Rosser Chiropractic

Recently I came across a good article that reviewed updated self-treatment guidelines for road rash. Most of us are eager to get our wounds to the point of scabbing over because we associate that with good healing, but, for a variety of reasons, this is only adequate for the smallest of wounds. Helen Iams, MD, staff doctor for the Jelly Belly Pro cycling team has the following advice:

First Response:
~Check for other injuries such as head injuries, gashes, injured joints. (Always have a cell phone handy for Emergency Activation)
~If bleeding from a gash won’t stop within 15 minutes of applying pressure evaluate for stitches

In the Field:
~Rinse or wipe the area with sterile or antiseptic products (she recommends Preparation H wipes.) Spraying with water bottles may help remove dirt, but may also deliver bacteria to the wound site.

Get the Grit Out:
~Blanket the area with 4×4 inch gauze pads saturated with Band-Aid antiseptic wash
~Allow to soak a few minutes until the nerve sensation is dulled by lidocaine (Avoid overusing the lidocaine, as it may produce irregular heartbeat.)
~Gently wipe the area with soap and water to remove all bits of dirt/rocks/etc.
~Use liquid Dawn or baby oil to remove road tar
~Avoid using alcohol or hydrogen peroxide since they damage skin cells and may prolong healing

Let the Healing Begin:
~Apply Bacitracin to keep the wound germ free and moist
~Cover with a dressing held on with tape to keep the area protected until oozing slows down
~After the oozing slows in a few days, cover the wound with a protective bandage (Tegaderm (3M) that will keep the wound protected while the new skin develops. Leave them on until they fall off (a week or so)

Other Notes:
~Control pain in the injured area by using ice packs to cool the area.
~Use acetaminophen instead of ibuprofen for pain since ibuprofen can thin the blood and lead to bruising in the area
~Any and all concerns should lead you straight to your doctor for evaluation

MORE READING on this topic can be found in a very nice handout written by Arnie Baker, MD.

Last year, my family rode the 20 mile loop in Bike Your Watershed, a local event geared towards getting people to interact with our beautiful local watershed, the Deschutes River. This year, the free event will be held on Sunday, July 26th, 2009. We are proud to sponsor this for our second year. One of the highlights for me from last year was pulling the tag-a-long bike with my daughter while she wore her black velvet dress with faux leopard collar. She had a blast stopping at the feed/water breaks and picking up a handful of pretzels or a Clif Bar. Most of all being out on our bikes as a family sparked more rides like it during 2009, and we’ve looked forward to getting back out to do it again!

During the past few weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of working with several patients who are having the adventures of their lives. While they have done all the hard work of training and preparation, I’ve been nearby when they’ve taken spills, tumbles, or tried just a bit too hard… My patients’ recent escapades include back-to-back wins at motocross, two Mt. Rainier climb attempts, one Mt. Baker ascent, and the upcoming Cream Puff 100 mountain bike race. In addition to these recent challenges, I’ve spent a lot of time this spring summer working with athletes involved in bicycle racing, marathons, and endurance racing. Congratulations to all! I feel like a proud papa. Dr. Andy

July 1st got away from me yesterday, and I didn’t quite give it all the respect it deserved! We moved into our current location on July 1, 2004 which means we’re starting into our 6th year in this location and going strong. Suffice it to say, more has happened during these past five years than any other time in my life. Truly. I offer my thanks to the many precious people who have given us the opportunity to take care of them and be a part of this community. Taking care of people is the most wonderful way I can imagine being able to support my family.

I have frequently heard that by the end of the Tour de France, riders end up losing a significant amount of their bone density due to the amount of time on the bikes, the effort, and the stress of the intensity. Most of the blame has been placed on the non-weight bearing aspect of cycling and that cycling lacks the impact forces needed to stimulate the maintainance of bone density.

An article posted yesterday in the New York Times sheds more light on this. Here are some of the conclusions that this review article brings out:

~Competitive riders even in their 20’s and 30’s have been found to have significant bone loss that borders on osteoporosis.

~Bone loss progresses through the race season and may increase slightly after competion.

~Lighter riders may be more at risk of developing more significant bone loss

~Riders training intensely may have a deficit of calcium even if they are consuming more than the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) due to loss in sweat

~Drinking calcium enriched water while exercising may help limit some of the internal chemical environment that causes bone loss

~Racers may want to have periodic bone scans done to determine their bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture risk status

~Strength training year-round may lessen the impacts of bone loss by stimulating bone building

~Lastly, it’s questionable how much this applies to recreational riders who are more apt to include other forms of exercise in their routines, including strength training & walking/running.

I’m sure there will be more to come since this topic and discussion has been around for a while. Cheers, Andy

Most people that I talk to about cycling, especially those who have been in the sport for a while, smile knowingly when I ask about the pain… There are reasons why cyclists constantly talk about suffering, the pain, the fight, etc. to describe riding with intensity. I’ve come to learn this over several years of dedication to riding and training. What I’m finding is that cycling has become one of the most powerful tools of self-development and mental focus I’ve ever come across for myself. I don’t remember it this way as a kid, of course. All I remember are the fast descents, racing my friends up each hill, and endless summer days.

These days, as a year-round cyclist, I’m very interested in the mental game of cycling. This year has been a more successful year for me in terms of my riding abilities. I’ve found that I can climb faster, finish training rides with my team, and get dropped less often in races. These are all outward signs of improvement, but I’ve discovered that they may not all be due to increased physical abilities. I give the credit largely to a deeper understanding of my emotional state on the bike. Of all the things I’ve learned in the past few years, probably the most important is how to be more relaxed on the bike when the intensity starts heating up and learning how to quiet the distractions.

This is a topic I intend to explore more, and not one that I even planned to write about this morning. It was inspired by my reading of this article by Kevin Todd.

I was quite proud to see that our local ride the Tenino-Rainier-Yelm-Bucoda Rally (TRYBR) was listed in the August 2009 cue sheet in Bicycling Magazine. Usually I look at the rides and get left thinking how cool it would be to go to some of the fantastic rides listed and how lucky those people are who live local to them… Well, I can get to the TRYBR from my HOUSE! So maybe I will this year. Shamefully, I haven’t done it yet!! 100 miles, here I come! August 9, 2009

This year will be the first year that I will be riding in the Washington State Bike MS Ride 2009. I will be riding in honor of several friends, patients, and relatives. I’m just getting started with this now,so there will be more to come. If you want to contribute I would appreciate it! More to come…

Since I look forward to this event all year long, it’s hard to believe it’s now… over! Until next year, anyway. In addition to hosting back to back races that drew athletes from around the region, our team made a powerful showing in sheer numbers and results with many top finishes for the weekend. One of our teammates is a gifted videographer (and magician!) He filmed a short video of our racing on Sunday in Boston Harbor, WA. Great job, Jeff!

Boston Harbor Circuit Race State Cycling Championships from Jeff Evans on Vimeo.

The Valley Athletic Club’s cycling team made the front page of The Olympian’s sports section today. One of our teammates just passed along the link. Seriously, there will be hundreds of competitors from all levels and ages enjoying bike racing this weekend. The Capital Criterium on Saturday is great for spectators. It’s a very tricky course that winds around the front side of the State Capitol Building. Lots of visibility for everyone. Cheers! Andy