The fall season has just begun and many New Englanders claim that this time of year is their favorite. Warm day-time temperatures and cool evenings along with a touch of color in the trees remind us that the season is changing. This time of year also marks a new beginning. A new school year has started and, in addition to academics, many children and young adults participate in fall sports. Whether it is football, soccer, field hockey, or jogging in the neighborhood, many people are physically active during this time of year. This edition of our e-newsletter focuses on injury prevention, and what you should do if you experience an injury during physical activity.

Plus, make sure to register on our Web site for one of five lectures taking place at our new Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine complex in Milford! You’ll get a tour of this state-of-the-art facility and lots of giveaways!

Many Americans, young and old, are vulnerable to sprains, strains and other soft tissue injuries. Those at risk include runners who inadequately train or over train; children taking risks on skateboards or bicycles; young athletes who do not stretch their muscles before and after playing sports; and older people with a deteriorating sense of balance. Read more.

In addition to acting promptly to treat sprains and strains, regardless of severity, it’s important to practice good prevention. Get fit before you play a sport. Learn and follow good technique. Don’t push your muscles past the point of fatigue. You should always warm up, cool down, and s t r e t c h before and after physical activity.

Q & A

Q: If I injure one of my joints, when should I call my doctor?

A sprained ankle, knee, wrist or other joint occurs when a fall, a sudden twist or a blow stretches or tears the ligaments supporting the joint and forces it out of its normal position. A visit to a doctor is required if you:

• have severe pain
• cannot move the joint or put weight on it
• note that the limb is crooked or has abnormal lumps or bumps near the injured area
• cannot walk more than four steps without significant pain or buckling of the limb
• have numbness in the injured area
• see redness or red streaks spreading out from the injury
• have pain, swelling or redness over a boney part of your foot
• have injured the same area previously or
• are in doubt about how serious the injury is or what you should do to treat it.

New Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine Complex in Milford
In October, Milford Regional is opening a new Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine Complex on Cape Road (Route 140) in Milford. This spacious new facility contains a large gym with additional state-of-the-art equipment, more treatment rooms, expanded occupational therapy space and an additional speech therapy office. They will be able to offer enhanced sports medicine therapies, continued exercise for rehab patients that have completed their therapies and sports training opportunities for adolescents. Take a tour of this new facility at one of five lectures being given this fall. (See information at top left of this newsletter).

Renovation and Expansion at Whitinsville Rehabilitation Site
Patients that access Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine at our Whitinsville location will be pleased to know that renovations are underway that will increase their space from 2,000 to 5,500 square feet! This will allow space for more treatment rooms for physical and occupational therapy as well as a larger gym. Programs will be expanded and speech therapy will now be offered at this location.

New Location in Hopkinton for Adult and Child Friendly Lab
We are pleased to announce the opening of a new lab location in Hopkinton in October. The lab is especially designed to cater to the special needs of children as well as adults. There is a play area with videos and the staff is very sensitive to the concerns of children. They use a variety of distraction methods to make the experience easier and less stressful.

The new lab is conveniently located at 77 West Main Street, Suite 206 (second floor) in Hopkinton. The lab will be open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To pre-register for laboratory services, please call 508-422-2222. No appointment is necessary, but for more information please call 508-435-4292.

Milford Regional’s active medical staff, consisting of over 200 doctors, is highly qualified to treat you and your family through life’s ups and downs. Whether you need a primary care physician or a specialist, you can be assured of the best possible care.

If you need a primary care physician, please call our Physician Referral Line at 1-888-DRS-HERE (1-888-377-4373). Our Referral Line, a free service available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, has access to physicians who are accepting new patients. You may also call our Referral Line to find a specialist.

See our list of Primary Care Physicians who are accepting new patients. It is important to note that not all physicians accept all insurances. Please call the physician’s office directly to find out if they accept your insurance plan.

To learn more about any one of our physicians, search here.

Plastic Surgeons
Whether you have a skin cancer lesion that needs to be removed, a scar that you would like to have minimized, or you want to have a brow lift, you will need the services of a plastic surgeon.  Plastic surgery encompasses both cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. Cosmetic surgery is performed to reshape normal structures of the body in order to improve the patient’s appearance and self-esteem. Reconstructive surgery is performed on abnormal structures of the body, caused by congenital defects, developmental abnormalities, trauma, infection, tumors or disease. It is generally performed to improve functions, but may also be done to approximate a normal appearance.

We have two plastic surgeons on our active medical staff. Read more.