Osteoarthritis - Treating a Degenerative Knee Problem - The Condition That Will Try to Slow You Down

Do you ever have pain from Osteoarthritis (OA) or another degenerative knee issue?

Osteoarthritis (OA) and other knee problems that are degenerative in nature are not typically an emergent condition. Degenerative issues can still be very difficult knee problems to deal with, that can cause devastating discomfort and gets increasingly worsen as time goes on. Unfortunately, in a severe case, the knee joint can become increasingly deformed as misalignment issues perpetuate and this can hurt someone's ability to move.

1.) Signs & Symptoms of Degenerative Knee Problems

A.) Discomfort in the knee joint while moving about about or standing in a fixed position B.) A Stiff Knee C.) An increase in fluid at the knee joint

These signs typically bring an individual who is having trouble due to Osteoarthritis (OA) to the physician as the throbbing gets worse and your ability to move becomes more and more difficult.

2.) How Will Your Doctor Diagnose A Degenerative Knee Joint Condition

Your medical doctor will validate if you have OA (Osteoarthritis) after reviewing X-Rays of your knees. A physician will typically avoid making a clinical diagnosis of OA (Osteoarthritis) just from understanding your symptoms, because OA can be like other conditions as well. Once the diagnosis of Osteoarthritis has been realized, then you both can discuss various treatment methods for Osteoarthritis.

3.) Some Helpful Treatment Options

Management for this problem can include over the counter pain medications to donning a knee well designed brace when your pain gets out of hand, to going in and having a knee replacement surgery. The management of Osteoarthritis will depend upon the healthiness of the specific individual, how old they are and the development of the disease.

A.) Use of Cortisone

While cortisone injections can really help for decreasing the pain, but the problem is that the relief does not last forever. With these injections, you will most likely expect to get relief from the pain for a few days to a couple weeks. Sometimes it is more than a couple weeks, but not always. These cortisone shots are not inexpensive and will require for you to visit your physician on a routine basis.

B.) Knee Braces For Support and Pain Reduction

Sometimes, if a person has a medial compartment style of Osteoarthritis then can really benefit from the use of an unloader style knee brace. These low profile, light weight braces can help to bring the leg into improved alignment and can help to reduce pain while improving your stability at the same time.

If a person suffers from arthritis or another degenerative knee ailment in general, then a brace can also help this person as well. It is good to talk to your knee brace provider about your different options.

5.) Self Diagnosis

We do recommend that you speak to your physician about medical advice. This information is health oriented, but we can not take the place of your physician.

Exercises After Back Surgery

During a visit to my doctor the nurse asked me how old I was. When I said sixty-six she was surprised and said I didn't look or act that old. She knew that I had back surgery a few years ago and wanted to know what I did to stay in such good shape. As I began outlining my exercise and wellness program I thought it might be a good idea to write about and hopefully it will benefit others.

First a few words of caution: Before starting any exercise and/or wellness program it is important to get your doctors okay. Secondly if you haven't exercised in a while please start slowly. Third understand that any exercise program is a journey that never really ever ends. Four: Be easy on yourself it takes time to see the results, don't push yourself too hard and make sure you give your body plenty of rest so it can recover and strengthen itself.

Okay here is my current program of exercise and wellness. This is just a brief outline of what I do, but it works for me.

• Strength training two days a week. I usually strength train and then wait three days before another strength training session at sixty-six I need the extra day between workouts.


• Between Strength training sessions I do Chi Qong a version of Tai Chi.


• I walk thirty minutes a day four to five days a week.


• I eat mostly whole foods with lots of fruit and veggies, eats and lean protein like fish or chicken.


• I don't worry about calories although I rarely have two servings a never any sugary desserts.


• I only drink, water, tea and occasional beer or wine and a cup of black coffee in the morning.


• I try to get 8-9 hours of sleep.


• Supplements: I have a protein shake most days and a multi vitamin, 500MG of Vitamin C and Fish oil.

My strength exercises consist of body weight exercises like pushups and work with rubber resistance bands. My weight is 205 pounds and at a height of 6' 3" I feel pretty comfortable at that weight. I do however have a new goal of losing five to ten pounds and plan to increase my cardio to reach my target weight of 195.

My wellness and exercise program that I have developed after my back surgery works for me. I do think this is a sensible plan and one most people could follow. Whatever you do to start a program that works for you. The many benefits of being strong and health far outweigh any time and or energy you have to commit to your program. I think the important thing to work towards is finding a program that works and making it part of your lifestyle. Doing so will help you prevent the possibility of back pain and surgery.

What Causes Knee Pain For Seniors And What Is Emotion Code?

Knee pain is a truly common complaint for seniors and the Emotion Code is one of the things that can help it. Knee pain is something that does have many causes. However, it can be handled with good self-care. Seniors can experience knee pain for various reasons. Some of them can be attributed to arthritis, knee injuries, tendinitis, bursitis, and the list goes on.

What is the binding tie for all of these ailments is that they can be painful and crippling. The Emotion code is indeed a way to help out. What is the Emotion Code? It is a healing energy technique that helps identify and release any emotions that are trapped within yourself.

Arthritis is an inflammation that does happen in one or multiple joints. It is also called joint inflammation and there are well over one hundred kinds of it. The most common type of arthritis that takes place in the knee is called osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is also known by other names and some of these include degenerative joint disease or wear and tear arthritis.

Arthritis of the knee usually happens to people over the age of fifty, and it tends to be more common in those who are overweight. It is believed that this specific type of arthritis can have a genetic connection and be passed down in families. The symptoms of knee arthritis include stiffness, range of limited motion, swelling present in the joint, and a person may experience pain doing activities.

Knee pain in seniors and those younger can be brought on by the presence of various injuries to the knee itself. Some of these injuries are ligament injuries and cartilage injuries. Ligament injuries usually occur while doing some form of athletic activity and they can create instability and pain. Cartilage injuries happen to both the old and the young. This is also called a meniscus tear.

There are many things that cause excruciating knee pain and some of the conditions are a dislocated kneecap, bursitis, plica syndrome, baker's cyst, patellar tendonitis, and gout. Pain from these injuries and negative energy do not have to live with you in everyday life. The Emotion Code might be the very thing to deal with these issues.

Knee pain does not have to be tolerated by seniors with the assistance of the Emotion Code program. Trapped emotions are definitely bad for a person from a physical, mental, and emotional standpoint. Therefore, refuse to trap yourself by applying this system to begin healing. Trapped emotions are just like the wind. They are invisible, but you can still feel their effect. These negative effects can take control of your life. Free yourself of their presence for good.

Open Patella Knee Support - A New, Lightweight Medical Knee Brace Can Make All the Difference!

The Word On Open Patella Knee Supports

If you ever have mild, moderate, or severe knee pain or instability problems then this article was written for you. Knee issues are always unwanted, and if you have them we can genuinely know where you are coming from. Treatment options are discussed here, and you will see why a knee brace can be very effective for you.

Why Would You Ever Think About Using A Knee Brace?

Let's be real here. There are other forms of treatment out there that you could use to help reduce your knee pain. - We both know this to be true. Knee supports are definitely not the only thing out there, so let's discuss your other options a little more too...

1.) Rest

This is probably the cheapest route to take. You do not have to pay a cent to lay on the couch and rest your knee. Or, do you still have to pay? - What we mean to say is that although rest does not cost you a penny, it will take a while. Not all knee pain will simply leave you just because you rested your knee for a week. - The point is that there is a cost to everything... What is the cost to you to lay around and try to rest up your knee for six weeks? - The cost is your time and everything else you could be doing in the mean time... Rest is great, if you have the time and a very open schedule. However, not all of us have the patience or time to just take this route.

2.) Ice & Elevation

Yes, these are also 2 other "at home remedies" that you have heard of. They can be good. But, usually ice and elevation are primarily used for a reduction of swelling and some pain control. This method can help, but do you think that it is a long term solution? - Let's not ask the person who walks around with ice bags tapped to their knees...

3.) Surgery

Sometimes it is our only option. Doctors can do things that ice, elevation, rest, and even a knee brace can do. We should never forget the valuable service that a surgery can provide to us. But, what are your costs? The costs can be huge! What if your insurance doesn't cover the bill? Hey, hopefully it will, but let's be real, what if it didn't? Plus, what if you did not feel like taking off work for six weeks to let your surgery heal up? What if the surgery did not make your knee as good as new? - There are definite costs there!

4.) A Knee Brace

The support that a knee brace can be felt the moment that you put one on, and they can be obtained very quickly. An open patella knee support, for example, can be bought online, at a great rate, and many people have quickly indicated that they feel more stable and their pain has gone down almost instantly when using one! No joke. They are much less costly than any knee surgery, and in many cases they can stave off the need for a surgical procedure. - Obviously, this should be cleared with your physician first. - When you do not have to worry about your knee so much, when using a well designed knee brace, you can worry about other things in your life besides your knee pain or instability. As you can see, these knee supports definitely have their place, and you should think about how much your knee would benefit from improved stability and pain reduction, just by using one.

Osteoarthritis Symptoms - What Are the Symptoms of Osteoarthritis?

Arthritis is a term that have originated from the combination of the Greek words "arthro-", which means joint, and "itis-", which means inflammation. In plural term, arthritis is arthrides. Arthritis is defined as a group of conditions which include injury to the joints of the body. It is considered as the primary cause of disability among people over 55 years of age.

There are many types arthritis. According to experts, there have been over 100 types of the ailment and this number is continuously growing. The different forms of the illness also have different inherent causes. The most typical form of the disorder is osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis or OA , is characterized as a degenerative joint disease. OA is medically believed to be a result of infection in the joints, trauma to the joints and age. Recent advancements in the medical field strongly suggest that abnormal anatomy could also contribute to the early development of OA.

The Symptoms
Osteoarthritis is the most typical form of arthritis. It is typically associated to old age. The disease is usually caused by the basic wear and tear occurring on the joints as well as straining happening to a joint or joints. Symptoms for arthritis that are typical to OA will be different from person to person. OA is also claimed to be a progressive diseases, one that gets worse through time.

For some people, the condition may result in an incapacitating state, however for some people there have been very few symptoms for arthritis. Pain is the most basic symptom of OA. It is typically brought about by doing bodily activities, although pain is still felt even when the body is at rest. Other symptoms for arthritis typical for OA include body growths experienced at the joints and abnormal angulations, snapping of the joints, loss of movement and stiffness and swelling experienced in the joints.

The symptoms of arthritis in the knee brought about by OA include changes in the actual appearance of the knee. Some people affected by this ailment may become knock-kneed or bow-legged. If the affected joint is not moved regularly, the tendency is that it will grow weaker and sometimes, it may also shrink. OA on the hip may bring about pains to the affected person which may cause one to limp. Pains are also experienced to the areas around the groin or inner thigh. In cases of OA in the hip, the affected leg may also look shorter. Affected persons may have a hard time putting on their shoes and tying the laces.

Persons who are affected by OA in the fingers will be experiencing breakdown of their cartilage. This will eventually cause bone spurs in the joints. The spurs which are found in the end joints of the fingers are referred to as Herberden's nodes. These are commonly experienced in most women and sometimes, even as early as 40 years of age. Bouchard nodes on the other hand are spurs which are found in the middle joints of the fingers.

Can I Make a Claim Against My Orthopaedic Surgeon?

Orthopaedic Injuries and Clinical Negligence Claims

An Orthopaedic injury relates to any injury of the bones, muscles and joints. As you can imagine every day people suffer injuries which result in them requiring care from an orthopaedic expert. Orthopaedic injuries are very common and include:

•Broken or fractured bones (such as shoulders, elbows, hands, feet, legs, arms and spinal injuries)
•Hip replacement surgery
•Other reconstructive surgeries
•Sports injuries
•Trauma injuries
•Dislocation of joints
•Infections
•Arthritis in the joints
•Birth deformities

Orthopaedic surgery is a fast paced and rapidly developing area of medicine. Orthopaedic consultants use both surgical and other non-invasive treatments to treat patients. However, these procedures are increasingly more complex as medical practice advances.

Whilst many people with orthopaedic health problems receive successful treatment each year, there has been an increase in the number of people bringing clinical negligence claims arising from medical mistakes made by doctors in this field.

Some of the most common reasons for orthopaedic negligence claims include:

•Inaccurate diagnosis
•Late diagnosis
•Poor treatment of fractures
•Poor operative technique
•Nerve damage
•Damage to the circulatory system during medical procedures
•Inadequate cleaning and dressing of wounds
•Infection
•Misinterpretation of x-rays and other test results
•Disparity in leg length following hip or knee operations

In order to successfully pursue a clinical negligence claim you must prove that you have suffered an orthopaedic injury, that the Hospital has been negligent and that injury was caused as a result of the Hospital's negligence.

In order to prove all of this a specially qualified solicitor will have to review your medical records and instruct an appropriately qualified medical expert who would be prepared to say that the orthopaedic treatment you received was substandard.

It must always be remembered when considering a potential clinical negligence claim that it does not follow that there has been negligence just because you have not achieved a full recovery or where further treatment has been undertaken that was initially not envisaged or recommended. Even the best care can result in a poor outcome for the patient due to the nature of the initial injury or pre-existing features.

If you would like to discuss the possibility of pursuing a clinical negligence claim as a result of orthopaedic intervention, then you should contact an experienced and specialist clinical negligence lawyer, who would be more than happy to provide you with some additional help and guidance on the next steps.

Avoiding Circulation Issues After Knee Replacement Surgery

After any surgical procedure where immobilization takes place for an extended period of time, there may be risk of circulation problems such as clotting. The recovery time for knee replacement surgery can be an issue that needs to be addressed during which your doctor may have to keep an eye out for possible circulation problems. Planning out ahead of your surgery how you will address stretching during your recovery time will get you better prepared to deal with clotting and other issues. Clotting can be a dangerous surgical complication that your doctor will help educate you to take care of. There are ways however, to keep circulation problems at bay.

The first of which are compression stockings. These stocking steadily squeeze the legs to allow blood flow back out of the area and through the body. These will be issued to you by your physician after your surgery and should be worn for the majority of your recovery time. Blood thinning drugs may also be prescribed to help with clotting and swelling of the legs. These may be given to the patient in the form of a shot or pills. More evasive procedures can be performed if for some reason medications cannot be administered, including vein filters that are placed in an artery to filter or catch clots if they happen to let loose from the artery wall before they move to the lungs.

In rare cases a clot can move from the surgery area to the lungs. The symptoms are chest pain and shortness of breathe and this problem needs to be dealt with quickly or cold become fatal. Staying on your blood thinning medications and doing stretching exercises can greatly improve your recovery time with a minimal of risks. Getting on your feet as soon as possible with the best range of motion and with increased strength is the ultimate goal of a solid recovery program. Your doctors will help you every step of the way in reducing circulatory risks after surgery. There is no real reason to be fearful of the pain and swelling of your legs after knee replacement surgery.

Getting back to a normal, pain-free life is the goal of knee replacement surgery and a quick recovery time. What if you could shorten your recovery time by half of what your doctors are expecting? With the proper exercise, stretching and diet you could shorten your recovery time and not have to worry so much about circulation problems. Learn all about what you need to know at knee-replacement-video.com.

Improve Your Skiing Skills for Intermediates

In this article we share some hints and tips to make your skiing more fluid and less like hard work. This article is aimed at those with some skiing ability and experience who feel ready to take the next step and move up tot the next level.

The definition of an intermediate skier varies greatly, there is no set way to determine who is and is not at the intermediate level. Usually they will have a fair amount of experience, perhaps 4-10 week's worth of skiing under their belts. They may be at ease on green, blue, and red runs, turning comfortably and confidently, though perhaps as yet unwilling to try more expert slopes, or able to complete them but with less confidence.

It can be hard to take the next step once we have largely mastered the green, blue, and red runs of the mountains. The next step is quite a big one, more of a transition than green to blue or blue to red. That said you will find the whole experience less exhausting and get more from the slopes if you exercise before you go and maintain a regular set of ski orientated exercises while you are away.

Fitness is extremely important when skiing, and your level of fitness will affect not only the quality of your skiing but how long you can physically stay on the slopes. By investing in your fitness in the months leading up to your ski holiday you stand to get more value for money as you should be able to ski for longer each day than those less fit.

Your legs take a lot of the pressure while skiing, and the better shape they are in, the easier you will find it to control your skis and the longer you can be out on the slopes without aching muscles. Your core muscles also play a big role in your ability to ski for longer and with ease. So strengthening these is also crucial. Always read up on the best way to exercise before you begin.

It is also important for an intermediate skier to maintain their confidence. It is easy to feel that we have lost the skill, with 12 months normally passing between trips and a stay duration of a few days or two weeks per year. Try not to underestimate yourself or knock your own confidence, with a little practice and muscle memory it should all come back quickly. Poor confidence leads to mistakes, falls, and a further drop in confidence.

Revisit a training centre or ski instructor to 'fine tune' your stance and balance. Even confident skiers can fall into bad habits over time and you may find you are working harder than you need to or causing aches and pains that could be minimised. You may wish to consider taking a few more skiing lessons one in one, even if you are quite competent. Group lessons do not allow for the differences between individuals and a blanket style is usually applied with suits some skiers better than others. There is always more to learn and an extra couple of lessons may be enough to tip you out of intermediate and into the more 'expert' share of the skiing fraternity.

Knee Arthritis - What Can Be Done?

Arthritis in knee joints is a common problem for people over 60 years of age. It occurs as a result of the cartilage at the end of the bones wearing out over the years. Just like a car engine which has parts that wear out because of use, the body also has parts that wear out. For knee joints, the cartilage is located on the ends of the femur and the tibia which makes up the joint. If someone played sport during their younger years and developed a knee injury, the chance of developing problems in later years is significantly increased.

So what can be done about knee arthritis? Well, the best form of treatment or management is exercise. When pain develops around the knee, the muscles often waste away because of the pain and because the person doesn't use the knee as much. The important muscles to work on developing are the quadriceps muscle and the hamstrings.

The quadriceps or quads muscle is found at the front of the knee or thigh and is responsible for straightening the knee. It is an important muscle when walking and going up and down stairs. The hamstrings are found at the back of the thigh. The hamstring muscle are actually made up of 3 muscles. This muscle group is responsible for bending the knee and extending the hip. Just like the quads muscle, the hamstrings are also important when walking and climbing stairs.

Walking is a good and simple form of exercise for people who suffer from knee pain. However, one must remember that this form of exercise is load bearing and if the knee arthritis is painful, this may increase the pain. Instead of walking, a person with knee arthritis may like to try walking in the water at their local swimming pool. With water up to their waist, half their body weight is gone. This means there is less pressure put through the knee which means less pain. If walking and exercise in water feels good to do, it is important to make it part of a normal routine and go to the pool 2-3 times a week.

Unfortunately, arthritis in knee joints is common. However, a few simple strategies like the ones mentioned above are able to help people who suffer with the pain of knee arthritis. It will give them control of the pain and help in the long term in managing the symptoms of knee arthritis.

Sharp Knee Pain When Running is the Worst! - Get a Brace For Support

Running and jogging are a great form of exercise. Sure, running can be great for your heart, but what about your knees?

Whether you love running, or like to occasionally go for a jog, sharp knee pain can take you out of the race almost immediately. If you have been sidelined by sharp knee pain when running or jogging, you may be tempted to throw in the towel on the sport. But do not throw in the towel just yet! Read on for a helpful way to reduce knee discomfort and stabilize your knee!

While simply not running or jogging may be one way to avoid sharp knee pain, you may have other options that can keep you in the race.

Whether from injury or overuse, at some point, most runners experience sharp knee pain when running. The knee discomfort problems you are having can subside with rest and various training improvements (i.e. better running shoes, cutting back on downhill running, changing the surface you run on, etc.). Some athletes find that icing the knees after a run helps to reduce the pain. However, if the sharp pain persists, worsens, or recurs whenever you are running, it is important to have the problem evaluated by a qualified medical specialist.

The area of the knee where the sharp pain occurs can serve as a good indication of the possible cause of the pain when running. For instance, if the sharp pain is more localized within the joint line (interior) knee, the cause of the pain may be the menisci. However, if the sharp pain is primarily in the front of the knee, the cause may be related to the patella (kneecap). Either way, even if training improvements, rest and the application of ice do alleviate the pain, chances are, if you continue running, the pain will return.

So does that mean that to save your knees, you must give up running or jogging?

Not necessarily. Something as simple and affordable as a knee brace may help reduce or even eliminate the sharp pain and help keep you on the trails.

Knee supports are not difficult at all to use, and they come in a variety of styles. Some are firm and rigid, while others are soft and flexible. However, whatever the style or type, a knee brace is designed to help support the knee, helping to reduce the stress and impact on the muscles and ligaments caused by running. - They do not have to be big and bulky either. There are a wide variety of options available to runners at all different levels.

A knee brace can also be helpful in keeping the knee and knee cap properly aligned, which in turn can also help reduce or eliminate sharp pain in the knee when running. Helping the knee joint to remain in proper alignment and stay supported when running can really help reduce injury levels.

Knee Braces to Help Quell Painful Knees and Cracking Sounds and Popping Noises - Special Report

Answer These Questions:

Do you sometimes hear popping or cracking sounds coming from your knee?

Are these sounds often accompanied by excruciating pain in your knees?

Introduction: If this describes you, this article could be just the thing you are looking for. We will help you examine these signs and symptoms in greater detail, in order to determine exactly what the possible causes could be. Once you know what is causing the popping and cracking sounds and the painful knees you will be in a better position to choose the treatment options that is best for your unique situation.

1.) Causes of Popping Sounds in Knee

Popping noises coming from the knees are quite common, even among people without knee problems. When associated with painful knees however, these sounds could signal a knee injury or the onset of a more serious condition. One of the most common causes of popping sound and pain is a torn ligament. When the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) becomes injured it can create a 'popping' noise and it can be very intense.

2.) Cracking Noises In The Knees

When the cartilage within the knee wears away it causes the bones to grind against each other. This results in a noise or feeling of cracking. Arthritis is by far the most common cause of this type of problem. People who suffer from the problems outlined above often seek supportive options for treatment. A torn MCL, ACL or meniscus can be treated quite effectively using knee braces. For patients with arthritis, a good knee support can help reduce pain levels and improve stability. Although it is not a replacement for healthy knee cartilage, knee supports are still effective at preventing too much movement that would result in further injury to your knees.

3.) Knee Braces For Support

If you constantly suffer from painful knees and are sick and tired of it, then a knee brace can help you. While in some severe cases surgery is the only option, you should consult your physician whatever the case may be. You may find that knee braces are enough to help you maintain the proper alignment of your knees and keep pain levels down by providing additional support. If you have decided that you definitely need some type of knee support but are not sure what you should purchase, we would encourage you to seek the opinion of a brace specialist. While not everyone who sells knee supports would also be able to support you in this regard, there is an enormous relief when you can talk to someone about your knee pain issues. - When it comes to looking after your knees, you do not want to settle for second best.

Brace Yourself For Painful Knees Due to Osteoarthritis - Stop Those Cracking Noises & Popping Sounds

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common types of arthritis. Statistics show that more than 10 million Americans suffer from this condition with it being one of the most common cause of disability in the United States.

1.) Causes of Knee Osteoarthritis

This type of arthritis is characterized by the deterioration of the articular cartilage, which is also the main problem associated with the disease. Causes of this condition include:

A.) Excessive strain on the knee
B.) Ligament tear, bone fractures and meniscal injury
C.) Genetics
D.) Obesity
E. ) Problem with the bone layer underneath the cartilage

2.) Diagnosis of Knee Osteoarthritis

A.) X-rays are particularly helpful as they allow the doctor to determine whether there is a narrowing of the joint space and thus rule out other causes of painful knees.

B.) MRI can also be done in cases where a detailed imaging is essential. Arthroscopic surgery is another procedure used to view the condition of the knee.

3.) Symptoms of Knee Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis gradually progresses over a period of years. The primary symptoms of knee osteoarthritis include:

A.) Pain
B.) Stiffness
C.) Limited range of motion of the knee
D.) Swelling

The pain experienced as a result of knee osteoarthritis can be very severe especially following a heavy activity. The stiffness felt can be aggravated by prolonged sitting. As the condition worsens, the pain can become intense and may lead to a debilitating condition.

4.) Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis

Treatment of knee osteoarthritis is focused at managing the symptoms and the deterioration of the articular cartilage. Conventional pain medications such as acetaminophen can help relieve pain. NSAIDs are also very effective at relieving painful knees in osteoarthritis sufferers.

Other modalities used for knee osteoarthritis include:

A.) Management of weight
B.) Application of topical cream
C.) Knee brace or support
D.) Joint protection techniques
E.) Hot and cold compress
F.) Glucosamine and Chondroitin supplementation
G.) Surgery

Early management and treatment of knee osteoarthritis is most beneficial. Knee osteoarthritis, if treated early, can be effectively managed and treated.

5.) Using a Knee Brace to Manage Painful Knees due Osteoarthritis

The types of knee braces include:

A.) Single-Piece Sleeves: This brace made of neoprene, or drytex (an elastic-rubbery material), is the simplest type of support. The device is put on over the foot of the affected leg and is pulled until it is over the knee. The type of support provides compression, warmth and support and is best for mild to moderate osteoarthritis.

B. ) Unloader Knee Brace- This type of support is made from molded plastic and foam. The steel struts that are inserted on the sides limit lateral knee movement and enhance stability. This support is custom-fit to each individual patient with medial component osteoarthritis.

If you are concerned about your current pain problems, it is also wise to consult your physician.

Knee Replacement - How to Determine If You Need One

When it comes to determining whether its time to have a knee replaced, only you can determine it.

If you ask the your orthopedic surgeon they will tell you " you will know when its time" in other words when the pain becomes so un-bearable that you cannot walk effectively or, you cannot get a good nights sleep then its time. When day to day living becomes a chore due to the pain, its time to get to the operating room.

By postponing the surgery you are inviting other problems that will contribute to a delayed rehabilitation outcome. For instance, your surrounding musculature will undergo a shortening process which leads to contractures with the hamstrings or quadriceps which will prevent you from obtaining the knees full range of motion.

The longer the surgery is postponed you also develop faulty mechanics in your walking pattern which can lead to back pain and balance problems. Muscle atrophy and weakness begin to develop so you begin to witness a cascade of problems that can be tracked back to the knee itself.

If you have gone and obtained a minimum of two opinions from local orthopedic surgeons and both have determined the knee has to be replaced, then you can feel assured that setting a date to get it done is the next move to make.

Listening to advice on the streets on how its best to wait until you can't walk anymore and have to be pushed to the surgeon in a wheelchair is no longer valid or, recommended.

Many surgeons today will operate on patients in their 40s and 50s when it comes to joint replacement since the replacements have become more minimally invasive and, the prosthesis have become more durable.

Today there are knee prosthesis developed that have more of a rotational component and mimic the true anatomical knee which gives them a longer shelf life.

Dealing with chronic pain form a knee that is considered to be bone on bone in other words the cartilage is no longer effective in cushioning the joint, is just another day being spent in pain and creating a life changing event that is not acceptable to most.

I can tell you first hand having a knee replaced myself at 44 years of age was the best thing that I did.

Once you decide to have the knee replaced and, you go through rehabilitation the next words out of your mouth will most likely be " why did I wait so long"

Richard Haynes

Boomer's Knee Pain

One day I woke up trying to get out of the bed in the early morning, I got a sharp stabbing pain at the right knee as I walked just steps away from my bed. The pain is crippling painful that I could hardly walk further to the washroom in the ensuite. It was the first pain attack I ever experienced. What is the cause for this acute knee pain? I tried to recall my memories figuring out what would be the possible cause. The only thing I can associated the knee pain with was the anger outburst which led to restlessness during the day and the sleepless night that followed through.

I check it out that anger outburst which is an extremely emotional disturbance of the mind can lead the abnormally large of amount of bio-active substances into the blood vessels of our own body. This sudden released of large of amount bio-stimulant substances can be very harmful to the body tissues and organs, even fatal irreversible organ damages. For this very reason, there are incidences of heart attack, stroke and even death following an anger outburst.

I went to see my family doctor for his medical advice and prescription. I told him briefly about my anger incident and knee pain. Then he told me the following treatment options for my knee pain:

Over-the-counter and prescription medications

This would include Tylenol and Aspirin, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen. They can reduce inflammation as well as knee joint pain.

Natural supplements

They are chondroitin and glucosamine the most popular alternatives in recent years. They have less side effects. The former aids in building joint cartilage, while the latter fights against degeneration of cartilage. Studies have proven their effectiveness in alleviating osteoarthritic joint pain,

Physical aids

Padding, crutches, and splints, and even simple rest can take the pressure off the knee and provide temporary relief while the joint recovers from injury.

Specific exercises

Simple stretching and low-impact aerobic activities such as walking and swimming increase joint strength and flexibility.

Now, my knee pain is almost gone. I still keep on taking chondroitin and glucosamine and low-impact exercise. The most important of all, I always remind myself don't get angry for the good of our own body.

What Is Arthritis of the Knee and How Is It Treated?

The word "arthritis" basically means "inflammation of the joint". Inflammation is the body's natural reaction to injury or disease. With inflammation, the area involved develops stiffness, pain, and swelling and it can last for a long time or recur, leading to tissue damage.

A joint is where two bones join together. The knee is the largest joint of the body. The bones of a joint are covered with a spongy material called cartilage to allow a cushion for the bones so the joint can move without pain. With arthritis, the area in and around the joint becomes inflamed and the cartilage cushion may be damaged, making mobility difficult.

Is There More than One Type of Arthritis?

There are more than one-hundred types of arthritis but the most common type is osteoarthritis. Two other common types include rheumatoid arthritis and gouty arthritis.

Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage covering the bone ends gradually wears away, thus earning it the name "wear-and-tear arthritis." When the cartilage is damaged, the bones begin to rub against each other leading to swelling and pain. Osteoarthritis can occur in any of the joints in the body, but it affects the knee most commonly.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Also called RA, Rheumatoid arthritis is a long-lasting disease that leads to deformities and destruction of the joints. It most commonly involves the knees, wrists, and hands. With rheumatoid arthritis, the body's immune system mistakenly attacks itself causing the joint lining to swell and ache. The inflammation associated with RA spreads to the surrounding tissues and will eventually damage bone and cartilage. This leads to an unstable joint, pain with movement, and profound stiffness.

Gouty Arthritis: Gout is a painful condition of the joints where the body cannot eliminate uric acid or produces too much uric acid. This natural substance builds up and forms needle-like crystals in the joint leading to severe pain and swelling. Gouty arthritis most often affects the big toe, but can involve other joints including the knee and the wrist joints.

What Are the Symptoms of Arthritis?

The various kinds of arthritis produce different symptoms and it really depends on the severity from person-to-person. The most common symptoms are swelling, pain, stiffness, tenderness, warmth of the joint, and redness.

How Is Arthritis Diagnosed?

Most forms of arthritis are diagnosed with a complete medical history and various imaging techniques. Your orthopedic specialist will take X-rays or MRIs to evaluate the condition of your joints. Sometimes it is necessary for your doctor to do tests on your blood, urine, and joint fluid to determine the type of arthritis you have.

How is Knee Arthritis Treated?

Your orthopedic specialist cares about your health so the goal of treatment is to provide pain relief for you and to increase your mobility and strength in the knee joint. Treatment options include exercises, medications, heat compresses, cold therapy, or knee surgery.

What is Involved in Surgical Treatment?

If your arthritis does not respond to the nonsurgical therapies your orthopedic specialist tries, you may benefit from surgery. There are many surgical options available. The first is knee arthroscopy where the orthopedic surgeon uses fiber optic technology to view inside the joint, repair what is damaged, and perform necessary surgical techniques.

Another procedure is an osteotomy that cuts the shinbone or the thighbone to improve the alignment of the joint. Sometimes it is necessary for the doctor to do a total or partial knee arthroplasty to replace the severely damaged knee joint cartilage with plastic and metal prostheses. Finally, there is cartilage grafting that is done when the knee has limited cartilage or loss of cartilage.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury - A Simple Patient Guide

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury

What is anterior cruciate ligament Injury?

Anterior cruciate ligament is an important ligament inside the knee joint for providing stability of the knee. It can get injured in sport or as a consequence of an accident. In sport it us usually due to a non-contact rotational injury at the knee and player is unable to continue the game.

How is it managed immediately?

There is usually likely to be immediate swelling and pain. This should be managed by RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation). It is important to consult an appropriate doctor as soon as possible. After a detailed history, the patient would have to be investigated with x-rays to rule out any bony injuries. If a soft-tissue injury is suspected (like ACL injury) an MRI may be necessary, to confirm the diagnosis and also to rule out other associated injuries like a meniscal injury or an injury to one of the other ligaments like PCL or Postero-lateral corner ligament complex.

What are the problems due to ACL injury?

The problems are due to the lack of restraint to the anterior and the rotatory forces on the knee. Normally the ligament acts as a check rein to these forces. But, when it is ruptured, it leads to repeated giving way. This may lead to further secondary damage to the other structures like the meniscii (shock-absorbers). Loss of meniscii, in turn, may lead to early onset OA. The giving episodes themselves may prove to be a nuisance and affect one's lifestyle like being unable to get back to sport, unable to do certain types of occupation, difficulty with stairs etc.

When is surgery indicated?

The whole point of doing an ACL reconstruction would be to a) stop symptoms of instability b) to prevent early OA-osteoarthritis. As for point b) this not been proven convincingly so far, as there is literature to indicate either way. But there is indirect evidence that this might happen.

If he had a concurrent peripheral tear of meniscus, that has to be repaired (sooner rather than later) and protected with an ACL reconstruction.. It has been proven that loss of meniscus leads to early OA.

If he had recurrent symptoms of instability, like his knee giving way, I would offer him an ACL reconstruction. As he is likely to damage his meniscii, which might predispose him to early arthritis.

Also, there is a question of what sort of sport, he wants to get back to. Sometimes people are able to get back to predominantly straight line activities like running, jogging (level 3 sport) etc., without having had an ACL reconstruction. But they find it difficult to play activities that involving jumping and pivoting at the knee like football, squash, basketball, skiing (level 1 and 2 sport) etc.

How is ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) done?

A graft is harvested, the remnants of the native ACL are taken down, tunnels are drilled in the appropriate places and the graft is secured with various fixation devices like interference screws, transfixing pins, endobuttons or fixation posts. Some of these are bio-absorbable (absorbed within the body, after a course of time) as well.

It used to be done as an open procedure, but nowadays it can all be done arthroscopically, with a small fine camera and portals (skin incisions less than 1 cm in size). This helps with early rehabilitation.

What are the graft options?

As for the grafts, three commonly used options are

1. Hamstring Autograft - minimal donor site morbidity which resolves with time

2. Patellar tendon Autograft - slightly higher donor site morbidity - but equally good results as that of the hamstring graft

3. Cadaveric Allograft - Obviously no donor site morbidity. But a very very low theoretical risk (1 in 600,000 ) of viral transmission, as in any allograft.

In the UK, we used to use options 1 and 2. And option 3, when we used to run out of autografts for multi-ligament reconstructions.

But in the US, option 3 seems to be in wide use, at least from what I have seen.

Timing of the operation?

As for the timing of the operation, it is important that he gets his knee straight with physiotherapy and rehabilitation before proceeding with surgery. Also the rehab after the operation is intensive and can take up to 9 months.

If he decides not to go ahead with the operation, he should still have active rehabilitation for his injured ACL.

If he is undecided, go ahead with rehabilitation for now and review his symptoms in a few weeks/months, and then make the decision. But there is some evidence to show that increased time from injury to surgery is associated with inferior outcomes.

Simple Exercises For Knee Pain

Over 70 million people in the United States are diagnosed with knee pain, with 8.5 million of them coming from severe knee injuries. To relieve knee pain with exercise instead of surgery and strong prescribed medication is quickly becoming a treatment of choice for many. Naturally working with knee joint exercises, skin stimulation, and relaxation methods have been shown to strengthen tissue and ligaments around the injured knee - the largest and most common synovial joint in the body.

In order to increase the strength and endurance of the injured knee, applying knee joint exercises can help reduce muscle tension and pain in the knee area. Overall, properly applied knee joint exercises will reduce the body's anxiety and pain levels over time. Pain is the body's way of saying something is wrong and a certain area is not working as it should. By practicing specific knee exercises for pain and learning to relax, the knee injury will be able to heal on its own without invasive surgery. Gently stretching muscles in the knee area is important to help the area become stronger and more flexible. Muscles and tissues that help work the knee joint cannot become injured if they are strong and able to move properly with good flexibility. Knee joint exercises are also a good preventive before a knee injury occurs.

Exercises to rehabilitate knee pain

Exercises to rehabilitate knee pain may take as long as two weeks to show signs of healing. This can be best demonstrated with better sleep patterns at night, with less tossing and turning because of nagging knee joint pain that keeps one awake. Try several exercises for the injured knee joint, using those that work best with the least amount of stress on the body. Simple exercises for knee pain should be comfortable to do as long as they are done in a relaxing manner and they are not "forced." After time the knee joint exercise will result in less pain and body anxiety, with a stronger and healthier knee joint as the outcome.

When doing simple exercises for knee pain or to prevent joint pain, they should be done every second day to allow for healing time in between and to avoid overusing the injured knee. At the most, do knee exercises for pain approximately three times per week, beginning with five repetitions of a knee exercise. If the pain is too much, do less. If it is bearable, build up over the weeks. Learn to read the body signals regarding its pain levels.

Sticking to a good exercise schedule

When certain knee exercises are found to work well, stick to them by developing an easy routine that can fit into the daily schedule. Practice the exercise twice throughout the day and five to ten minutes in duration. Avoid a feeling of tightness or tenseness in the body, or the exercise cannot do its job. Relaxed muscles in the leg or knee area can be done by making sure adequate stretching is done prior to the exercises. Also important are proper cooling down or warming up exercises, while avoiding any heavy physical activity until the knee joint is healed.

If strengthening and stretching knee exercises causes resulting pain afterwards to the ligaments and tissues surround the knee, using an ice pack/heat pack combination is just one of the many natural options that can help. In between simple knee joint exercises for pain, resting and elevating the injured knee is suggested as another treatment suggestion.

5 Posture Problems That Stunt Growth

Many posture problems exist that people pick up over the years and may not even realize they have. These could lead to pain, especially back pain, and as far as height is concerned, can make us not only physically shorter, but appear shorter as well. Some of the most common posture problems are looked at below.

1. Walking posture - This is an easy one to get into bad habits with, probably the one which is the hardest to break, and also the one which is discussed the least of the three major ones, the other two of which are looked at next. It's often assumed that proper sitting posture and to a lesser extent, sleeping posture, can be taught, while walking is just something we naturally do, and cannot be changed or critiqued. Poor walking posture is quite common for this reason.

Getting to a point where you're consistently walking with better posture can be difficult and could take weeks of conscious work. Keeping the back stiff and upright, the shoulders forced back, and the head held high are methods that need to be used to break such habits. Eventually, the new habits should take root and become second nature.

2. Sitting Posture - As more and more people pull up seats in front of a computer, both for work and pleasure, the problem of poor sitting posture has grown. The chair, keyboard, and monitor and should all be set to positions that will force the user to sit up straight. LCD monitors are useful for enforcing this, as they must be viewed at a consistent angle to be fully viewed. If set properly, any bad sitting habits should immediately make it more difficult to view all of the screen, forcing the user to get back into a better position.

3. Sleeping Posture - Also very common, and since you're naturally not aware of what you're doing or how you're sleeping, many people assume there's no issue. As a rule, sleeping on one's back is the best for maintaining a good sleeping position, and doing so with a limited amount of head support in the form of pillows is also advisable. Those who sleep on their sides should use a pillow between their legs, which can prevent curling up and twisting the back into awkward positions.

4. Bow Legs and Knock Knees - Fairly common conditions that can be bad for posture, and may also cause self esteem issues, especially in young kids. These conditions can be broken with special insoles or footwear that offset the imbalanced weight distribution that is causing the issue.

5. Scoliosis - The most serious of the conditions mentioned, and one which will almost certainly require help in one way or another from a medical professional. Scoliosis causes severe curvature of the spine, resulting in major height loss and other ailments. Surgery may be required in advanced cases of this ailment.

By improving posture, one can see a gradual improvement in their height, as well as giving the appearance to others of being more professional. Breaking old habits can be difficult, but once accomplished, will make it that much harder to go back to the old habits.

Knee Pain Relief - Elastic Knee Braces For Daily Use

How is your knee doing?

If you or someone you know suffers from mild knee pain on a regular basis, there is something you can do to help. Elastic knee braces, or knee sleeves, are an easy and affordable way to help provide some added support to help reduce pain. There are times when a really deluxe knee support is just a little over the top, and one of the valuable options you have available to you is the use of an elastic support.

There are many kinds of knee problems that people can suffer from, ranging from mild discomfort to more serious injuries or conditions. For problems that do not involve conditions such as significant tears in the ligaments or other injuries to the knee area, elastic knee supports can be what you need to alleviate the discomfort.

Anyone who participates in a sport on a regular basis, at some time, will develop a knee problem due to the repeated movements and stress that are placed on the joint. Trust us, we do not want you to have knee problems, but if you do it is time to face them.

Wearing a lightweight and well designed elastic knee brace can be the answer to allowing you to play with that added support you need. These elastic supports are not only for athletes, but also for those who suffer conditions like arthritis or bursitis in the knee. These pain issues can worsen over time, and as we all age they can create a more serious and more painful condition in the knee.

Wearing a supportive knee sleeve or an elastic knee brace can help make daily movements possible and can help reduce the pain that is felt.

If you experience mild pain in or around the knee joint, you should consider trying an elastic knee support. One of the best things about them is that they are not going to cost you an arm and a leg. They are commonly found on the internet and come in a variety of styles and sizes. They are designed to fit comfortably over the knee and can be worn for long periods of time. The lightweight material that is used is comfortable and will provide your knee area with some added support.

When it is appropriate, one of the biggest advantages to wearing an elastic knee support is that they allow you to have full movement of your leg, and will not keep you from being able to move freely. They are also easy to put on and take off. Some people choose to wear them only during an activity that aggravates the knee, while others prefer to wear them every day to help provide some added support.

Saving Gas the Easy Way and Saving Gas The Hard Way

Saving gas has been a topic that's been foremost on everyones mind as of late. I remember when I was a youngster, I used to work at a gas station and was shocked when the price reached $.20 a gallon. "Saving gas" meant not going out Thursday night to run up and down the drags because you are saving your gas for Friday night when everybody else would be there. Now days $.20 wouldn't even get you TO the gas station let alone do anything to that little needle in your dashboard should you try to put it in your tank. We're actually happy when the price of gas remains below $3.50 a gallon! Saving gas is what this article is about- different ways of saving gas and some alternative fuels that may one day replace the gas we use to get from here to there.

The best way to save gas is probably one of the easiest ways as well. It doesn't cost a thing, except possibly a little time and you would really be surprised at just how much gas it can save. It's called "going slower"! A lot of people have an issue with this and I have to admit I did for a long time as well, not thinking that going slower would make any difference, but I've been converted and so can you. Here's my experience with this method of saving gas.

Like most people my age, I'm a speed freak. I loved to find out what kind of speed I could get out of the car on the freeway. Between my home and work its approximately 22 miles and I often challenged myself to see how long, or more precisely, how little time it would take to get to work. Of course, always staying within the speed limit (wink wink). I have a Ford Windstar van as I have certain medical conditions that disallow me from driving or riding in the small boxy cars they sell nowadays. Not that I would want to - even with the 50 miles per gallon that they get. In kind of a big guy being 6'4" tall and 280 pounds... I simply don't like sitting with my knees in my ears!

Anyway I decided to try an experiment. I've always wondered what those double lines by the number 55 on my speedometer meant so what I did was this: I found the "shortest route" to work (according to MapQuest) and started driving it every day at the maximum speed of 55 mph. Now this shorter route is approximately the same number of miles as it is taking the freeway to work but WOW! Did I notice the difference! My 15 gallon tank in the WindStar was more than half full after a normal week of driving. After the second week the tank would usually be empty and I would have to refill it, but I still had more than a quarter of the tank left in my van! I did some quick refill recalculations and found out that I'm only using two thirds the amount of fuel that I would on the freeway. Now I know what those double my lines mean! Put the needle at the double lines and instead of getting 32 miles per gallon you get 45 miles per gallon! It may take me a couple of more minutes to get to work, maybe a little more stop and go, but I saved a lot of money on gas and that's the whole point isn't it?

Another way they've found to save gas without your even knowing it, is to put additives in your gasoline to water it down a bit. One of the most popular ones is grain alcohol, something that I use to seek out as a kid to drink, not put in my car. They say it burns cleaner and I have to admit that it has to be better than the lead that they used to put in the gas because of its anti-knock qualities. Besides, with today's supercomputers that they have in cars, knocking has become a thing of the past (I always use the doorbell anyway).

There are other alternative fuels that can be gotten and used in your car listed among these are propane once again pure alcohol, fuel cells, and even water, yes water!

On the next page of find details on some of these different alternative fueling methods but here's a short list of some of the methods that I've looked into so for:

FUEL CELL-generates electricity with standard water. Zero emission which makes it a very attractive source of energy however there are some major drawbacks with this particular system including the cost, size, weight and so on...

GRAIN ALCOHOL-another great way to power your car! However it does take some major modifications to the engine. But it has zero emissions very low emissions and most of the exhaust is water vapor. One of the things I like most about this fuel is I find mixes great with orange juice on ice!

PROPANE-this is actually been around awhile and some companies still use it to power their trucks around town. The highly explosive nature of the gas under pressure and the fact that you have to carry so much of it are only two of the major disadvantages with the type of fuel.

HYDROGEN-the idea of hydrogen cars is been around for quite some time as well but it's even more explosive than propane and harder to carry around! More on the next page.

And last but not least (and also my favorite)

WATER-you heard me right, WATER! This is the same water you drink. All you have to do is fill up your tank with it and drive away! One of the major advances in the recent decade, this gives of propulsion from an almost unlimited resource and automatically replenishes itself as well! The ideal fuel! More on this on my next page.

Just remember the one thing that you can do now to help everybody save fuel saved gas save our environment and basically save our planet...

DRIVE SLOWER-look for that little double line on your speedometer and make the needle point at it as often as you can. It worked for me and I'm sure it will work for you.

Give it a shot! What we got to lose?

Knee Replacement Surgery With An Un-Cemented Prosthesis

Having your knee replaced with an un-cemeted prosthesis has it advantages and dis-advantages. The advantages however outweigh the disadvantages depending on your age. Younger adults generally but not always get un-cemented components initially for several reasons.

Having components that are un-cemented are used for those patients that have healthy bone stock and quality. The un-cemented components have what is called a porous material that is built within them. This allows for your bone to grow naturally into the prosthesis giving them a more natural fit.

With an un-cemented prosthesis this will allow a younger patient who is active and who typically outlives the original knee replacement to get a revision later down the road with out the damage to the bone stock that the cement causes over time. They are also easier to remove overall then the cemented replacements.

The dis-advantage with un-cemented components is that after surgery generally your weight bearing status will be modified for the first four to six weeks while the bone begins to grow into the implant. This however is only temporary and if allowed to heal properly will work just fine.

Many younger patients and some older ones too however can get somewhat impatient after a couple of weeks and we as rehabilitation professsionals have to at times frequently remind the patient about their weightbearing precautions. Most patients I have found will at times exceed the precautions without further damage to the knee however constant non-compliance or total disregard for weightbearing precautions will have you back in the surgeons office in no time back on the operating table.

After surgery follow closely what your surgeons instructions are carefully and listen to your physical therapist and you will be on the path to a better quality of life in no time.

Common Cause of Knee Pain - Ruptured Tendons

Ruptured tendons in the knees are serious injuries, and very painful. There are two types of tendon ruptures, partial and complete, and both may require surgery as part of their treatment. There are three main tendons in the knee: the hamstring in the back of the leg, the quadriceps tendon that connects the quadriceps muscles to the kneecap, and the patellar tendon, which connects the kneecap to the shin bone, or tibia.

What is a Tendon?

To put it in the simplest of terms, a tendon is fibrous tissue that connects muscles to bones. This tissue is tough, and can normally withstand a fair amount of wear and tear. Tendons, considered to be soft tissues, are much stronger than muscles, but are still susceptible to serious injury, which often requires surgery.

Causes of Ruptured Knee Tendons

There are a number of things that can cause a ruptured tendon in the knee, such as injuries and even overuse. This is a condition that is seen in a lot of athletes, as they are constantly putting strain on their knees. The most common knee tendon ruptures are in the quadriceps and patellar tendons. As a rule, quadriceps ruptures are most commonly seen in those over 40 who are involved in some sort of sport. Many joggers receive quadriceps ruptures. On the other hand, patellar tendon ruptures are more commonly seen in younger people, especially those who have had tendonitis in the past or have had steroid injections in their knees.

Symptoms of Ruptured Knee Tendons

Naturally, one of the most common symptoms of a ruptured tendon in the knee is pain, and a lot of it. The pain mainly occurs when the person who is injured is trying to extend the leg, and if the ruptures are complete, extension is impossible. With both a patellar tendon rupture and a quadriceps tendon rupture, the kneecap is usually out of place - higher than normal with a patellar tendon rupture, and lower with the quadriceps tendon rupture.

Treatment of Ruptured Knee Tendons

When it comes to treating ruptured knee tendons, the course of treatment may differ somewhat between partial and complete ruptures. Anyone who suspects that they may have ruptured a tendon in their knee should seek immediate medical attention, and x-rays will be needed to ensure that the injury is in fact a rupture and not a fracture of the kneecap. Once the rupture is correctly diagnosed, the patient is usually given crutches, and the leg is braced for knee pain relief. It is essential that ice and elevation be used, and in many cases, the patient will need surgery to reattach the tendon.

The time it takes for the knee to fully recover following a ruptured tendon and surgery is about eight to twelve weeks, depending on the individual patient. They will need to wear a cast to prevent movement, and physiotherapy is usually required to get the knee back in tip-top shape again.

Ruptured tendons in the knee are acute and painful injuries, but they can easily be treated, and it only takes a few months before patients are able to do everything they could before the injury. Just remember, it is essential that diagnosis be made as soon as possible, to avoid any further damage by not getting the proper treatment on time.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Surgery - Should I Wear A Knee Brace After ACL Surgery?

Spend enough time in any Physiotherapy Clinic and you'll quickly discover that three of the most common questions asked by people who have Anterior Cruciate Ligament Surgery are:

1. Can I eventually go back to my sport?


2. How long after my ACL Surgery can I return to my sport?


3. After doing all these months of knee exercises, will I need to wear a knee brace?

It is clear that those of us who want to return to sport after having an ACL reconstruction have a major concern about the risks of future ACL injuries. Let's face it: No one wants to tear their cruciate ligament twice. So one obvious idea is to wear a knee brace after a cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Now there has been plenty of speculation over whether a knee brace does in fact make any difference to the chances of incurring another ACL injury. You can ask your Physiotherapist, you can ask your Orthopaedic Specialist, you can ask your regular doctor, and you can ask your neighbour's dog. And you will always hear different views on the matter. Some believe it is of no benefit to wear a knee brace if the right rehabilitation program has been completed. Others say it is more a psychological issue, that when a person is wearing a knee brace they feel more confident and less at risk.

If you choose to wear a knee brace after your ACL reconstruction, it is important to be aware of the different types of knee braces available to you. There are some designed for wearing during specific sports or activities, and there are some that are made for use following certain types of injuries.

As someone who has personally had the experience of two ACL reconstructions, I am one of those people who chose to wear a knee brace when returning to playing soccer. At least for the first year of sport. It provided additional support to the knee joint as a whole as well as giving me more confidence. Depending on the type of activity or sport you are returning to, you will need to consider the following:

1. Will there be any direct impact on the knee? eg. tackles playing football, falling over while skiing
   
2. Will there be any twisting or turning involved? eg. playing netball or tennis
   
3. Will there be any sudden changing of direction? eg. while playing squash or basketball
   
4. Will there be a lot of bending? eg. during gardening or bowling
   
5. Will there be any additional weight carried? eg. as a builder or removalist, during gym training or weight training

Being able to answer these questions will assist you in determining what type of knee brace will be the most suitable as you return to your favourite sport, hobbies, or work after an Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction. As always, consult your knee specialist for advice on your specific situation.

How Successful Are Cartilage Implants?

Cartilage is a special kind of connective tissue that is present in several areas of the body, like the knees, intervertebral discs, ears and the respiratory tract. Different kinds of cartilage differ in structure and function. Generally, when people speak of cartilage pain, it refers to pain in the knee.

Knee problems are the most recurring problems in sports people and in the general populace. In fact, it has been recorded as the #1 reason for application of leave by sportspeople. When the cartilage in the knee is damaged, it could lead to pain and severe restriction in movement. This is because the knee withstands a lot of pressure when the body is in motion. The cartilage acts as a lubricant between the bones of the knee joint. When the lubricant is damaged or destroyed, the bones start rubbing against each other, causing extreme discomfort, pain and mobility problems.

Cartilage damage generally has no specific indications. Patients may complain of pain or intermittent swelling. Sometimes, patients may also experience a locking sound. Cartilage damage will be evident on examination when the doctor observes wasting of muscles (through x-rays), limitation of movement and tenderness (through physical examination). In acute cases, the damage may be serious enough to cause bleeding in the knee.

Generally, patients who desire long term solution for their knee pain ultimately opt for cartilage implants. Since the body does not have the ability to regenerate or rebuild cartilage, the only solution is to introduce cartilage implants that work in a manner similar to the cartilage.

Cartilage implants are generally the last leg of treatment. Doctors try to catch knee injury problems at the earliest and start treatment methods early to prevent further cartilage deterioration. This is because relatively small areas of cartilage damage may be filled with new cartilage. Introducing cartilage implant is a complicated procedure. Unless it is done by an expert, the chances of failure are very high. The reason is that doctors have not found a way of affixing cartilage cells properly in the knee area in such a way that they can withstand tremendous pressure and operate smoothly. Cartilage implants must glide smoothly between the joints and must be able to support smooth motion. If they are displaced in the course of daily activities, pain and discomfort return.

When cartilage implants are not possible or not effective, the best alternative is to opt for total knee replacement. This is the last resort to repair defective cartilage. In this procedure, the defective parts are removed. The surfaces that are worn out are then resurfaced with suitable materials so that the artificial joint can function in a normal manner. Knee replacement is fairly routine and more than 95% of patients who opt for it are completely successful in regaining total movement and normalcy. Injuries to the cartilage are very common and independent of age. In most cases, stress or overuse could be the cause of the problem. However, for treatment to be effective, it is important to approach a doctor for the proper treatment at the earliest.

Treating Osteoarthritis Knee Pain Using Supartz

Knee osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease of a knee joint, common in people older than 40 years. It causes pain, swelling and reduced motion in your joint. The cartilage in your joints breaks down if you have osteoarthritis. Cartilage is a rubbery tissue at the end of the bones, allowing your joint to move easily.

A healthy knee contains synovial fluid, a fluid that cushions your knee. Synovial fluid contains a lubricating substance called hyaluronan or hyaluronic acid. When you have osteoarthritis, it can be hard to move your joints due to lack of hyaluronan. This can cause the surface layer of cartilage to break and wear away. The bones under the cartilage rub together, which can cause pain, swelling, and loss of motion of the joint. The joint may loose its normal shape over time.

As a solution to knee osteoarthritis pain, Supartz joint fluid therapy may provide long lasting pain relief. Supartz is a solution which consists of highly purified sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronan). Hyaluronan is a natural substance found in the synovial fluid that helps cushion and lubricate a knee joint.

Supartz injection helps in restoring the cushioning and lubricating properties of synovial fluid. Upon injection, Supartz acts in place of synovial fluid, facilitating smoother joint movement and less painful contact between bones. This can be used for those who have failed to respond to simple pain killers, exercise or physical therapy. It is administered in the form of injection, injected directly into the knee. It is given once a week for 5 weeks, for up to total of 5 injections. To reduce the pain, local anesthesia may be provided.

Supartz is one of the earliest joint fluid therapies approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). More than 200 million injections have been administered worldwide, and it is the most prescribed joint fluid therapy. This only shows that this joint fluid therapy is safe to use and is effective in providing pain relief.

A course of Supartz therapy can help relieve pain and improve mobility. Although it can be given with 3 to 5 weekly doses, some patients experience benefits within the first 3 weeks. The joint fluid therapy can be very effective in delaying or preventing knee replacement surgery. Also, its effectiveness in improving knee pain from knee osteoarthritis has been shown in several clinical studies.

After taking Supartz, the patient may be advised to avoid doing strenuous activities for 2 days after the injection. Strenuous activities may include climbing stairs, jogging and weight training. The doctor may notify some other restrictions which should be best complied by the patient.

Exercise Smart to Avoid Arthritic Knee Pain

Did you know that your workouts may cause arthritic knee pain? Many workout warriors with asymptomatic knees would never even think about this until it is, unfortunately, too late.

Recently, I saw a picture of a 70 year old former exercise guru in a wheelchair recovering form both knee, and hip replacement surgeries. This individual in the 1980's frequently promoted a fitness program that featured high impact aerobics. After I saw that pictures the first thing that crossed my minds was a connection between high impact aerobics, and arthritic knee pain.

If you have never thought about knee arthritis, then I recommend starting to think about it today. Why? Because a recent study correlated an increased risk of knee osteoarthritis with high impact exercise.

The study looked at 136 women, and 100 men, ages 45 - 55. They were divided into three groups - low activity, medium, and high. All subjects had healthy knees, and were of average weight when the study began.

The results showed that 93% of people in the high activity group suffered from cartilage damage versus 60% in the low activity group. Of course, the high impact exercises, day after day, can often lead to arthritic knee pain. A high impact fitness program would be considered running, and jumping. A low impact workout would be swimming, elliptical training, or riding the bike.

The study also found that lower impact exercises may protect diseased cartilage, and prevent them from developing osteoarthritis knees.

So what do you need to know to prevent knee cartilage damage?

1. Incorporate a cross training type of fitness program to prevent arthritic knee pain.

Don't just run 7 days a week, year in and year out. Mix your workout up by incorporating low impact cardiovascular sessions.

2. Get adequate rest between workout.

The higher the intensity of exercise, the more rest is required between workouts. Don't be afraid to take days off. Focus on quality training, not quantity. Shorten your workouts. Attempt to avoid overuse injuries.

3. When you hit the 40 years of age, don't focus on training like a high level competitive athlete.

Be smart! Even though I love training like an athlete, I know plyometrics are not the best things for my knees at 42 years of age. Once again, strategically plan your workouts.

Please understand, I am not saying you can't workout from time to time in a high impact manner. However, cross training, and sufficient rest is mandatory as you age.

High impact exercises at 40 years old, plus, have shown to significantly increase your chances of arthritic knee pain. In order to avoid knee osteoarthritis make sure you follow the recommendations presented above. A well planned out, intelligent fitness program will equal healthier knees.

Constant Practice in Ball Handling, Conditioning, and Skills Will Lead to Great Football Players

Constant motion drill to increase ball handling skills

This drill is used to increase player's ball handling skills on the field. Players will move the football from one hand to another hand around differing parts of their body. The drill starts with the head moving the ball in a circular motion from hand to hand, then proceeds to go under the arms, around the waist, then the knees, and finally through and in between the players legs.

Coaches can mix up the drill by shouting out body parts that the players will have to start circling with the football; they can also reverse the direction that the ball is traveling by calling, "reverse". Changing the direction of the football ensures that they don't form a habit, and that they remained focused on the ball and controlling the movement.

We recommend that you end this drill by doing several football drops. The player will drop the ball and quickly pick it up again. They also should rotate which hand they are using to pick it up so that you can increase ball handling with both.

Conditioning: Cross jumping

Conditioning in football is meant to help you react quickly on the field moving in a variety of directions. The point to this drill is having players practice quick directional changes on the field. The drill takes place in small four corner area that you can draw out or use the lines of the field. The drill starts by having a player stand in one area or box, and has them jump diagonally, laterally, frontwards, and backwards from one area to another. Changes can be made so that the player will only use one foot and then the other while they run the drill.

Strip Tackling

The faster your defense is at getting the ball back into the offensive's hands the more likely you are to win a game. Forcing a fumble is one of the quickest ways that you can turn the tides and retain possession of the football. A great way to practice is have two players line up, one as the defense, the other with the football as the offense. The defender will practice stripping the ball by bringing his hands up quickly with a clenched fist to grab the opponent and as he does so to aim to knock out the football. Start the drill slowly, and reward for a strong tackle that affectively tackles and makes an attack to dislodge the offensive players grip on the ball.

Tackling Fundamentals and Safety

Learning how to perform a proper tackle is fundamental to the game of football. Tackling can be fun and exhilarating, but done improperly and it can be dangerous. Here are three important steps to practice:

First, plant yourself in front of your opponent. You can do this by placing your foot between your opponent's feet. Also, at this time thrust your arms backward to prepare for the next step.

Second, push your other foot keeping your knees low and bent, and in sync with your feet throw your hands up hard around the offensive player. Now is the time that injuries can happen. The one golden rule in making a safe tackle is to never, ever lead with or try to tackle with the crown of your head. Tell yourself, or your players to imagine that they are biting the football.

Third, throw your hips up and hard as you drive the offensive player backwards. The squarer you are in the first step the easier it will be to perform the third step.

Open Sesame! Chivalry Is Not Dead (Helping Those Using an Assistive Device for Mobility)

Throughout my life, I would keep open a door for a person if I was walking through the door or make sure I would open a door for an individual using an assistive device for mobility. This past year I became that person using the assistive device and have an insight from a different perspective. I started with using a cane and then progressed to a walker, rollator, wheelchair, and I then went back to the wheelchair and now the walker. It has been an eye opener in regard to the heaviness of a door and the lack of ADA design in some buildings that claim its building is an ADA facility.

In early 2012, I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, which I am dealing with finely after the experiment of which drug and dosage works best. Sometimes I still have flare ups, but the flare-ups are workable. However, one day my left knee popped fully and did not go back in to place in May and I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis (degenerative disease that destroys the cartilage), was walking bone-on-bone on both knees, and was told that both of my knees had to be replaced. Life changed and came with a lot of challenges.

One major problem was getting up and into one of the office buildings I worked at. It took me 30 minutes to get myself situated to and in/out of the car. I had to use the rollator, pack it up with work and personal items, roll to the car's passenger door, unload rollator, fold up and put the rollator in the back seat, pull out a cane, and crawl against the car using the cane to get to the front seat. I am so glad that my driver's car seat is electronic and I was able to position it so I could get in with the least amount of pain. Once I got to work, it would take another 30 minutes just to get out of the car and do everything in reverse just to get up to the building. This building was definitely not ADA. No button to push for handicap entrance, the door was heavy, and the rollator just barely fit in (it would have been harder in a wheelchair). Thank goodness for the back sides of our bodies or else I would never have been able to get in and out of the building.

The bathroom was another obstacle, as the doors are heavy (back side used again here), the handicap stall's door could not open all of the way as it hit the wall mounted paper towel holder and trash can combo or you could not pull all the way up to open it for those that pulled opened, and definitely not long enough so that I could close the door fully for privacy. Some bathrooms in various buildings, such as the arthritic center, doctors offices, hospitals, restaurants, were the same including not being able to reach the soap dispenser, faucet, or towels to dry your hands. It was harder in a wheelchair as I could not reach the door with my leg in an upright position to enter and exit any bathroom. The bathrooms have been designed to ensure that an individual using an assistive mobility device has to be dependent on someone - be it the entrance door, the handicap stall for privacy, the soap dispenser, the sink faucet, and even the towels for drying. So much for trying to be independent!

During my time of using the rollator at one office building, I have to commend and thank God for the help from several unknown individuals from male attorneys in suits opening the women's bathroom door without asking or those who asked if they could help when they saw me folding up and putting the rollator in to the car. There were several other individuals who would just stand and watch me during my process and would not say anything to me. I heard their comments, such as, if she lost weight she would not need to use the rollator, or look, she was able to do it herself, and then others were not sure whether to come up and offer help or not. My thought is ASK or JUST DO IT! When someone helped, granted I felt bad because I felt like a burden, but then again, I was so tired of lifting the rollator or having to struggle to position myself to open the door that the help I did get was so appreciated and for those times, I did not have to struggle with the rollator or the entrance door. A few seconds of getting assistance had a lasting effect.

Conclusion - one never knows what life is going to bring them and you may be the one needing assistance one day. Over the last 25 years, I have cared for several people (parents, relatives, and strangers) as either a caregiver or legal guardian and I have always been there to help in any way I could. It felt good knowing that I was able to help someone out and pass along a smile. Now, being on the other side of things this year, finding out that chivalry is not dead also felt good. Never be afraid to approach someone who uses an assistive device for mobility and offer to help OR just open that door without asking. Even though that individual has his/her own system of working the obstacles, holding open the door does make it easier and will add a smile to the face and warmth to the heart to both of you.

What Is Knee Replacement?

Knee replacement treatment is done to assist pain free movement in your joint. Here a damaged or diseased knee is replaced, and after surgery one can expect recovery in about six months.

Categories of Knee Replacement

There are four basic types of knee replacement categories:
- Non-constrained
- Semi-constrained
- Constrained or hinged
- Unicondylar

The most common type is the non-constrained implant. Here the artificial components that are inserted while surgery of the knee, are not joint to each other and the entire set-up relies on the patient's ligaments and muscles stability. The semi-constrained implant provides increased stability. Constrained or hinged implants are used when a patient's ligaments are not able to support any other type of replacement of knee or when the knees are severely damaged. The Unicondylar type treatment is done to replace only half of the knee.

Common Treatment Procedure

Are you looking for this type of surgery in your country or abroad? For knee replacement treatment abroad you would require a minimum of fifteen days stay including six days of post-surgery in-patient stay at your hospital. So plan accordingly. A common procedure involves removal of damaged bone surfaces and cartilage replacing it with artificial surface which are made of plastic or metallic material. A typical procedure takes about two hours. You will be admitted to the hospital on the day of the scheduled surgery. Once admitted you will be moved to the pre-operative area where you will be prepared for the surgery. Your doctor may give you general anaesthesia or an epidural or spinal injection. After this the surgery will be performed.

Medical Tourism

Knee replacement is efficiently done all across the world. This type of surgery in foreign countries like India, Mexico, Turkey and Costa Rica, is quite inexpensive. In these nations the doctors are highly trained due to heavy flow of domestic patients, while the costs are relatively cheaper as compared to the developed nations.

Usually a this surgery lasts for ten to fifteen years.

See a Knee Doctor for Your Leg Joint Troubles

As your body gets older, you may start to notice that you are not as flexible as you used to be. As a result, you may start to incur more sprains and strains to your joints and limbs. These injuries can occur as the result of normal wear and tear and as the result of sudden and unnatural movements. While pain is often the most obvious indicator that an injury has occurred, you shouldn't wait until things progress to something that is more serious. Find a good knee doctor and get treated.

More than a fourth of Americans suffer from injuries that affect the patella. Keep in mind that these injuries can be something as minor as slight pain to a torn ligament. These can result in issues when it comes to moving normally. In some cases, pain and other issues can be indicative of degenerative conditions.

When you suffer from some sort of accident or activity, you need to see a knee doctor right away. You can't afford to neglect your joints at this time. To do so would increase your chances for more malfunctions regarding your knees, chronic pain and even loss of mobility. If you happen to notice pain, inflammation and redness, you need to contact a knee doctor. Sometimes you may also notice a slight fever along with your pain and swollen patella. In this case, there is a serious problem that needs to be addressed right away before it can truly start to affect your overall health.

Joint stiffness is something that can occur in people of any age. Although it is more common in older adults, people who have suffered from previous injuries may also experience increasing stiffness and reduced range of motion. Even though many of these conditions and symptoms are not life threatening, they can be managed with medication, therapy, surgery and physical therapy.

Until you are able to make it to a knee doctor, you should do your best to rest your leg. Heat and Ice packs can help to reduce any swelling. There are even wraps, bandages and stability equipment you can purchase to apply pressure to help minimize swelling and pain. Over the counter pain medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen may also provide you with some relief. Try not to let more than three days pass before you get professional help for your condition.

When you finally see a knee doctor, they will need to learn about your medical history. You need to let them know when you first started having problems with your legs and about any other symptoms you may have experienced. They will do an examination of your joint and may even order some x-rays so they can see how bad the damage is. There are many ways you can be treated for your injury. The type of treatment you receive all depends on what you injury is and the extent of the damage that is resent.

Americans Flock to India For Knee Replacement Surgery

Americans in need of surgery are headed to India for shorter waits and costs about 75 percent less than the amount someone could fork over in America. India offers the best medical facilities and treatment facilities for low cost knee replacement surgery. Recently India has developed the state of the art medical technology and treatment facilities to help the international patients to get their Knee replacement surgery in India done successful done. Knee replacement surgery in India has become most popular among international patients for its nominal cost. The well-versed orthopaedic hospitals in India provide the great care on the abroad patients for those approach and expertise of giving successful knee replacement surgery in India. Knee replacement surgery is otherwise also called as knee arthroplasty. It is an orthopedic surgery performed by specially trained orthopedic surgeons in India. Knee replacement Surgery removes the worn out bone parts in the knee and replaces it with the porcelain or metallic knee joints or knee caps specially made for the surgery.

A procedure of Knee replacement surgery is performed under general anesthesia for the comfort of the patient through out the surgery. Prior to surgery, you may be asked to get lab testing or a medical evaluation, Take certain medications or adjust your current medications, Stop smoking well in advance of surgery, Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements as they can increase bleeding. A Knee Arthroplasty is one of the major orthopedic surgical procedures that will remove the dysfunctional joint and pain is relieved. The sutures are removed in 7th 0r 8th day depending on the patient condition. The patient may recover from the pain in 1-2 weeks; swelling recovers in 2- 3 weeks and slight numbness in 4- 5 months. The patient is asked to go back to his / her work in 4 weeks after surgery. After two months the knee joint has to be evaluated again for the complete recovery.

The international orthopaedic patients are attracted towards India to undergo knee replacement surgery mainly for less economic cost of the surgery. Orthopedic surgeons performing knee replacement surgery in India are well trained and follow the international standard treatment protocols. The Orthopedic surgery hospitals in India at Chennai and Bangalore provide all good services to the international patients under the international standards all at one roof and less expensive. The hospitals in India are inculcated with advanced medical amenities and surgical equipments and are providing the knee replacement surgery at a low cost. The tradition of India familiar for it's treating the guests with hospitality; beneficiaries are always welcome to enjoy the benefits of the knee replacement surgery and its unbelievable costs in India.

CPM - Constant Motion Or Constant Pain Machine

One of the larger issues for total knee replacement patients, and physicians, is keeping the patient active and moving so the rehab time is minimized and further health issues not created by the time of immobility. Over the past 2 decades it has become common practice to place the patient's leg into what is called a "constant motion machine" (CPM) and the leg and knee joint are moved immediately following surgery. This is done to:

• minimize atrophy to the surrounding musculature tissue


• increase blood flow into and out of the surrounding tissues


• retard the degree of atrophy one has following immobilization


• maintain the physical actions of the muscles to move fluids away from the injured tissues and prevent edema


• prevent loss of elasticity in the affected tissues

Generally the CPM machine is activated immediately upon the patient being moved to the hospital room following surgery. Over time it has been shown that the recovery time is shortened and pain decreased using one of these CPM machines. The problem is, often due to the pain the operative procedure produces, the CPM machine can be viewed by the patient as a constant pain machine when in fact the overall long term effect is to decrease and prevent pain by getting the patient healed and functional movement restored.

By using interferential therapy at the same time there are even greater advantages for the total knee replacement patient such as:

• interferential treatment minimizes the pain using the CPM machine


• electricity has been shown to accelerate tissue repair and healing


• negative charges of electrotherapy actually move fluids away from the joint and tissues minimizing edema


• interferential therapy increases carryover pain relief so the patient is more comfortable for longer time periods


• interferential therapy aids the muscles to relax and minimizes muscle spasticity which also minimizes pain

When interferential therapy is incorporated, along with a constant passive motion machine, patient outcomes are improved, rehab. time is diminished, and pain is minimal. The patient regains the ability to walk without pain and in a shorter, more pleasant time frame.

Hip Fractures - A Guide For Recovery

Hip Fracture Basics: Types and Causes of Broken Hips

Hip fractures are serious injuries that often require surgery to repair. Every year in the United States alone over 300,000 people suffer broken hips and require hospitalization. Of that number, over half of those people suffering a hip fracture are over the age of 80.

Bone density, age, and other medical conditions can all contribute to the likelihood of a broken hip, but generally a fracture occurs because of some sort of trauma to the area, like a fall. Most hip fractures in the elderly are caused by falls, while in younger patients - car accidents and other high impact injuries are the most likely causes.

Elderly women and other patients with osteoporosis are at a greater risk of suffering a broken hip in the event of a fall. Because osteoporosis weakens the skeletal system by causing loss of bone mass - bones and joints are at a greater risk of fracturing in the event of trauma.

Hip fractures are actually the breaking of the femur (the bone that extends from the pelvis to the knee) inside or near the hip joint. Hip fractures are generally placed into 2 main classifications - a Femoral Neck Fracture or an Intertrochanteric Fracture. Both of these types of fractures are very serious and in most cases will necessitate surgery to repair the fractures.

Femoral Neck Fracture

The femoral neck is just below the head (top) of the femur. A femoral neck fracture generally occurs within 1 to 2 inches from the end of the femur.

Intertrochanteric Fracture

This fracture occurs within 3 to 4 inches of the head of the femur and usually requires the use of a metal plate and screw to hold the bone in place while it heals - allowing the head of the femur to continue moving normally in the hip socket.

Though hip fractures are generally caused by a serious trauma - a fall or a high impact injury - other factors can contribute to the risk of sustaining a broken hip.

Age

Statistics show that age is a large factor. The majority of hip related injuries and fractures occur in people over 80. There are two main reasons why this may be true: bone density loss and the presence of other medical conditions affecting balance and mobility. But also effecting elderly patients are general aging issues like loss of vision and a decreasing or weakening sense of balance.

Medical Conditions

Osteoporosis puts patients at an even higher risk for breaking a hip simply because it reduces bone density. There are a number of other medical conditions that will also lead up to and increase chances of developing osteoporosis which in turn can lead to increased risks for hip fractures.

The development of other diseases and conditions like Parkinson's disease which effect a person's mobility and balance can contribute to an increased risk of falling and breaking a hip as well. Diabetes, arthritis, and similar diseases can also effect a person's activity levels which in turn increases risk.

Physical Inactivity

Because physical inactivity can lead to the weakening of bones, tendons, and muscles - it can also contribute to a higher risk of fracturing critical bones and joints. Physical inactivity can in turn lead to other conditions such as obesity and weight gain which can put a larger strain on a weakening bone structure. Maintaining a regular physical activity schedule will often reduce a patient's risk of hip fracture.

Mortality Rates and Common Problems Associated with Hip Fractures

Hip fractures are serious injuries that require immediate medical attention because there are a number of problems and conditions that can arise because of the broken bone. Studies have shown that mortality rates following a hip fracture can be rather high for a number of reasons which include the development of other serious medical conditions (blood clots and infections) as well as the age of the patient at the time of the injury (since the majority of fractures occurs among seniors).

A study published in the British Medical Journal places mortality rates within one year of suffering a fractured hip at 20%. And this number only increases with the age of the patient - as many as 33% of patients over the age of 80 die within a year of breaking a hip. The 30 day mark following surgery for a fractured hip is high in this population also - coming in at about 10%.

A number of factors contribute to these high numbers. Post-operative complications like infections (i.e. pneumonia or bronchitis) are dangerous factors. The general health of the patients involved in the study also contributes to the high mortality rates. Because as we talked about, a number of other conditions can increase a patients risk of breaking a hip. These same conditions (obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, Parkinson's, and others) can also make recovery more difficult.

Mobility factors increase risk as well. Because a broken hip makes it even more difficult for patients to get proper exercise, the overall deterioration of the body due to inactivity can bring about other health problems or exasperate existing conditions like heart disease. For patients that are bedridden following surgery, pressure sores and infections become an increased risk.

Overall, the general health of a patient prior to the sustained injury and following surgery is going to play highly in determining the likelihood of the patient's complete recovery. This is why younger patients tend to recover more completely and quickly as they are less likely to have preexisting medical conditions that are going to be worsened by the injury.

Mortality rates and other complications decrease significantly in patients that work hard at maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle regardless of age. Often for these folks - a broken hip is a temporary setback, though it is still a serious injury. Recovery though will often be a lot simpler if the patient has maintained general good health prior to fracturing their hip.

How Hip Fractures are Treated

In most cases, a hip fracture is going to require surgery. In cases where surgery is not possible because of an illness or other factor - traction may be used. In those cases without surgery - the main treatment for a broken hip relies mainly on pain reduction.

Both types of hip fractures - the femoral neck fracture and the intertrochanteric fracture - require surgery. The exact procedure is slightly different for each type.

Intertrochanteric Fracture Surgery

When the break is lower on the femur as in an intertrochanteric fracture (occurring 3 to 4 inches from the head of the femur) a different procedure is generally used. Doctors will attach a metal plate to the side of the femur and insert a metal hip compression screw into the femur. This compression screw and plate allows the bone fragments to compress together and mend themselves.

Femoral Neck Fracture Surgery

With a femoral neck fracture, surgery will generally involve one of three types of procedures: metal screws, replacing part of the femur, or total hip replacement.

Using metal screws, the surgeon will align the bones and fix them in place with three long metal screws which will remain in place and not be removed. These screws serve to allow the bones to mend back together as well as strengthen that section of the femur.

If the doctors are unable to align the bones in a way that will allow them to heal properly, they will usually attempt a procedure known as a hemiarthroplasty. This involves removing and replacing the damaged head and neck of the femur with a metal prosthesis.

Total hip replacement is the most invasive of the three options. If for some reason, the socket joint in the hip is damaged - total hip replacement might be the best option. In this procedure, the surgeons will not only replace the top portion of the femur, but also the joint section of the pelvic bone. One of the benefits of total hip replacement is that it allows patients to become mobile again sooner after the surgery than other options. This can help to prevent other complications associated with major surgery from developing.

Hospital stays after surgery for a hip fracture can vary in length - although the average stay in the hospital generally lasts a week. The majority of patients will require physical therapy for a long period following the surgery to recover completely. Older and less mobile patients may even have to look to a long term care facility if they don't have available help or care at home.

Help With Recovery and Prevention of Hip Fractures

Exercise and physical activity is a key in helping with both recovery from a hip fracture and prevention of those fractures. Because mobility is limited following surgery for hip fractures, the use of a rolling walker is often a good idea for elderly patients as it will help them get the exercise to speed up healing and also help to prevent another fall from aggravating the injury further.

Everyday tasks will probably become a little more difficult for a patient recovering from hip fracture surgery. Things like bending over to tie shoes or getting dressed in the morning will require a little bit of extra effort. Lifting the affected leg into bed or onto the couch will also become more difficult at times during the recovery. There are quite a few products like extended shoe horns and leg lifters which can ease the pain and difficulty of recovery.

Often times, simple tasks that are taken for granted become more complicated. Bathing for example is an everyday thing that becomes tough following hip surgery. A sponge on an extended handle or a bath bench become tools which can really help.

To make recovery easier, the purchase of a "hip kit" is a small investment for quite a bit of help. Common items that you'll find in a hip kit include:

• Long Handled Sponges


• Long Handled Shoe Horn


• A Dressing Stick


• Extendable Reachers or Grabbers


• Leg Lifters

Mobility and physical therapy are both important factors in helping to speed up recovery. Full use of the hip will take some time, but in patients that were healthy prior to the surgery, a full recovery is possible and likely.

Exercise is a major factor in recovery as well as the prevention of other complications arising because of the surgery. Any help that a patient can enlist - either from family or qualified medical practitioners is going to aid them in recovery.

Prevention Tips

Learning how to prevent falls is another factor that is going to seriously limit the likelihood of breaking a hip.

* Building railings or ramps to help with stairs around the home is a good idea.

* Installing rails next to the toilet and in the bathtub or shower is another preventative measure. They're also great ideas to help somebody who is trying to recover from hip surgery since their mobility will be more limited for a time.

* Rearranging furniture to allow for clear paths.

* Check rugs and carpets for slippage or places somebody could trip.

* Consider the use of a hip protector - a low profile pad that you wear beneath your clothing and over your hip to help absorb any impact from a fall.

* Keep cords stowed safely away.

* Place used items in easy to reach places - avoid step stools and ladders where balance might be lost.

* Make sure areas of the home and yard are well lit. Being able to see a hazard is half the battle.

* Wear practical shoes that are non-slip.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can also decrease your risk of breaking a hip. Not only exercise, but proper nutrition is important.

* Weight Bearing Exercise - Helps to fight bone density loss and works to maintain the strength of tendons and muscles that support the joints. Not only that, but regularly walking or exercising will help to maintain your sense of balance and agility - making the likelihood of a fall less likely.

* Smoking - Believe it or not, smoking actually works to reduce your bone density. So not only can it cause cancer - but it can weaken your bones.

* Calcium and Vitamin D - Proper nutrition and watching levels of calcium in your diet (through foods or supplements) will work to maintain your bone density so that in the event of a fall, you are less likely to fracture your hip. Vitamin D is also a key component of this process as it helps your body absorb and process calcium.

Other Hip Fracture Resources

There are a ton of available resources on the web these days that can help you in the prevention of or recovery from a hip fracture. The following is a listing and review of some great web sites and articles if you would like more information on hip fracture prevention, treatment, and recovery.

The Mayo Clinic

The Mayo Clinic is a highly respected non-profit organization and clinic that maintains clinics in Minnesota, Arizona, and Florida. They also have a very informative web site that is a great resource for countless medical conditions. The section of the web site on hip fractures is very in depth and organized in a way that you can find information very easily on prevention of hip fractures or help with recovery from hip surgery.

Care.com

Care.com is an interesting web site in that it deals with the care of patients following surgeries like total hip replacement. On this web site you'll find questions and tips related to helping patients or parents who are going through a difficult hip surgery recovery.

Advice on how to deal with the medical condition is provided, as well as advice on how to help the patient mentally get through the recovery is discussed.

This web site also provides access to a network of caregivers and service providers in your area if you need additional help with recovering from hip surgery. You can find providers for any level of help that might be needed, from full time care to part time help with housework and chores. The great thing about this service is that you can post your needs and interview potential caregivers as well as look at a background check.

EveryDayHealth.com

Maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle are the best preventative measures that you can take towards avoiding a hip fracture. Working as an online community and resource, EveryDayHealth.com is a great resource and web site to use to maintain that active and healthy lifestyle.

Nutrition information and tools like their 'meal planner' and 'weight tracker' are great ways to make sure you are doing everything you can to stay healthy. Participating in the community forums is also a great way to meet other people facing the same issues or working towards the same goals.

Hip fractures are a common injury, especially among the elderly - so reaching out to a community like EveryDayHealth will give you the opportunity to find understanding support of what it is you might be going through following hip surgery.

Finding the proper support, medical care, and tools to aid in the recovery from hip fracture surgery is a key component to reducing the difficulty and likelihood of complications from a broken hip. Whether you have experienced a hip fracture or are just interested in the prevention of a future injury - there's a myriad of online resources available to help you in that quest.