Tuesday, February 1, 2000

Building a Sports Doctor Network - It's Time



by Dr. Tim Maggs, © February 2000

"Dr. Maggs, do you know of a good sports doctor in Toledo, Ohio who could help me with my knee problem?"

"Hey, Running Dr. Do you happen to know who you could refer me to in Boise, Idaho who could help me with my calf problems?"

"Hey doc, do you know anyone anywhere who could help?"

When asked this question time and time again, the sad truth is, I don't know anyone. Heck, I'm afraid to send people to docs in my own hometown who I've known for 20 years. The doctor-patient relationship is a fragile piece of business, like a boyfriend-girlfriend, or even husband-wife. I introduced a couple once in my life, and they ended up in divorce. I'm willing to quit at 0 for 1.

But, beyond these personal idiosyncrasies, a much larger problem looms out there. The Internet, websites and e-mail have given people the tremendous opportunity to reach out and locate experts and information that 10 years ago was impossible. Sometimes finding the good information solves one problem but creates a much bigger one--how to take advantage of it. That's not always so easy.

It's become increasingly difficult for many runners to find the perfect sports doctor in their own town who can answer their needs. Managed Care directs many runners to their primary care providers, who will be the first to admit they don't know how to treat many of these common running injuries. They may refer them to another specialist or two, run some tests that don't show anything, and then suggest the patient should maybe stop running. The patient who gets caught on this medical treadmill very often jumps off out of frustration before ever getting the help they need.

The average doctor, whether they're a medical doctor, osteopath or chiropractor, is usually not skilled enough to accurately diagnose biomechanical injuries and develop successful rehabilitative programs. And as much as some people don't want to believe that, you better start believing there's a whole lot more to sportsmedicine than anti-inflammatories, injections of cortisone and the "Final Kahuna" recommendation--stop running.

Sportsmedicine Online


In the many e-mails I receive, most are asking for help, but many are also asking for referrals. A lot of these runners get excited when they come upon some useful and relevant information, whether it be on my site or someone else's. Unfortunately, it's like building Noah's Ark in the basement. They have no doctor who works local to them who understands the psychoses of us runners and how to diagnose and treat the many maladies we suffer with. Someone must give of themselves (by leading the charge to build this network) for the sanity of us all. It's time.

Now, if I were in charge, I'd want to begin with a network of docs and therapists who specialize in biomechanics. Most running injuries are due to repetitive motion and biomechanical defects. This network would address the largest percentage of injuries out there. Following this network, others might include a podiatric network, a network for internal problems and infectious diseases and a network for psychological problems. But I believe the biomechanical network is Goal #1.

High Standards


The most important issue in developing this network must be the standards needed to qualify as a provider. Today, with the popularity of sportsmedicine, many doctors and therapists promote themselves as sports experts, but in reality, they are using this for marketing purposes. They're not really qualified to address runner's problems.

The providers who qualify must understand biomechanics. Their exams must involve the detection of normal and abnormal joint motion in all joints of the body, muscle strength, flexibility and balance, leg length differences, spinal alignment, spinal curvature, an understanding of the arches of the feet and the role they play, as well as the ability to interpret x-ray findings. Communication skills (to explain the details to the patient), good management skills (to manage the patient through the necessary corrections) and the ability to understand the different psychological profiles, will only help the treating doctor get good results.

There are a variety of ways to reach out to find these doctors, and some of these doctors may need some guidance and teaching from more experienced sports biomechanics docs to become fully qualified. But the movement must begin. This program would probably be most effective if it were done regionally to start. Any docs out there who have an interest should be willing to go through an evaluation of their knowledge and willingness to do a good job, and any patients out there should encourage their doctor, if they have a good one, to become a part of this network.

As to who will provide the classes, who will organize the search and conquer program and all the other tasks that go along with this idea, I don't know. My job today is simply to propose the concept, and see if my simple idea can lead to an ultimate sportsmedicine biomechanics network so that every runner in the U.S. will have a qualified sports doctor in their hometown to diagnose and treat most of their running injuries.

Hey, don't blame me, I'm an optimist.

Dear Michael and Maurice: How About a Little Muscle Management?


by Dr. Tim Maggs, © February 2000

Excuse me for being a little critical, but much like the heavyweight championship fight that doesn't make it past the head of your first beer, I have a little trouble revolving my day around a sporting event that never happens.

With much anticipation, viewers suffered watching Michael Johnson pull up followed closely by Maurice Green. One minute before the race started, my 11 year old son asked me, "Dad, what would you do if those two guys came in last place?". "Never happen", I told him. Ha. Just when I thought I knew everything.

Muscle Management


For the past 5 years, I've been preaching improved muscle management. Sure, it's more work than the archaic stretch and rest program we've all been told to follow, but when on earth will people begin to realize MORE is needed. I suffered for 8 years with calf pulls before finding the experts who had enough knowledge and information to show me how to get back out there and become a runner again. My life was given back to me. I cringe at the number of injury reports I read every day in all sports--pulled hamstring, pulled groin, pulled calf muscle, achilles tendon rupture. Come on; please admit that more is needed. Like Timon says in The Lion King; "And this is okay with everybody?".

The Program


Muscle recovery is the name of the game in all sports today. Michael Johnson had problems with his quadriceps prior to this fateful event. And that wasn't even the muscle that cramped. It was his hamstring. The level of competition and demand on the athlete today doesn't work well with Mother Nature's recovery time frame. Athletes are pushing the limits, and too many are crashing and burning.

The Maggs Muscle Management Program uses what Mother Nature provides, and enhances it for faster recovery and superior muscle function. With it, muscles warm-up more thoroughly, recover quicker, heal from injury much faster and ultimately, perform better. The most common muscle injuries that benefit from this program are; quadricep pulls, hamstring pulls, calf pulls, achilles tendonitis, patellar tendonitis, plantar fascitis, ilio-tibial band syndrome, hip pain (piriformis) syndrome, low back syndrome and shin splints. All of these conditions are usually results of overuse with lack of full recovery. This program flushes the muscle of toxins that accumulate after exercise while also increasing blood flow (food and oxygen) to the involved muscles. This allows a muscle to warm-up more thoroughly and recover quicker.

It only took me 75-80 calf pulls and 8 years of persistence in looking for a solution before I found something that worked for me. If anyone suggests I don't know what it's like to be injured, please. So when 2 of the world's best pull up lame in one of the biggest races of Track & Field, a race that would help to bring our sport to the forefront and give us a little recognition, allow me to angst in the privacy of my living room when I think I have an answer to their problem. I felt like I built Noah's arc in my basement.

My Success


I now run everyday. I run anywhere from 35-40 miles per week. At the height of my injuries, I could never run more than once every three days and not more than 3-4 miles at a time. My emotions often encouraged me to ignore the condition and follow the plan I used to follow, thus leading to injury after injury. I never got comfortable in the 8 years of my doom and gloom. I tried cycling with no success. Swimming provided less. Nothing replaced the total package that running gave me. I wouldn't let up. I ultimately met Dr. Andrew Bonci, a muscle physiology specialist, who taught me about the trigger point. His research and knowledge led me to the beginning of my recovery. The progress has been a process, but much like the cancer patient who wants to help every other patient on the planet to recover, I, too have felt the need to use every opportunity available to inform other runners. Forget the R-I-C-E method as your only means of treatment. Although beneficial, it certainly couldn't come close to helping me prevent my next pull. More was needed. My muscle management program can comfortably be done in the confines of your own home by you and you alone. A little discipline and time is all that's needed.

For anyone out there who wants more, needs more but doesn't know where to turn, this is your lucky day. Many athletes have benefited from this program. And, should any of you happen to see Michael or Maurice in your travels, please tell them to visit my website so that we, the viewers, won't have to watch them suffer as they did. I'd also like to enjoy the rest of my beer as I watch them finish a race.