Latest News for Dr. Gerhardt

February 01, 2024 - Pickleball Boom Nets New Healthcare Opportunities

As pickleball's popularity has risen, injuries have soared, triggering gloomy reports of how much these injuries are costing the US medical system; by some estimates, the cost was $377 million in 2023 alone.

Some in the healthcare system, however, are choosing to view those statistics as an opportunity to seize. They are forging new partnerships with the pickleball community, aiming to educate players about injury prevention, provide care when needed, and foster long-term relationships with a new population of patients. In some cases, the pickleball community is reaching out to healthcare organizations first.

Effective in January, CS-KJI became the sports medicine and orthopedic partner for the California Pickleball Association (CAPA)'s 2024 tournaments. The institute, with several locations throughout Southern California, is known for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of sports injuries and illness and provides medical care for numerous professional sports teams as well as athletes.

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April 27, 2023 - Springtime Soccer Safeguards Against Orthopedic Injury
By Michael Gerhardt, MD

Consistently ranking among the top five most popular sports for youth and adolescent athletes, soccer boasts participant rosters in the millions in the United States. Today, the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) comprises over a million players, parents, siblings, and volunteers. With the burgeoning springtime in full swing, kids are finally able to get outdoors and kick the ball around! The sports medicine team at Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute, in partnership with AYSO, has important information for athletes and their parents on ways to play it safe – so that soccer can remain a fun and healthy athletic activity for young people, regardless of their performance level or time of year.

How to Avoid “Bending” Like Beckham

While soccer does not require the same protective equipment as American football, that does not mean it is a game devoid of physicality and potential injury. From knee injuries to shin splints, the most common soccer-related musculoskeletal injuries include:

• Ankle sprains: A sprain occurs when the ligaments that support the ankle are stretched or torn. The symptoms of an ankle sprain include pain, swelling, and bruising around the injured ankle and foot.
• Knee injuries are also common in youth soccer and may include:
  • Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears - The ACL is a ligament that helps to stabilize the knee joint.
  • Meniscus tears - The meniscus is a piece of cartilage that acts as a cushion between the knee joint bones.
  • Patellar tendonitis - an inflammation of the tendon that connects the kneecap to the shinbone.
• Shin splints: Caused by inflammation of the muscles and tendons in the shinbone and can cause debilitating pain in the front part of the lower leg.
• Concussion: Traumatic brain injury which can be the result of “heading” of the soccer ball. Players under age 11 are discouraged to head the ball.

An Ounce of Prevention is Still Worth a Pound of Cure

While orthopedic injuries are as common in soccer players as they are in athletes who play other sports that involve dynamic body movements at a high rate of speed, there is plenty of safeguarding that parents and coaches can provide to help reduce injury risk for athletes at every age and level of soccer play.

First and foremost, anyone who plays soccer should invest in adequately fitted cleats and shin guards. Though these may seem like no-brainer tips to some, you might be surprised at the number of orthopedic injuries that occur in athletes because of not wearing the proper safety gear for the sport.

Additionally, incorporating an ACL injury prevention warm-up protocol into practices is imperative. FIFA 11+ is the most widely used program for soccer injury prevention and it was developed by some of our doctors in collaboration with a multidisciplinary group of experts. This program has been shown to greatly reduce the risk of injury in all soccer players!

Coach ‘Em Up’

Young soccer players should be instructed early on to always listen to their coaches. The coaches are trained in proper safety procedures for the sport and can be an extra set of eyes and ears for an athlete on the field. The coach can increase their players’ awareness of their surroundings – watching out for other players, the ball, and other potential health hazards. Additionally, the coach instructs the player on proper warm-up and cool-down techniques before and after games. These are two important aspects of gameplay that some athletes may take for granted but can make a significant difference in ensuring the body is well-prepared for the strenuous exertion required in soccer.

Soccer’s Thirst Quencher

While it may not seem like a strategy for orthopedic injury prevention, proper hydration makes a safety difference for young soccer players. Dehydration causes the muscles and ligaments in the body to be less agile, which increases the risk of injury. Athletes should always drink plenty of water before, during, and after games and practices to ensure they are well-hydrated.

By following these safety tips, parents can help ensure that their children have a safe and enjoyable experience playing soccer.

Sources:
https://orthokids.org/sports-injury-prevention/soccer-injuries/

October 2018 - Dr. Gerhardt - team physician USA Men's National team - USA vs Peru! Toughly contested draw 1-1. Congrats to Coach Sarachan and the entire Men-s team staff and players.

Dr. Gerhardt - team physician USA Men-s National team - USA vs Peru! Toughly contested draw 1-1.

October 2018 - Robotic Technology Conference - Dr. Gerhardt and Tanya Cariveau posing with Mako Robot! Amazing technology that will make outcomes better for our patients in the future!

October 21, 2018 -Dr. Gerhardt at LAFC vs Vancouver game at Bank of California Stadium! Tough game 2-2 draw.

November 2015 - (Las Vegas, NV) Dr. Gerhardt spent the weekend at a course held by the Foundation for Orthopaedic Research and Education (FORE) focused on "Advanced Concepts in Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Surgery", where he lectured on hip labral repair anchor options and the role of hip arthroscopy in a patient with Avascular Necrosis (AVN).

November 2015 - (Dallas, TX) The Fall Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA) meeting is the premier Hands-On Learning activity for Arthroscopy in the world, offering unparalleled surgical skills training opportunities from the world's top Arthroscopic Surgeons. A variety of session formats designed for hands on learning include Mini Fellowships and "Engage the Experts" sessions to provide for an even more intimate interaction with skilled experts. Dr. Gerhardt attended this meeting, and also spoke about "Sports Specific Pearls in Non-arthritic Hip Surgery" with a focus on the soccer athlete.

Dr. Gerhardt lecturing/moderating a new technique on labral reconstruction

April 2015 - Dr. Gerhardt is attending the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) annual meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada. This is a five day gathering of hundreds of orthopaedic surgeons from across the world.

January 2015 -Fort Lauderdale, Florida- Dr. Gerhardt attended the Major League Soccer (MLS) Medical Symposium as Guest Faculty and lectured on hip and groin injuries in soccer players. This Symposium is held yearly and provides practitioners with critical knowledge regarding the diagnosis and treatment of soccer related injuries.

January 2015 - Carlsbad, California- Dr. Gerhardt served as Hip Program Director at the 15th Annual International Sports Medicine Fellows Conference, where he joined other well respected Orthopaedic Surgeons and over 100 sports medicine fellows to discuss comprehensive approaches to hip arthroscopy and articular cartilage repair. At this conference, he spoke on topics including pre-operative assessment for hip arthroscopy, extra-articular endoscopy techniques, and cartilage restoration as it relates to the hip.

October 2014 - Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic and Santa Monica Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Group Officially Join Cedars-Sinai

Partnership Created Under Institute for Sports Sciences Will Include Clinical, Research and Training Programs

Cedars-Sinai Health System announced today that it has finalized an agreement with the Institute for Sports Sciences for two of the nation's most prominent orthopedic and sports medicine physician groups -- Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic and Santa Monica Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Group -- to become formally affiliated with Cedars-Sinai.

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October 2014 - A research paper that Dr. Gerhardt completed with prior SMOG fellows (Dr. Michael Benke and Dr. Timothy Neuschwander) entitled "Proximal Hamstring Footprint- An Anatomic Mapping Study" will be displayed as a poster presentation at the upcoming International Society for Hip Arthroscopy's annual scientific meeting on October 9th-11th in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

August 2014 - Dr. Gerhardt congratulates the graduating fellows Dr. David Schub, Dr. Ryan Bennett and Dr. Brandon Johnson. He would also like to extend a warm welcome to the incoming class sports medicine fellows at the Santa Monica orthopaedic and sports medicine group. Some of the research projects completed by the fellows with Dr. Gerhardt include

• Research study on the examination of fluid extravasation during hip arthroscopy.
  Conclusion: The use of a posterior drainage needle can help to reduce the extent of extravasation. [Dr. Gerhardt's practice includes placing a posterior drainage needle during hip arthroscopy for cases that are at increased risk for extravasation, such as those that involve iliopsoas tendon release.]
• Study focused on the potential of using ultrasound for the evaluation of the hip capsule.
  Conclusion: The integrity of the hip capsule can be effectively assessed through an ultrasound examination in the office.

May 2014 - Dr. Gerhardt was invited to give a lecture on "Proximal Hamstring Repair" at the Arthroscopy Association of North America's annual meeting in Hollywood, Florida.

April 2014 - West Coast Hip Symposium. Dr. Gerhardt serves as chairman and lecturer at this annual meeting, which educates the medical community on cutting edge hip arthroscopy techniques. Anna and Heather also attended amongst 50+ orthopaedic surgeons from across the United States and Canada.

November 2012 - Invited guest lecturer at New Zealand Sports Medicine Conference, Auckland, NZ. Keynote speaker - Hip and Groin Injuries in the Elite Athlete. Local surgeons and sports medicine specialists attending included Dr. Mark Fulcher (Team physician NZ national soccer teams), Dr. Tony Edwards (FIFA medical delegate and Director of University Sports Medicine) and Dr. Ian Murphy (Team Physician All-Blacks Rugby team).

September 2012 - Zurich, Switzerland, FIFA headquarters. Dr. Gerhardt asked to be a member of group to establish guidelines and policy for worldwide football (soccer) health. Dr. Gerhardt was personally greeted by FIFA President Sepp Blatter who made a guest appearance at the meeting.

September 2012 - Boston, MA ISHA meeting - international meeting for hip arthroscopy. Gathering of worldwide experts in hip preservation who are committed to finding solutions to the multitude of hip disorders that exist today.

June 2012 - Naples, Florida. Invited to be teaching faculty at Arthrex Sports Medicine Fellowship Symposium. Dr. Gerhardt delivered lectures on the physical exam of the hip in the athlete and on cutting edge surgical techniques for proximal hamstring injuries. Also served as instructor for shoulder and hip cadaver labs.

June 2012 - Toronto, Canada. Dr. Gerhardt travels with US men's national team to serve as team physician for USA vs Canada game. The game ended in a 1-1 tie! World cup qualifying is next !!

April 2012 - 3rd Annual West Coast Hip Symposium. Dr. Gerhardt serves as chairman of annual meeting which overview the cutting edge topics in the world of hip arthroscopy. Provide lectures and cadaver lab instruction for other orthopaedic surgeons from the western United States.

January 2012 - MLS combine in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Dr. Gerhardt and other team doctors from around the country conduct player physicals on the incoming draft class. Participation in annual MLS team physician meetings.

January 2012 - International Sports Medicine Fellows Conference, Carlsbad, CA. Dr. Gerhardt, Dr. Mandelbaum and Dr. Gamberdella served as chairman of the Articular Cartilage and Hip Arthroscopy meeting which included over 100 sports medicine fellows convening on San Diego to learn from the world's experts on management of articular cartilage injuries and hip injuries in the athlete. Guest lecturers included Dr. Thomas Byrd and Dr. Jason Snibbe. This annual conference is one of the premier sports medicine meetings for fellows in the world and is now in its 12th year!

November 2011 - LA Galaxy wins the MLS Cup! Congrats to Bruce Arena and the MLS champion LA Galaxy players! Medical team honored with championship rings for their service and commitment to the health of the Galaxy players!

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