• How do you know if your injured knee requires more than just rest and ice? Damage to bones, ligaments and cartilage can occur during twisting, cutting and impact activities. Symptoms such as swelling, popping and clicking or pain with weight bearing may indicate a significant injury. See a sports medicine physician for appropriate treatment.
  
  
• Rotator cuff injuries are common causes of shoulder pain. Inflammation and tearing of the rotator cuff can occur during overhead sports or even with everyday use. If rest and ice fail to relieve symptoms, there may be a significant injury. Consult a sports medicine physician for the best advice on treatment and preventing future problems.
  
  
• Using steroids to improve athletic performance can cause serious health problems such as severe acne, infertility and liver tumors. Signs of steroid use include aggressive behavior and mood swings. Women can also develop permanent conditions such as facial hair and a deepening voice. For questions about steroids, contact a sports medicine physician.

• With the increased emphasis on winning, many athletes feel that more exercise is better, but this can lead to over-use injuries such as stress fractures. Fatigue, depression and worsening performance can be signs that you're over-training. Recovery time is just as important as the exercise itself. If you feel you're over-training, contact a sports medicine physician.
  
  
• Female athletes are at risk for developing anorexia and bulimia. Societal pressures for thinness and low fat eating can begin as early as the third grade. Parents and coaches must be aware that encouraging female athletes to begin a calorie restrictive diet can lead to eating disorders. Seek professional help first.
  
  
• Elbow and wrist injuries are common in both major league baseball players and amateur athletes. Whether your injury is from tennis, Little League or work, you need to modify activity until you are pain free. A rehabilitation program including stretching and strengthening is usually necessary for a complete recovery.

• Ankle sprains often result in a weak ankle, one that remains swollen or twists and collapses when walking on uneven ground. This condition is rarely permanent and usually disappears once the strength of the leg muscles has been re-established. A physical therapist or athletic trainer can quickly instruct you on the proper exercises.
  
  
• Don't ignore pain above the heel that occurs when running, jumping or rising on the toes. This is Achilles tendinitis, an inflammation or irritation of the big tendon at the back of the lower leg. Getting rid of the problem requires that you rest until pain free, and then strengthen and stretch the attached calf muscles.
  
  
• Endurance Training: How Fit Are You?
  How Should You Train?
  Lactate Threshold and VO2 Max Testing
  The best measurements of endurance fitness are the maximum oxygen consumption - the VO2 max - and the lactate threshold (also called the anaerobic threshold).

At Saint Francis Memorial Hospital, our specialized, computerized equipment can measure your heart rate, VO@ max and LT on a treadmill or bicycle. The test is personally supervised by a physician who will discuss with you your exercise history and goals. You will receive a written report of your test with target heart ranges for different workouts and training recommendations.

The cost for this complete evaluation is $125. For an additional $75, you can have a follow-up test performed to assess your progress.

If you would like more information on fitness testing or would like to make an appointment, please call the Pulmonary Department at 
(415) 353-6250.