Saturday, April 20, 2013

Combatives Solo Training Drills


Although training with a partner is the ideal way to train Combatives, quite often we won't have access to training partners. So rather than not train at all, we can train alone and still get a good session in.

A few pointers to keep in mind when solo training:


  • Don't try to do too much in one session. Pick just a few techniques or drills to work on throughout the session and stick to them. If you try to cover too much you will scatter your focus and end up learning nothing. Remember that good Combatives training is about repetition. To get good you have to train a select few techniques over and over until you master them. If you try to master too many techniques at one time you will end up mastering none.

  • Train with the street in mind. This means you do not train in a sporting manner. So no shadow boxing or long endurance workouts. Everything you do must be combative, not sporting. Warm up first, then practice your drills and techniques in short bursts. A real street fight is an explosive burst of energy that doesn't last very long. There are no rounds. Only periods of intense combat lasting only several seconds. Your training must reflect that. So basically, go like fk for no more than ten seconds then stop and repeat.

  • Add emotional content to your training. Whatever you do, you must back it up with the correct mindset. If you hit the bag, do so with full intent and aggression. Really imagine that you are in a situation and you have to put this guy down. Anything less will not do. You are practicing accessing state as much as the physical techniques. Hit the switch, go like fuck and then knock the switch off again, making sure to check state every time. Training in this way, you are making sure the techniques will come out under pressure when you need them. This is the only way to train.

  • Resist the temptation to do long sessions. Long training sessions are for endurance athletes and sport fighters. You will benefit most from shorter sessions of about fifteen to twenty minutes, but train at full intensity during that time. If you feel one session isn't enough, train twice a day.

1. FENCE AND STRIKE DRILL

What's good about this drill is that you don't need any equipment and it can be done anywhere.

Start from a square on stance, then move into a fence position with your arms out front as if controlling your space, then from there throw a pre-emptive strike.

Repeat a number of times.

To make the drill more useful, bring your imagination into play. Pretend there is someone in front of you, giving you grief. Control your space as they try to enter it and then, when you think the moment is right, strike with full intent and see yourself knocking the guy out. Remember, emotional content is what makes these techniques stick.

2. FENCE, STRIKE, BLAST AND FINISH

As above, only after you strike pre-emptively you continue to blast your opponent with multiple strikes, moving forward as you do so (forward drive) before finally finishing your opponent off with knees and elbows or some other technique of your choice.

3. IMAGINARY BRAWL DRILL

For this drill you are going to be playing out a whole attack scenario from start to finish. Think of a scenario first. You could be walking to your car in a dimly lit car park after a particularly tiring day at work or you could be standing outside the chippy on after having had a few drinks with friends. Whatever. Your imagination is the limit here.

Once you have a scenario in mind, really put yourself into it, mentally and emotionally. Begin to act it out the way a real actor would.

Let's take the car park example. You are walking to your car when you spot two dodgy looking guys loitering near your car. Your spidey sense starts to tingle and you can feel the adrenaline begin to bubble up inside you. Something isn't right (really feel this!). As you continue to walk to your car, one of the guys (dressed in jeans, black jacket and baseball cap) asks you for a light. You tell him you don't have one. No sooner have you answered him when the other guy (wearing track suit bottoms and a dark coloured hoodie) suddenly rushes towards you, drawing his fist back in preparation to hit you. The fight is on.

That's the set up. What way this scenario goes is up to you. The important thing is that you mimic every move as it happens. If you strike one of the guys, then do so for real and really feel the impact. If you get hit or grabbed, react to that for real.

Fall to the floor and grapple. Enact the whole fight. Then when it's over, walk away.

Done right, with your imagination in full swing, this can end up feeling like a real fight. It's almost like visualisation practice but you are physically acting out each movement instead of just picturing it in your head.

Try to be alone when doing this drill. If anyone sees you, they will think you've lost your mind as you throw yourself around and fight imaginary attackers!

Doctor - I Have Symptoms of Pain and Swelling in My Hands and Feet - What Could It Be?


While there are multiple causes of swelling and pain in the hands and feet, arthritis is probably the most common cause.

The term "arthritis" is derived from the Greek and means "joint inflammation". It refers to more than 100 different diseases that can cause pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints. Joints are where the ends of long bones connect and interact. The end of each bone inside a joint has a thin layer of cartilage and is held in place by ligaments, tendons, and muscles. A joint is lined with synovial tissue (synovium) that helps to nourish the joint. It is the synovium that often becomes inflamed in arthritis.

Arthritis may also affect other supporting structures around joints such as the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones. Some serious forms of arthritis can affect internal organs.

The common symptoms of arthritis are due to inflammation (swelling, heat, redness, pain):

o Swelling in one or more joints

o Stiffness in the joints in the morning or with prolonged inactivity

o Joint pain or tenderness

o Restricted mobility in the joints

o Warmth or redness

Diagnosing arthritis can be difficult because some symptoms are often common to many different diseases. A rheumatologist will first do a complete physical exam, looking for clues. The eyes, ears, nose, throat, heart, lungs, and other parts of the body will be examined along with the joints. Lab tests and imaging procedures such as x-ray, ultrasound, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may also be ordered.

The most common forms of arthritis are:

Osteoarthritis (OA) is also referred to as degenerative joint disease. This is the most common type of arthritis. When it affects the hands, it can cause painful swelling in the last row (Heberden's nodes) and middle row (Bouchards nodes) of finger joints. In the feet it will affect the toe joints as well as the mid-foot. This disease affects cartilage, the tissue that cushions and protects the ends of bones in a joint. With osteoarthritis, the cartilage starts to wear away prematurely. The swelling of the fingers and toes may lead to bony deformity.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease; the body's immune system (defense mechanism against infection) attacks normal tissues. This autoimmune reaction causes inflammation of the synovium. RA symptoms include pain, stiffness, swelling, rapid loss of joint function, and crippling. When severe, rheumatoid arthritis can also affect internal organs. This is the type of arthritis that most commonly causes severe inflammation in the hands and feet.

Rheumatoid arthritis tends to be symmetric- one side of the bodt being affected just like the other.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disease characterized by generalized aches and pains. The pain is accompanied by stiffness that is worst in the morning but tends to last all day long. Patients may have localized tender points occurring in the muscles and tendons, particularly in the neck, spine, shoulders, and hips. These tender points are called trigger points. Fatigue and sleep disturbances may also occur. There is subjective swelling along with pain in the hands and feet.

Gout and pseudogout are inflammatory forms of arthritis due to deposits of crystals in joints and other body tissues. Uric acid is the culprit in gout and calcium pyrophosphate is the villain in pseudogout. Both diseases cause painful attacks of arthritis affecting the hands and feet.

Infectious arthritis is a type of arthritis caused by either bacteria or viruses. A relatively common form of infectious arthritis is Lyme disease. Infectious forms of arthritis can cause swelling and pain in the hands and feet. A diagnosis is often difficult to establish. Antibiotics will often be used to treat bacterial infectious arthritis.

Reactive arthritis is an autoimmune arthritis that develops after a person has an infection in the urinary tract or intestine. This problem is often referred to as Reiter's disease. People who have this disease often have eye inflammation (iritis), rashes, and mouth sores. Inflammatory arthritis involving the hands and feet leading to a toe or finger that looks like a sausage (dactylitis) is common.

Psoriatic arthritis. Some people who have psoriasis also have arthritis. This disease often affects the hands and feet. It is usually asymmetric. It also causes deformity of the fingernails and toenails (onycholysis) that is often misdiagnosed as a fungal problem. Sometimes the spine- neck and low back-can be affected. As with Reiter's disease, dactylitis often occurs.

Systemic lupus erythematosus is another autoimmune disease. Lupus can affect many organ systems including the joints, skin, kidneys, lungs, blood vessels, heart, and brain. This is a cause of swelling and pain involving the hands and feet.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is the most common type of arthritis affecting children. It leads to pain, stiffness, swelling, and loss of function in the joints. A patient can also have rashes and fevers with this disease. Hands, wrists, ankles, and feet are often affected.

Polymyalgia rheumatica. Symptoms include pain, aching, and morning stiffness in the shoulders, hips, thighs, and neck. It is sometimes the first sign of giant cell arteritis, an inflammatory disease of the arteries characterized by headaches, scalp tenderness, weakness, weight loss, and fever. The hands and feet may be affected although less often than other joints. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (sed rate), a blood test that measures inflammation, is often greatly elevated.

Bursitis is inflammation of the bursae- the small, fluid-filled sacs that help cushion joints. The inflammation may accompany arthritis in the joint or injury or infection of the bursae. Bursitis produces pain and tenderness and may limit the movement of joints.

Tendinitis is inflammation of tendons (the fibrous cords of tissue that connect muscles to bones) caused by overuse, injury, or arthritis. Tendinitis produces pain and tenderness and may restrict movement of joints.

Not all conditions that cause symptoms of pain and swelling in the hands and feet are due to arthritis. Here are some non-arthritis causes...

Polycythemia vera (PV) is a disorder that is due to excessive production of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Some patients with PV will not have any symptoms at all, but many will experience easy bruising or bleeding with minimal trauma. Also, the blood may become thick, causing it to clot in tiny blood vessels. If clotting does occur in the small blood vessels of the fingers and toes, a patient may experience numbness or burning. Swelling and pain in the hands and feet may also occur.

Some medical conditions cause edema...swelling of the hands, ankles, feet, face, abdomen, or other areas of the body. Swelling is most often seen in the hands, in the feet, or around the eyes. The swelling often causes pain.

Edema is due to excessive fluid accumulation. It can be caused by abnormal kidney function, chronic kidney disease, congestive heart failure, varicose veins, phlebitis, protein or thiamine deficiency, sodium retention, or cancer.

Other reasons for edema are pregnancy, standing for prolonged periods of time, premenstrual syndrome, oral contraceptives, an injury (sprain), hypothyroidism (low thyroid), anemia, adrenal disease, deficiencies of potassium and B vitamins, or allergic reactions.

The cause of the edema needs to be determined. Diagnoses such as congestive heart disease, kidney disease, or liver disease should be ruled out.

Insect stings can lead to swelling and pain in the hands and feet. The same type of reaction may occur with medications, such as penicillin or sulfa. This is referred to as serum sickness.

Acromegaly is a disease where a tumor in the pituitary gland causes an overproduction of growth hormone. This leads to swelling and pain in the hands and feet.

Frostbite is another cause of swelling and pain in the hands and feet.

Blood clots in the veins are another cause of swelling and pain in the limbs. This rarely affects the upper extremities (arms). If it does, diseases associated with clotting abnormalities should be suspected.

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (causalgia) is an unusual disorder that leads to swelling and pain in an affected limb. Generally it occurs in an arm or a leg, rarely both at the same time. The preceding event is usually some type of trauma.

Before Having Surgery Create a Living Will


If you are over the age of 18 you should have a living will. A living will directive or health care proxy should also be one of the first "to-do" items on your "to-do" list before having surgery.

What is a living will?

A living will is a legal document that specifies what treatments, particularly life-prolonging treatments, you wish to receive or not receive should you become incapacitated and unable to relay your wishes yourself. It is especially important to create a living will prior to having surgery so put it on your to-do list when preparing for surgery.

What exactly does a living will specify?

A living will specifies what life-prolonging treatments, such as whether or not to place you on life support and for how long and whether or not to resuscitate you.

In what instances would I need a living will?

It is always good to have a current, updated living will, particularly when you are preparing for surgery. A living will eases the stress and contemplation your family would endure when faced with making decisions regarding your treatment. Furthermore, it ensures that your treatments are indeed carried out according to your wishes.

How and when are the specifications in a living will executed?

The specifications in your living will would go into effect when your primary physician, and in some states a second physician, deemed you incapable of making decisions for yourself. Your physician would have to declare you permanently unconscious. For example, if you suffer a heart attack or stroke and are resuscitated and expected to recover, your living will would not take effect. It would only take effect if your recovery were considered impossible.

How and where can I get a living will?

Different states have different laws regarding the preparation and execution of living wills, so you should consult with a lawyer in your state when preparing your living will to ensure the legality of it. It is a good idea to consult the same lawyer that you use for your estate planning for the preparation of your living will. You will want to make sure that you keep your living will updated.

You can also find quality legal resources on the Internet today about creating living wills. Advantages and tips on using an online legal service are:

* It is cheaper than hiring a traditional attorney. You will pay anywhere from $39.00 to $79.00 on average to create a living will saving you hundreds of dollars or more over traditional attorney fees.

* Most have easy questionnaire style forms.

* Depending on the legal online service you choose, a document assistant reviews your information making sure you avoid some of the most common errors when creating a living will.

* The living wills are valid in every state (make sure this is the case for the service you choose).

* Depending on the type of account you sign up for, you can update your living will easily and at any time.

* Choose a service where your information remains confidential and secure.

* You will want an official copy mailed to you for your records.

The important thing here is all of us should have a living will and if you create one online - it is quick, it is easy, and it is done!

Where should I keep my living will?

Keep your living will in a safe place, such as an in-home safe or safety deposit box. Disclose to your family and doctor that you have a living will and make sure that someone trustworthy knows where your living will is stored and can access it if necessary.

A living will is never going to be your first choice for conversation but it should always be one of your first considerations before having surgery. Include this simple yet often overlooked step when you prepare for surgery.

Bodybuilding and Strength Training With a Knee Replacement


With knee replacements becoming more frequent in younger adults, many put off the surgery because of the limitations that they must follow to avoid possibly damaging the prosthesis. Many activities that are considered high impact like basketball, softball, running or jogging are no longer acceptable. One activity that you can continue on with is strength training or bodybuilding.

Though 99.9% per cent of the individuals receiving a knee replacement are not natural bodybuilders for instance, many younger adults would like the option to continue general strength training. There is no reason after having a replacement done that you should allow your physical appearance to go to waste. There is a small fraction that are involved in natural bodybuilding like myself that have not let a knee replacement slow them down.

Though the days of squatting heavy poundage may be over, there are numerous other exercises that can be done for the lower extremities themselves so that you do not lose that hard earned muscle tissue.

One exercise that you can use to replace the squat with is the leg press. You can still directly work the quadriceps without the forces of the barbell on your back causing extreme forces through the knee. Light dumbbell squats will work. You can easily use 30 pounds for 20-30 reps for instance without causing harm to the prosthesis as long as your technique is correct. Seated leg extensions can still be completed. I would recommend a higher rep scheme with these exercises as you do not want to use an extreme amount of weight which can torque the prosthesis. Your legs will respond to high reps and its also a great cardiovascular workout.

When it comes to the upper body there are really no limitations. In my training there has not been any upper body weight training exercise I have not done since having the knee replaced almost 10 years now.

So if you are someone that is involved in the iron game, bodybuilding or, just basic strength training do not let the prospect of having a knee replaced discourage you from continuing your lifting. just be sure before you start you get your medical clearance from your surgeon and start off with very light weights and slowly build up again to see what the new knee will tolerate.

Osteoarthritis of the Hip - The Most Common Type of Hip Arthritis


Who is Most Affected?

The hip joint is one of the most common locations for osteoarthritis, generally affecting people over the age of 50. Arthritis of the hip is more common in overweight people, with studies showing them to have five times more chance of developing the condition due to the extra stress placed on their hips. There may also be a genetic predisposition, where the joints become damaged simply because a person has inherited a body that wears in an unlucky manner. In addition to injury or repetitive stress, poor bone alignment or the way you walk could also be another factor.

Causes of Osteoarthritis of the Hip

Osteoarthritis of the hip starts when a small amount of the cartilage cushioning the bones of the hip begins to erode, creating some local inflammation and eventually causing the bones of the joint to grind or rub together. A major cause is traumatic injury to the hip and fractures to the bone around the joint. The trauma may be sudden and severe, such as a sporting trauma, but is more commonly associated with overuse of the joint for occupational or sporting purposes. In most individuals the indications do not appear until middle age, but the disease process starts much earlier, with the condition accelerating following trauma to the hip joint.

What are the Most Common Symptoms?

Hip pain is the most universal symptom of hip arthritis but it is possible to go for months and even years with the only symptom being loss of flexibility in the joint. The main symptoms of hip arthritis are pain, crackling, stiffness and inflammation of the affected joint. The rubbing together of the bones will sometimes cause patients to feel or hear their hip creak when walking. The level of pain varies and is described as mild, dull and aching or deep and throbbing. Usually it begins as a minor ache, which can disappear with rest, progressing to sharp pains when the joint is moved, ending in continuous pain. During the early stages the joints are often stiff at the beginning of the day, tending to improve with movement. However, as the condition worsens, a permanent loss of range of motion occurs.

Where is the Pain Felt?

Pain is frequently experienced in the groin and because of this can sometimes be misdiagnosed as a hernia or strain in the groin. It is also possible to feel pain radiating down the front or inner thigh, in the buttocks or knee and sometimes up to the back. There can be pain when pivoting or rotating the hip inward, bending, doing foot care and when getting in or out of a chair or car. Due to the overlapping nerve supply between the hip and knee, it is possible that knee pain may be the only symptom of arthritis of the hip.

Treatment for Osteoarthritis of the Hip

Many doctors today believe that weight loss is probably one of the most important treatments. Normally the first lines of treatment for mild osteoarthritis of the hip are pain relievers. Exercising is very important as it helps to keep the hip joint limber but must be ongoing to be effective on a long term basis. Too much or too little activity can make the condition worse and a full range of motion is encouraged to reduce stiffness. Because of its non weight bearing nature, swimming is highly beneficial and water exercises are particularly suited for improving the hip's range of motion and promoting strength and flexibility in the muscles surrounding it. Hip replacement surgery is sometimes suggested, and although in many cases it is usually an extremely successful operation, a new joint has a limited life span and is usually a final resort.

The Dangers of Obesity


It is now known that obesity is not just an ordinary problem but a serious health hazard. Obesity raises the risks of a number of grave medical conditions such as heart disease and stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, gallbladder disease and gallstones, osteoarthritis, gout, and breathing problems like sleep apnea and asthma.

Statistics reveal that heart disease and stroke are the principal causes of death and disability among people in the United States. Obese people usually have high blood pressure, which often leads to heart disease and stroke. Extremely high cholesterol levels may also result in heart disease and that are linked with obesity. Obesity may also be responsible for angina and sudden death from heart disease or stroke in the absence of any signs or symptoms.

Obese people have far greater chances of developing type 2 diabetes than normal weight people, as it reduces the body's ability to control blood sugar. Type 2 diabetes may lead to premature death, heart disease, stroke, and blindness.
Obesity may cause several types of cancer. While obese women face the risks of cancer of the uterus, gallbladder, cervix, ovary, breast, and colon, their male counterparts may develop colorectal cancer and prostate cancer.

Although the reasons are still unclear, gallbladder disease is found to be more common among obese people. However, rapid or big weight loss can actually increase a person's chances of developing gallstones.

The extra kilos in an obese person exert additional pressure on knee, hip and lower back joints and wear away their protective cartilage resulting in osteoarthritis. Overweight people also have a tendency to develop gout.

Sleep apnea, which causes a person to snore heavily and to stop breathing for short periods during sleep, is also associated with obesity. It may cause daytime sleepiness and even heart failure.

Arthritis in Knee - How to Identify and Diagnose the Symptoms of Knee Arthritis


Arthritis in knee is the most common osteoarthritis. This happens when the cartilage at the end of the knee bones undergo a degenerative process. When the cartilage wears thin, both end of the bones contact and cause friction. This leads to inflammation of the joint and pain.

When you have arthritis in knee, you will feel the pain and swelling. You also experience the pain in the front, the back, or the sides of the knee. You can also encounter limited motion at the knee. Especially in the morning, your joints become stiff. As you try to bend and straighten the knee, you will hear some cracking sounds.

Unfortunately, the condition can get worse if it is not treated. A funny thing about arthritis in knee is that you don't experience the pain all the times. Some months you can be free of pain depending on the weather.

Here is the list of the most common symptoms for knee arthritis:


  • Pain when trying to move the knee.

  • Feeling of the joint collapsing.

  • Deformity of the joint such as bowleg and knock-knee.

  • Restricted range of movement.

  • Swelling of the joint.

  • Stiffness of the knee.

Only a proper diagnosis can eliminate other knee disorders. Your doctor can arrange a physical checkup and x-rays. X-rays help your doctor to determine the damage to the joint. These two examinations will determine whether you need comprehensive tests later on.

You may need to do an erythrocyte sedimentation rate, which is a blood test to confirm if you have rheumatoid arthritis. It show how fast the red blood cells hold together and fall to the bottom of a test tube. If they sink faster, it shows that you have inflammation in the body.

Sometimes, your doctor extracts some fluid from the knee joint to determine the presence of other types of arthritis such as gout. An arthroscopy is only required if a surgery is to be performed. It can provide a better picture of the damage of the cartilage, tendons, and ligaments.

Not all knee pain is due to arthritis. If you experience any symptoms above, the best thing for you to do is to receive a proper diagnosis. Some of the symptoms may show other knee disorders besides arthritis in knee.

Friday, April 19, 2013

Adult Children Come Home to Heal


Should you let an adult child come home again? Parents send their nearly grown children out to conquer the world and sometimes they bounce right back home. A parent's goal is to teach their child to survive the best and the worst that life has to offer. Most young people are able to maintain a level of existence, sobriety and relationships that sustain them until they really know who they are and what they want to do with their lives.

However, sometimes life throws them a curve and they falter. Circumstances can hurt them, even bring them to their knees. A devastating break-up with a lover, flunking their first semester, an unexpected death of a best friend, or getting fired from his or her first real job can knock your child out of the game and take months to a year to recover.

Did you keep their childhood bedroom just the same? Perhaps this is the time to open the shades and prepare for a wounded visitor. Make it clear that the invitation is temporary but open your door widely and let them come home again. As irritating as they are to you and your spouse, remember that your little habits will irritate them, too. As they begin to recover their sea legs, they will want the freedom of their own place ASAP. If you want to encourages them to leave quickly after a few weeks recovery, begin to talk endlessly about developing a strong work ethic and new disciplined habits in place of blaming others for their situation or procrastination. Hopefully, they will soon be out seeking new adventures.

Help them improve their diet and sleep patterns. Try including fish oil and B vitamins daily to help them recharge their nerves and bodies. Less coffee and colas and more vegetables will help them with their mood. If your child seems to be getting worse or rarely leaves the house, antidepressants may be indicated. Get medical help immediately if your child seems despondent or suicidal.

Being mom or dad again may even heal your empty nest pain. Give them a safe haven for a little while away from the pressures of living fast and competitively. Soon, they will try to fly again, this time a little wiser, a little stronger and a bit more ready. Oh, and don't redecorate that room just yet. They may be back.

Common Knee Injuries Caused By Running


Running has several health benefits including weight loss and cardiovascular conditioning. But there are also risks of injury, especially to the knee. One of the most common injuries caused by running is Runner's Knee.

It is a common condition among runners, but can also afflict people who do a lot of walking, jumping, biking and bending of the knee on a consistent basis. The main symptom is aching pain around the kneecap.

The problem is not a specific condition, rather, it is a collection of a number of problems with the knee caused by running or similar activities. It's really a disorder that has several different symptoms and causes. The problem can occur from:

Overuse - This is the main reason the problem occurs. People who put in a lot of mileage running eventually put too much strain on the knee causing it to become injured. Irritated tendons, swelling, and inflammation are common symptoms of the problem caused by overuse.

Acute Injury - It is rare, but trauma from a specific incident can cause runner's knee. A fall or blow to the knee may be the cause.

Misaligned Knee - The problem may also occur if there is a slight misalignment in the knee. This causes weight and stress to be unevenly and incorrectly distributed throughout the knee area eventually leading to pain and other serious conditions. Certain tendons may see too much stress such as the IT band, or the patella may slightly dislocate from time to time termed "subluxation".

Foot Issues - Foot and knee injuries are often interrelated. People with flat feet often get runner's knee as a result of their lack of a natural arch. The collapse of the arch causes tendons and ligaments to become stretched or even torn.

Symptoms

As previously stated, runner's knee is a mosaic of knee problems that can lead to a wide variety of symptoms. The most common runner's knee symptoms include:

繚 Pain centered on the kneecap. It may emanate from behind or around the kneecap. The most common location is where the thigh and knee connect.

繚 Pain caused by bending the knee. Squatting, walking, running and even sitting may cause pain.

繚 Increased pain caused when walking on an incline or decline - often walking up and down stairs.

繚 Hearing and feeling popping or grinding noises and sensations in the knee.

Treatment

Runner's knee is treated using several different methods depending on the severity. Much of the treatment includes resting, icing the knee, compression, anti-inflammatory drugs, and in some cases surgery to clear out damaged cartilage.

Osteoarthritis of the Knee: Knee Pain


Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease of the joints. It starts to show up as one gets older and also it may occur as a result of injury to the knees, for instance during sports or exercise.

The bones in your joints begin to degrade as the cartilage that usually separates them thins out leading to an increase in friction whenever you move. Also the fluid in the joint that normally keeps it lubricated starts to increase resulting in swelling and discomfort.

It can creep up on you as pain starts to escalate from year to year in the area of the knee. For a lot of people, this can end up being very restricting as they feel unable to use their legs in the way unaffected people do.

Prevalence of Osteoarthritis of the Knee

In the US, there are about twenty million sufferers above the age of 25. This equates to about 12% of the American people. In the UK, there are more than six million people that have osteoarthritis in one or both of their knees. This si a total of about 10% of the population. All in all, it affects a great number of people in these two countries without taking into consideration the rest of the world.

Symptoms of Osteoarthritis in the Knee

  1. Pain

  2. Stiffness especially in the morning or after a rest break

  3. Crepitus (grinding or grating of the knee joint whenever it is used)

  4. Swelling around the knee joint - This can wither be a hard swelling or a soft swelling dependent on if the cause is outgrowth of your bone or increase in the lubricating (synovial) fluid.

Causes of Osteoarthritis

  • Age - As osteoarthritis is a disease of wear and tear, the older we become, the more likely we are to actually develop the disease.

  • Obesity - The more weight we are carrying around will further reinforce any wear and tear we are experiencing as our bodies place stress on the knee joint each time we walk or run. This also explains why so many more younger people are beginning to experience this condition earlier on in their life.

  • Gender - Unfortunately, this ailment tends to affect females more than males. It tends to rear its ugly head after the menopause.

  • Joint Injury -Have you ever had an operation on your knee or are you an avid runner or sports person? You are more likely to experience this ailment at some point in your life.

  • Family history - Some forms of osteoarthritis are passed on down the family line. In some cases, some form of resistance can be passed along as well. So this is a mixed bag of results.

Overall, osteoarthritis of the knee is a disease that can cause a lot of discomfort. It can also be a nuisance to control.

Using Knee Replacement Techniques to Avoid Fusing the Ankle


Everyone at some point is likely to have problems with their ankles. Unfortunately, as we age, these problems can mean arthritis of foot and ankle, dramatically affecting the quality of life. Arthritis in the ankle is traditionally treated with arthrodesis or ankle fusion. While this is somewhat effective, it can promote arthritis in other neighboring joints. Fused bones can also be difficult to walk on as the range of motion is greatly decreased. Because of this some doctors now prefer a method of arthroplasty of ankle-ankle replacement.

Recent studies regarding arthroplasty of ankle surgeries on sufferers of arthritis of foot and ankle seem promising. In a database of over five thousand patients who underwent either arthrodesis (4705) verses arthroplasty (480) there was a significant difference in diabetes complications after surgery - 4% of the arthrodesis patients and 0% of the arthroplasty patients. It should also be noted that those opting for the replacement surgery were of a higher median income than those opting for the fusion method. A complication found in both groups was pulmonary embolism or a clot in the lungs, which needed additional surgery. Patients who needed additional surgery also had a higher rate of ankle infection, noted in both groups. Only a small percentage of patients with ankle fusions resulted in acute infection and required below the knee amputation.

In the long term, 2.8% of the patients diagnosed with arthritis of foot and ankle who underwent ankle fusions suffered a subtalar fusion or the fusion of another neighboring joint. Less than 1% of those with ankle replacements suffered the same. Twenty-three percent of the replacement patients underwent a revision to the original surgery within 5 years, while only 11 percent of the fusion group did the same for the same period. While arthroplasty of ankle (replacement surgery) seems to have fewer problems with fusion of neighboring joints, there does appear to be a higher rate of need for revision surgery than there is with arthrodesis (ankle fusion).

If you suffer from arthritis of foot and ankle and it is interfering with your mobility and quality of life you might want to consider surgery such as arthroplasty of ankle. Advancements in knee replacement surgery have led to better chances of success in ankle replacements. Of course, the physical state of your ankle(s) as well as your overall health will have a bearing on which method is best for you. Consult your doctor for any recent developments.

Joint Supplementation - Why Glucosamine and Chondroitin Are Overrated Joint Supplements


Joint Supplements - The Inside Scoop

Let's take a brief look at the current science of supplementation for joint pain, including my own clinical experience, and then we'll go over the bigger picture of body inflammation, hydration, and some neuro-structural considerations. Of course, this information is not a substitute for seeing your healthcare practitioner, but will help you make more informed decisions in choosing with joint supplementation for joint pain.

Joint Supplement Science

There are a handful of controlled, double-blind studies on glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM and Boswellia. The problem is that the vast majority are for osteoarthritis, which is a very advanced and difficult to treat form of joint damage. They also never exclude NSAID use (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and NSAIDs inhibit cartilage repair.

With any sort of inflammatory disorder, the supplement with the greatest quantity and quality of science behind it, by far, is fish oil. EVERYONE should supplement with fish oil.

Joint Pain Supplementation - Clinical Observations- Joint Supplement Reviews:

I have about twenty-five years of clinical experience with the various supplementation schemes for joint issues. Here are my observations:

Chondroitin and Glucosamine: These popular sulfur-bearing, biological polymer building-blocks rarely give good results and I have seen allergic reactions to them all too often. This is likely due to their high sulfite content, and the fact that most are derived from shellfish. I never recommend these as a joint supplement anymore.

Boswellia: Derived from an east Indian tree yielding a resin used medicinally as an anti-inflammatory, this joint supplement works well for some people, but is definitely hard on the gut. Many people experience an intolerance in the gut when taking Boswellia. This joint supplement is a less strong cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor and seems to have a similar action as do the NSAIDs, that is, it's an anti-inflammatory but doesn't seem to help joint-rebuilding directly.

KaprexTM: An extract of hops, rosemary and olive leaf that works well for some people but not others. I believe this to be due to variations in the underlying cause. If your joint problems are due to an underlying pro - inflammatory state, then Kaprex works great. I have not seen any gut problems with Kaprex, but it is an expensive joint supplement.

Aloe Vera: The allantoin in Aloe has been shown to increase cell turnover. This can be helpful to speed up cartilage repair, and Aloe has a long clinical history of use as a joint supplement.

Runner's EdgeTM: An antioxidant enzyme supplement that will clear "grit" out of joint fluid if you give it time.

WobenzymeTM: The original proteolytic enzyme anti- inflammatory joint supplement with a lot of science behind it. The proteolytic enzymes break down the protein signaling molecules to mitigate the inflammatory cascade process.

AcuteTM: A very effective proteolytic enzyme joint supplement. This one also has other ingredients besides the enzymes to promote effective healing. A great alternative to NSAIDS without any liver or kidney toxicity, and in my experience, more effective than Wobenzyme. This effective joint enhancer also contains natural vitamin C, Zinc, Manganese, and Copper; known essential nutrients for collagen repair and the best vitamins for joint repair.

Vitamin D: Best from the sun, essential for normal immune function, can be very helpful to reduce immune over-activity.

Hyaluronic Acid: Pulls moisture into the tissues. Best from food, including most whole fruits and vegetables, especially starchy root vegetables, help the body to retain moisture and assist the body in its own lubrication; like- wise, stock prepared from bones and joints of wild or humanely-raised animals. This is also good taken as a supplement.

Methy Sulfonyl Methane (MSM): This is basically a highly-bioavailable form of sulfur- and my favorite supplement for joint pain. About 80% of people who use it notice a positive improvement. Easy to use-just buy it in bulk and mix it with water. Inexpensive too, but don't bother with the Chinese-sourced stuff; it's not worth it. If you aren't low in sulfur, MSM may not help. People who respond to chondroitin/glucosamine typically respond even better to MSM by itself. If you are low in bioavailable sulfur, it will soften up and hydrate scarred- up and thickened connective tissue and improve cartilage repair rates, providing increased flexibility and effective relief.

The Pro-inflammatory State and Joint Pain

Sometimes the joint is just where the inflammation is being expressed. Whether you have elbow joint pain, hand joint pain, or hip joint pain, this may indicate that you have pro-inflammatory metabolic state in your body. A diet high in Omega-6 fatty acids and refined carbohydrates and/or excessive calories are all associated with a pro-inflammatory balance. Spicy food can increase inflammation as well. Some other factors that promote inflammation in the body include food allergies, impaired metabolic detoxification pathways, acidity (from high-acid foods and beverages, stress, and inactivity), and chronic infections.

Hydration

You need both general hydration (drinking and absorbing water) and local hydration, that is, getting fluids inside the cartilage itself. There are two known ways to accomplish this. One is through hyaluronic acid since it pulls moisture into the tissues. As mentioned, the best food-source known for hyaluronic acid is any soup stock made from bones (also available as a supplement). The second factor is the mechanical action of the joint.

Hyaline Cartilage

Joint cartilage, known as Hyaline cartilage is like a very smooth and slippery sponge. Like all connective tissue it consists of living cells within a non-living matrix.

If you look through a microscope, the cartilage-building cells (called chondrocytes) in this matrix have a little space like a pool that they live in called lacunae. It's important to note that hyaline cartilage contains no blood vessels! The only way those cells get the oxygen, blood sugar and nutrients they need to survive and thrive is to absorb the joint fluid directly through movement.

This is called imbibition-the direct drinking in of water. When you put weight on your knee, it compresses the cartilage "sponge" and squeezes water and waste mate- rial out. When you pick up your leg, it de-compresses the "sponge" allowing it to absorb water and nutrients again. This is essential for the normal nightly burst of cartilage repair in the body essential for healthy joint function.

Neuro-Structural Integrity

If your knee is misaligned, it can be compressed in one area and not another. This spot will have accelerated cartilage wear, and reduced repair, because it is not decompressing and getting the imbibition it needs.

Often knee alignment is secondary to hip and low-back alignment, which is secondary to neck alignment. If your neck is missing its natural curve, that puts tensile stretching forces on the spinal cord, which increases nerve tension throughout the body. Since nerves cross joints and the spinal cord contains more important tissue than a knee, the body will compress the knee trying to reduce the pulling on the spinal cord. In this case, the entire knee may not effectively decompress at all. If this is the case, a joint supplement will have little effect.

It may sound strange that having a good chiropractor work on your neck and spine can improve your knee pain, but time and time again I hear my clients tell me how much better their knees feel after a few sessions.

So if you have aching joints, experiment with the above joint supplements with the assistance of your practitioner, and be aware of other factors, like the overall tendency to inflammation in the body. Drink plenty of water and take a close look at the possibility of any loss of neuro-structural integrity. So what is the best joint supplement? The joint supplement that works best for you!

Treating a Hurt Knee - Ligament Problems - Do Not Let it Be a Lifelong Problem! Brace Yourself


Case Study: Treatment For A Injured Knee Ligament

A study of 3 patients, each of whom underwent different treatments for ligament issues, brought on by sports injuries, revealed different outcomes to their respective treatments. Anyone who suffers from a hurt knee ligament has several options when it comes to treatment. However, the best option for any individual is determined by taking into consideration several factors.

Patients who present with a hurt ligament often are given the following options:

1.) Physical therapy treatment
2.) Knee surgery
3.) Conservative Treatment

Heather, Dave and Rick were the three patients who all had a hurt knee ligament and who underwent these various treatments.

Dave - Physical Therapy

Dave hurt his knee on the job and went to see his family doctor who referred him to an orthopedic surgeon. The surgeon diagnosed the hurt ligament and advised physical therapy as a way to deal with the pain as well as to heal the knee. He also advised Dave to wear a brace to keep the knee straight and supported and to take pain killers to alleviate the pain. Dave had developed a problem with pain pills in the past and rejected the idea of pain medication.

The physical therapy and knee braces worked well for Dave. He uses the knee brace whenever the knee hurts and continues with the exercises he learned in physical therapy. Both these measures work very well for him and he has managed to stay away from pain medication.

Rick - Knee Surgery

Rick was overweight and excessive pressure on the knee had caused him to injury his knee ligaments. His doctor advised him to lose weight but also offered surgery to repair the ligament. The surgery was expensive and also required a period of rehab. Rick was unable to lose weight despite the surgery and after a short while, found that his knee began to hurt again. He is now treating the matter more conservatively and trying to lose weight.

Anyone who has a hurt knee ligament needs to be examined by a doctor, have the condition diagnosed and also make sure that any underlying conditions are also addressed at the time of the diagnosis.

Heather - Conservative Treatment

Heather played basketball for her college and hurt her knee one day during a particularly strenuous game. After an examination by her doctor, it was determined that she had a hurt knee ligament. The doctor prescribed an ice pack, rest and pain pills and recommended that she wear a knee brace while walking. After a week of this conservative treatment, Heather felt much better and got right back into the swing of things and even participated in the inter-collegiate basketball championship.

Heather was fortunate; she had youth on her side and no underlying condition to impede the healing of the hurt ligament. The brace really helped to provide meaningful support which gave her back confidence. She knew that the brace would not cure her knee ligament injury, but the brace did provide effective support and was not nearly as expensive as surgery. After a short while she was able to heal naturally and praised the brace for helping her to protect against any further injury.

From these three case studies, it is obvious that surgery should not always be the first option when it comes to treatment for a hurt knee ligament. Conservative treatment should be considered first and pain killers should always be discussed with your physician prior to using them. Using a knee brace and doing select (doctor approved) exercises that do not aggravate the condition are the among the best ways to help treat a hurt knee ligament.

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Eat Your Way To Better Knee Health By Increasing Vitamins C And D Levels


Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee joint is a crippling disease that affects the entire joint including the articular cartilage, bone, and soft tissues. It is the most common form of joint disease, and the main cause of musculoskeletal disability in the aging population group. OA is a very frustrating and painful condition that affects an individual's freedom of movement.

Osteoarthritis of the knee causes a roughening and thinning of the cartilage, the semi-hard tissue that sandwiches (cushioning) between the upper and lower leg bones. Knee cartilage is called 'meniscus' and forms a disk-like shaped cushion protecting the leg bones from impact during hinged movement. In the beginning stages of OA of the knee, and progression, the meniscus develops cracks and gradually wears away. Physical symptoms resulting in pain, stiffness, grinding noises are noticed as bone rubs against bone.

Recently, a ten year nutritional study was conducted on 300 healthy, middled aged adults, who had no physical signs of knee joint pain or injuries. The study participants amounts and frequency of fruit consumption, as they are high in antioxidant vitamin C nutrition, were estimated upon entry into the study period.

Ten years later, the study subjects were tested for cartilage volume, bone mass, cartilage defects and bone marrow lesions using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The lead investigative author of this published study, Yuanyuan Wang, Dept. of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Central and Eastern Clinical School, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia used MRI as a reliable visual tool to measure the results. MRI is currently the best, and most non-evasive, method of viewing joint structure in normalcy or in stages of disease.

This decade-long study indicated the impact of increased vitamin C levels on OA disease of the knee, by a lessening of bone marrow lesions, and reduction of bone size, both are important predictors of this disease, by 50 percent.

In a similar study conducted by Dr. Timothy E. McAlindon, a rheumatologist at Boston University Medical Center, published the results of an 8-year dietary investigation performed on 556 elderly individuals. McAlindon found those, whose knee x-rays showed signs of early stages of OA, were not as likely to experience the full-blown progression of the joint disease eight years later if their dietary intake and blood levels of vitamin D were higher than the recommended daily amount. Most of the participants in this study supplemented with vitamin D.

Dr. McAlindon, and other colleagues involved in this particular study, theorized that vitamin C may help repair and maintain collagen, a major component of cartilage. They also maintain a recognizable fact, among medical researchers, of vitamin D's positive, hormone-like affects on bone cells and growth, in that vitamin D may affect the surrounding bone material in joints as well. They agree that supplementation of vitamin D may be warranted for people who, geographically, live where they can not freely partake of it from the sun year round.

And, while I am in agreement with the importance of these promising new investigative studies, that focus on basic nutrient's protective and slowing down powers in relationship to joint disease with their increased intakes, why does adequate hydration levels seem to be, largely, ignored?

According to Dr. F. Batmanghelidj, M.D., Author of "Your Body's Many Cries For Water", states, "that arthritic joints and their pain are to be viewed as indicators of a water deficiency in the affected joint cartilage surfaces. In some arthritis pain, a salt shortage may also be a factor. The cartilage surfaces of bones in a joint contain a lot of water. The lubricating property of this 'held water' is used in the cartilage from the two opposing surfaces to freely glide over one another during joint movement".

While more dietary studies are certainly welcome, and would definitely be helpful in confirming earlier test study results, how might including the investigation of what most people drink every day have on the beneficial effects of nutrient therapy? Especially, as it is estimated that around three-quarters of the human population is walking around in a state of chronic dehydration. The reason seems to be because there are so many different types of home prepared (or manufactured) beverages competing with our voluntary choice in what to be drinking instead of pure water, and it is commonly considered unimportant knowledge by most people, medically educated or not.

When a certain individual may not seem to be benefiting from nutrient therapy, alone, in the prevention of joint disease, how might increasing their pure water intake level effect the overall out come? As Dr. B points out, in his wildly popular self-help book, in his simplistic, educated, and 20 plus years of clinical experience using water as a medicine, water seems to be the glue-like fluid substance that binds all this other stuff together. Without adequate water levels inside the body, the healing effects of nature's basic nutrients will not be fully enjoyed or experienced.

In-Air High Jump Mistakes and Solutions


Ok, so the last two newsletters have been about the approach and the takeoff, now it is time to talk about what to do in the air.

The first stage, which is where your head, shoulders and back begin to pass over the bar, is fairly straightforward. If you knock the bar off with your shoulders, the solution (jump further away from the bar or stop jumping towards/into the bar so much) is usually pretty obvious.

The second stage, which begins once your lower back passes over the bar, can be tricky. You see, the common conception is that you have to arch your back as much as possible. The focus, however, should be on raising your hips and pushing your hips up to clear the bar. Think about it, if you arch your back, your upper back and butt have to lower to form that arch. This creates a very small pocket for the bar to pass through.

If you raise your hips though, it creates a smooth, long curve through your entire body that will glide over the bar as your rotate around it, getting the all too common bar-knocking culprit (your butt) over the bar.

The last stage is also problematic. I have heard dozens of coaches say, "Just kick your legs." WRONG! I like to say, "Just kiss your knees." By bringing your knees to your face as quickly as possible, this will get two things out of the way in the order they pass over the bar.

First, your thighs pass over the bar, so why kick your lower legs? You need to get those thighs out of the way first! By thinking about kissing your knees, this will quickly contract your abs and get your thighs over the bar. Then, let your lower legs kick so you don't pull the bar off. Flexible quads will help here.

So, lets recap:

1) Let your natural style get your top half over the bar
2) Raising your hips is more important than arching your back
3) Try to kiss your knees instead of kicking your legs

Hopefully these tips help you get the extra edge to get a new PR. Best of luck!

Dogs With Knee Injuries Need Pain Killers


If you've ever had problems with your knees, you know that pain killers for dog with knee injuries are essential.  Injured and arthritic knees can be extremely painful.  You might not have thought that dogs even have knees, but they do.  They have what is called a stifle joint that operates much like a human knee and when injured, is very painful.   

Like our knees, a dog's knee connects the thigh and shin bones with ligaments, which are made of fibrous tissue.  (Ligaments differ from tendons, which are connect muscles to bones.)   Ligaments prevent too much internal movement inside the joint.  When ligaments are injured, dogs walk with great difficulty and they are in pain.    The vet may use terms such as "excessive internal rotation of the joint" and "hyper extension."  This means your dog's knee is damaged and he or she is in pain.

Some dog breeds injure their knees more than others.  Rottweilers, Labradors, and Newfoundlands have a genetic tendency to have knee problems, in part because of their size.  Toy dogs have knee problems primarily because their knee caps slide out of place.  Working and competing dogs are prone to knee injury due to activities such as quick turns and stops.    

Often surgery is recommended by vets.  About 600,000 dogs in the United States get surgery to repair ligaments and knees annually.  However, many people decide not to have their dogs get surgery for damaged knees, regardless of vet recommendations. There is always the risk that any surgery will not be successful. Now that insurance companies are providing insurance for pets, there has been more research into the effectiveness of knee surgery on dogs.  Some findings are that the success rate can be as low as 20 percent for dog knee surgeries.  Of course, the pet insurance companies have a stake in trying to minimize their number of payments for dog knee surgeries.    

Because of concerns about infection and success rates, you may decide against knee surgery for your dog, especially if he or she is older.  Or you may not have pet insurance or the money for surgery.  Pain killers for dogs with knee injuries are very important, especially when they do not get surgery to correct the damage.  Even with a successful surgery, dogs may continue to need long-term pain medication.

A dog who doesn't get pain relief for a knee problem really can't enjoy life to the fullest.  Pain killers for dogs with knee problems are essential for quality of life.

How to Make Sure He Runs Back Into Your Arms Right Now


Being dumped by your boyfriend is not a nice feeling, because you get confronted with the idea that you are not good enough for someone. Sometimes this can even become the driving force to wanting him back, not because you really want to be with him.

So the first thing is to ask yourself why you want him back. Do you really want to be with him again, with all his irritating traits? We all have them.

It is possible that you want him back because he has suddenly become unavailable to you, and we want what we cannot have. Or maybe you want him back because your ego took a great knock when he announced he does not want to be with you anymore. Be honest with yourself and your feelings, and be sure that the only driving force to you fighting for this relationship is because you love him and you want to be with him.

If you truly love him and want him back, you now need to zoom into the relationship. What problems did you have in the relationship that would push him to end things with you? Did he give you any reasons why he was ending the relationship?

Access your behavior when you were with him. Did you hurt him in any way? Maybe you were unfaithful to him at some point or you did something that seriously disappointed him. if you did something that he did not agree with, apologize for hurting and disappointing him. Make it clear that you want a second chance with him, without nagging or harassing him.

Limit contact with him. Constantly calling him will translate to harassment to him, and you will definitely end up with the wrong result. This will be challenging for you, because you are missing him, and you are tempted to remind him how you feel about him, but it is the wrong move.

Also, act like you have your life together, even though you are feeling crappy about the situation. Keep busy and focus on other things besides your boyfriend. When you are not in his face, he will wonder what you are busy with, and might be curious enough to call you up.

If you are going to use jealousy to get him back by dating other men, be sure to be prepared for the consequences. This method could work, but then again it could backfire on you and you could lose him for good.

Whatever you do, do not mope around waiting for him. Go on with your life, get involved in activities that will get your self esteem up, and have fun. Let him see that you have a life without him, and when you are having fun, people that you were both close to will be telling him stuff about you and how much fun you are having. When he realizes what he is missing, he might consider getting back with you.

Sports Injury Rehabilitation Work Out Routines For Knee Joint Injuries


There are two main types of knee joint injury; acute and chronic. Acute injuries occur in an instant (e.g. bone fracture) and chronic injuries (e.g. stress fractures and tendinitis) occur over a period of time and are usually classified as overuse injuries. Here I am mainly addressing acute injuries. They may vary in severity from mild to moderate and severe. Sprains (an injury to ligaments that connect bone to bone) and strains (an injury to tendons that connect bone to muscle) may also be classified as first degree (least severe with mild stretching) to second degree and third degree (most severe with complete rupture). Hence, for example, the expression knee strain is often used when in fact it is a knee sprain because it really involves ligament damage.

The knee is stabilised and supported by four main ligaments. The medial collateral ligament (mcl) spans the medial side (inside) of each knee and prevents the knee joint opening up when a force is applied to the outside of the knee (e.g. due to a football tackle). At the centre of the knee joint are two ligaments that form a cross or cruciate ligament arrangement. One is called the posterior cruciate ligament (pcl) and the other the anterior cruciate ligament (acl). The pcl holds the knee together from the back and the acl stabilises the knee from the front. Acl knee injury is very common in high impact sports involving lots of direction changes where a foot may be instantaneously planted on the floor and the knee strongly rotated or hit (e.g. basketball, football, rugby). There is always a large demand for acl rehab and mcl recovery because of how common these injuries are in sports.

The menisci (medial and lateral) rest on the ends of the main lower leg bones (Tibia) and provide C shaped energy absorbing cushions between the upper leg bones (Femurs) and Tibias to reduce contact friction and evenly distribute impact loads. Meniscal tears may be caused by forceful twisting of the knee (e.g. netball), are often associated with ligament sprains and cause rough edges on the previously smoothly sliding surfaces.

There are many other forms of other knee injuries as well, including Bursitis (inflammation of one of the fourteen fluid filled sacks in the knee area due to for example, repetitive jumping and improper gait), Osteochondritis Dissecans (loose cartilage becomes trapped in the joint) and Patella injury (for example, knee cap injury caused by tight tendons and incorrect patella positioning, patella tendinitus and cartilage damage).

Sports injury rehabilitation begins in the first 3 days after the soft tissue injury. The first priority is RICER treatment. This stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation and immediate Referral to an injury specialist to establish the exact nature of the injury and recommend initial treatment.

For the next 3 weeks rehabilitation consists of 2 important elements. The first is managing the formation of scar tissue with a physiotherapist and the second is to restore the function of the legs by being active. Being active will ensure that oxygen and nutrients are supplied to injured areas and the lymphatic system can remove waste products. During rehabilitation the primary focus is to regain joint and muscle flexibility (range of motion), strength, power, endurance, balance and proprioception (special positioning and coordination of limbs) in gentle work out routines.

In the final 3 months of injury recovery the focus of the conditioning stage is to reduce the risk of future injuries by identifying the likely causes of the original injury (e.g. muscle imbalances, incorrect gait) and eliminating them in more strenuous work out routines! (e.g. to restore muscle balance, improve muscle strength and flexibility).

Whatever part of the body is injured it is important to remember that it is part of a larger system and can never be treated in isolation. In the case of the knee for example, it is stabilised and mobilised by both the main lower and upper leg muscles. This means that leg work out routines are necessary.

The first priority is to regain the full knee joint range of motion with simple bending and straightening exercises followed by gentle rotations. This should be followed by slightly more intense leg stretching exercises (e.g. calves, hamstrings and quadriceps) and isometric exercises (e.g. pushing against a wall with the foot whilst keeping the ankle still).

Once some of the strength and flexibility has been regained gym machines provide a safer unsupervised way of strengthening the legs (e.g. calf raises, leg curls). Alternatively a certified personal trainer can provide supervised free weight exercises.

In the final rehabilitation stage it is necessary to restore the ability of the nervous system in the injured area to control the position and function of muscles, tendons and ligaments. Most soft tissue injuries will lead to nerve damage and the body must be retrained to control balance and proprioception. Some of the exercises include standing on one leg with/without the eyes shut and the use of specialist equipment such as balance disks, BOSU's and Swiss balls. Proprioception exercises include training drills used in a client's sport (e.g. dribbling with a football) and plyometrics (e.g. jumping, hopping, skipping, bounding, figures of eight).

With the basic leg function restored the conditioning stage involves client specific work out routines and the use of a certified personal trainer is recommended. The objective is to identify potential causes of the injury and use specialist work out routines to minimise or eliminate them. This often means strengthening and increasing the flexibility of certain parts of the body and/or recommending lifestyle changes (e.g. being more active, eating more healthily, wearing foot insoles).

Much of this approach also applies to knee surgery recovery but it is essential to ensure that for example, a personal trainer works in close conjunction with the medical care provider (e.g. injury consultant) to ensure that the specific needs of an individual's situation are taken into consideration.

Essential Facts About a Meniscus Tear


A meniscus tear is medically defined as a common knee injury usually in the cartilage forming the knee joint. It is also known as a torn cartilage that can affect severely the mobility of one's knee joint. This injury is usually experienced by athletes who play contact sports such as boxing, football, and basketball to name a few.

Symptoms

There are three levels of meniscus tear, each with its own symptoms as follows:

1. Minor Tear

• You experience a little pain and swelling of your knee joint. This usually lasts about two to three weeks.

2. Moderate Tear

• Pain gradually increases and you experience it either at the side or center of the knee joint. Swelling heightens and limits the mobility of your knee. Although you can still walk, you'll have the feeling of your knee becoming stiff.
• Sharp excruciating pain when twisting the knee or squatting.

3. Severe Tear

• As the torn cartilage moves to the joint area, your knees may be wobbly and it can, at anytime, give way.
• You can hear clicks on your knees and you'll experience locked knee.
• You may experience severe limitations in the mobility of your knee and the ability to walk.

Diagnosis

When you experience the above symptoms especially from moderate to severe, it is necessary to undergo correct diagnosis of the condition. Your health practitioner or physician can recommend clinical testing of your condition and confirm if you are indeed suffering from meniscus tear as well as the severity of the condition.

Some of these clinical tests are as follows:

• X-Rays and MRIs to visualize the tear
• McMurray Test to determine the extent of swelling
• Appley and Steinmann tests to examine swelling and pain

Treatment

Treatment of the meniscus tear is dependent on several factors such as: (1) the extent or severity of the tear; (2) the type of tear; (3) as well as how old you are and how active and mobile you are at your age.

Usually the options for treatment are as follows:

• Non-surgical treatment that includes the application of ice compress for swelling and pain, natural healing process that involves knee rest and elevation, undergoing physical therapy sessions, and the wearing of knee brace until the condition is healed.
• Surgical treatment that is an option for severe conditions. There are several types of surgery to correct the condition, such as: sewing the tear, removing the torn portion of the meniscus, or removing the entire area.

It is always prudent to go for the non-surgical treatment before the surgical treatment. If in the event surgery is the only option, it is still best to have the torn meniscus fixed or repaired rather than having it removed partially or totally.

Always explore your options and do not hesitate to ask your physician to get to know more about the condition. You can also explore the internet for valuable information that will help you find the right treatment to meniscus tear.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Knee Replacement Surgery - Don't Sit on the Bench of Life


Knee replacement surgery is a scary idea. There is no doubt about that. However, once you realize and learn that you can have your life back, and that you can have a better life back, you'll realize that your fear is unnecessary. You can have knee replacement surgery, get rid of arthritis and joint pain, and still live a full and active life. What's better is that you can live a fuller and more active life than you did before! Knee surgery is no longer a sentence of painful recovery and less mobility than you had with your own knees.

It has quickly become a free pass to a better and more enjoyable life. How do I know that you can do this? Because I've had two knee replacements and am now more active than ever and able to do the things that I love whenever I want! I want to tell you about how knee replacement can actually benefit your life and make it better. If you have arthritis, chronic joint pain, or old knee injuries that are impeding your progress, you can have knee replacement surgery and become a better person in the end.

All you have to do is change your mindset, and get up out of that chair. You can do flexibility and mobility exercises that can improve the use of your knees and take on a diet plan that will help you to lose excess weight, further increasing your mobility and ability to do the things that you love. Doctors will tell you that complete recovery is more difficult with age, but you CAN recover to complete mobility, and have a better life than ever before if you know the secrets to rehabilitation after knee surgery. You'll most likely feel better than you have in years, just by learning the right exercises and lifestyle changes that can impact your success.

Knee replacement surgery is always followed by a strict doctor ordered rehabilitation. Unfortunately, this rehab is only enough to give you some mobility and get back part of your life. They don't expect people with knee replacements to have the full abilities like they once did, so they don't even try. With the right exercise and routines, though, you can have that life back, despite what the doctors tell you. Take the time to learn about rehabilitation from knee replacement surgery, and how you can ease your fear of living a sedentary life by taking action.

While there have been great advances in medical technology, a successful outcome is determined by the patient's attitude and willingness to do the necessary therapy. Based on their experience, many doctors have somewhat low expectations for recovery and may not be very encouraging. It is up to the patient to find and follow an exercise program that has already shown proven results. Equally important is finding a trainer or mentor who has a positive attitude toward recovery from knee surgery and who can teach anyone the same mindset. Believing it can be done and working with someone who has already achieved the desired results is the key to returning to normal activities and remaining free from pain.

Martial Arts Kicks On The Street


When it comes to self defense, some may have misconceptions regarding the validity of martial arts kicks on the street. In past decades, great emphasis was placed on kicking in martial arts training. Kicks were taught mainly because expectations in the martial arts classes where derived from the movies. Classic films were loaded with jumping, spinning, high kicks and students expected to see something similar to that. The problem with many cinematic and sport oriented kicks is that they are neither practical nor effective.

Does this mean that martial arts kicks are ineffective for the street? No, kicking is a very excellent strategy. The key is to make modifications in order to make the kicks more effective. Are these modifications difficult to employ? Not at all! Here are a few that can be easily made:? Keep all the kicks low. The higher the kick, the less likely the kick will be effective. High kicks are easy to evade and leave you very much at risk for being knocked to the ground.? Kicks need to target vital points on the body. Specifically, the groin, knees, shins, and insteps are the advisable targets. The groin kick can be a finisher and the other targets can prove so disruptive that follow up attacks are made much easier.

Kicking the legs at an angle can completely knock an attacker off his base. When an attacker's base is disrupted, the attacker is vulnerable for a follow up strike, a throw, and, possible, the potential to run away.? When you can, use the shoe. Savate is a perfect art to look at for this type of attack. The point of the shoe can truly prove devastating when it hits the nerve points, the organs, or the aforementioned vital targets.? So, do not dismiss the effectiveness of martial arts kicks on the street. You simply need to employ the proper approach to the kicks and their effectiveness will be revealed.

Avoid Common Knee Problems As You Age


Knee problems are an all too common problem many people experience as they age. Many people are not as active as they would like to be as they get older because of things like knee pain, and then there is the possibility of knee replacement to help relieve the pain once it gets too bad.

Be Mindful

We put a lot of stress on our knees on a regular basis and while they were built to handle quite a bit certain behaviors, or lack of them, could be aging your knees faster than they need to and pave the way to increased pain and disability down the road. By taking the time when you are younger to make better basic choices you can help keep your knees healthier as you age.

Pay attention to your posture; bad posture puts excess pressure on the knees. Buy shoes with good support and try to avoid wearing not supportive shoes when possible. Overall health and fitness also play a big part in keeping your knees healthy.

Watch Your Weight

It is very important to maintain a healthy BMI, or body mass index, as your knees play a big role in supporting your body weight. Each additional pound of body weight can add up to 3 extra pounds of pressure on the knee joints when walking even more when doing other activities like running. Carrying too much more weight than your body frame was meant to handle will start compromising your knees.

Obesity is actually one of the biggest risk factors for the development of osteoarthritis because it speeds up cartilage breakdown. Losing unhealthy weight just may be the most important thing to do if you want to reduce your risk of developing a significant knee problem.

Stay Active

Regular exercise is the other necessary component in maintaining knee health. Not only will exercise help you to remain at a healthy weight, it is also important to maintaining the core strength of your knee joints. Without exercise the muscles around your knee will weaken which leaves your knee joints lacking support so the joints, tendons, ligaments and bones will be more vulnerable to injury.

For the best results choose an exercise that will have a low risk of knee injury as an injury increases the risk of developing osteoarthritis. Regular moderate exercise is typically better for the joints than occasionally performing strenuous exercise. Choose low-impact exercises that build strength, flexibility and stamina. Things like walking, biking, swimming, yoga and weight lifting can help strengthen the muscles around the knee joint while also improving circulation and range of motion. Exercising for at least 30 minutes most days of the week is best.

Arthritis of the knee is considered a common consequence of aging, but it doesn't have to be inevitable. By taking care of your knees throughout your life you can help avoid or lessen knee problems as you age.

ACL Injury - Five Tips for Rapid Recovery


The ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) is one of four crucial ligaments that provide strength and stability to the knee. The others are the PCL (Posterior Cruciate Ligament), MCL (Medial Collateral Ligament), and LCL (Lateral Collateral Ligament). The MCL and LCL are on the inner and outer sides of the knee and run vertically whereas the ACL and PCL cross beneath the kneecap from top to bottom.

The ACL and PCL have a very poor blood supply which means that reconstructive surgery is usually required and a graft used to replace a torn ACL/PCL. Indeed, as the PCL is much stronger than the ACL, it is the ACL that is most often torn (200,000 cases per annum in the US alone) and it is the ACL injury that is, therefore, such a debilitating injury.

This article provides 5 key tips for rapid recovery from ACL injury. These are from my own personal experience. I quickly recovered from a full house of complete ACL, MCL and LCL tears, and I have documented what I believe to be the key factors associated with that rapid recovery.

Tip 1

In terms of ACL recovery secrets, the single most important factor for a quick recovery - a factor that improves the recovery time by a factor of 2 or greater - is the type of graft chosen. Of course, you should consult with your surgeon on what is best for you and, if you're a professional athlete, my recommendation is not likely to be the best choice. However, for the rest of us casual athletes, this recommendation will see you recover way quicker than any other.

Grafts tend to be of the following three types:

  • Patellar tendon - a piece of your own tendon is taken and used to replace the ACL. It matches tissue well and allows bone to bone healing which is strong but this can lead to anterior knee pain for years to come.

  • Hamstring tendon - two tendons are taken from the hamstring and bound together and used as the graft. Healing can take longer because there is no bone to bone healing but this graft alleviates anterior knee pain.

  • Cadaver - donor tissue. This has the advantage of requiring less operation time, being less painful and allowing for smaller incisions. The focus is on one area only and is much less disruptive as there is no secondary operation to remove the graft from the patella or hamstring. The disadvantage of a cadaver graft is that it is not as strong as the other graft types.

I had ACL surgery on day 34 after incurring my injury. Four days later I was off painkillers, was not using crutches or my knee brace and was starting post surgery physical therapy. I had a cadaver graft. This contrasted with other people I know who had grafts taken from their own bodies and were largely incapacitated for two weeks post-surgery.

So for non-professional athletes my number one tip for a quick recovery from ACL surgery would be to take a cadaver graft.

Tip 2

Use RICE techniques (rest, ice, compression, elevation) immediately post-injury, up to surgery and then afterward. This is somewhat obvious but, for rapid ACL recovery, take it to extremes. For example, in my case, the discipline that helped me enormously with my leg inflammation was passing up on situations where I would have to sit with my leg hanging down. I was lucky in that I work in an office and was always able to sit with my leg supported by another chair, but dining out, eating at the dining table at home were all passed up in favor of sitting with my leg up on the sofa.

Also, icing and compression can be accelerated and accentuated with an ice/compression cuff system such as the Aircast Cryo/Cuff Cooler.

Tip 3

Pre-surgery knee strengthening. Keep the leg and knee moving before surgery. Establishing a good range of motion (120 degrees of knee bend) ahead of surgery will help with the healing process post surgery. Ankle pumps help reduce calf muscle atrophy (wasting) where quad sets are essential to minimize quadriceps atrophy.

Walking is good and can be enabled by an ACL brace such as the DonJoy TROM Adjuster Knee Brace. This not only gives you a degree of normality and independence but it also means your calf muscle will work which will reduce atrophy and control swelling. In my case, use of this brace also meant I could drive again 8 days after injury - admittedly I drive an automatic.

Tip 4

Stay ahead of the pain curve. Anyone suffering an ACL injury will be prescribed strong painkillers both immediately after injury and then again after surgery. It is really important that they are taken as prescribed, including during the night. I set the alarm during the night to ensure I did not miss taking the painkillers. This is essential because if the pain gets you it can be very difficult to get rid of and, more importantly, you won't want to move and moving is critical to rapid recovery.

Tip 5

Post-surgery knee strengthening exercises. As soon as possible post-surgery, begin the exercise regime that will re-build strength and stability, reduce inflammation, and increase range of motion.

Use of a stationary bicycle is extremely important to keep the knee moving. Twice a day, even if just rocking on the pedals in the first few days, was the frequency that saw me make such a paid recovery.

Making Money Quick - 3 Ideas to Make Money Fast


If you need help making money quick, then listen up. This short article shows you exactly to make money fast with 3 proven ideas. Sure, you've got to take a little action, but I'm talking about making money quick, like as fast as tonight. So, let's not waste anytime. If you follow along, you can truly get money quick. Here's 3 ideas to make money fast:

Make Quick Money Online

The fastest and easiest way to make some money right now is to look through your attic, garage, and wherever else you (or your spouse) keeps your junk. Find everything you can and list it on eBay. You'd be surprised how many people buy stuff on eBay...stuff that you honestly would rather just throw away.

Selling some of your old collectibles can produce a pretty penny as well. I've seen a friend of mine sell his old coins for thousands of dollars online. Ah, the power of eBay.

Now let's pretend for a second you don't have a garage full of stuff (you know you do!). What can you do then? Here's a supertip for you. Go to sites like freecycle.com and see what people are giving away for FREE. Go pick it up, then sell that on eBay. A little cheezy I know, but hey, you did say you want to be making money quick, right?

If that doesn't product enough money fast enough for you, try this:

Get Quick Money Given To You

Let's face it. We all know someone with money. Heck, in my family I'M the one with money! I can't tell you how many times I've coughed up thousands of dollars for a friend of family member. Sister needs college money? Here ya go. Mom needs knee surgery? Got it. Friend needs a new laptop for his job? Sign me up!

So, sadly you aren't my friend (yet!) or in my family. But odds are you know someone who has a few extra bucks laying around. Make the phone call. Tell them what you need. Make sure you use a REASON WHY. That's what it's all about. I need $1,000 because I want to start an online marketing business and I can get a personal coach to help me setup everything, Uncle Rich. (like that name?;)

If begging and pleading doesn't work, don't worry. There are other alternatives. You can hit up payday loan and cash advance places. There in your town. Google them. They are not the best places usually and I don't really like the practice. I'd only recommend them if it was such a necessity that life and limb were on the line.

Otherwise, I'd keep working on Uncle Rich or check in Granny. But, what if you've got no family with money and time is running out. You've got to make money fast...and I mean quick. Like, yesterday, even. Here's the real secret to making money quick:

Make Money Working Online

OK, so by now you're expecting me to sell you something. But, don't worry. I've got something you can do for free to make quick cash. You might not like it, but it is pretty fast and easy.

Join Elance.com. It's free to join. (yay!) You can setup an account and start doing any odd jobs you possibly can. Companies and people like me put jobs on there that pay anywhere from $50 all the way up to the tens of thousands. I'd start small if I were you. Focus on what you can already do.

Some examples are accounting, copywriting, editing, translation, web design, virtual assistant, and a lot more. If you can't find anything you can do there then try these 2 sites:

Fiverr.com and MTurk.com

They don't pay as much, but the jobs you can do are a lot easier. Actually, the site Fiverr.com is up to you. You post what job you will do for $5.00. It can get a little crazy in there. But hey, $5 is $5 right?

If you don't mind putting in a little effort you can setup a blog and find affiliate offers to promote. You can setup a free blog at Blogger.com or WordPress.com. Pick a niche you like. Could be knitting, writing, whatever. Use ClickBank.com and CJ.com to find affiliate offers you can add to your blog. When people click your affiliate links and buy, you get paid.

Through CJ.com you can even promote eBay products. What do you know, we've come full circle. To make even more money off your blog, you can add Google AdSense. These are ads that Google runs on your site and when your visitors click the ads you get paid. Sometimes I get clicks that pay me $2-$4. Isn't that cool?

1 click an hour and you're making decent money everyday.What have we learned about making money quick? So, what have we learned? If you're looking to make money fast you're easiest option is to start with eBay. Go through the garage, the attic, wherever and start listing. Just think, you can make a few bucks AND finally see your garage floor again. After you've exhausted your eBay stash, start calling the friends and family. At least one of them has some money they need to give to somebody. What not you? I heard Uncle Rich is waiting for your phone call. Just remember, after you say how much you need, follow up with the word because and explain why.

And after that...go to elance.com. Find odd jobs, do them. Make money fast and easy. Quickly, even. It's all up to you. Good luck, though with these ideas to make money fast you won't need luck.

How To Use Boxing For Street Fighting


Boxing is a highly effective method of self defense for the streets. Boxers are the best strikers and have the most lethal fists of any fighting styles. When two fighters are equal in skills, it's almost always striking that decides who is victorious.

Boxing is much easier to learn that martial arts as there are basically only 3 punches. And that's why boxers are feared on the streets because the most effective fighters rely on just a couple of strikes that work almost every time for them. Boxing is still the most effective combat for racking up fight ending knockouts. Let me take you through some highly effective boxing tips for the street.

1. Protect your personal space

To protect your personal space before a fight starts create a boundary.

Boundaries can be set and maintained by using non-physical or "soft" skills, particularly through communication skills.

Range dictates a lot and unless you are armed in some way, the maximum distance you will be given at the beginning of a physical altercation is limited by the length of your arms.

Quite simply the gesture of raising your hands - and this should be done in a way that does not insinuate your combative intentions - presents another human with a social barrier.

Only a person wanting to become physical will try to breach this barrier. Once they attempt to do this you have your signal to act or pre-empt them with a strike.

A hard ram rod style jab works best, if you are attacked first and want to keep your attacker at distance.

2. Strike First, Strike Hard

Setting a barrier provides an individual with the opportunity to pre-empt their attacker.

Meaning to strike first!

Pre-emption is a consistently effective combat technique.

At conversational range, approximately one arm's length or closer, action usually beats reaction.

Which is why so many people get head butted because they let the aggressor breach their personal space.

When an aggressor moves forward and tries to breach your boundary then hit first and hit hard with a right cross - the big weapon in boxing, aim at the head the most damaging area to target, this will also force the aggressor to protect rather than attack!

3. Attack Attack Attack

If someone attempts to assault you, you must meet force with force!

You attack the attack and keep going forward until you can escape or the threat is no more.

Once you have applied a pre-emptive strike keep the pressure on with your attack firing straight one-two punches.

4. Defend the Attack

Mistakes can happen in a fight and you could find yourself on the receiving end of a beating.
If you are caught off guard or attacked by surprise then it's important to regain the initiative in these situations as soon as possible.

Block or cover your attacker's strikes by tucking your elbows into your side to defend your body and hanging your hands by the side of your head to protect your face.

You need to keep mobile to be able to stop as many strikes as possible rather than curling up in a ball and being a static target.

Ensure you can see through your cover so you can quickly turn defense into attack as quickly as possible.

5. Fight Dirty

Boxing on the streets is very different to boxing in a ring - where there are rules. Boxing on the street there are no rules other than to survive and there are many dirty boxing techniques that can help you win a fight.

These are very effective and can physically and mentally weaken your attacker and open the door to safety.

Here are some of the dirty boxing techniques that can be very effective and difficult to defend against:

• Use your head to knock your open off balance or knock him out
• Tie up your attackers arms, control him and let your punches go.
• Thrust your knee into his thigh or ribs when you have tied your opponent up.
• Follow through with your elbows on your punches to cause cuts and maximum damage.
• Tie your opponent up and use your elbows and shoulders to force your opponent back and knock the fight out of him.
• Crank your opponent's neck with a slight twist from an illegal headlock.

6. Stay on your feet

You may end up grappling with your attacker and this can often lead to the fight ending up on the ground especially if you are fighting in an open space.

This is a very bad place to be, it leaves you vulnerable to multiple attackers joining in the fight which is very hard to defend against.

Which is why you need to be able to train to get back to your feet as quickly as possible.

A fight can occur at any time and can go to any range, so you need to practice your skills from any range and situation.

Train your punches from off your knees, seated and off your back.

And also defending from these positions is very important too.

If face a grappler it's also very good to have the "sprawl" technique in your locker to stop the grappler from taking you down to his preferred range of fighting on the ground.

I hope you've found these fighting tips very useful.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Management Of This Disease


Management of the rheumatoid arthritis is generally medical, but therapeutic approaches and measures as well as surgical interventions can minimize and slow the effects of the disease. The evaluation and treatments rendered in an ongoing manner. It is best for the disease to be managed from a multidisciplinary perspective approach, this means including the principal rheumatologist, orthopedic surgeon, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, orthotists and the social worker, for a more holistic approach.

The management during the acute stage is primarily a medical perspective, characterised by frequent visits and even in-staying in the hospitals for increased rests, pain management and education. In the sub-acute phase, there will be more visits and treatments by the physiotherapists and occupational therapists, depending on the level of systemic and local effects of rheumatoid arthritis.

During this stage, there is also a chance of the hand occupational therapist attending to the patient with the disease for splinting and mobilization of the affected finger and hand joints, if the patient is able tolerate. The benefits of physiotherapy and occupational therapy is positive, and often increases the general mobility and pain management of the joints, equating to a better quality of life.

The drugs/pharmaceuticals that is often prescribed at this point in time include anti-inflammatories, painkillers, and hydrocortisone injections into the joint(s). There need to be careful management and monitoring of the effects of the abovementioned drugs when ministering to the patients, as some may have unpleasant side effects, but with safe administration, they are very effective.

Medical Tourism Saves You Money, but Which Country is Best?


Increasingly, people from the industrialized countries of the world are seeking out places where they can both enjoy a vacation and obtain medical treatment at a lower price, than in their country of residence.

Medical tourists are increasing in numbers, but which country is best for medical tourism?

Medical Tours to India

For medical tourism, India is a relative newcomer, but recent estimates indicate that the number of foreign patients is increasing by 30 percent each year.

India has world-class medical facilities, with excellent staff in all areas of medical care.
All Indian hospitals are equipped with the latest electronic and medical diagnostic equipment.

India also has the technological sophistication and infrastructure to maintain its market lead. Indian pharmaceuticals for example, meet the stringent requirements of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

India's quality of care is world class, competing with any other industrialized country.

Indian medical centres provide services that are in fact uncommon elsewhere. For example, hip surgery patients in India can have a hip-resurfacing procedure, in which damaged bone is taken away and replaced with chrome alloy, an operation that costs less and causes fewer traumas than the traditional replacement operations carried out in western countries.

Medical Tours to South East Asia

South East Asia offers some great advantages for medical tourism with Thailand being the main destination and the main rival to India.

The Thai medical profession is probably the most advanced in the region and successive governments have invested in ensuring the necessary education and training.

Many doctors undertake specialist training abroad, particularly in the United States and Europe and are at least as well qualified as physicians in these countries.

Singapore and Malaysia also have well developed medical facilities.

Medical Tours to the East Indies

For North American patients, the East Indies and Costa Rica in particular, are the chosen destinations for medical tourism.

Costa Rica provides close, inexpensive, high-quality medical care without a trans-Pacific flight. Cost wise though, it is more expensive for medical tourists generally, particularly from destinations outside of the USA.

Medical Tourism in South America

Medical tourism in South America is mainly cantered on Brazil, which has been a centre for plastic surgery for many years.

With a large influx of medical tourists particularly from the USA, Brazil has built a well-developed healthcare industry in all areas.

Although slightly more pricey than many other destinations, you are assured of good quality healthcare in Brazil - one of the most beautiful countries on earth.

Argentina also has a flourishing medical tourism industry, but its geographical position is a problem for many.

The Rest

Medical tourism is growing in other countries with Eastern Europe, Africa, and Dubai entering the industry.

Dubai will be providing the Dubai Healthcare City by 2010 and this clinic will be the largest international medical centre between Europe and South East Asia. Including a new branch of the Harvard Medical School, it will be prestigious, but aimed at the medical tourist with more money.

Eastern Europe and Africa are emerging markets, but probably have some way to go to match the healthcare services available in countries such as India.

India for Medical Tourism

There are many choices for medical tourists seeking overseas healthcare and many destinations have reasons to recommend them, but overall for medical tourists, it will be India that will be the most attractive. Why? Simply, India has wide variety of treatments, world-class hospitals, and medical staff, is inexpensive, and offers a beautiful holiday destination.