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Drs. Kozar and Tortland attend Ultrasound training course.

Drs. Kozar and Tortland attended a training course on diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Musculoskeletal ultrasound is quickly emerging as a preferred method for diagnosing damage to soft tissue structures, such as tendons and ligaments. Injuries such as rotator cuff tears, tennis elbow, Achilles tendinitis, and plantar fasciitis can be quickly and accurately diagnosed with ultrasound right in the doctor’s office. Ultrasound can also be used to guide injections since the doctor can “see” exactly where the needle is going and guide it to the specific injury site.
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Dr. Tortland travels to England with U.S. Figure Skaters

Dr. Tortland traveled with a contingent of the U.S. Figure Skating Team to Sheffield, England on October 16-22, 2007 where he served as the team physician. The event was the Sheffield Junior Grand Prix, one of eight international Junior Grand Prix competitions.

Dr. Tortland recently accompanied the U.S. Figure Skating Team to an international figure skating competition in Budapest, Hungary.

Valley Sports Physicians’ Dr. Tortland recently accompanied the U.S. Figure Skating Team to an international figure skating competition in Budapest, Hungary. The competition, held August 31 through September 3, was a Junior Grand Prix event, one of eight events in the International Skating Union’s Junior Grand Prix series.
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High-Dose Vitamin D therapy for musculoskeletal pain.

A recent article in the medical journal Cortland Forum indicated that most doctors do not properly test for vitamin D levels. They mistakenly order 1,25(OH)2D levels, as this is the active form of the vitamin. But this level can be normal or even elevated in vitamin D deficiency. The request must specify “Serum 25(OH) Vitamin D.” This is the best measure of vitamin D activity. The normal range is 20-100, but the authors indicated that anything less than 30 needs to be treated. Calcium absorption rises with increasing 25(OH)D levels. They recommended 50,000 IU of vitamin D3 orally once a week for 8 weeks, after which you may return to a “maintenance” dose of 1200-2000 IU/day. (D3 is the most important form of D.) To put this in perspective, most vitamin D supplements available over the counter contain between 400-1000 IU of D. 50,000 IU Vitamin D3 pills are available by prescription. Improvement is usually noted within 3-6 months.

Magnesium Intake Increases Bone Density

In a study published in the November 2005 issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, researchers found that intake of magnesium through diet and supplements is associated with increased bone density throughout the whole body. Results were most pronounced in older white adults. Over 2,000 black and white men and women, aged 70-79 years old participated. For every 100 mg per day increase in magnesium intake, there was a 1% increase in bone density. Recommended daily amounts of magnesium is 320 mg/day for women and 420 mg/day for men in this age group.

Drs. Kozar and Tortland attend national sports medicine conference.

May 2-6, 2006. Drs. Kozar and Tortland will be attending the annual meeting of the American Osteopathic Association of Sports Medicine (www.aoasm.org) in Scottsdale, AZ. Dr. Kozar will be conducting a workshop, assisted by Dr. Tortland, on Kinetic Chain Considerations in Lower Extremity Sports Injuries. The AOASM is one of the country’s premier sports medicine organizations. Drs. Tortland and Kozar are long-time members.

Drs. Tortland and Kozar attend national orthopedic medicine conference.

April 26-29, 2006. Drs. Tortland and Kozar attended the annual meeting of the American Association of Orthopedic Medicine (www.aaomed.org) in Washington, DC. The theme for the conference was “New Treatments for Sports Injuries.” Dr. Tortland gave a lecture and then a workshop on “Lower Extremity Sports Injuries Response to Prolotherapy.” The AAOM is a professional medical society dedicated to the non-surgical treatment of musculoskeletal injuries and pain. Drs. Tortland and Kozar both are members.

Dr. Tortland travels to Japan with U.S. Figure Skaters

Oct. 17-24, 2005. Dr. Tortland traveled with the U.S. Figure Skating Team to Okaya City, Japan for a Junior Grand Prix figure skating competition. Dr. Tortland is a team physician for USFSA.

Dr. Kozar and Chris Matan travel to Scotland

Sept. 19-26, 2005. Dr. Kozar and one of Valley Sports Physicians’ physical therapists, Chris Matan, attended an international course in Scotland on motor control and musculoskeletal pain. The course focused on muscle firing pattern abnormalities as they relate to chronic pain conditions.