Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Builders Beyond Borders’ Important Work in Ballenita, Ecuador


An experienced sports medicine specialist, Dr. Stu Steinman treats patients at WestSports Medicine in Norwalk, Connecticut. Outside of work, Dr. Stu Steinman runs a volunteer vaccination clinic for Builders Beyond Borders. This organization empowers high school students to undertake community service projects at home and abroad.

Last year, Builders Beyond Borders sent nine teams to work on four projects in Ecuador. One of these projects took place in Ballenita, a fishing village in the southwestern part of the country. The organization, which first started working in Ballenita in 2007 to build four classrooms, constructed two more classrooms and four bathrooms during its most recent visit. 

The four classrooms initially constructed by Builders Beyond Borders became known as the Escuela Malena. The school has grown impressively in the years since; it now supports the education of 100 children at any given time, and literacy rates in the area have skyrocketed as a result. Slowly expanding the educational offerings, the Escuela Malena now offers classes in English and computer science. Many of the students graduating from the school are the first in their family to earn a diploma.

Friday, February 17, 2017

Heading Behavior and Concussions in Soccer


As a private practitioner with Westsports Medicine in Connecticut, Dr. Stu Steinman builds on more than two decades of experience in treating acute and chronic conditions of athletes. Focused largely on safety outreach for teachers and coaches, Dr. Stu Steinman also stands out as part of the committee that helped to create Connecticut's original concussion legislation.

According to research released through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, regular “heading” of the ball in soccer may increase a player's risk of concussion symptoms by up to 300 percent. The study followed 222 adult amateur players, who completed a series of Web-based surveys over the course of nine months. 

Researchers used frequency of heading behaviors to divide participants into four groups. Those who intentionally used their heads most frequently did so approximately 125 times over the course of two weeks. The increased prevalence of concussion symptoms in this group aligns with previous findings from study author Dr. Michael Lipton, who found that athletes with more than 1,000 heading events per year were more likely to show structural changes in the brain similar to those of traumatic brain injury.

These results are particularly relevant to leaders and parents in youth sports, as the effects of a childhood concussion can be more serious than those experienced by adults. Symptoms last longer in children, and data suggests that pediatric concussions can have a long-term impact on brain development.

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Builders Beyond Borders Volunteers Sell Hot Chocolate to Raise Funds


Board certified in sports medicine and emergency medicine, Dr. Stu Steinman works as an attending physician for Westsports Medicine in Norwalk, Connecticut. Heavily involved in his community, Dr. Stu Steinman runs a volunteer clinic in Westport, Connecticut, for Builders Beyond Borders

Also known as B3, the organization allows high school students to achieve leadership and responsibility skills through local and global community service projects. Begun in 1993 with 29 participants, B3 now relies on hundreds of students and thousands of families to achieve its mission. Among its accomplishments are five playgrounds construction projects, 13 water projects, and 143 home rehabs. Each year, B3 participants contribute more than 20,000 community service hours.

As a nonprofit, B3 relies on financial contributions to fulfill its mission. One fundraising event was a hot chocolate sale sponsored by the Westport Downtown Merchants Association. The event occurred on December 17 and December 18, 2016, along Main Street in Westport. Volunteers set up the booth in front of Tavern on Main and fought off cold weather and wind to sell the hot chocolate. They also helped spread holiday cheer to the area.

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

2017 Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine


Longtime physician Stu Steinman leads WestSports Medicine, a private practice in Norwalk, Connecticut. Dr. Stu Steinman holds membership in professional organizations such as the American College of Emergency Physicians and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).

With more than 50,000 members around the globe, ACSM ranks as the world’s largest sports medicine and exercise science professional organization. ACSM supports research, practice, and professional standards for sports physicians, health and fitness professionals, and other exercise science professionals by offering a range of education and certification opportunities to members.

Each year, ACSM holds an annual meeting to serve members and promote the field. The 2017 gathering will take place from May 30 through June 3 in Denver, Colorado, and will feature a range of programming to appeal to the group’s diverse members. 

Those interested in presenting at the 2017 conference are invited to submit proposals. For more information, visit acsm.org.