Comprised of several joints, the shoulder is complex and a common source of pain, especially as we get older.  Dr. Albertson helps you understand the anatomy of the shoulder, the difference between acute and chronic shoulder injuries, when to seek medical attention, and how shoulder pain and injuries are managed and treated.   Learn what you need to know to stay active.

0:49  Introduction to shoulder pain.

1:43  The complex anatomy of the shoulder.   Bones, joints,  ligaments, tendons and muscles, the rotator cuff, and bursa.  https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/Shoulder_joint.svg

12:12  Why aging muscles can lead to rotator cuff and other shoulder injuries.  Maintaining strength is important for maintaining function as we age.

14:11  Common causes of acute shoulder pain from injury.

16:05  Shoulder dislocations.

16:46  Dislocations in people over 45-50 years old should be seen by an orthopedist to make sure there isn't also rotator cuff injury. 

19:54  Tendon and ligament tears at the bone need to be evaluated for surgical repair.

21:57  When to seek medical help for acute shoulder injuries.

23:09  Common chronic shoulder injuries and pain.  Arthritis, tendonitis, bone spurs, bursitis.

27:23  Diagnostic tools your doctor may use for shoulder injuries.

29:16  Treating shoulder injuries with RICE.

30:50  Use acetaminophen in the first 24 hours after an injury for pain, then NSAIDS sparingly.

33:55  Injections can help quiet down inflammation and pain.

34:38  Physical therapy helps to gain strength, flexibility, and functionality in the shoulder.

34:59  Surgery is sometimes needed in shoulder injuries, but most injuries are treatable with more conservative measures.

36:01  Keeping the muscles around the shoulders strong as we age is critical.  

There are lots of claims about what vitamin D does for our health, especially in the age of Covid-19.  Dr. Naomi Albertson explains what vitamin D is, how we create it in our bodies and get it in our diet, and what we know for sure in regards to how it functions in the body.

0:52  Introduction. 

2:44   Vitamin D is fat soluble, so you should take it with a little fat for absorption.

3:34  The two forms of vitamin D:   D2 and D3.

3:51  Your skin starts the process of activating vitamin D.  Sunshine is important, but temperature is important too!

5:44  Kidney or liver problems can affect your ability to create vitamin D.

6:11  All of our cells have receptors for vitamin D.   

7:05  Blood tests for vitamin D.

9:18  Casual exposure to the sun (arms and face) isn't enough to achieve your daily recommended vitamin D intake. 

10:10  Find your recommended daily intake of vitamin D:  https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/#h2

10:59  The ability to create Vitamin D is reduced in elderly individuals.

11:19  Food sources of vitamin D.

12:03  Certain medical conditions can negatively impact the ability to absorb vitamin D through diet. 

12:32  Acid helps us absorb vitamin D, so acid blocking medications can negatively impact how much we get in our diets.

13:05  Many Americans are deficient in vitamin D.

15:14  Your skin type affects how much vitamin D you absorb.

15:53  What we know for sure vitamin D does.   Calcium absorption and calcium regulation.

18:58  Muscle function. 

19:42  The risk of falls in the elderly.

20:05  Cancer risk.

20:30  Respiratory illness.

22:05  Covid-19 mortality.

23:19  Cardiovascular health.

24:11  Pregnancy and birth outcomes.

25:19  The range of normal vitamin D levels.  

25:44  Do low vitamin D levels matter?

27:51  You can take too much vitamin D.

29:02  Symptoms of too much vitamin D or extremely low vitamin D.

31:30  Vitamin D supplementation.

Dr. Albertson is a guest on strength training coach Matt Pendola's popular podcast (pendolatraining.com) in the first of a three part series focused on things people over age 40 should think about when it comes to starting a strength training program or improving their training.  In this episode, Dr. Albertson and Matt discuss the importance that finding your motivation plays in achieving your health and fitness goals. 

Highlights:

0:58  Introduction to the three part series.

3:49  Achieving your training goals can be overwhelming, but clearly defining your goals and breaking them down into smaller tasks can help you succeed.

7:46  It's easy to lose motivation if you don't clearly define your "why?" Getting specific about why you are pursuing your training goals can help you achieve them.

10:10  Make sure you are establishing the right steps to reach your goals, and that you are ready to put in the time to succeed.  These steps become clearer once you have defined what you want to achieve and why.

14:59  Your "why" can change, and that's ok! 

17:48  Think through your "why" and goals at the start of training. 

28:15  Keep yourself accountable to your plan. 

 

Dr. Albertson is a guest on strength training coach Matt Pendola's popular podcast (pendolatraining.com) in the final of a three part series focused on things people over age 40 should think about when it comes to starting a strength training program or improving their training.  In this episode, Dr. Albertson, Matt, and massage therapist Erin Pendola discuss supplements and nutrition.

0:56  Introduction to the series.

3:47  Dr. Albertson explains why she developed her supplement Dr. Ni's OC2, with an eye on age-related muscle loss. 

11:20  Make sure you are getting enough protein to build muscle.

13:39  Protein is personal.

14:31  Energy in vs. energy out.  Small adjustments are best with diet.  Beware of fad diets and extreme dietary restrictions.

16:24  Safe and sustainable ways to create a caloric deficit to lose weight.  Real weight loss takes time.

20:49  Educate yourself about what you include and exclude from your diet, and why.

21:52  Proper nutrition and strength training are essential to maintain muscle strength and staying active with age. 

22:51  Nutrition and muscle mass are essential for strong bones as we age, especially for women. 

27:46  Nutritional needs for strength training and active lifestyles.  Some good recommendations: 

* Nutrition for athletics: https://www.eatrightpro.org/-/media/eatrightpro-files/practice/position-and-practice-papers/position-papers/nutritionathleticperf.pdf

* Supplements: https://www.amssm.org/News-Release-Article.php?NewsID=54

* Protein: https://jissn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12970-017-0177-8

29:37  Things to look out for with supplements.  Look for reputable sources and research-based ingredients.

33:16  There is no magic pill to get stronger, lose weight, or achieve whatever your health goals are.  You have to educate yourself and do the work!  

Dr. Albertson is a guest on strength training coach Matt Pendola's popular podcast (pendolatraining.com) in the second of a three part series focused on things people over age 40 should think about when it comes to starting a strength training program or improving their training.  In this episode, Dr. Albertson, Matt, and massage therapist Erin Pendola discuss some current best practices for workouts. 

Highlights:

0:57  Introduction to the three part series.

3:47  Warm up protocols.  Start by getting your body temperature up.

6:05  Research shows static stretching to begin a workout leads to more injuries.

6:40  Ideas for warming up, resources for finding warm up protocols, and how long to warm up.

9:54  Start with aerobic sets. 

10:43  High intensity training for coordination and performance.

12:01  Proper form is important.  Don't overload dysfunction, causing pain and injury.

13:25  Time under tension... Focus on clean reps, not quantity.  It's about value vs. volume.  Once your form starts to go, stop! 

17:04  Outline of a 30 minute workout.

20:58  Training differences of men vs. women.

24:29  Finding a good trainer.  Start with a proper evaluation and make sure he/she develops a plan for you.

28:54  Cool down techniques at the end of a workout. 

Sports medicine doctor Naomi Albertson breaks down the pervasive myth that creatine harms the kidneys, explaining that research shows it isn't true, how the myth started, and why it still persists today even among many health care professionals.

Highlights:

1:42  How did the myth that creatine harms the kidneys get started?

5:31  Creatine doesn't cause dehydration either.

6:29  How kidney function tests add to the confusion.

13:01  Those more muscular and/or supplementing with creatine may appear via tests to have a kidney problem when none actually exists.  Creatine can sometimes be incorrectly blamed as causing the perceived problem.

18:44  Additional tests can clarify if a kidney problem truly exists.

20:39  Research has consistently supported the safety of creatine in regards to the kidneys.

What happens to your body after taking time off from the gym or your regular exercise routine?  How long does it take to get back to your previous level of fitness after a break from exercise, and how should you ramp back up?  Dr. Naomi Albertson explains what to expect when you get back to your routine, with a discussion of how our bodies adapt to exercise, and what happens when that exercise is removed or decreased.

Highlights:

3:01  How much you loose with inactivity depends on where you started.

4:00  Less activity can lead to increase in fat stores.

6:36  Eat appropriately for your level of exercise to build muscle and/or reduce fat storage.

7:11  Nervous system changes from exercise (or lack thereof).

11:02  What happens with time off from aerobic exercise.

15:24  What happens with time off from anaerobic exercise.

18:18  How long does it take to get back to your previous level of fitness?

18:58  Age impacts how quickly you can get back into shape.

19:59  Take the appropriate time to ramp up to your previous level of activity again.

22:49  Getting back to exercise (or starting a routine) can help improve your mental outlook.

26:08  When getting back to exercise or starting a new routine, consistency and making exercise a habit is important.

27:47  Creatine can help with reducing muscle loss, muscle recovery, and boosting workouts.

33:12  Thoughts for returning to the gym as safely as possible during the pandemic.

With gyms closed and much of everyday life disrupted, Dr. Naomi Albertson shares thoughts on how you can keep strong at home.

Highlights:

1:41  Stay in touch and stay social.

2:40  Nutrition is still important!

3:40  Find a way to set aside a little time each day for staying active.

4:08  Search online for exercise apps/programs, and get creative with equipment if you have to.

7:50  Look at community exercise platforms for motivation.

9:10  Get outdoors if you can.

10:54  Luckily, aerobic strength and capacity doesn't just go away overnight.  Look for substitutes to maintain aerobic fitness.

Knowing about concussions is important for active adults and anyone who has a child participating in sports.  Dr. Naomi Albertson explains what exactly concussions are, the changing landscape in youth sports, and what to do if you or someone you know suffers a concussion.  The risks associated with concussions and ways you can minimize risk and the impact of concussions is also discussed, as well as common myths about treatment and equipment.

Highlights:

1:26  What exactly is a concussion?

2:41  What happens to the brain when you suffer a concussion?

6:45  Children, sports, and concussions: a changing landscape to minimize risk.

11:35  How do you know if someone has suffered a concussion?

16:45  What to do when a concussion happens.

18:40  When to go to the doctor or ER.

20:51  Treatment myths.  You can go to sleep!

22:20  How long until symptoms resolve?

22:56  Risks, Part I: Second Impact Syndrome.

26:13  Risks, Part II: Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)

28:12  Ways to minimize the likelihood and severity of concussions.

30:46  Common treatments.

32:21  Returning to work/school: the importance of rest and support after a concussion.

35:56  Post concussion syndrome: seek help when symptoms persist.

Almost everybody suffers from back pain at one time or another.  It can be minor or severe, and can come on suddenly or over time.  Dr. Naomi "Ni" Albertson explains the anatomy of the spine, common causes of back pain and back injuries, diagnosis and common treatments, and the key things you can do to help prevent back pain.

Highlights:

1:38  Spinal anatomy 101.  There's a lot going on back there that can cause pain! 

5:30  Your spine is a series of connected moving joints, and injuries on one end can cause symptoms in other areas.

7:21  Common sources of age-related back pain: arthritis, abnormal bone growth, nerve impingement. 

9:00  Acute spinal injuries like disc injuries are common from lifting, bending, twisting and pulling.

9:37  Spinal curvature can sometimes cause pain.

10:27  If you have a history of cancer, be extra vigilant about back pain. 

10:54  Vascular disease, gall bladder disease, and pancreatic disease can all present with back pain.

11:41  Common back muscle strains feel better with heat, and should generally quiet down within a few days to weeks.  Back sprains (ligament injuries) take longer to heal, usually within three to six weeks, but sometimes longer.   

13:32  When to see a doctor for ongoing back pain.

14:05  What causes back spasms?

16:05  How are more severe back injuries diagnosed?

18:07  Treatments for common causes of back pain.

21:59  Things you can do to help prevent back pain and injuries: exercise, nutrition, body weight.