Dr. Raj Featured on ECOTISTIC Magazine: 10 Tips To Stay Healthier And Happier In The New Year

Ecotistic Magazine asked for my help on composing a list to stay healthier and happier in the new 2012 year. Check out the article below!

Dr. Raj Featured on GirlsGoneSporty: Preventing women's knee injuries!

In my latest media, GirlsGoneSporty asked for my professional advice on preventing women knee injuries.

Knee injuries are one of the most common sports injuries in people with active lifestyles. The types of knee injuries most people face are ACL, MCL, and PCL injuries, twisting or stretching injuries, and torn cartilage. Although both men and women experience knee injuries, active women are two to eight times more likely than men to have certain types of knee problems, like tears of the ACL and non-contact injuries.

Check out the full article here!

AN EXERCISE IN ORTHOPEDICS: Michael Vick Bounces Back

Michael Vick Back for the Next Game After Concussion
Co-written by Gina Sacco, MPAS, PA-C

Michael Vick is most infamous for being a football quarterback for the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles. Although he was involved in illegal dog fighting ring several years ago, Vick remains committed to being record-breaking football player.


On Sunday, September 18^th, the Philadelphia Eagles were in a gripping game against the Atlanta Falcons. During a routine play in the 3^rd quarter, Vick was tackled and spun out by an opponent and collided with his teammate’s helmet. He slowly went to the sidelines and sat out for the rest of the game.  

Because of the sudden blow to his head, he was thought to have a neck injury but it turned out to be a concussion.  He was evaluated by a neurosurgeon and underwent several tests this week. He was cleared to return to practice. According to the Eagle’s official Facebook page, Vick is excited to play the NY Giants this Sunday.


Every year, millions of people have suffered from a head injury. A concussion is a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that may result in a bad headache, altered levels of alertness, or unconsciousness. It temporarily interferes with the way your brain works, and it can affect memory, judgment, reflexes, speech, balance, coordination, and sleep patterns. A CT scan is often used to detect brain injury after a concussion.  Most of these injuries are minor because the skull provides the brain with considerable protection. The symptoms of minor head injuries usually go away on their own. 


The Breakdown


More than half a million head injuries a year, however, are severe enough to require hospitalization. Symptoms of a concussion can range from mild to severe. In Vick’s case his symptoms were on the milder side.  They can include: altered level of consciousness (drowsy, hard to arouse, or similar changes), confusion, feeling spacey, or not thinking straight, headache, loss of consciousness, memory loss (amnesia) of events before the injury or immediately after nausea and vomiting, seeing flashing lights, or feeling like you have “lost time”. 


Recovering from a concussion takes time, even up to a month.  Luckily for Vick, on Sunday he will return to play against the NY Giants!

Dr. RAJ in the News: 4 Ways to Avoid Achy Joints

When it comes to health, fitness, and improving your overall quality of life, LiveRight LiveWell is an online powerhouse of helpful, informative content. And the experts within its editorial collective are each considered beyond worthy of any surgeon's ear - and respect, for that matter.

In a recent HEALTH & FITNESS article, I was asked to contribute my thoughts not only on orthopedic analysis of joint pains over time, but was also encouraged to contribute a few fitness and exercise routines to keep the creaks away.

Briefly, the article's key points are...

Listen to your Body.  Your body knows best, which is why you need to pay attention to it. If you feel sore a day or two after working out, that shouldn’t raise any red flags. “But if you have acute pain when you’re exercising, your body’s telling you something’s not right,” says Rajagopalan. Stop the activity and see a doctor if the pain persists.

Cross-Train.  The best way to keep doing the activities you love is to vary what you do. “I never tell people they have to quit their favorite activities just because they’re getting older,” says Rajagopalan. Of course, if you’re having pain during a specific activity, that’s a different story, he adds. But if your joints aren’t protesting and you love playing tennis, for example, try alternating with hiking or yoga. “By cross-training, you work different muscles and avoid putting repetitive stress on the body, which can lead to injury,” he says.

Vary your Impact.  High-impact activities, like running and playing tennis, place a lot of stress on your body -- especially your joints -- whereas low-impact activities like walking, cycling and Pilates place little stress on the body. In fact, people in the above study who did light exercise, like walking, had the healthiest knee cartilage. So if you’re always doing high-impact activities, then give your body a break and swap in some low-impact activities a few times a week.

Modify your Routine.  Tough as it is to accept, there may come a day when injury forces you to give up an activity, perhaps even permanently. But don’t despair. This doesn’t mean you’re completely sidelined. Work with your doctor to come up with alternatives, advises Rajagopalan. For instance, if running is taking too big a toll on your knees, then try taking it down a notch and walk or use an elliptical machine instead. By finding similar, more joint-friendly activities, you can respect your body, avoid achy joints and still enjoy the benefits of a healthy, active lifestyle at every age.

The coverage has been quite impressive, and to all who shared, including several regional FOX and MSNBC networks, I am most humbled and grateful.

To read the original article by well-known Health & Fitness wordsmith Karen Asp, click here...