Sports Medicine Leaders to Discuss Prevention and Treatment of Injuries

New York—April 16, 2010

Event:             4th Annual Current Concepts in Sports Medicine Symposium at Hospital for Special Surgery

To provide athletic trainers and physical therapists with information on the latest surgical advances and rehabilitative techniques for professional and recreational athletes, Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City is hosting an educational event drawing on the expertise of sports medicine professionals from around the country.

Date:               Thursday, April 22 – Saturday, April 24, 2010

Time:              5:15 p.m. – 7:10 p.m. on April 22

7:45 a.m. – 5:15 p.m. on April 23

                        7 a.m. – 4:15 p.m. on April 24

Locations:      Thursday and Saturday (selected events):

Hospital for Special Surgery

Richard L. Menschel Education Center, 2^nd Floor

535 East 70^th Street

New York

Friday:

Hosack Auditorium

1216 5th Avenue & East 103rd Street 

New York Academy of Medicine

New York

Saturday:

Uris Auditorium

1300 York Avenue

Weill Cornell Medical College

New York

Personnel:      Frank Cordasco, M.D., Orthopedic Surgeon in the Sports Medicine Service at Hospital for Special Surgery and Activity Co-Director of Current Concepts in Sports Medicine

John T. Cavanaugh, PT, Med, ATC, Clinical Supervisor of Hospital for Special Surgery’s Sports Rehabilitation and Performance Center and Activity Co-Director of Current Concepts in Sports Medicine

David W. Altchek, M.D., Co-Chief of the Sports Medicine Service at Hospital for Special Surgery and Medical Director of the New York Mets 

Details:

“According to the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics, an estimated 4.3 million nonfatal sports- and recreation-related injuries were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments during July 2000 through June 2001,” said Frank Cordasco, M.D., orthopedic surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York and co-director of Current Concepts in Sports Medicine. “With an increasing number of people of all ages participating in organized sports and exercising for their own health, this conference serves a critical need.”

The three-day conference includes several presentations and discussions with the nation’s top sports medicine practitioners, live surgical demonstrations, instructional courses and hands-on workshops.

“By gathering sports medicine experts from around the country, we are providing an outlet for coaches and trainers to be updated on injury trends, proper treatment and potential surgical options,” said John T. Cavanaugh, PT, Med, ATC, clinical supervisor of Hospital for Special Surgery’s Sports Rehabilitation and Performance Center and activity co-director of Current Concepts in Sports Medicine. 

Some highlights include:

• Platelet Rich Plasma – Clinical Results: Brian C. Halpern, M.D.,  sports medicine physician at Hospital for Special Surgery, will discuss the pros and cons of using platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy as a means to enhance the body's ability to heal itself and, in some cases, preclude the need for surgery. "The great thing about PRP is that you are using your own tissue and people do not have adverse reactions to their own tissue.”
• Managing Knee Injuries in the NFL: Russell Warren, M.D., orthopedic surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgeryand team physician to the New York Giants, specializes in the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries and conditions of the shoulder and knee, including tears of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). In this session, he will offer advice on managing knee injuries in the NFL.
• Rotator Cuff Injuries and the Athlete: Lawrence V. Gulotta, M.D., an orthopedic fellow in Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery at Hospital for Special Surgery, will discuss the three main types of rotator cuff injuries: the young overhead athlete, the middle-aged athlete and the traumatic rotator cuff rupture. For overhead athletes, Dr. Gulotta recommends “adopting a regular stretching program that focuses on improving shoulder internal rotation and limiting overhead activities when the shoulder is fatigued.”
• Overtraining in the Adolescent Athlete: Jessica Graziano, DPT, physical therapist at Hospital for Special Surgery, will discuss the implications of overuse injuries in adolescent athletes. Conditions like chronic respiratory infections and tendonitis, on the rise in recent years, have led to burnout, decreased interest in sports and long-term health problems. “Patients need to listen to their bodies. Taking days and even months off is important,” says Graziano.
• Pearls and Pitfalls Following Hip Arthroscopy in the Young Athlete: Procedures like hip arthroscopy are considered the last frontier in sports medicine and only in recent years have gained recognition as a critical area of sports health. Keynote speaker J.W. Thomas Byrd, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon and founder of the Nashville Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of hip arthroscopy in young athletes.

If you are interested in attending the event or if you would like to talk with Dr. Cordasco, Mr. Cavanaugh, or other presenters prior to the event, please contact Tracy Hickenbottom, Public Relations, Hospital for Special Surgery at (212) 606-1197, hickenbottomt@hss.edu. We also invite you to contact us throughout the year if you would like to interview members of the HSS Sports Medicine Service when you need background on the full range of sports-related injuries.