Saint Mary's - Thrive

The Way You SAVE THE DATE FOR ANSWERS AT SAINT MARY'S HOSPITAL'S MOVE! EVENT, HELD ON JULY 1, AREA WOMEN LEARNED HOW TO SAFELY MAINTAIN A HEALTHY AND ACTIVE LIFESTYLE. H eld at Naugatuck Valley Community College in partnership with the national Spirit of Women network, the first event in Saint Mary's Punctuate Your Health series walked more than 100women from throughout Greater Waterbury through an understanding of their bodies and the various orthopedic health issues women face. Dr. Michelle Mariani, an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist at Saint Mary's, described common overuse injuries and explained how best to avoid them. She addressed several overuse injuries during the free program, including: Bone injuries, including stress fractures, which are tiny or hairline cracks in the bone Knee injuries, including meniscus tears, which are one of the most common knee injuries and often occur with arthritis, and patellafemoral pain, or pain in the kneecap, which can result from overuse or increased strain to the knee Tendon injuries, including full and partial tears of the Achilles tendon Shoulder injuries, including tendonitis, bursitis, frozen shoulder, and rotator cuff tears KNOW YOUR LIMITS In addition to identifying these types of orthopedic injuries, Dr. Mariani explained why, in certain cases, they are more common in women and how to avoid them. For example, she noted that women are more prone to hyperextension injuries of the knee, which makes it easier for them to tear their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). She recommended to not increase your activity level by more than 10 percent a week, as this could lead to acute injury problems. Injury prevention is all about being proactive, so that you can continue to be active. Whatever kind of exercise you enjoy, strength and balance are important. For treating most mild overuse injuries, Dr. Mariani also recommended that women follow the RICE method: Rest Ice Compression Elevation She also recommended modifying activity until pain and swelling improves. More serious injuries should be seen by their orthopedic surgeon. By hosting events such as Move! and others in the Punctuate Your Health series, Saint Mary's Hospital is investing in the health of women in the community. ese educational opportunities empower women to become proactive about their health, promoting them to engage in preventive care that will contribute to overall wellness. For information about Saint Mary's commitment to women's health, visit stmh.org and click on the "Spirit of Women" link at the top left of the page. Move! SAVE THE ANSWERS Cancer. There, we said it. Cancer is a word no one wants to hear, but we're opening up the conversation so Saint Mary's can share the answers you need. Wednesday, Oct. 28 Country Club of Waterbury One Oronoke Road, Waterbury 5:15–6 p.m. Registration and light supper 6–7:15 p.m. Panel discussion/ Q&A 7:15–8 p.m. Health Bingo! Admission is free but preregistration is required. Visit stmh.org or call 203-709-3312 to register. [ d i g e s t i v e h e a l t h ] Saint Mary's Hospital invites women to [ d i g e s t i v e h e a l t h ] Saint Mary's Hospital invites women Susanne Navas of the Greater Waterbury YMCA led participants through low-impact exercises. Robin Sills, RN, Physician Liaison, talking with Dr. Michelle Mariani at Move! stmh.org 3

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