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Police throughout North America deserve kudos for their commitment to keeping us safe.  While a myriad of events help make Toronto famous, it’s our police that oversee each of them and ensure we enjoy them safely.  Police are an essential part of the fabric of our community.

For the past 32 years The North American Police Soccer Tournament has raised money for charities in need.  Each year The North American Police Soccer Tournament organizers select a truly needy charity for which they will raise funds. This year, Kidsport Ontario will be the beneficiary of The 2012 North American Police Soccer Tournament proceeds. Kidsport Ontario is a charity that provides financial assistance to kids across Ontario for registration fees and equipment.  Their mission is ensuring children can be active and engaged in sports even without the financial means to do so.

This year’s Toronto North American Police Soccer Tournament is slated for September 5th – 7th.  Over 30 police agencies will be participating, and you can offer support by attending and cheering teams on!   Remember, the North American Police Soccer Tournament raises money for a very worthwhile cause. And it’s a lot of fun to watch, as many around the world know.

Soccer’s worldwide appeal is undeniable. Physical, financially affordable, strategic, fast-paced…what’s not to love? But any physical game presents risks for being injured, whether you’re a police officer in the North American Police Soccer Tournament or just a casual soccer player enjoying a game in the park.  It’s wise to be aware of common soccer injuries so that you can try to avoid them, identify them if one happens to you and know when and how to seek treatment.

Some of the most common soccer injuries or conditions plaguing soccer players include ankle sprains, tendonitis, concussions, pulled hamstrings, muscle cramps, blisters, plantar fasciitis, shin splints, stress fractures, strains and sprains, knee injuries like a torn ACL and torn knee cartilage and more. Sure seems like a long list, doesn’t it?! Recognizing that soccer is a very physical, quickly paced sport will help you understand why. Typically, common soccer injuries fall into one of two groups: cumulative or acute.

Common soccer injuries of a cumulative nature occur as the result of overuse of the joints, muscles and soft tissues repeatedly over time. What begins as a small re-occurring ache or pain can grow into a serious injury or condition if it is not treated.

Common soccer injuries that are acute happen from sudden impact or force. Acute injury pain can usually be felt immediately.

To avoid these kinds of common soccer injuries, basic measures can be taken: warm up before you play, use protective equipment, employ safe techniques for play, check the field before you play, play in proper  weather conditions, stay hydrated and stretch afterwards.  If you’re injured take time to rest and seek treatment for a full recovery before returning to the field.

Common soccer injuries can often be treated through physical therapy and rehabilitation, which is covered under most health plans.

For more information about treating common soccer injuries that are both painful and annoying, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine at 416-800-0800 or visit www.aesm.ca

 

The Toronto area comes alive with a myriad of exciting athletic events during spring and summer.  As part of our commitment to raising awareness of several of these, let’s discuss one that has become a traditional and popular favourite: The Make a Wish Foundation.

The Make a Wish Foundation Canada has worked tirelessly for more than thirty years to grant the wishes of children who have life-threatening medical conditions. Their work brings strength, hope and joy to the children who need it most. In the past 30 years, more than 280,000 children around the world have watched their dreams come true, thanks to The Make a Wish Foundation.

This coming June, The Make a Wish Foundation is hosting its first ever Make a Wish “Rope for Hope”. The Rope for Hope event is unique because it challenges participants to raise pledges in exchange for the opportunity to rappel over the edge of the 30-storey Toronto City Hall. The Rope for Hope event is limited to 90 participants who must raise a minimum of $1500 to participate. If you have a passion for climbing then this is the event for you. If you want to take part in the Rope for Hope there are three categories to consider: single participant; team; or as part of the “Toss Your Boss” colleague group.

The Rope for Hope event takes place on June 19th 2012 at Toronto City Hall, but you need to secure your enrolment by both pre-registering on The Make a Wish Website and doing your fundraising ahead of time.

If you have a passion for climbing please remember that while climbing can be a fun, exhilarating experience, it can also result in injury.

Rappelling is not just the process of sliding down the rope, but also incorporates a lot of other climbing skills. You need the ability to create anchors, tie knots, manage the rope, rig the rappel device, use safety back-up systems, and retrieve the rope.

Safe rappelling is totally dependent on your equipment and your skills. If you’re a novice climber then you can be easily lulled into a false sense of security when you rappel.

Climbing and rappelling injuries frequently arise from repetitive stress on the muscles, joints and tendons which leads to tendonitis, strains and sprains. While physical rehabilitation can often treat these injuries, if they’re not fully healed, they may still be serious enough to keep you from climbing during recovery.

Climbing and rappelling can also pose risks of a second and more serious kind of injury: falling.  There are also less serious consequences, such as dislocated shoulders, sprains and strains which can have long lasting effects requiring treatment for full recovery.

Climbing equipment like knee pads, elbow pads and helmets will go a long way to reduce injury in the event that you fall.

If you have a passion for climbing and rappelling, then consider The Make a Wish Foundation Rope for Hope event June 19, 2012. Unlike mountain or cliff climbing and rappelling, this is a supervised event where precautions are taken to ensure participant safety.

Many people enjoy safe, injury-free climbing and rappelling.  But the reality is that no sport is without its own inherent risks to stress, strain or injury.  When injured, professional help can help you recover properly and within a reduced amount of time. If you are a climber who is recovering from a climbing or rappelling injury, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine at 416-800-0800 or visit www.aesm.ca.