Hackensack UMC: The Game Plan for your health-What’s your game plan for Orthopaedic Health?

Let New Jersey’s #1 orthopedic services program keep you in the game.

Keeping your bones healthy is important no matter what game you choose to play. What you need is a GAMEPLAN.

The Orthopaedic Institute at HackensackUMC wants to share its GAMEPLAN for Orthopaedic Health-ten simple steps that will help you take charge of your health and stay in the game.

As the Healthgrades #1 Hospital in New Jersey for Orthopaedic Services and nationally ranked by in orthopaedics by US News & World Report, the Orthopaedic Institute is pushing medicine further than ever before.

To find out how the Orthopaedic Institute at HackensackUMC will help you get back in the game, visit HackensackUMC.org/ortho.

Game Plan for Orthopaedic Health:

1. Your best offense is a good defense:  unavoidable risk factors affecting bone health include age, gender, race and family history. There’s nothing you can do to change them but knowing their influence can help you plan a good defense.
2. Know the signs and signals: if you have concerns, speak with you physician about the signs and symptoms of osteoporosis, arthritis or other conditions that affect bone/joint health.
3. Know you opponent: using tobacco or drinking soda decrease your body’s  ability to absorb calcium and may contribute to weak bones.
4. Talk to your coach: your doctor will know if you are at risk and can recommend different exercises, medications and/or lifestyle modifications to reduce that danger.
5. Fuel for performance: strong bones are less injury-prone. However as we age our bones lose strength and mass becoming thinner and more brittle. Follow a calcium-rich diet to maintain bone mass and decrease your risk of fractures. Make sure to get enough Vitamin D.
6. Maintain a balanced training regimen: your exercise regimen should include exercises that increase flexibility and balance, which are key to fall prevention.
7. Pump Iron: weight bearing exercises such as walking can help minimize bone loss and prevent fractures. Get clearance from your physician before starting any exercise program.
8. Wear Protective Gear: make sure to wear the proper protective gear when exercising to help prevent injury.
9. Stay off the disabled list: know your limits.
10. Maintain good pre and post game practices: proper warm-up and cool-down routines are important for athletes at any level.

*Disclaimer: this information is taken off a pamphlet from Hackensack University Health Network. I have never used this information before and I have no opinion on the results. Please call the above number or email them for more information.