Yao Ming’s Foot Injury May Be Career-Ending

Yao Ming, the 7-foot-6 center for the Houston Rockets, may be looking at a more serious injury than previously believed. The injury came late in the 108-94 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in game 3 of the Western Conference Finals. Yao Ming left the game, and his left foot was immobilized immediately, pending further medical studies. The fracture to his navicular bone, a bone on the inside of the foot, has expanded rather than healing.

The news comes after team physician, Dr. Tom Clanton told the Houston Chronicle that Yao Ming’s injury “has the potential for him missing this next season and could be career-threatening." Though Yao is not experiencing any pain or tenderness with the injury, a bone scan revealed that the hairline fracture of the navicular had grown larger, and that intervention would likely be necessary.

Specialists are being consulted on the manner, and options are being weighed. One of the options being considered is to surgically fix the broken bone by placing a permanent screw into it. This type of procedure would likely sideline the Rockets’ keystone player for at least the next season. A similar procedure was performed on Cleveland Cavaliers center Zyndrunas Ilgauskas, with good results. Other options include giving the bone more time to heal, using a bone graft, or repositioning the foot to relieve some of the stress on the injury. The important thing to remember is that Yao is not suffering any pain for now, so any intervention will have to take this into consideration.

This injury is the most serious in a series of foot and leg injuries suffered by Yao Ming. Yao missed 21 games in the 2005-2006 season because of an infection in his toe that required surgery. He then broke a bone in his left foot that April, sidelining him once again. Yao sat out another 32 games the following year with a broken right leg, and then had a stress fracture in his left leg in the 2007-2008 that made him miss the playoffs.

The hairline fracture comes as a huge blow to the Rockets, who made it out of the first round of the NBA playoffs this year for the first time since signing Yao. If in fact Yao is done, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey is in for a tough decision. Yao Ming was considered one of the cornerstones of the team, and his presence on the court will certainly be missed. Additionally, Yao Ming has helped bolster the NBA’s international image in China. Over a billion people may be holding their breath right now, waiting to see if Yao will be back for next year’s season.

Central Florida Foot and Ankle Center, LLC.
101 6TH St. NW.
Winter Haven, Fl. 33881
863-299-4551
http://www.FLFootandAnkle.com

What is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis, a condition which thins and weakens the bones, is a preventable and treatable disease that increases the risk of bone fractures. It is a disease that can go undetected for many years, and is fairly common, particularly among postmenopausal women. While it is possible for men to develop osteoporosis, an overwhelming majority of those who suffer from osteoporosis are women. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, approximately 10 million Americans suffer from osteoporosis, 8 million of which are women.

Women of all ages can be diagnosed with osteoporosis, though the age group that is most at risk is women who have gone through menopause. Additionally, another 34 million Americans are estimated to have low bone mass, which can lead to the development of osteoporosis.

Our bones are living tissues, made up of a bony matrix composed mostly of collagen and hydroxyapatite, which is a mineral compound of calcium and phosphate. The combination of these two components of bone makes them strong and durable, yet flexible enough to withstand stress forces.

Throughout our lives, cells in our bones are constantly remodeling this bony matrix. Cells known as osteoblasts work to lay down new bone, while cells known as osteoclasts work to degrade the old bone.

In a normal individual, this balance is kept in place, with only a slight decrease in bone density over our lives. With osteoporosis, however, this balance is lost, resulting in a thinned and fragile bone.

The areas of the body most affected by the loss of bone density associated with osteoporosis are the hips, spine and wrist. All bones in the body, however, can be affected. In 2005 alone, there were over 2 million reported fractures due to osteoporosis, with over a quarter of them being fractures of the vertebrae. In women with osteoporosis, these fractures are a significant risk.

So how do we treat osteoporosis? What are some steps to prevention? The National Osteoporosis Foundation offers these steps to prevention:

· Make sure you are getting the daily recommended values of vitamin D and calcium. These values are 1,000 mg for calcium and 5 mcg for vitamin D.

· Perform weight bearing and muscle-strengthening exercise on a regular basis.

· Avoid excessive alcohol and smoking, and these can effect the calcium in your body.

· Have a bone density exam performed, especially if you are female and postmenopausal.

· Talk to your health care provider about bone health, and any other concerns.

Central Florida Foot and Ankle Center, LLC.
101 6TH St. NW.
Winter Haven, Fl. 33881
863-299-4551
http://www.FLFootandAnkle.com