Greenwich, Conn.—June 19, 2008
This past April, Rebecca Ann Demorest, M.D., found herself far from Hospital for Special Surgery’s South Beach Avenue office in Old Greenwich where she practices pediatric and young adult sports medicine.
As a physician for the U.S. Fed Cup team, a premier international women’s tennis competition, Dr. Demorest traveled to Moscow, Russia, to care for the six-player team. While the team won only two of their five matches, the experience for both the players and Demorest was priceless.
“Traveling abroad is always a challenge,” she noted. “New places, environments, foods and experiences can sometimes create difficult medical situations. We were prepared for anything, but luckily all remained healthy.“ Dr. Demorest also shares, “Being asked to medically attend the Fed Cup was a great opportunity to see the up and coming players for the United States Tennis Association (USTA) and to be part of a great tradition."
Surprisingly one of the biggest challenges that the team faced in Moscow was not sprains or strains but rather second-hand smoking from cigarettes.
“As Americans, we have the luxury of nonsmoking sections and smoking bans in most commercial spaces,” said Dr. Demorest. “Things were much different in Moscow where smoking is popular and allowed in almost all venues. The team as a whole dealt well, but we were all affected.”
Happy to be back home and in a smoke-free environment, Demorest returned to her Old Greenwich practice after nine days in Russia. Dr. Demorest’s Hospital for Special Surgery colleagues Dr. Jennifer Solomon and Dr. Beth Shubin Stein are also team physicians for the USTA. In addition, as a former high school and college rower herself, Demorest helps to care for the U.S. Rowing Team. Last August, for two weeks she traveled with the U.S. team to Munich, Germany, to cover the World Rowing Championships.
Back in Greenwich, the most common injuries that Dr. Demorest sees in her pediatric and young adult sports medicine practice are due to chronic overuse. Overuse injuries are often further complicated by lack of flexibility and strength or inaccurate conditioning, training and/or equipment (e.g., shoes, protective gear, etc.).
“We work with coaches and athletic trainers to ensure that players are building proper core and overall strength and flexibility to prevent injury,” said Dr. Demorest. “Many of these injuries can be prevented with a proper training regimen.” To complement her practice, Demorest also acts as a medical consultant to Convent of the Sacred Heart in Greenwich. This winter she spoke to student athletes and parents on “Issues in the Female Athlete.” Preventing these types of injuries is a major focus for Dr. Demorest in her work with patients and local schools and she welcomes speaking opportunities at these venues.
In addition to training, conditioning and rehabilitation, Dr. Demorest also focuses on general health guidelines for teens including sleep habits and nutrition to maximize their performance. “Adherence to guidelines improves overall health but also maximizes athletic performance,” she said.
For more information or to make an appointment with Dr. Demorest or another HSS physician, call 877.606.1555.
The Hospital for Special Surgery’s specialists at the Affiliated Physician Office in Old Greenwich offer medical diagnosis, pre- and postoperative care, nonsurgical management of injuries and joint pain, x-rays, EMG testing, fluoroscopically guided injections and casting. Conveniently located near the Old Greenwich train station, the office also offers free parking. Additional information can be found by contacting the Greenwich Office at 203.409.3000.
212.606.1197
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