From Solutions to Results: How to Stay Active, Prevent Injuries, and Achieve Fitness Goals in 2025. – The Advocate

Year after year, one resolution always makes it to the top of people’s lists – get fit and be more active. This can start with a new exercise regimen, increasing the intensity of your workouts, or participating in a new sport. But the promise of an active 2025 can end quickly if an injury occurs. We asked Ochsner Health’s orthopedic and sports medicine surgeons across the state how to help Louisianans get back in the game, whether they’re fighting for a championship or just trying to get off the couch.

“The most important thing I tell people, especially as they get older, is to try to maintain their flexibility. Joint and tissue stiffness is often what causes problems. You don’t have to do an aggressive stretching regimen, but a little before and after practice can help prevent injuries,” said Derrick Jones, MD, chief of sports medicine at the Ochsner Andrews Sports Medicine Institute and team physician for New Orleans. Pelicans.

The Ochsner Andrews Sports Medicine Institute is a partnership between Ochsner and Dr. James Andrews, one of the world’s foremost sports medicine surgeons. This has allowed Ochsner to improve his physical therapy and athletic performance protocols and offerings while his physicians receive guidance from Dr. Andrews on best practices for injury treatment and prevention.

“This institute allows us to provide a continuum of care for all levels of athletic injuries,” said Dr. Jones. “Once an injury is diagnosed, we work together to create a treatment plan. It is a very personalized approach for each individual that includes physical therapy and specific sports activities to help them build their strength and speed. It’s really about creating a process for people to have a safe, controlled return to full activity.”

The institute also provides cutting-edge research in many fields. One example is that Ochsner surgeons performed a cartilage regeneration procedure with an arthroscopic incision, something that was not possible just a decade ago. Dr. Jones said Ochsner is also involved in a new national trial of an implant that won’t damage other surfaces in the body, which could be important for patients who struggle to heal or who are more severe. Ochsner is also part of a study in which fat cells are removed from one part of the body and injected into areas near damaged joints.

“There are many ongoing, high-level, multi-center trials taking place at the institute,” Dr. Jones said. “You have to have a lot of tools in your toolbox. People have different needs and goals. Their body types and tissue formations are different. Our goal is to have many options so that we can tailor the treatment to each individual based on their body and what they want to achieve.”

In Baton Rouge, Ochsner partnered with Elite Training Academy to create the Ochsner Institute of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at the Elite Training Complex – Burbank. The new facility helps patients seeking comprehensive sports results and care.

Jeremy Burnham, MD, medical director of sports medicine and section chief of orthopedic surgery at Ochsner in Baton Rouge, said the institute’s services include a clinic for immediate orthopedic care, such as sprains, strains, minor sprains and sports injuries, as well as expert clinical, rehabilitation, wellness, and surgical care, including orthopedic surgery, physical therapy, strength and conditioning, group exercise, and a 3D motion analysis lab. The lab allows doctors to assess the patient’s problems and determine the right treatment plan after an injury. It also identifies movement patterns that can make a person more susceptible to injury. By training to revise these movements, the lab also prevents devastating injuries, such as ACL tears, which Dr. Burnham says disproportionately affects young female athletes.

“We really thought a lot about the patient journey when we were developing this institute,” said Dr. Burnham. “If you get hurt, you may not know exactly who you need to see. We want to put everything a person needs under one roof.”

Dr. Burnham is also Ochsner’s principal investigator for the Knee Injury Surgical Time and Rehabilitation Study, known as STaR, which focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of multiple knee ligament injuries, including ACL injuries, meniscus tears, of cartilage and knee instability. Ochsner is one of 25 medical centers nationwide participating in the trial.

“The study will answer two questions: Is it best to have quick surgery after a multiligamentous knee injury?” And is it best to start weight-bearing exercises and aggressive range-of-motion exercises soon after surgery?” Dr. Burnham said. “These injuries, which are complex and potentially devastating, often result in prolonged absence from work, work or sport. What we learn from this trial will benefit the U.S. military, as well as athletes and people from all walks of life.”

Julie Neumann, MD, orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon at Ochsner Medical Center – Baton Rouge, Ochsner Andrews Sports Medicine Institute and Ochsner Medical Complex – The Grove, noted that each patient needs a treatment plan tailored to them. While some people have specific goals related to sporting events or competitions, others just want to be able to move throughout their day without pain. Dr. Neumann specializes in treating conditions such as ankle fractures and sprains, torn Achilles tendons, foot and ankle arthritis, bunions, and more.

“When most people come to see me, I spend time with them to talk about why they’re here, what their goals are and what other treatments they’ve tried,” Dr. Neumann said. “I discuss what I think might be causing the problem and outline a number of treatment options. Essentially, the patient and I put our heads together to determine the best plan to help them achieve their goals.

Dr. Neumann said surgery can often be a last resort because many conditions can be treated by other means. Many people respond well to physical therapy and medication and may also benefit from modified activities, braces, splints, or supportive shoes.

“Injuries usually happen in two ways – an acute injury where someone knows the exact event that happened, or a chronic injury that gets worse over time and doesn’t respond to home remedies,” said Dr. Neumann. “Any time you can’t bear weight, you definitely need an evaluation as soon as possible.”

While many injuries occur during sports activities, Dr. Brian Ethier, director of orthopedic sports medicine for Ochsner Lafayette General, said they can also occur during falls, vehicle accidents or as a result of injury from use of joints or ligaments over time. Age also makes us more vulnerable to orthopedic injuries.

“A lot of orthopedic care is preventative care, making sure you’re exercising, lifting weights and staying healthy,” he said. “As we age, our muscle mass decreases, our strength decreases, so being able to maintain our strength as we age pays big dividends down the road. I’ve found the patients who age the best do weight training.”

This fall, Ochsner broke ground on the Ochsner Lafayette Institute for General Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, which will consist of nearly 20,000 square feet of physical therapy space as well as sports medicine services, catering to patients of all ages and abilities.

With the only comprehensive sports medicine system of its kind in the Acadiana area, Dr. Etier shared an example of how alignment between athletic training, surgery and physical therapy makes a difference to the patient. “Just recently there was a local high school football player who was injured on a Friday night. I saw him on Saturday and he had an MRI on Monday so we could finalize the diagnosis and treatment plan. His coach told me it feels like SEC-level care right here in Lafayette,” Dr. Ethier said.

Dr. Ethier sees patients from Pineville to Morgan City, Breaux Bridge and Lake Charles – providing the same care anywhere in Acadiana to non-athletes, pickle enthusiasts to weekend warriors. Services include an anti-gravity treadmill for physical therapy patients to begin walking without stressing their joints, as well as outpatient arthroscopic and joint replacement surgeries. Robotic surgeries are also available that allow doctors to realign the joints back into a perfect position.

“This device is accurate to within a millimeter, so we know the results are better,” he said. “There is nowhere else in Acadiana that offers such a game changer when it comes to joint repair. The technology we have is a huge asset and people can recover much faster.”

As more people hit the gym in the new year, Dr. Neumann said he encourages exercisers to warm up properly before beginning any strenuous activity. She also recommends working with a trainer who can provide guidance, especially for someone who hasn’t worked out in a few years.

“They know how to transition people from a sedentary lifestyle to a more active lifestyle in a controlled way,” she said. “It’s also important to keep a positive mindset, especially if you feel like you’re hitting a plateau or wall.” Most people won’t be able to do everything they want to do every day, but if you keep working on moving forward, you will see results. Don’t be too hard on yourself on the bad days and enjoy the successes on your good days.”