As the weather cools down, take advantage of the newfound freedom from summer heat by getting seriously into soccer. Be aware, though, of the various injuries you may incur, and play it safe by knowing how to respond if you do become injured.

As football season approaches, you should get outside and toss the ball around, on a team or just with friends. Be sure, though, that before you get into the game you are aware of some of the most common football injuries and how to respond if you or a friend gets one.

If you have hip joint injury or impairment that causes pain and inhibits your daily activities, you may be a candidate for hip replacement surgery. Hip replacement surgery, also known as arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure in which the damaged and diseased parts of the hip joint are removed and replaced with artificial parts, known as a prosthesis. The hip joint is a ball-and-socket type joint that can rotate in many positions. This procedure replaces both the natural socket and the rounded ball at the top of the thigh bone with duplicate parts. Hip replacement is done to increase function of the hip joint and in turn improve mobility.

An ankle sprain is a common injury that affects the ankle. A sprain occurs when there is too much stress placed on the ligaments that hold the ankle bones and joint in position. Ligaments are elastic structures that protect the ankle joint, and they can be stretched with normal movement. When these structures are stretched beyond their limits, however, an ankle sprain occurs. This happens with twisting, turning, or rolling of the foot. It can happen to athletes and non-athletes alike. A severe sprain results in actual tears of the elastic ligament fibers.

Elbow arthroscopy involves the use of fiber optics and a tiny camera for the diagnosis and treatment of many elbow conditions. With this procedure, small incisions are made around the elbow joint to allow the camera to show a magnified picture on a TV monitor in the operating room. When the surgery is done to treat a diseased or injured joint, the orthopedic specialist inserts tiny surgical instruments through the incisions to make the necessary repair.