This week marks the official start of winter on December 21. And while our weather is typically mild in Central Texas, we do experience the occasional bout of freezing temps, snow, and ice--just like we saw recently. If you're planning on continuing your running or outdoor workouts over the next few months, here are some good reminders on bracing for the cold: Warm up inside first. Before heading out on your running route, do a quick warm-up inside to get blood flowing and your heart rate up in advance of the shock of the cold. Not warming up properly can lead to shortness of breath, stres ..read more

We all know that air pollution is harmful to your lungs, but new research is now saying that it can be damaging to your bones as well. A recent study in The Lancet Planetary Health found that air pollution increased the risk of bone fractures and osteoporosis in people over 65 years. Osteoporosis is a serious condition caused by decreased bone mineral density leaving bones brittle, weak and susceptible to breaks. Data was collected from two independent studies--one tracking hospital admissions among 9.2 million Medicare patients in the Northeast over an eight-year period, and another analyz ..read more

You're about to have a house full of guests for the holidays, so everything has to be spotless, right? But experts warn house cleaning could pose some potential dangers, including falls from step ladders while dusting hard-to-reach spots, slipping on wet floors after mopping, and back strains from strenuous vacuuming or incorrectly lifting heavy equipment. These things can result in some serious injuries such as: Sprains and strained muscles Back, neck or shoulder pain Broken bones and fractures Overuse injuries Tendonitis Here are a few simple tips to keep safe while tidying up ..read more

As holiday gift-giving reaches a frenzied pace this month, take a minute to ensure you've made safe choices. While that new motorized scooter with super-fast, jet-like propulsion seems cool, it could be a disaster just waiting to happen. ERs report huge spikes in activity in December and early January due to injuries from unsafe toys. Common injuries include sprains and strains, broken bones or fractures, deep cuts and skin lacerations, and even concussions. Ride-on toys are typically the worst offenders. Each year, the consumer group WATCH (World Against Toys Causing Harm) releases a list ..read more

You sailed through Halloween and the Thanksgiving holiday. But now December is here, and it's really 'go' time. There are so many parties and the 'to do' lists seem endless! And for some -- that translates to some major stress. So, take a deep breath. And check out these seven tips to help you stay sane and stress-free: Take a hike. Literally. Hiking or walking for at least 30 minutes a day outdoors stimulates the production of serotonin, a feel-good chemical in the brain. Sniff some citrus. The scent of lemons and oranges is proven to alleviated stress and better your mood. Rub a ..read more

Many high-profile athletes claim that ketones are the key to their enhanced performance. But what are they? And do they really work? Ketone supplements replicate the effects of a high-fat, low-carb diet favored by many athletes these days (over the traditional high-carb diet typically followed for training). Burning through fat stored in the body is said to produce quicker bursts of energy/better performance than slower-digested carbs. A recent study published in Frontiers in Physiology, (conducted by the Australian Institute of Sport), evaluated the popular supplement on eleven members of ..read more

The moment the last of the turkey leftovers are finished (and sometimes even before), people are pulling out ladders to string up lights and decorate for the next holiday. While decorating your house and packing it in with family and friends are what the holidays are all about, it can also create an environment ripe for accidents and serious injuries like falls. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) reports that more than 300,000 adults age 65 years and older suffer hip fractures and are hospitalized each year. Falls are the cause of more than 95 percent of these fr ..read more

    Texas Orthopedics is proud to share that several of our physicians have been honored as Super Doctors for 2017 in the December issue of Texas Monthly magazine.   Please help us to congratulate:   Bradley R. Adams, DO Robert A. Foster, MD Peter M. Garcia, Jr., MD Tyler D. Goldberg, MD Brian T. Hardy, MD Richard A. Lutz, DO James L. Smith, Jr., MD Scott A. Smith, MD   Super Doctors is a national group that salutes outstanding physicians from more than 40 medical specialties who have earned a high degree of peer recognition and/or professio ..read more

With shorter days, longer nights, and the hint of a chill now finally in the air, conditions are ripe for some sweet slumbering.  Sadly though, that may not be in the cards if you are one of the 75% of people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who report sleep problems.   RA is an autoimmune deficiency causing painful inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissues. Stiff joints can keep you awake at night and make it difficult to find a comfortable sleeping position.   One big way to alleviate sleeplessness at night is to exercise during the day. Physical activity can help lu ..read more

The Trump administration recently declared the opioid epidemic a public health emergency and is taking action to address it. But physicians are also doing their part to help alleviate the risk of addiction among their surgical patients by recommending over-the-counter pain relief remedies first. One recent study published in the JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) pitted opioids against a combination of acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil) to alleviate pain during common ER visits for sprains, strains, fractures, and other minor injuries. Of the more than 400 men ..read more