Paragon Orthopedic Center Newsletter for May

Paragon Orthopedic Center
Grants Pass, Oregon

National Physical Fitness Month

Recognize the need for some form of physical exercise in your life this month! You read about our nation’s obesity statistics, how important daily exercise is, and what exercise can mean for your overall health, and this is the time to GET UP AND DO SOMETHING! Stop making excuses. Make May the month for change. How to make that happen? A little bit of effort can go a long way. We’ve done a bit of work for you by finding some helpful information to get outside.

Here are some links for walks:
https://www.whattodoinsouthernoregon.com/hikes-waterfalls
https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/travel/outdoors/top-five/2014/07/09/book-features-best-southern-oregon/12389749/

A link for running ideas:
https://www.whattodoinsouthernoregon.com/running-events-2

Bicycling guides and maps:
https://traveloregon.com/things-to-do/trip-ideas/bicycling-maps-and-guidebooks/

Other ideas:
-Take the kids/grandkids out and do something they enjoy doing outdoors.
-Join a gym and sign up for classes. People in the classes can hold you accountable if you lack self-motivation.
-Join a group. Southern Oregon has square dancing, dance studios, country western dancing, tango dancing, Zumba, CrossFit, adult aerial classes, and yoga.
-Join a league. There are SO many. Soccer, softball, hockey, basketball, volleyball, baseball, pickleball, badminton, and even kickball! http://www.sportsmedford.com/home; http://www.grantspassymca.org/programs/adult-sports/

Don’t forget about the easier starts if you have been very inactive. Park farther away from the store’s entrance. Walk the dog. Take the stairs. Walk a little farther when you go pick up the newspaper. Do sets of jumping jacks during commercials while watching your favorite program. Whatever you choose, stick with it. Set a reminder on your phone to help you or ask a friend to join you in these efforts. May is the month; make a change for better health now!

The following articles were referenced for this newsletter:
https://www.active.com/fitness/articles/national-physical-fitness-and-sports-month

The Paragon Orthopedic Center’s Patient Portal is a modern convenience for your orthopedic care

When you are a new patient at Paragon Orthopedic Center, we ask for your email, not to send you spam, but to make your care securely convenient. Your email will connect you with the ability to: access test results, fill out paperwork in advance, request prescription refills, get answers to your questions by our highly qualified staff at your convenience, and more! It is very secure and completely confidential. Paragon Orthopedics is dedicated to cyber security and never shares your personal information with anyone. Trust Paragon Orthopedics in Grants Pass for your orthopedic care in Southern Oregon, start to finish!

http://www.paragonorthopedic.com/patient-portal.php

Patient Education for Orthopedic Surgery and FAQ’s

Paragon Orthopedics is pleased to be able to diagnose and treat a variety of joint problems for the people of Southern Oregon. Our website has a wealth of information about all of your joints and has dedicated a whole page to patient instruction. The internet doesn’t always offer reliable information about healthcare issues, but you can trust Paragon Orthopedic Center to provide the accurate information you need. Check out the patient education link to find everything from shoulder surgery protocols to FAQ’s on labral repairs, meniscus repairs, or post-op shoulder exercises.
http://www.paragonorthopedic.com/instructions.php

Videos available at paragonorthopedic.com to help expand your orthopedic knowledge

Paragon Orthopedics has a large library of FREE videos available for you. They cover a variety of orthopedic procedures and surgeries throughout the body. These might make sense of your issue when it is sometimes difficult to understand what is going on beneath the skin’s surface. Dr. Bents and Dr. Van Horne have a variety of ways to educate you in the office, but take advantage of these videos to view at any time from the comfort of your home, or anywhere on your cell phone. Paragon Orthopedics looks to answer all of your questions for complete orthopedic clarity. Call our office and our staff would be happy to assist you with an appointment: 541-472-0603.

Meniscus: What is it and why is it important?

Everyone has two menisci in each knee. These C-shaped pieces of cartilage are what cushion and stabilize the two big leg bones that meet at your knee. When this cartilage is torn, you experience pain, swelling, and sometimes limited motion. It doesn’t take a downhill ski injury or a major fall to tear it, but activities that make you twist or pivot make you more at risk of a tear. Meniscus tears are one of the most common knee injuries seen by orthopedic surgeons, but not all meniscus tears require surgery. It does require a professional to diagnose it. Paragon Orthopedics sees many knee injuries and can help diagnose your knee problems when pain &/or swelling is a problem. Get a diagnosis and move forward under the care of the professionals at Paragon here in Grants Pass, Oregon, your resource for orthopedic care in Southern Oregon.

Dr. Bents using 3-D imaging at Paragon Orthopedic Center

Customized implants for orthopedic repairs using 3D printing looks promising

Orthopedics has entered into the market of 3D printing to develop customized implants that can fit the patient better. A 3D printer is able to produce a three-dimensional product according to the digital 3D model, or “blueprint,” one layer at a time. This field is just beginning to get started and has a promising future Be on the lookout for tidbits in the news about this expanding, promising frontier of orthopedic research. You as a patient can only benefit from these custom-made pieces specifically made for your anatomy. Dr. Rob Bents uses the latest technology with 3D shoulder and knee models based upon preoperative CT scans and patients with abnormal anatomy or bony deformities. This allows custom implants to be designed for the patient when needed. Paragon Orthopedic Center is thankful to have Dr. Bents on the cutting edge of this technology to serve the people of Southern Oregon with the most up-to-date surgeries for the best outcomes possible.

Make sure your kids have strong bones when they’re young and give them a strong foundation as adults

Ways to Keep Bones in Kids Healthy:
1-Give your children Vitamin D supplements if they aren’t getting enough in their daily diet. Talk to your healthcare professional about how much is needed.
2-Eat foods high in calcium every day, such as dairy products, beans, and green, leafy vegetables.
3-Make sure they get weight-bearing exercise, such as running, or dancing. Pressure builds strong bones.
4-Avoid carbonated drinks. They can leach calcium from your bones, and you are substituting a drink that could be calcium-rich, like milk.
Paragon Orthopedic Center is your source in Southern Oregon of information about bone care, repair, and health. Our providers keep up to date on the most current studies to help you have the strongest bones possible.

Astounding result from studies on new osteoporosis drug

Osteoporosis is a huge health risk for not just thousands, but millions of people in in the United States. The drugs currently available help prevent bone loss, but they do nothing to build bone. This new one does. The FDA approved romosozumab (brand name Evenity) this week on Tuesday. The clinical trials showed increases in the bone density of participants, which translates to more protection from fractures in osteoporotic patients. There are side effects which must be weighed with your healthcare professional and Paragon Orthopedic Center is a great resource. We keep up with the most up-to-date medicines, procedures, and surgeries. If you aren’t getting answers that make sense from other healthcare professionals about your bone health, or want reassurance that your answers considered all the options open to your unique situation, the dedicated specialists at Paragon Orthopedics is the place to call. Count on Paragon for the best orthopedic care in Southern Oregon.