Get to Know our Staff: Jane S. Chung, M.D.

Get to Know our Staff: Jane S. Chung, M.D.

by | Jul 20, 2020 | Sports Medicine

Where did you go to college? Medical school? 
College: University of California, San Diego
Medical School: St. George’s School of Medicine 
 
What is your role on the sports medicine team? How does your role overlap or differ from an orthopedic surgeon?  
I am a non-operative pediatric sports medicine physician. I treat sports injuries that do not require surgery. 

Why did you want to become a doctor? Have you always wanted to work in pediatrics?
The seed was planted during mission’s week in my fourth grade Sunday school class, when a missionary pediatrician from Burkina Faso shared her story and work. In college, I traveled to Nairobi, Kenya on a medical mission trip with my church and worked at a hospital helping young children, which solidified my passion for working with kids and the field of medicine.
 
Is there anything you want parents/kids to know about sports safety or returning to sports during/after COVID?
As with any return to play or return to sport following a prolonged period of rest and inactivity, it is important to take a slow and gradual approach to safely re-introduce the body back to activity.
What led you to Scottish Rite for Children? 
I’ve worked at Scottish Rite for about four and half years now. The people and values of the institution are what led me here. The well-being of patients and families always come first. It is amazing to work with a like-minded team that also shares a similar passion to advance pediatric orthopedic medicine through research.

What are your specialties? 

How do you help your patients feel comfortable and confident? 
My belief is to treat the whole child, not just their physical injuries. It is important to also treat their emotional and mental well-being and health.

What is your favorite part of your job?
Working with young athletes to help them get back to their sport. 

What was your first job?
Working at a local surf shop in California.

Tell us something that might surprise us about you:
I don’t cook, but my husband enjoys cooking, so it works out well!

What is your favorite thing to do when you’re not working?
Spending time outdoors with my husband and our rescue dog. My husband and I also enjoy traveling the world and finding new spots to surf.

Keeping Up With the Count – Among other clinical and injury prevention interests, Chung works closely with a multi-disciplinary team providing patient care and content for young dancers.

Texas Monthly: Your Children Deserve the Best Care

Texas Monthly: Your Children Deserve the Best Care

by | Jul 19, 2020 | General News, Press Coverage

There are 206 bones in the human body, but only one organization treats them all with unmatched expertise. Scottish Rite for Children is dedicated to providing world-class pediatric orthopedic, sports medicine and fracture care.
 
As a leading institution, Scottish Rite for Children’s doctors and researchers write the textbooks, teach the procedures, and pioneer remarkable advances in research and development that set the standard in pediatric orthopedics. For nearly a century, they have paved the way for patient care and innovation in Texas and around the globe.
 
Read more about Scottish Rite for Children.

Health and Wellness for Young Athletes: Don’t Skip Routine Visits with the Pediatrician

Health and Wellness for Young Athletes: Don’t Skip Routine Visits with the Pediatrician

by | Jul 15, 2020 | Sports Medicine

Our team is just as excited as you are to see youth preparing to return to sports and want to ensure they do so as safely as possible. It is important that young athletes do not skip routine well visits and follow-ups with their pediatrician, particularly during these times. Staying on top of age-appropriate immunizations and vaccines are also very crucial. 

You may have heard that the UIL has adjusted the pre-participation evaluation requirements for returning to sports the 2020-21 school year due to challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic. So, even though the UIL may allow some athletes to participate without a physical exam this season, we encourage young athletes to be evaluated by their primary care provider who knows them and can identify sport-related and non-sport-related concerns. Jane S. Chung, M.D., sports medicine physician, says, “In this unprecedented time with athletes taking an extended time off from training and away from school and friends, we have additional concerns to consider.”

Mental health concerns – In a survey of young athletes, our team found that young, single-sport athletes are at a higher risk of reporting symptoms of depression and anxiety during the pandemic. Don’t let early signs of mental health conditions go unnoticed. Your pediatrician can help you evaluate your child’s symptoms and needs.

Deconditioning – Children and teens also reported to have dropped their activity levels from pre-pandemic times. Athletes need guidance to safely ramp up training and conditioning as they prepare to return to sports.

Old injuries or lingering issues – Proper evaluation and treatment of new or lingering signs or symptoms of injuries or complaints could save your athlete from additional time away from their favorite sports.

Learn about injury risks – Guidance for individual, sport-specific or general injury prevention can help an athlete stay focused on appropriate activities in the down time.

A sports physical may be seen as an inconvenient task, delayed until the last minute or provided in a silo without consideration of other needs of the growing athlete. Like all health care providers, pediatricians are taking appropriate precautions to keep your family safe during a visit. Remember, the evaluation is intended to assess the ability of the athlete to play sports safely and should be taken seriously. Parents should complete medical forms with the child to ensure accuracy of family and medical histories. And, when possible, the evaluation should occur at least six weeks before the pre-season training begins to allow time to treat conditions/further evaluations, if needed. If the pediatrician has concerns about a lingering injury, a referral to a pediatric sports specialist will help create a plan to get your child back on the field safely.

Healthy Fats to Fuel the Young Athlete

Healthy Fats to Fuel the Young Athlete

by | Jul 10, 2020 | Sports Medicine

Sometimes fats can get a bad rap. They’re higher in calories, have a longer digestion time and are often associated with weight gain and adverse health effects. These factors make them a nutrient that athletes may often try to avoid. While it is true that the wrong fats can have negative health effects, it’s important to remember that healthy fats are still crucial in a young athlete’s diet. Follow along as our dietitian gives a run-down of why a young athlete needs fat and what kinds of fat a young athlete needs.

Meeting Increased Energy Needs
Young athletes not only burn additional calories with training and events, but they also burn a higher number of calories during accelerated periods of growth and development. That can be a lot of calories burned in one day! When athletes limit their intake of dietary fat, it can also put them at risk of not meeting their daily energy needs for growth, development and performance. We recommend including sources of healthy fats each day to ensure energy needs are being met*. This can be especially helpful if the athlete is going through a growth spurt and struggling to maintain his/her weight.

Include these sources of healthy fats to increase energy intake:

  • Include nuts and seed on your yogurt
  • Add peanut butter to apple slices or a banana
  • Add sliced avocado to a turkey sandwich
  • Use guacamole as a dip for whole grain crackers
  • Dip carrot sticks in hummus

* Remember that fat is digested more slowly and can interfere with performance if eaten right before an event. Plan fat-containing meals & snacks with adequate time before events.

Brain Health & Development
Did you know that approximately 60% of the brain is fat? The majority of this 60% is made up of omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA. The body needs these healthy fats for optimal brain development and cognitive function, both important for academic and sport performance.  
Include these sources of omega-3’s for optimal cognitive function and development:

  • Salmon for lunch or dinner
  • Tuna on a salad for lunch or dinner
  • Sprinkle flaxseed over oatmeal for breakfast or a snack
  • Enjoy omega-3 fortified eggs for breakfast

Proper Growth & Development in the Young Female Athlete
With so much focus on carbohydrate and protein in a sports diet, fat can get pushed to the side, especially in aesthetic sports such as ballet, gymnastics and figure skating. This can also be seen in sports such as long-distance running or cycling where it benefits the athlete to be lean. However, inadequate fat intake, especially in a young female athlete can lead to delayed onset of menstruation, which can cause short and long-term consequences on the athlete’s health. While fat requirements for each athlete are unique, a certain amount of fat does need to be present in the sports diet. If concerned about the adequacy of your young athlete’s sports diet, seek guidance from a sports dietitian who can plan meals tailored to his or her unique needs.

Trying to Bulk Up? How to Support Young Men Desiring to Gain Weight for Sports

Trying to Bulk Up? How to Support Young Men Desiring to Gain Weight for Sports

by | Jul 9, 2020 | Sports Medicine

Taylor Morrison, M.S., R.D., CSSD, L.D., hears this question from young male athletes commonly, “What can I do to build muscle?” These athletes often end up turning to fancy and expensive supplements or loading up on meat at lunch and dinner but often don’t see the results that they want. It’s important as members of the athlete’s care team that we provide the right information and appropriate support to help them achieve their goals.

Keys to Success

  • Work on any body composition changes during the off-season.
  • Plan for gradual weight gain with a well-balanced diet.
  • Pair a solid nutrition plan with a developmentally appropriate strengthening program.
  • If your young athlete’s doctor determines a supplement is needed, teach the athlete how to evaluate supplements for safety. Learn more about supplements here.
  • Consult with a physician, dietitian or other qualified health care professional with any concerns or questions.

Here are some questions to ask when the young athlete’s plan isn’t working:

What stage of development is the athlete in? 
Make sure this is the appropriate time to be building muscle. Remember that large gains in lean muscle cannot be achieved in boys until they have gone through puberty and have the hormones to support these gains. Only if the athlete is ready developmentally will the following strategies help him reach weight and strength goals.

Has the athlete increased his total caloric intake?
Many athletes focus entirely on protein and miss the big picture. If your athlete is eating a ton of protein, but still not eating enough overall, he will not see gains.  An athlete must increase his overall caloric intake to see gains in weight and muscle.

Is protein intake spaced evenly throughout the day?
Many athletes will skip breakfast, eat what they can find for lunch and have a huge dinner. Unfortunately, the body only utilizes, on average, 20 to 30 grams of protein at once (exact amount may be higher or lower than this range and is unique to each athlete) to build muscle. Waiting to eat all of the day’s needed protein at the end of the day will not support desired gains. For optimal strength and muscle gains, make sure the athlete is getting protein at every meal and in some snacks.

Is the athlete eating enough carbohydrates?
While protein is important to build muscle, carbohydrate is needed for energy. If the athlete is under-consuming carbohydrates, the body may use protein for fuel. Make sure the athlete eats enough carbohydrates from whole grains, vegetables, dairy and fruits so that the protein can be used to build and maintain lean muscle.

Is the athlete including regular resistance training in his workouts?
All of the protein, carbohydrates and calories will not help if the muscles are not being worked! Make sure the athlete is including consistent resistance training each week to build lean muscle.

Tips for Young Athletes

  • Set appropriate goals.  For most athletes, gaining one to two pounds per week is a safe and reasonable goal.
  • Remember the overall goal:  Optimal performance is the overall goal.  Measure improvements in performance, not just a number on the scale.
  • Be realistic.  Young pre-pubertal athletes will not gain muscle mass like an adult
  • Focus on real food.  Choose healthy higher calorie foods instead of junk foods with “empty calories.”
  • Get enough sleep.  This is often forgotten for meeting goals to gain or lose weight.

*If unsure where to start, it’s always a good idea to work with a certified sports dietitian who can help you create a plan, recommend products and support you as you work towards your goal.