more often than not, you think your primary care physician should be your first stop. Depending on your specific injury or health issue, however, going directly to a specialist—like an orthopaedic physician—can save you time and money.

The sun is shining, there’s a warm breeze—it’s time to get out on the tennis court! Do you find yourself with pain, tenderness, and stiffness in your forearm and elbow after enjoying a game of tennis? If so, you may be suffering from lateral epicondylitis, also known as tennis elbow.

Proper medical care is integral throughout an athlete's career and training. The practice of sports medicine aims to treat sports- and fitness-related injuries while also focusing on balancing nutrition, performance training, and rehabilitation exercises. A team of specialists, including physicians, physical therapists, surgeons, and coaches, form a personalized routine for each athlete to help them perform athletic activities safely and at the best of their ability. (Science Daily)

If you are plagued with chronic knee pain and impaired knee function to the point you can’t perform daily activities, such as walking or climbing the stairs, you may have considered total knee replacement. Furthermore if walking supports, medications, and physical therapy have not sufficiently managed pain and improved function, total knee replacement may be your next step. Although knee arthroplasty is referred to as knee replacement, it can be seen more as “knee resurfacing”, as only the surface of the bone is replaced. The first total knee replacement surgery was performed in 1968, and since then surgical techniques have vastly improved. Today, total knee replacement is considered one of the most successful procedures in medicine and is available at any of the MidAmerica locations, including Palos Hills & Mokena.