Talking Good vs. Bad Pain During Pride With Summit Orthopedics

Doctor and patient reviewing x-rays.
Photo courtesy oif BigStock/lisafx

Summit Orthopedics provides comprehensive orthopedic care, from the diagnosis all the way to generating a rehabilitation plan for pain and chronic pain.

Angela Voight, a sports medicine doctor at Summit Orthopedics, diagnoses and treats non-surgical injuries. Working at Summit for twelve years, Voight said she primarily sees athletes through sideline coverage for races and running events. 

Voight gets to see people for inquiries to keep them healthy, active and moving, from volunteering with Twin Cities in Motion and Moms on the Run, to soccer or football coverage.

With the 2024 Twin Cities Pride Festival approaching on June 29, lots of walking and long days outside are in the future for attendees.

“Particularly in the queer community, one of the main issues is that there’s less access to care,” Voight said.

Folks in the community can have a hard time finding providers who understand the LGBTQ+ community and give them the care that they need, Voight added.

Other things that affect the LGBTQ+ community, such as substance abuse, mental health issues and partnership violence can also lead to disproportionate pain within the community, Voight said.

“I see a lot of people that have a big event, and are not prepared for it, and then end up injured or sore,” Voight said.

For a big celebration like Pride where you have multiple days of walking and increased levels of activity it’s important to start training early, Voight said. This can look like walking more ahead of time, going for outdoor walks in your free time and staying on your feet for longer prior to Pride.

It is also a good idea to incorporate other forms of movement such as strength training into your routine, Voight added.

Wearing appropriate footwear also plays a key role in minimizing risk for pain, according to Voight.

“I always tell people to prioritize comfort over fashion when it comes to footwear,” Voight said. “For pride, we like to get dressed up, but wearing shoes that allow you to be on your feet for long periods of time is critical.”

Footwear such as tennis shoes, walking and running shoes are suitable options, Voight added. Specialty running stores, such as the Twin Cities Running Company, are good options to get customized footwear that place comfort at the forefront. 

There may also be increased substance use, because during Pride folks are celebrating and having a good time, Voight added. More drinking and substances may be used during this time of celebration, so monitoring these behaviors are important to avoid injury.

“The attitude of saying ‘no pain, no gain’ causes problems,” Voight said. “I think people often don’t know when to stop in terms of what is normal soreness and pain versus what is injury.”

The process of figuring out the answer is tough, Voight added. The only kind of “good soreness” is the kind that arises when a new activity or new workout is performed.

“I have a job because it’s hard to figure out these things,” Voight said.

If soreness is general and not specifically affecting one specific area of the body and diffuses a few days after the new activity is started, this type of soreness is typically normal, Voight said.

If one knee or shoulder hurts and it doesn’t get better in the span of a few days, that could be a sign of injury, according to Voight.

“I see a lot of people who ‘increase’ too quickly, when they have a new routine or want to get in shape,” Voight said. “Pain is telling us something, it’s our body saying ‘hey, I don’t like this’, let’s do something about it.”

In general, a little soreness that resolves fast is okay, but anything that persists and affects one specific area should be evaluated, according to Voight.

From a cultural perspective, Voight said chronic pain is most often wrongly associated with pain “in your head,” and is commonly dismissed.

Chronic pain can be tough to describe because it is typically something that has been present for months to years, Voight added. The pain is persistent, affecting daily life function and one’s mental health.

“A lot of times women are dismissed if they have pain, along with people of color and those who are in lower socio-economic statuses because there can be bias in the medical community,” Voight said.

Differences in the types of injuries seen in Voight’s practice vary by age, as in younger populations sports-related injuries and acute injuries tend to be more common.

In older populations, even after the age of forty, more degenerative conditions are present such as arthritis, joint diseases and tendon injuries, Voight said.

With “hot girl walks” trending and the debate of what form of exercise is “better,” Voight said both running and walking have benefits for overall health.

“The saying that ‘running will ruin your joints and cause arthritis’ is simply not true,” Voight said. “Both forms of exercise are excellent for your joint health, and people who stay active are less likely to have arthritis.”

It is important to have good form and start slowly when it comes to running since it is very repetitive with more impact, Voight added.     

In terms of weightlifting, good form and technique is also essential, according to Voight. Having a trainer or physical therapist to help through the process can ensure good form is being used throughout.

“I am happy to see anyone who wants to come in,” Voight said. “Access for the queer community is not great, and I want folks to know that I want to be a part of providing good care for the community.”

Summit Orthopedics
www.summitortho.com

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