Q: My son has been having shoulder problems when playing lacrosse. He states that when he goes to shoot the ball, he often feels his shoulder “pop,” and then it becomes very painful for the rest of the game. A doctor parent on the team said that he may have rotator cuff problems. Is there something we should be doing?

A: Since he seems able to continue playing even after the onset of pain, I doubt there is a full-blown rotator cuff tear. That would leave the possibility of a rotator cuff strain, tendonitis, instability or a labral tear. The part that concerns me is the “popping” that he is feeling.

Q: I have spent the last eight months strengthening my leg after ACL surgery and have finally returned to playing lacrosse. Unfortunately, I noticed that my speed has decreased, is there any way to improve this?
A: It seems like everyone wants to improve speed. “Faster is better” seems to be the phrase in use, and recent research seems to back it. Studies have shown a direct correlation between NFL draft position and speed in the 40-yard dash more than any other variable measured at the combine.

Q: I am running my first marathon in two weeks and was wondering whether there is anything that I should eat prior to the race to help my performance.
A: I assume that you have been training and eating a balanced diet for several months, a diet consistent with your own personal metabolic needs for the amount of energy that you have been expending during training sessions. Unfortunately, this, and not the one meal that you eat prior to the race, will be your vital asset to achieving optimal performance.

Q: I have been training for a marathon with a mileage chart from off the Internet, but I noticed that it doesn’t allow for much rest and recovery. Is recovery important for this type of training?

A: First of all, let me applaud you for even asking this question. Most of us spend hours, if not days, planning the best approach for training. We try to manipulate intensity, volume, speed, etc., to best match our goals and timeframe. What many of us fail to take into account is optimal recovery. In order to do this, we may need to take a step back.

Q: What is the difference between “tennis elbow” and “golfer’s elbow”?
A: I’ve been asked this question a lot and even after I answer it, I still get confused looks. Let’s try again. Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow are generic terms giving to tendinitis or epicondylitis of the elbow. The terms are more applicable to a right-handed individual since tennis elbow is commonly used for a lateral tendinitis or epicondylitis and golfer’s elbow refers to medial tendinitis or epicondylitis.

Q: I am working out in the heat and trying to keep hydrated with more than just water. Gatorade is too expensive and too sweet, and I’m sure there are easier ways to quickly replace what my body’s losing in high heat. Are juices good?

A: Today, we have a plethora of choices when it comes to fluid-replacement drinks. It seems that every day I see an advertisement for a “new” drink that helps this and stops that.

Q: I am a 35-year-old woman who recently had surgery to repair a torn ACL in my left knee. In doing research on the Internet, I noticed that females seem to be more at-risk for this injury than males competing in the same type of activity. Why is this?

A: This question has an answer with many theories and ideas, some farfetched, others physiologically proven. What does seem to be true is that females are indeed more prone to ACL injury during similar activity.
There are two things that are main contributors to this: muscle imbalances and a greater Q-angle.

Q: My doctor told me that a lot of my problems with my hamstrings come from not stretching before soccer games. My team spends about five minutes stretching before the game after we do a little running. Is this enough?
A: Stretching has become a popular research topic in many professional journals. The two main questions that arise are: What type? And, how often? Hamstring tightness in competitive athletes is very common, and while many teams and individuals spend time completing stretches before a match, it is often not very beneficial.