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These common summer injuries can affect the health of your bones, joints and muscles: NECK INJURIES Whiplash is a severe strain to the neck that can occur anytime your head and neck are jarred. Watch out for this and other neck injuries if you take a bump during a friendly game of basketball or you are involved in a boating or water-sport accident. GOLFER'S ELBOW Golfer's elbow, similar to tennis elbow, is a form of tendinitis from overuse of the muscles in your forearm that allow you to grip, rotate or fl ex your wrist. You don't necessarily have to play the sport to have these symptoms. Golfer's elbow is uncomfortable and can be caused by other repetitive motions, such as gardening or swimming, but it is treatable. WRIST FRACTURES It's common for the scaphoid, a large bone in the wrist, or other carpal bones to break when your hands brace against the ground during a fall. Pain and swelling at the base of the thumb are telltale signs of a broken scaphoid. JOINT INFL AMMATION If your summer includes long car rides or doing excessive yard work, you may increase your odds of developing infl ammation of the joints due to rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis. Be sure to break up your travel into short distances and use caution when doing physical activities such as bending or lifting. KNEE SPRAINS Sudden trauma to the knee from a twist, fall or unintentional blow can cause the ligaments around the joint to stretch or tear, resulting in a sprain. When this occurs, the ligaments will need time to heal before the joint can be used again, so consult a specialist about rest and a reduction in activity. TENDON TEARS Falling on an outstretched arm, lifting something heavy or repetitive overuse of joints such as the shoulder can cause the tendons that support the joint to tear or snap. Surgery or treatment may be necessary to repair the damage before you return to work or get back on a court. B U M M E R S B U M M E R S Summe Long summer days mean more time to get outside and be active. Sometimes, all that extra running around can be hard on your •body. Summe ! ! ! ! OF THE ! ! To find an orthopedic specialist in your area who can help with these common summer injuries visit findachristusdoc.org. Recognizing a Real Emergency While walking in with groceries, you slipped and fell off your front steps, and now your foot is swollen and bruised. You're in a lot of pain, and you are starting to feel nauseated. As you think you have a broken bone, should you go to the emergency room (ER)? If your injury is minor and orthopedic in nature, you may be better off pursuing a less-immediate option. "Sprains and strains are better treated by a primary care physician or at an urgent care location," says Jeffrey A. Dean, M.D., orthopedic surgeon with CHRISTUS Westover Hills Orthopeadics. "Going to the ER for non-traumatic conditions is more expensive for the patient. An acute dislocation or displaced fracture usually warrants a visit to the ER due to the ability to provide treatment requiring sedation." For more information about emergency care vs. urgent care visit christussantarosa.org/ emergency-room-vs-pcpurgent-care. 11 LiveWell | Summer 2015