Skis Can Save Your Knees

There is good news for knee pain sufferers eager to hit the slopes in Aspen, Beaver Creek or Vail this winter! According to Dr. Ronald P. Grelsamer, Orthopedic Surgeon at the NYU Medical Center and Hospital for Joint Diseases Orthopaedic Institute, chief of hip and knee reconstruction at Maimonides Medical Center, and author of "What Your Doctor May NOT Tell You About Knee Pain and Surgery" (Warner Books), safe skiing CAN be a knee saver."The truth is that the sport of skiing is easier on our knees than jogging or tennis. Partial or total knee replacement surgery need no longer mean trading in one's skis for off-slope recreation activities. With the ongoing advancements in knee surgery, as well as the breakthroughs in sophisticated ski equipment, expert skiers with previous knee conditions are reporting fewer problems than ever before. "This recommendation pertains to advanced skiers in controlled situations on well-groomed intermediate slopes with optimum visibility. It is not advisable for inexperienced skiers with knee replacements to take up skiing as a new sport."Here are some tips to avoid injury on the slopes:•    Watch out for the fatigue factor, which can lead to accidents.•    Strengthen the ski muscles, specifically the quadriceps, the gluts and the torso.•    Keep your ski bindings safe by having them serviced regularly.•    Remember to maintain a balanced skiing position over the tops of the skis at all times. Leaning back can be dangerous.•    Don’t fight a fall, and try to drop to your side if possible. Don’t try to get up while still moving.•    At the onset of pain, stop and see a doctor before returning to the slopes."If an injury does occur, remember that 95% of knee sufferers will show a meniscus tear on an MRI, and yet surgery is not always in order. While MRI testing is an extraordinary diagnostic tool in certain areas, its accuracy for knee pain and arthritis is arguably one of the greatest myths of our time. In my experience, the odds of coming across a false-positive MRI range from 10 to 100 percent, depending on the knowledge and integrity of the radiologist. The MRI provides nothing more than thin, flat slices of a complex, colorful three-dimensional structure, so it is subject to interpretation and can miss conditions such as arthritis, partial ACL ligament tears, and kneecap malalignment.Tendonitis and irritations of the iliotibian bands, running along the outside of leg and knee, can be misread on MRIs as torn cartilage. A severe arthritic flare-up will eventually quiet down on its own. All of these conditions can and should be treated without surgery.” Ronald P. Grelsamer, M.D., is currently the chief of hip and knee reconstruction at Maimonides Medical Center, and a noted staff orthopedic specialist at the NYU Medical Center and Hospital for Joint Diseases Orthopaedic Institute. A highly-regarded knee and hip surgeon, Grelsamer has been listed in Castle Connolly’s “America’s Top Doctors,” and in New York Magazine’s “Best Doctors of New York” for many years. Traditionally trained and educated, Grelsamer is an avid patient advocate at the forefront of orthopedic research and technology, who integrates the latest treatments and surgery options into his practice. He has been treating people of all ages for over twenty years at his two offices in New York City and Brooklyn, New York. He has also shared his expertise with the public on NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Eyewitness News, FOX TV, and in publications such as Forbes Magazine and USA Today.Books Authored By Ronald P. Grelsamer, M.D."What Your Doctor May NOT Tell You About Hip and Knee Replacement Surgery." Ronald P. Grelsamer. Warner Books, 2004"What Your Doctor May NOT Tell You About Knee Pain and Surgery." Ronald P. Grelsamer. Warner Books, 2002"La Rotula - approcio d'equipe." Ronald P. Grelsamer and J. McConnell PT, GDMT. Translated by A. Albasini. Masson Milano, 2001"The Patella: A Team Approach." Ronald P. Grelsamer and J. McConnell PT, GDMT. Aspen Press, 1998"The Columbia-Presbyterian Osteoarthritis Handbook." Ronald P. Grelsamer and Suzanne Loebl, New York: Macmillan, 1996“Dr. Ronald Grelsamer is a meticulous surgeon who takes extraordinary care of his patients. He is a true artist – the Van Gogh of orthopedic surgery.”                DR. Lewis Maharam, MD, FACSM                NYRR and ING New York City Marathon                Medical Director                               Dr. Ronald Grelsamer is available to answer all questions on how to save your knees and hips this winter while enjoying safe outdoor sports activities.To schedule Dr. Grelsamer for in-person and telephone interviews, or to request a media kit, please contact Diana Aceti Public Relations, Phone/Fax 1-631-613-6057; Cell 1-516-382-0922, e-mail protected from spam bots