Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic

A team physician typically deals with orthopaedic injuries, like torn ligaments or sprains. But what are the other, often more serious threats to athletes, both amateur and professional? And how does a team doctor prepare to encounter them and save an athlete’s life?

Join us for a Google Hangout on Tuesday, May 21 at 1:00 PM PDT with Dr. Luga Podesta.  Dr. Podesta discusses such topics as concussion, abdominal injuries, heat illness, cardiac arrest and potential causes of sudden death in athletes.  Watch it here on the blog or on Google+.

Dr. Luga Podesta is a nationally recognized sports medicine physician specializing in the non-surgical treatment of orthopedic, musculoskeletal and sports related injuries to the shoulder, elbow, knee and spine.

Dr. Podesta is Medical Director at Podesta Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Institute in Thousand Oaks, CA and on the clinical faculty at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in Los Angeles, CA. Board Certified in both Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, Podesta is a fellow of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and a Member of the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine. Dr. Podesta is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine at Western University of Health Sciences.

Dr. Podesta is currently a Team Physician for Los Angeles Angels Baseball team. Prior to joining the Angels, Podesta served sixteen seasons as a team physician for the LA Dodgers (1990-2006). He has served as Head Team Physician for the World Champion LA Xtreme (XFL) (2001), LA Avengers, Arena Football League (2002-2008), and Major League Lacrosse LA Riptide (2006-2008). Dr. Podesta continues to serve as Head Team Physician for Oxnard College, a consultant to the Major League Baseball Umpires, as a Sports Performance Consultant to Cirque Du Soleil-Iris, and training camp consultant to the New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys. He remains active academically, lecturing nationally and internationally, works as a manuscript reviewer and author for several medical journals and contributing writer to DRUM Magazine on health-related topics.

A native of Seaford, NY, Podesta earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree from Wagner College in 1977, Doctor of Medicine degree from Autonomous University of Guadalajara (2004) and New York Medical College (2005). He completed his residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at St. Vincent’s Medical Center of NYC and Sports Medicine fellowships at Staten Island Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Center in Staten Island, NY (1989) and at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic (1990). He and wife Pam reside in Camarillo, California and have 3 children, Luga, Daniel and Alyssa.

The debate over youth pitching has shifted in recent years from what types of pitches youth pitchers should avoid to how many pitches are too many for a young throwing arm. The mechanics of throwing a curve ball won’t necessarily damage a young pitcher’s arm, but the repetitive throwing as a pitcher learns to throw a curve can be the source of minor and sometimes serious damage to the arm; causing elbow injury or shoulder injury.

Many youth sports leagues, such as Little League, have placed a limit on the number of pitches a youth pitcher can throw. “Research shows volume of pitches correlates with injuries in young pitchers,” said Orr Limpisvasti, M.D., Sports Medicine Specialist and Arthroscopic Surgeon at Kerlan-Jobe. “Little League organizations are doing their part to limit the number of pitches on a pitcher’s arm.”

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Little Leaguer’s Elbow is the most common injury for a youth baseball pitcher. It is an overuse injury resulting from repetitive, overhand, hard throwing. Little Leaguer’s Elbow, commonly seen in student athletes, causes pain located on the inside (medial) of the elbow. Little Leaguer’s Elbow can be classified as a growth plate injury.

In youth and student athletes, the growth plates are not fully formed, and many sports injuries in youth are related to the growth plate. Little Leaguer’s Elbow is chronic inflammation and irritation of the medial epicondyle — the growth plate on the inside of the elbow. It is estimated that 40 percent of youth baseball pitchers will experience some type of elbow pain, often related to Little Leaguer’s Elbow. Read more…

Photo Credit: Tony Alter, Flickr Creative Commons

If you’re a runner, chances are you have or will experience an injury at some point in time. From mild “annoying” injuries to more serious injuries that can sideline you, here are 5 common running injuries and tips to avoid them. Read more…

The Achilles tendon is a band of fibrous tissue connecting the calf muscles of the leg to the heel bone in the foot. It is the largest and most powerful tendon in the body. The Achilles tendon works with the calf muscles to provide forceful foot movements. When the calf muscle is flexed, the Achilles tendon pulls on the heel. It is this reaction between the Achilles tendon and the calf muscle that allow us to stand on our toes when running, jumping or walking.

Though it is the largest and strongest tendon in the body, it is also prone to injury. Kenneth Jung, M.D., Kerlan-Jobe orthopaedic surgeon, specializing in foot and ankle surgery explains the risks and causes of Achilles tendon rupture or injury.

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Yoga is a form of stretching that may be helpful in prevention of injury for student athletes, amateur athletes and professional athletes alike. With yoga, athletes are able to increase flexibility while improving agility, strength and mental focus. Yoga is particularly beneficial for runners and endurance sport athletes to help improve muscular imbalances and prevent overuse injuries. Athletes can also use yoga to recover from a high-intensity workout.

After a long run, the muscles are often tight and sore. Practicing yoga following a run will increase blood and oxygen flow to the muscles, tendons and ligaments in the body, reducing soreness and providing restoration and recovery. Read more…

Muscle soreness is a normal side effect of physical activity. It is a part of the muscle recovery process and often follows a good workout. It is believed that normal muscle soreness is caused by the breakdown of muscle fiber and excess lactic acid produced during a workout.

At times it may be difficult to decipher between normal and even healthy soreness and soreness or pain that may indicate an injury. How do you know if you have experienced a knee injury, back injury or shoulder injury? There are three primary types of muscle soreness. Knowing the difference will help you know if you are just sore or if you may be injured. Read more…

Improve Posture and Reduce Low Back Pain with Core Strengthening Exercises