Blog
Back, Neck, and Spine Myths in Sports
When it comes to athletic injuries, misinformation can spread as quickly as game highlights. From the high school field to the college arena, athletes often hear advice that sounds helpful but can actually slow recovery or increase the risk of long-term damage. Our...
Spine-Chilling Habits to Avoid
Slouching at Your Desk or Hunching Over Devices Whether you’re working at a desk, scrolling on your phone, or watching TV, poor posture puts unnecessary strain on your spine. Over time, slouching can lead to back and neck pain, tension headaches, and even imbalances...
Recognizing and Preventing Hand and Wrist Strain
For many, long hours at a computer or taking notes by hand are part of daily life. Over time, the repetition of typing and writing can put stress on the small joints, muscles, and tendons in the hands and wrists. Paying attention to early warning signs is important to...
Dr. Dugas Honored with Clarence Swanson Memorial Award
At the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame 2025 ceremony on Friday night, Dr. Dugas was recognized as the recipient of the prestigious Clarence Swanson Memorial Award. The award honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the University of Nebraska and...
Dr. Swanson Runs Chicago Marathon to Benefit American Diabetes Association
Scott A. Swanson M.D., one of NOC's Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Surgeon completed the Chicago Marathon on Sunday, October 8, 2023, to benefit the American Diabetes Association. The significance of the fundraiser and this particular race has deep meaning for Dr....
Men’s Health Month
November is Men’s Health Awareness Month—a.k.a. “Movember.” Men have a life expectancy that is roughly six years shorter than women, from diseases which are largely preventable. Aside from the accidents, there are also many health concerns in men that must be...
Addressing Macho-ness and it’s Effects on Mens Health
The month of November is to raise awareness for men’s health, but this is not exclusive to only physical health. Men’s mental health has only begun to be widely addressed in recent decades. Historically, society tells men to express less feelings and many may see...
Common Summer Time Hand Injuries
Summer is all fun and games until someone gets hurt. Whether you’re on vacation or hanging out at the park, a hand injury could occur and ruin your day. Before you get too excited about celebrating the weather, make sure you know the hazards involved and how to...
Summer Injuries and How to Prevent Them
If you're like most people, you're probably looking forward to spending more time outdoors and enjoying the warmer weather. However, with the increase in activity comes an increased risk of accidents and injuries. While there’s an increase in nature-related injuries...
Cast Care
We’re in the middle of summertime now, and the temperatures are skyrocketing. Unfortunately, injuries are all too common at this time of year. If you or someone you know suffers from a broken bone this summer, you may be wondering how you should care for your cast?...
Common Orthopaedic Injuries in Summer
Summer is a fantastic time to get outside to enjoy the beautiful weather, fun sports, and family vacations. However an increase in summer fun can often lead to an increase in injuries. With the help of a few reminders, there are several ways you can prevent common...
Common Trampoline Injuries & Safety Tips
If your children love trampolines, they’re in the majority. Trampolines are a great way to get them outside, active and away from TV monitors. Unfortunately, as with every physical activity, trampolines can cause injury and pose a unique list of potential dangers. The...
Fireworks Safety
The 4th of July is a wonderful time to gather with family and friends and celebrate our country and all of the freedoms that go along with it. Many of us enjoy picnics and get-togethers that include fireworks in one form or another. With all that said, the 4th of July...
Orthopaedic Problems from Diabetes
People with diabetes have a high prevalence of orthopaedic problems and experience an increased risk of adverse outcomes following orthopaedic interventions. Diabetes can cause numerous problems, ranging from nerve damage to arterial disease to obesity to infections...
Neck and Back Pain: When to Seek Treatment
If you're living with back or neck pain, you're not alone. In fact, orthopaedic doctors see patients every day who are struggling with these issues. But too often, we shrug off the pain as a fact of life. We think it's something we just have to deal with. And while...
Preparing Yourself for Surgery
We know that surgery can be a daunting option for many, especially If you have never experienced a surgery with anesthesia, making even the simplest of procedures can seem overwhelming. However, the more you prepare ahead of time can help to lessen your pre-surgery...
High School Sports Injuries
Sports injuries are common among athletes and often impact the foot, ankle, wrist, or head. But what are some of the most common types of injuries in high school sports? Who is most at risk of injury? For starters, some of the more common sports injuries among high...
Common Lower Back Injuries in Golf
Although golf is considered a type of low-intensity sport, injuries can still happen. Back pain is one of the most commonly reported injuries among golfers -which doesn’t come as much of a surprise due to the constant rotational movement involved in the swing. Several...
How to Improve Bone Health
The body contains over 200 bones that perform a variety of different roles, including providing structure, protection of your organs, anchor points for muscles, and calcium storage. When you’re thinking about striving to improve your overall health, chances are,...
What is a Herniated Disc
A disc – in relation to your spine – is a rubbery “cushion” of sorts, with one disc occupying the space between each vertebrae, which are the individual bones that form your spine. These spinal discs are not unlike a jelly donut in that they have a tough exterior that...
Soft Tissue Injuries
What is a Soft Tissue Injury? A soft tissue injury (STI) is damage to the body's connective tissues, which can include muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Soft tissue injuries can be caused in a variety of ways. Trauma, such as a fall or car accident, can cause...
Neck Pain
Your neck is a pretty amazing structure, wouldn’t you agree? The neck – also known as the cervical spine – is comprised of bones, nerves, muscles, ligaments, and tendons and, aside from holding up your head (which weighs, on average, between 10 and 13 pounds), is also...
Introduction to Arthritis
Let’s start with some facts about arthritis, courtesy of the Arthritis Foundation. Did you know that: Over 50 million adults possess a physician-diagnosed type of arthritis. 1 out of every 250 infants and children have either arthritis or another rheumatic condition....
Explaining the Shoulder
The shoulder is one of the most complicated joints in the body. It is one of the few ball and socket joints, yet it has the largest range of motion of any joint in the body. The shoulder consists of many complicated mechanisms that all must work in tandem in order to...
Hip 102
The hip joint is a true ball-and-socket joint that consists of a complex design that is able to provide the body with both stability and mobility. There are many powerful muscles that connect with – and cross over – the hip joint, which makes it possible for the human...
Exercising After an Ankle Injury
When you suffer an injury, you may be tempted to get back to your routine as quickly as you can. Proper healing takes time and pushing yourself to get back to normal before your body is ready can be very dangerous. A sprain occurs when the ligament in your ankle is...
Elbow Reconstruction
The most common type of elbow condition is overuse or traumatic injury to the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), especially for anyone who does a lot of throwing. The UCL is on the inside of the elbow and it connects the humerus (upper arm bone) to the ulna - the two...
When to Take a Break From Exercising
One of the best ways you can keep fit and maintain a healthy body is through physical activity. Other than decreasing your body fat, your muscle mass will increase, and you’ll generally feel great. However, all these advantages have a caveat — don’t overdo it. You may...
Exercises to Help with Arthritis
A little while back, we wrote a blog about managing arthritis pain with exercise. Whether you’re an avid athlete or just getting into it, everyone is affected by motivation levels that are seemingly hills and valleys. Ask any athlete or bodybuilder, sometimes...
Headaches and Your Spine Health
There are a lot of different types of headaches. Migraine headaches. Tension headaches. Stress headaches. Sinus headaches. We could go on, but we’re pretty sure you get the picture – when it comes to “a simple headache”, there really ISN’T anything simple about...
Food That Builds Bones
Food plays an important part in your overall health. Your diet can affect everything from your blood pressure to the way your organs function. But you may not be aware that what you eat can even affect your bone density. This is particularly important for women in...
Hip 101
The hip joint is one of the true ball-and socket joints in the body, and helps move your legs when performing virtually any activity involving the lower body – walking, running, walking up stairs, swimming, etc. Fortunately, the hip joint is very stable, meaning that...
Backpack Safety: Part ll
When your child drops their backpack at the door, does it feel like you’re trying to move 50 pounds of rocks? Does your child struggle to put their backpack on or complain about tingling in their back? Since back-to-school season is officially here, it’s time to talk...
When to Consider Knee Replacement
Knee replacement is one of the most commonly performed orthopedic procedures. It’s estimated that about one million knee replacement surgeries are performed annually in the United States. But how do you come to the decision to get knee replacement surgery? Many...
How do Kids And Adult Bodies Differ
Have you ever wondered why children heal faster than adults? It’s truly something you do not appreciate as a child. It’s not fun missing work for two weeks after a tonsillectomy at age 25 when you could have recovered in a week when you were younger. Children...
The Right Shoes for Your Feet
Life is too short to go through it wearing uncomfortable shoes. Seriously! Over the course of a lifetime, the average individual will walk thousands of miles. Shoes that don’t fit right because they’re too tight, too loose, or don’t provide enough support can cause...
Dupuytrens Contracture & Other Conditions of the Hand
The human hand is amazingly complex and intricate. It’s comprised of 27 bones (including the wrist) and three nerves (the medial, radial, and ulnar nerves), and each of these nerves have both a sensory and motor component. The human hand is also an integral part of...
Discussions About Knee Replacement Surgery
A damaged knee joint can become one of the most irritating things. It makes simple movements, such as walking, much more painful. If you have a damaged knee and you’re dealing with the pain on a daily basis because you don’t want to have surgery, you are not alone....
Common Causes of Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain can sideline even the most active person out there. It affects nearly every aspect of your life, from unloading the dishwasher to picking up your kids, shoulder pain can change your life. Your shoulder is made up of a series of muscles, tendons, and...
Chronic Pain Syndrome
Chronic pain syndrome is (and isn’t) exactly what it sounds like. Simply put, it’s pain that lasts for longer than 6 months time. Chronic pain is often difficult to manage due to its complexities and the fact that it often doesn’t respond well to conventional...
Common Broken Bones
The human body has 206 bones that all have the potential to break in one way or another. With a vast array of accidents waiting to happen, such as vehicle collisions, slips, falls, and other unfortunate accidents, it's no surprise that many people experience some type...
Tendinitis of the Elbow
Whether you’re an athlete, blue-collar worker, casual runner, or weightlifter, anyone can fall victim to tendonitis. If you find yourself with a new, seemingly constant pain, tendonitis may be the culprit. Tendonitis is an overuse injury caused by repetitive...
After Joint Replacement Surgery: What to Know if You’re the Caregiver, Part ll
Welcome back to part 2 of our blog series on a caregiver’s joint replacement surgery aftercare! In this segment, we’ll take a look at some of the ways you can prepare for recovery, both for yourself and the patient. Knowing what to expect and being prepared after your...
Common Overuse Injuries and How to Avoid Them
Overuse injuries occur when you repeat the same actions over and over again, putting too much stress on specific parts of your body. You can experience a variety of overuse injuries, but some are more common than others. Learn more about common overuse injuries and...
After Joint Replacement Surgery: What to Know if You’re the Caregiver
We all know that undergoing joint replacement surgery is no easy task. Even with the amazing amount of progress that has been made with these procedures over the last decade, joint replacement – knee, hip, shoulder – is still a big deal. Caregivers play an...
Casting and Splinting
Fracture care, or the treatment of broken bones, is a fundamental specialty of Nebraska Orthopaedic Center. A bone may be fractured in any number of ways requiring treatment through the specialized training and experience of an orthopedic surgeon. (For Cast Care...
Shin Splints
Shin splints (known in the medical world as (medial tibial stress syndrome) tend to develop after physical activity, are a common exercise related injury, and tend to be associated with running. It’s important to note that shin splints can occur during any vigorous...
The Reality of Concussions
A concussion can occur due to a wide range of activities or injuries. Also called a mild traumatic brain injury, or MTBI for short, a concussion is a brain injury caused by a blow to the head or a violent shaking of the head and body. Whether you fell and hit your...
Keep Your Child Safe This Winter
A child’s imagination is endless, and it’s only magnified when snow is involved. Some kids make forts, while others turn the backyard into a snowball battleground. And let’s not forget to mention their favorite extreme winter sport: sledding. When the winter snow...
Exercising in the Winter Months
You wake up 2 hours before work like always. You grab your shoes, sweatpants, heavy jacket, and do some indoor stretches in preparation for your morning run. You open the door and an Antarctic breeze instantly reddens the tip of your nose. You absolutely hate running...