Saturday, July 20, 2013

The Many Faces of Mary


Why another story on Our Lady?

Why another story on Mother Mary? Our question is, Why not another story on Mary? Where is our greatest hope? Where have been our greatest victories? Who really loves you? Who will take care of you if you but reach out and ask for help? If you want to know how much Our Lady loves you, and is there for you, read the chapters of this book. Meditate on them. Think about what your needs are. Ask for them. Don't just think about them; get down on your knees and plead for them! Mother Mary is there for you. She listens to you. She has great Friends in high places. If anyone can do it, She can. If anyone will do it, She will.

What this story and our first story on Mother Mary have been saying is simply, when Her children are in danger, Mother Mary, great and loving Mother that She is, comes to give us hope, to protect us from the enemy, to save us. Read the Apparitions in our first book on Mary; you will see Mother Mary comes at the most crucial times in our lives.

For example in Mexico City (Tepeyac Hill), in 1531, Our Lady of Guadalupe came, averted holocaust, stopped the merciless sacrifices of innocents to a blood-thirsty pagan god, and created Family.

In Paris, in 1830, She came to a little postulant and gave her and us hope for the world - "Come to the foot of the Altar, great graces will be poured out to those who ask for them."

In La Salette, in 1846, She wept and prophesied what disaster would come to pass if we did not convert.

In Lourdes, in 1858, Mother Mary came and introduced Herself as the Immaculate Conception, affirming Her son - Blessed Pope Pius IX - and his dogma of the Immaculate Conception, which dispelled the heresy of Pantheism.

In Pontmain, in 1871, She came and ended the Franco-Prussian War; She gave us hope.

In Knock, in 1879, although She said nothing, She spoke volumes: Protect the Eucharist. If you destroy the Eucharist; you destroy the Church. Protect the Word, which is in danger. If you destroy the Word, you destroy the Church. Protect the family; if you destroy the family, you destroy the Church, you destroy the world.

In Fatima, in 1917, Our Lady warned that unless we convert, Russia would take over the world. And but for Her precious son, Pope John Paul II, this growling bear would have done just that. In Fatima, She warned us that unless we change, many souls would be lost; and that unless we pray and sacrifice many would go to hell. Did we listen?

Our Lady, 16 years after Fatima, appeared in Belgium and again warned us. Did we listen? Do we listen?

Mother Mary went to Belgium and warned us; and in less than a month, the path to total world domination was paved. The world had not listened to Mother Mary and the table of contents of the devil's book to hell was getting near full. Hitler became chancellor to Germany and began his conquest or scorch campaign. World War I was supposed to be the war to end all wars, and here it was, and another World War was on the horizon. World War II was upon us, before we knew it. Everything moved so fast. People were not praying, not yet. They thought the answer was accommodation and compromise. Powerful countries compromised smaller nations. After all, it was not them. The enemy was not threatening them. All of a sudden, it was their turn. Did we then go down on our knees?

When the Lord comes, people will be so busy running to the malls, trying to buy up happiness, they will miss Him and His salvation completely. Is that why Mother Mary keeps on appearing? In our last book on Mary, we traced these circumstances that weave a pattern of salvation if heeded or destruction if not. We didn't listen!

In this story, we are tracing, once again, the many times Our Lady has always come in dire times. We have come close to holocaust once again. My father was a student of ancient history. He told his children that sadly no one learns from history and keeps on repeating it - the ancient becoming the modern. Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it. Our Lady has been appearing and appearing, begging us to return to Jesus and His Church. Are we listening?

What can we do?

More than anyone on earth, our Pope understands the seriousness and gravity of the crisis in the world. Having lived through one of the most tragic World Wars in the history of mankind, and then domination by a godless despot, our Pope knows the only way to peace is on our knees, pleading with Our Lord to intervene with the Father.

There is no doubt that the enemy of God is lining up all his troops in a last desperate attempt to drag all God's children to hell, to burn with him through all eternity. But he has powerful adversaries to stop him from accomplishing his deadly plan: Mother Mary and Her Pope John Paul II.

Knowing more than he dare disclose, a Pope has once more come to the front line and asked the world to pray the Rosary. And if we do what he says, victory will be ours, war will be averted and violence will cease. Then, perhaps, at long last, all who inhabit the earth,

".... shall beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise its sword against another, nor shall they train for war again." And only then, "....the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; The calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to lead them."

Why did the Pope declare 2003 the Year of the Rosary? It is time for us to get down on our knees and, as they did in the Philippines in 1987, fight fire with the Rosary and petitions to the Mother of God, Mary Most Holy.

Mothers don't want war! Mary is foremost our Mother and the Mother of all mankind. Jesus gave Her to us all, at the foot of the Cross. She weeps when She sees Her children slaughtered.

Can change come about? There has been more than one holocaust threatening God's children - the slaughter of the innocents. More Americans have been killed in the abortion clinics than in all the wars we have fought, combined!

At a given point early in 1993, it seemed as if the plight of the unborn was a lost cause. How would we explain this to our children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren? Would they be able to make any sense out of not invaders, but mothers killing their own flesh and blood? What would we say?

But then, when all reason had failed, and it seemed as if the senseless, horrible murder of the unborn would never end, a few people went and prayed the Rosary outside of abortion clinics, and slowly but surely, change came about. The Pro-choice contingency has complained bitterly that there are fewer and fewer abortions being performed each year. What did we do? We turned to Mother Mary. What can we do now? Turn to Mary.

So we come back to the question we posed at the very beginning of this chapter. Why another story on Mary? After reading what we have just said to you, it should be very obvious. Remember Who you're appealing to. Mary has been with us, since the time of Genesis, when God planned our redemption through the Fiat of a Woman. Even as one woman was sinning, causing God to close the Gates of Heaven, God had in His Mind the Woman He would use to open them once again. In God's Eye, She was there for us then; She's here for us now; She will always be for us.

Read on and learn what Mother Mary is saying to you. Pick up your Rosary and meditate on the Life of Jesus and Mary. All the Saints read holy books and then made decisions. Our Popes have all done the same. Tolle Lege (St. Augustine).- Take and read! The Lord will speak to your hearts through His Mother.

Listen to Her! We love you.

UFC 75 Light-Heavyweight Fight - Michael Bisping vs Matt Hamill


As I watched this fight on Spike TV here in the United States I had to admit that I was truly undecided on who I thought was going to win this fight. I really couldn't pick a winner no matter how many times I tried to analyze each fighter. Truly either fighter had the capability to win this fight. I personally felt, and would soon be proven correct; that the winner would be decided not only by who was the better fighter, but also by who didn't do what they should have done during the fight.

A lot of times fighters and fans alike seem to forget, or perhaps don't realize, that often times it is not so much what a fighter does right in the ring, but what his opponent does wrong that determines the outcome of a fight. Here is an old saying that I learned years ago from one of my instructors, "Eliminate your mistakes while capitalizing upon those of your opponents." Definitely words to fight by!

THE COMPETITORS:

Michael Bisping:

Bisping is an intelligent fighter and seems to be a fairly well rounded fighter although his ground game seems to be the weakest part of his repertoire. He is the winner of the Ultimate Fighter television reality series and is currently undefeated.

Matt Hamill:

Hamill is a highly decorated Greco-Roman wrestler with several prestigious wins to his credit including a gold medal win at the 1998 Pan Am Games. Hamill was also on the Ultimate Fighter series along with Bisping and were actually scheduled to compete in the finals but wasn't able to due to an injury. Hamill at the time of this fight was also undefeated.

What will follow is a detailed professional analysis of the fight from start to finish, concluding with some final thoughts concerning both fighters. Please keep in mind that these are my views from my own perspective of the events that transpired. They are by no means intended to shed any kind of negative or disparaging thoughts, words, etc. on either one of the fighters involved. I have a great deal of respect for anyone, and I do mean anyone, who steps onto the mat. So, with further ado let's get started.

THE FIGHT:

Round One:

Hamill pretty much controlled the entire first round with his aggressive attack and heavy although a bit unpolished punching. Bisping, although pretty much on the defensive the entire round, was obviously the much more polished fighter with a lot crispier punches and kicks.

Hamill at one point took Bisping down twice and allowed him the opportunity to get back up onto his feet, rather than taking advantage of his wrestling background to keep Bisping on the ground and apply some serious ground & pound. At approximately three minutes into the round, Hamill landed a beautiful right hand to the head of Bisping which resulted in a fairly good cut, although not one serious enough to stop the fight.

Throughout the first four minutes of the round it appeared to me that Bisping wasn't really putting anything on his punches as they appeared to be somewhat of a pitty-pat type of punches. This all changed with approximately one minute left to go in the round when all of a sudden Bisping's punches started landing with a lot more authority than they had been. Still they didn't seem to really have any effect on Hamill. Where in contrast Hamill's punches were definitely thrown with serious intent throughout the entire round.

Even though Bisping's punches weren't thrown as hard or as often, as Hamill's, he was without a doubt the better of the two at counterpunching. Not only did the majority of his counter punches land, but they also landed more accurately.

With fifteen seconds remaining in the first round Hamill lands another big right hand. Although this punch didn't knock Bisping down, it may have had some small effect on him losing his footing and falling to the canvas just before the end of the round.

Round Two:

Bisping opened up the round by throwing a rather feeble looking kick that Hamill immediately capitalized upon by grabbing Bisping's kicking leg and tackling him to the ground. Once again Hamill didn't take advantage of his wrestling background and keep Bisping on the ground where he would have been at a much greater disadvantage. This allowed Bisping the opportunity to once again regain his standing position.

Once he regained his standing position, Bisping attempted a roundhouse kick to the head of Hamill that was subsequently blocked. Hamill continued to stalk Bisping throughout the course of the round with his heavy yet rough punching style. Bisping on the other hand continued to effectively counterpunch his way through the round with crisp, accurate punches, which in my opinion gave him control of the fight.

Hamill was eventually able to get Bisping down to the ground momentarily before Bisping once again regained his standing position. Hamill continued his slow lumbering stalk of Bisping around the ring for the remainder of the round, but Bisping was obviously the more effective fighter as he continued applying his strategy of crisp, accurate counterpunching.

Round Three:

Hamill starts out the round with his menacing stalking approach that really had no effect at all on Bisping who continued to counterpunch Hamill at every opportunity. Hamill attempted two separate takedowns which Bisping managed to avoid each time. On his third attempted takedown, Hamill was finally able to take Bisping to the ground. However, he was not very good at controlling Bisping while he was on the ground and Bisping was able to regain his standing position after a few moments and resumed his punching attack.

Bisping attempted a knee strike to the midsection which resulted in him being taken down to the ground by Hamill. Once again Hamill was not very good at controlling Bisping while he was on the ground although he did manage to land a couple of punches to the head. Hamill's inability to control Bisping on the ground resulted in Bisping being able to regain his standing position where he launched another attack against Hamill with a barrage of punches and kicks. During this exchange Hamill managed to land a fairly good right hand to the head of Bisping.

Bisping countered Hamill's left hand with a pretty good left leg roundhouse kick to the head of Hamill as he was ducking down and in towards Bisping's lead leg in an attempt to take him down to the ground. The third and final round ended with Bisping avoiding a last second take down attempt by Hamill.

JUDGE'S DECISION:

The judge's decision in this fight was a split decision with the win going to Bisping. Now I know that this seemed to be a pretty unpopular decision with a lot of MMA fans, but when you really sit down and critique the fight, you can clearly see that Hamill won the first round and Bisping won the third round with the second round being the deciding round.

Now an argument could be made either way for either fighter. This in itself should be an indicator as to how the fight most could have been scored as a draw, but once again that is just my opinion. Although making the case for Bisping being the winner is a lot stronger than the case is for Hamill winning. I personally felt that the fight was won by Bisping due to the fact that he should a lot more skill in the fight than Hamill did. Even though Hamill was pretty much the aggressor throughout the entire fight, Bisping was the much more efficient fighter with his counterpunching and movement.

MY RECOMMENDATIONS:

Here are my thoughts on how each fighter could improve upon their respective abilities concerning this particular fight.

Bisping:

1. Learn to kick more effectively and efficiently.

2. Utilize your hand and foot combinations more effectively. Use your punches to set up your kicks and your kicks to set up your punches.

3. Where are your knees and uppercuts? These are perhaps two of the best strikes to use against a wrestler who dives in to take your legs. Learn them and use them!

4. Stick and Move; you did this to some degree during the fight, but not enough. Nothing frustrates an opponent more than not being able to find their opponent every time that they look for them.

Hamill:

His strategy for this particular fight was not entirely the correct one to use. He should have worked his way inside with his punches and then wrestled Bisping down to the ground and kept him there where he could have and should have delivered a ground and pound. By not doing this, you actually helped Bisping win this fight.

1. Work a lot more on your punching and get them a lot crisper. Watching this fight reminded me of the Ali/Foreman fight from the 70's. Watch this fight on tape or DVD and learn from it!

2. Why didn't you utilize your strongest weapon in your arsenal (your wrestling background) to your fullest advantage in this fight? You fought Bisping's fight not yours!

3. Learn to be a multi-dimensional fighter. Add some kicking and knee strikes to your repertoire of techniques and you will totally surprise your next opponent.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

I definitely feel that a rematch is in the cards for these fighters unless of course Bisping decides to drop down to the 185 lb. division, which may or may not be a good choice for him. Personally, I think he would do well in either division. However, I would recommend that he start a good weight training program to put a little more muscle on and increase his overall power.

Hamill on the other hand will do well at 205 and would even do a lot better if he starts becoming more of a multi-dimensional fighter and capitalizes upon his strengths while working to improve upon his weaknesses.

Yoga and Knee Pain Solution


Every year, about 11 million Americans complain to doctors about knee pain. Roughly 21 million American people have osteoarthritis of the knee (a degenerative disease in which the cartilage gradually decays and fails to provide the shock absorbing padding that cushions the bones). Orthopedic surgeons performed more than 1.2 million such surgeries in 1996 alone.

Many older people suffer from this painful arthritic condition, however this knee pain is not only restricted to older people but healthy young people are also getting effected by it, for example dancers, athlete for various reason.

Reason for knee injuries/ pain

Lets see what are the reason that people get knee pain. Most common risk factor for knee pain are old age, obesity, knee injuries because of hyperextension , misalignment of knee, inappropriate way of doing exercise, tight muscles or because of combination of above factors etc.

Hyperextension at the knee joint occur when the joints are overly flexible. In this case legs extend too far and move past the point of being straight. Some people may be born with this condition however most people develop it by habitually locking their knee.

Knee injuries can also occur because the way we stand and walk. For example when we stand straight we need to be aware that whether our body weight is distributed properly on both feet or not. It is not very uncommon to observe that one side of heals of people shoes is wearing out more than the other side creating imbalance at the knee joint.

Imbalance at knee joint also occurs because of underdeveloped inner quadriceps and strong outer quadriceps. In this case tendency of strong quadriceps is to pull the kneecap towards the outside of legs I.e. result in imbalance.

Knee joints in our body can be healthy if the muscles that support them are healthy I.e. both strong and supple. Tight outer hips and hamstrings put undue pressure pressure on knee joints. Athletic activity cause these muscles to tighten up and along with the aging process condition become worse (unless proper stretching are done after each workout when body is warm).

Yoga provide effective solution

Yoga is excellent for increasing strength and flexibility in knees. More and more doctors are recommending yoga to their patients who are rehabilitating after a ligament injury.

The benefit with yoga is that it helps to strengthen both the inner and outer quadriceps, which help to keep the kneecap in alignment. It strengthens the quadriceps, the hamstrings, the calves and the ankles- all fairly consistently. Strength in these areas all help to support a weak knee.

Another benefit that yoga give for the knees is the increase in blood flow and nourishment that it sends to the surrounding joints and ligaments. As with most poses in yoga, the action of squeezing a body part, and then releasing it, sends lots of nutrient rich blood to the area that was affected in the posture. Many postures do this for the knees in yoga.

Yoga posture like staff pose(Dandasana),Half downward facing dog pose (Ardha Adho Mukha Svanasana),Seat of power pose (Utkatasana Pose), simple balancing pose, Half frog pose (Ardha Bhekasana) etc can be very helpful for rejuvenating knee joints.

Practiced with care, yoga posture can contribute to the long-term health of your knees by strengthening your quadriceps, opening your stiff hips, and teaching your body improved alignment and movement patterns that transfer into your everyday activities.

Note: It is important to practice yoga with caution. Initially Some yoga posture for example, padmasana and yoga style like Ashtanga yoga mysore can be avoided. Yoga posture that are done incorrectly can actually injure the knee.

Remember most important rule in practicing yoga posture is that any slightest pain is indication from you body that something is wrong and come out of it. If starting yoga practice, it is strongly recommended that you begin in presence of qualified yoga teacher and do listen to your doctor advise.

Issued in public interest by Subodh Gupta yoga expert based in London.

Mr Subodh Gupta, Corporate Yoga Trainer has conducted more than 500 workshops on Yoga and Stress Management. He has been interviewed by various TV channels in India and London.

Joint Pain Relief For the Obese


How much do you know about rheumatism?

You probably know it's related to pain in the joints. Yes, joints are only one affected area. Therefore, rheumatism is a broad term that also includes inflammation of bones, muscles, tendons and even internal organs. But let's focus only on joint pain with you here.

What Causes Joint Pain?

The two most common causes of joint pain are osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Other factors can be sprain, fracture, gout in the big toes, septic arthritis or polyarthritis.

Let's take a closer look at osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA)

It's a condition where spurs grow and cartilage degenerates in the joints, leading to joint pain. It's also known as "wear-and-tear" arthritis. Some symptoms are:

-- The stiffness in the joints disappears within 30 minutes from the time the patient wakes up but aggravates later in the day after repetitive use or after a prolonged inactivity.

-- Starts with one joint.

-- Often happens in large joints or joints related to knee and hip.

-- An affected joint tends to look a little larger than normal. This is due to abnormal growth of the bone next to damaged cartilage.

-- More common than rheumatoid arthritis.

-- Slow and gradual pain.

-- Usually affects older people.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

This is an autoimmune disorder due to the malfunction of certain immune cells in the patient's body which attacks the joints. Hence, he'll encounter the following symptoms:

-- Morning stiffness lasts more than 30 minutes.

-- Warmth, swelling and pain often begins with the small joints of hands and wrists near the palm or the small joints of toes.

-- Affected joints are usually symmetrical such as the same joints on both hands.

-- Can also trigger fever, fatigue, depression, loss of appetite, dry eyes and chest pain.

-- Can lead to joint deformities.

How does Obesity Worsen the Condition?

Although doctors have yet to prove if obesity causes rheumatism, they believe excess weight certainly doesn't help the patients. In fact, they believe obesity will increase the risk of both OA and RA.

That's because the excess weight will add more pressure on the inflamed joints, aggravating the pain, especially in the affected joint areas around knees, spinal cord and hip.

Currently, there are no cures for OA and RA but the treatments can help to relieve pain and improve joint movement so that patients can still go about their daily tasks.

The treatment often comes as a program - medications, physical and occupational therapy, reduction of joint stress and sometimes surgery. But if a patient is also obese, weight loss will inevitably become part of the program.

Right Exercise can Help Obese OA / RA Patient

1. Flexibility exercises help to maintain or improve the flexibility in affected joints and surrounding muscles. This contributes to better posture, reduced risk of injuries and improved function.

2. Strengthening exercises are more vigorous to work muscles a bit harder. Stronger muscles can better support the joints and cushion the shock impact to the painful joint. They also assist in better function and reduce bone loss due to inactivity, inflammatory arthritis and use of certain medications such as corticosteroids.

3. Aerobic exercises such as walking and swimming are good for weight control as they work off the excess fats and replace with useful muscles. For even better fat-burning results, you can engage in anaerobic exercises like strength training. But you must consult your doctor and make sure to have a certified trainer to guide you along such high-intensity exercises that can cause injuries pretty easily.

4. Body awareness exercises improve posture, balance, joint position awareness, coordination and relaxation. This is especially important as the patient's sense of balance and coordination may be impaired due to the illness.

Natural Arthritis Diet for Pain Relief

Stay away from acidic stuff like coffee, tea, sugar and alcohol. You should also cut down on intake of meat and seafood since these are high in cholesterol, saturated fats, salt and toxins. For best results, I suggest you include these natural vegetarian foods as a significant part of your diet:

a) Fruits - avocado

b) Vegetables - spirulina, wheat grass products, carrots, seaweeds, sprouts

c) Whole grains - millet, wheat, brown rice, barley and oats

d) Nuts - pecans

e) Soy and seeds - flaxseed, pumpkin and sesame

This natural diet serves to help you maintain a healthy weight. According to the Arthritis Foundation, for every pound of weight lost, there is a four-pound reduction in the load exerted on the knee for each step taken. Simply put, the less heavy you are, the less pain you suffer.

Last but not least, whether you're suffering from rheumatism or not, sticking to a healthy diet and regular exercise regime are always essential.

Hyaluronic Acid For Joint Pain - Does It Work Or Should You Seek An Alternative Option?


If you are not familiar with hyaluronic acid, you may be wondering what it is, so I will start by giving a brief outline. It is essentially a substance that is present in the body, and especially in one's joints and eye fluid. In the joints, it serves as a lubricant and a cushion between the different joints. So, where does the hyaluronic acid come from that one can buy in the pharmacies?

Do not worry; it does not come from human donors. Instead, most medicinal hyaluronic acid comes from the combs of roosters, while some is also produced in laboratories using specially selected bacteria. Apart from using hyaluronic acid for joint pain, many people also believe it can help to slow down the signs of aging if it is applied to the skin, but since we are discussing joints, we will leave that for another time.

Although it can be taken orally, it is more often than not injected directly into the affected joints. Many healthcare providers do however overrate this form of treatment, and as a result, many patients expect to see a huge improvement, and then end up being terribly disappointed. In truth, it is a bit of a hit-and-miss form of treatment. While some people do experience a reduction in joint pain and stiffness, many do not experience any improvement at all.

Another downside to this type of treatment is the fact that the injections are not cheap, and even if they do work, the results are only temporary. This means one must be willing to go for injections on a regular basis, which of course is also an inconvenience.

You may also come across claims that it can reduce joint pain if rubbed into the affected area. In a nutshell, this could not be any further from the truth. Some people also claim to get good results when they take it orally. Of course medical professionals do not agree simply because there is no scientific evidence to support such claims. On the other hand, there are countless people who say it does work, so whether it does or not is anyone's guess.

In my opinion, based on the research I have done online, you are likely to get far better results from one or two cleverly chosen supplements. Scores of people have been disappointed with hyaluronic acid for joint pain due to its low success rate, and of course the same can be said about many supplements. Having said that, there are some good ones about, and many people have and still are benefiting from them.

Arthritis - Cure It Now At a Cost That May Surprise You!


Arthritis is a debilitating disease that causes severe physical pain and emotional turmoil for millions of people who suffer with it.

Many do nothing about it, simply because they feel the cost of joint replacement surgery is too high.

Prices for corrective joint surgery, however has fallen dramatically in price making them more affordable than ever and surgery is available at a cost of around 70% less than surgery in the US and Europe, in India.

Joint replacement is now affordable at 75% less than in the US or UK!

A hip or knee replacement for example, would cost around 20,000 dollars in the US, but in India costs just $4,500.

While the cost may be competitive there is no difference in the quality of treatment.

Many patients from Europe and the US are now traveling to India to have joint replacement surgery done, are saving enough money to enjoy a holiday of a lifetime and still have money left over!

Before we look at the standard of care in India for joint replacement surgery, let's look at the devastating affect arthritis can have:

What is arthritis?

There are over 100 different kinds of arthritis, all of which affect one or several joints in the body.

The word arthritis comes from the Greek words, arth meaning "joint" and "inflammation".

Arthritis effectively means "inflammation of a joint", which is not strictly true of the condition as in many kinds of arthritis the joint is not actually inflamed or swollen, but the pain is still there.

The consequences of arthritis

The affects of arthritis can be devastating:

70% of patients with Arthritis show evidence of radiographic changes within only 3 years.

50% of patients with arthritis are disabled and unable to work within 10 years.

In the long term, the major consequences of Arthritis include:

Joint deformity, joint misalignment, disability, emotional trauma and even premature death.

India the leader in medical tourism

The onset of cheap mass travel has opened up India to many patients who can now travel to have their surgery done at competitive cost.

Traveling to another country for treatment is referred to as medical tourism.

This is now a multi billion pound industry worldwide and India is the world leader in medical tourism and 500,000 medical tourists traveled to India in 2005 alone.

Here's why:

Cost of Treatment

With costs far lower than in Europe and the US for operations such as joint replacement, India is of interest to anyone wanting this surgery.

Cost however is not the only consideration; patients want quality care and treatment.

Quality of facilities

The quality of Indian private hospitals is on par with any in the world, as are success rates for operations.

Quality of medical experience

Indian medical doctors and nurses are known worldwide for their expertise and professionalism, giving medical tourism in India credibility among overseas patients.

Quick Access to surgery

One of the huge advantages of medical tourism is the quick access to surgery and cutting out the emotional stress of long waiting lists.

Holiday options

A byproduct, but one that is appealing, is to relax after surgery in one of the largest, most beautiful and diverse countries in the world.

When you look at the facts:

Low cost, quality facilities, expert care and the opportunity to see a different country, it is no wonder more people are considering joint replacement in India and a wide array of other treatments.

Medical tourism is growing in popularity and if you suffer from arthritis and need joint replacement therapy, you should consider what India has to offer.

Friday, July 19, 2013

Natural and Organic Arthritis Pain Relief


Arthritis is a joint disorder featuring inflammation. A joint is an area of the body where two different bones meet. A joint functions to move the body parts connected by its bones. Arthritis literally means inflammation of one or more joints. Arthritis is frequently accompanied by joint pain. Joint pain is referred to as arthralgia and that is when pain relief formulas.

An arthritis or joint pain is caused mainly due to suppression of digestive fire. This results in poor digestion,which leads to accumulation of undigested wastes in the body resulting in buildup of waste matter. The toxins reach different parts of body and get accumulated at joints. The disease term arthritis is looks like the singular in number but the disease is comprised of more than 100 distinct conditions and can affect people at any stage of the life.

The two most common form of arthritis pain are Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis with the symptoms like back or hip pain, knee pain, arm pain, wrist pain and pain or inflammation of other areas as well. This is when one looks to get relief from low back pain or over painful joint problems.

Arthritis suffers include man, woman, children and adults. The statistics shows that there are more than 350 million people have been victimized by the disease arthritis world wide. Among the US population there the figure reaches to 40 million people are affected by this disease and the ¼ of them is children. Depending on the disease they the have more than 21 million people suffer from Osteoarthritis and 2.1 million people have the symptom and advance stage of the disease Rheumatoid arthritis. The women are struggling a lot with more than 60% of mark.

There are many different types that affect different parts of the body. Some of those are:

Tendinitis – targets tendons

Sclerodermal – thickening of the skin and connective tissue

Fibromyalgia – muscles will be sore and tender to the touch

Articular or joint types of arthritis – gout and lupus, tend to be the most painful

Osteoarthritis- Osteoarthritis is mainly caused by the break down and the eventual loss of the cartilages. The cartilage is the protein substance that provides the cushion for the bones to avoid the friction of rubbing while working. Work related repetitive injury and the physical trauma are the main cause for getting affected by Osteoarthritis.

This type of arthritis mainly affects hand, wrist, knee and spine. One of the main and unique reasons of developing Osteoarthritis is the age.

Rheumatoid Arthritis- Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes the chronic inflammation of the joints. Patients with autoimmune diseases have the antibodies in their blood and target their own tissues and this will be associated with inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis can cause inflammation in the tissue around the joints and can affect other organs like hearts, blood.

Omega-3 fatty acid, Gamma-linolenic Acid, Boswellia and Devil’s claw are the renowned natural and organic arthritis products [http://www.arthroleve.com/athletes.php] along with the other most effective chemical based medication.

Routine Stance Practice for Shaolin Kung Fu


Shaolin 'Longfist' Kung Fu and Wu Shu movement, whether offensive or defensive, towards or away from opponents, involves a number of key stances. These stances are the foundations of all Changchuan ('Longfist') martial movement and six-essential examples are practised in the routine or 'drill' below. Two key principles apply to their design and usage.

Stability

The lower an object's centre of gravity, the harder it is to displace or knock over. Deep stances, thus, endow Students with stability. Bending the knees and keeping the back straight aligns the torso with the body's natural centre of gravity and balance at the Dan Tien (one inch-and-a half below the navel) further enhancing this.

Deep stances, obtained by regular practice, enable students to move more swiftly, smoothly and efficiently.

Safety

High Longfist stances, exposing more of the body, including its vital parts have inbuilt safety-features to minimise risk. Low stances conceal and protect these areas, making them easier to defend.

Longfist Stance Drill 1

1. Stand at attention with both feet together, fists clenched at the hips.

2. Extend both fists forwards at shoulder-height.

3. Jump into a Horse Stance (Ma Bu) and pull both fists back to the hips (where they remain until the routine ends)

4. Press your right-sole down firmly, lift your left toes and pivot sharply left-wards into the Bow-and-Arrow Stance (Deng Shan Bu/Gung Bu).

5. Straighten your left leg (but keep it slightly bent) bearing 90% of your bodyweight. Bring your right leg forwards, right-angles to this with both heels aligned, apart, supporting 10% of your bodyweight, on your toes. This is the 'False' or 'Tricky' Classic Shaolin counter-attacking back-stance.

5. Straighten your left leg and raise your right knee to waist height with foot pointing downwards protecting the left knee-joint into the Golden Rooster Stands on Its Hind Leg (Gin Gi Du Li) the one-legged stance.

6. Step forwards and left with your right foot (toes pointed outwards) bending both legs and with left knee immediately behind the right knee's rear cavity into the crossed-leg-stance (Dsao Pan Bu). The left leg's weight is supported on the toes.

7. Turn the torso abruptly leftwards into a Horse Stance (Ma Bu) facing the exact opposite direction to position No.3.

8. Press your right-sole down firmly, lift your left toes and pivot sharply leftwards into the Wide Kneeling Stance.Your right knee should be fractionally above the floor.

9. Advance your right knee promptly until it is located just behind the rear cavity of its left counterpart int the Closed Kneeling Stance.

10. Step forwards and left with your right foot ( toes pointed outwards) bending both legs and with left knee immediately behind the right knee's rear cavity into the crossed-leg-stance (Dsao Pan Bu) as in 6 above. The left leg's weight is supported on the toes.

11. Turn the torso abruptly leftwards into a Horse Stance (Ma Bu). You should now be back in position No.3.

Overall

At this point you are half-way through the routine which is now repeated in the other direction (easily achieved after a couple of initial run throughs. Repeat the whole two-part drill 2/3/4 times etc. as required.

This is an excellent way to develop and increase your leg strength. The routine is finally closed by jumping back into position 2 (above) from position 11.

Seduction Tips For Women - How to Get the Man You Want


Men are something of a puzzle to most women. If you've ever been attracted to a certain fellow you know that trying to determine what appeals to him isn't easy. All men have their own set of standards when it comes to the women they are attracted to. There are some seduction tips for women that do work with the majority of men. If you really want him to feel hopelessly in love with you, you need to employ a few effective techniques that will knock him off his feet.

Scent has everything to do with grabbing and keeping a man's attention. Most of us do put some thought into the fragrance we wear, but you should also consider where on your body you're applying it. One of the most effective seduction tips for women is to apply your favorite fragrance to a few pulse points on your body that men naturally find appealing. You likely already apply a small amount to your wrists, and behind your ears. Other spots include behind your knees and inside your elbows and ankles. Ensure that you wear the same fragrance each time you see the man you are interested in. You want him to create a strong association between the appeal of the scent and you.

One of the most obvious seduction tips for women is one that most women never employ. You have to be super confident if you want to seduce a man. Even if you don't feel completely confident you need to give the impression you are. This includes being proud of who you are, what you do for a living, and how you look. Never make excuses for your shortcomings. Instead embrace them. Men love this in a woman. They find it irresistible.

What Is Osteoarthritis? - Definition and Symptoms


Osteoarthritis is a major cause of disability of the musculoskeletal system and progressively and chronically causes pain and loss of joint function, reduce, sometimes dramatically, the quality of life of patients and their ability to work.

Definition and symptoms of osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is basically a syndrome of joint pain and dysfunction caused by joint degeneration, and globally affects more patients than any other joint disease. Primarily characterized by degeneration of articular cartilage, the presence of intraarticular inflammation with synovitis and changes in subchondral bone and periarticular tissues.

Articular cartilage acts like a cushion, absorbing mechanical loads and facilitating movement of friction in the joints, allowing bones to glide over others, giving rise to joint movement. The articular cartilage injury causes loss of natural lubrication, causing the friction of the articular surfaces of bones and formation of bone spurs or osteophytes. In some cases, fragments of cartilage may break off and remain floating inside the joint, causing irritation joint inflammation and further structural damage.

From the pathological point of view of osteoarthritis is characterized by degeneration of articular cartilage, with loss of extracellular matrix, fibrillation and fissure formation, up to the complete loss of the articular surface. Also affect other tissues of the joint, including subchondral bone, ligaments, joint capsule, synovial membrane and periarticular muscles.

In the beginning, osteoarthritis may arise after a history of trauma in the joint, or joint infection secondary to a chronic inflammatory joint disease or simply a primary osteoarthritis as a result of age and degeneration associated with the use of the joints for a long number of years, often associated with overweight and / or the presence of angular deformities, especially at the knee joint.

The main symptoms of osteoarthritis are pain, stiffness and swelling of the joints. The affected joint usually has limited mobility, and sensitivity may also exist in the area, and associated skeletal deformities (often these deformities are the initial cause of osteoarthritis). Sometimes the joint can cause cracking, which is called crepitus. In turn, when the joint is badly affected, there may be secondary and progressive deformities.

Epidemiology of Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is rare in people under 40 years but becomes more common with age. In particular most people over 65 years show radiographic signs of osteoarthritis in at least one or more joints. Overall, it is the most common cause of disability in older adults. Although the level of degradation is very different for each individual, causes symptoms in 60% of men and 70% of women aged over 65. The estimates calculate that more than 8 million people in the UK and some 20 million Americans have osteoarthritis clinically symptomatic, and they have pain intensity greater than 2.5 on a visual analog scale (VAS) from 0 to 10, and / or loss of function of the knee. The forecasts estimate that by 2030 20% of the adult population in Western Europe and North America have developed osteoarthritis, with an assessment on the scale of Kellgren-Lawrence greater than or equal to 2, since it has been found patients with this assessment (≥ 2) have an increased risk of disease progression. Despite being rare below 40 years its incidence in young people is increasing. In the United States, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, together, affect 46 million people. The health costs generated by this disease amounted to 128,000 million in 2003, rivaling even the health costs of ischemic heart disease, which emphasizes the urgent need for new and more effective treatments for joint injury.

4 Types of Tests for Knee Pain Diagnosis


There are certain health conditions that can affect the productivity of one's life. One of them is knee injury. If you are experiencing such, you might find it difficult to lead a normal life. You might find yourself unable to do normal activities that you usually do such as walking, running, driving, and more. Any person suffering from this type of pain will see that relief is very much needed. If you are going to endure the pain for a long time, this might lead to other complications. Given that, undergoing proper knee pain diagnosis is very essential.

Pain specialists can greatly help you out, as well as orthopedic experts and even an internal medicine or general medicine practitioner. They can provide you with the right knee pain diagnosis. This will pave the way for better treatment and recovery.

In general, there are two types of tests done as part of knee pain diagnosis. They are classified as imaging tests and lab tests.

Types of tests available

Listed below are some of the tests that your physician might administer to you:

1. X-ray

X-ray is one of the oldest but precise methods in determining any injuries including degenerative joint diseases. This test can also help look for any bone fractures in your leg area. If you suspect that you are experiencing knee pains because of a recent leg-related injury, an X-ray is best recommended for you.

2. Computerized tomography (CT) scan

CT scan tests are widely used not only in knee pain diagnosis but in determining other diseases like cancer. This technology involves the use of several machines that combine the different angles of the X-rays taken. The result of the CT scan is usually a cross-sectional image of the area. This allows physicians to look and detect any problems in the affected area of the body.

3. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Compared with X-ray and CT scan, MRI provides the most detailed assessment of your condition. This particular test makes use of radio waves and magnet that produces 3-D images of the area scanned. It is so accurate to the point that even injuries of the tendons, cartilage, ligaments, and muscles can be determined.

4. Ultrasound

Ultrasound is not only used for pregnant and expectant moms, people come to their doctors' clinics to undergo this diagnostic tool.

Aside from the above mentioned techniques in determining knee injuries, your doctor may also request for a blood examination or arthrocentesis. These procedures are done if your doctor suspects of an infection.

Why suffer from pain if there are proper knee pain diagnosis techniques? Liberate yourself from the knee-injuries related pain. As early as possible, request for these tests to be administered so that you will be able to uncover the cause of the pain you feel.

How To Generate Non-Stop Leads In Multi-Level Marketing


So, are you also engaged in the multi level marketing business? That's great, because right now, multi level marketing is one of the easiest yet most rewarding businesses that you can engage into right now - but for what reasons? Personally, for someone who does multi level marketing while raising a family and being active in socio-civic volunteer work, multi level marketing is just very convenient because it allows me to earn money without actually having to go regularly to work. Plus, I get to share the stuff with my fellow volunteers and friends. The perks associated with multi level marketers are great, too, especially if they're health products or cosmetic products. You get freebies, which include free products and services. One time, my teenage daughter was able to earn 1,000 freebie points in her own cosmetic business line. She used these points to garner free facial from the company. So you see, it does not bring benefits to grown up's, it can even teach your kids to be responsible about money, too.

However, the glitch with multi level marketing comes forth if you don't know how to do sales talk. Add to that the fact that there are just some multi level marketing companies that, though they have great products for sale, do not offer ample training for their employees. Now if you're naturally shy, you'll definitely get into problems making the programs work for you as you might not be able to come up with sales leads at all.

Adwords: The Key To Non-Stop Leads

Do you know what? Not all leads are really smart enough leads. And as someone who has long since first ventured into the multi level marketing business, I know that if your lead isn't smart enough, you definitely won't be able to sell.

That's why I suggest that each one who wants to go into the multi level marketing business have a hand first on adwords. AdWords are basically those promotional things you say or write down that are sure to click into the hearts of your target buyers. Here is how you use AdWords to rev up your leads:

o Make up a script that will show people how using the product or service you peddle will be of an advantage to them. For example, this medicine will help hasten healing of cancer, heart diseases, etc.

o Show your prospective buyers what you yourself can do for them. Show them that you're not just there to sell them wares, but you're also there to really help them. That's why you're showing them your products. (That's why for me, it's easier to sell to friends. I can kid them easier)

o Lastly, come up with a header that's really going to knock knees out. What I mean is, come up with a really clever cliché that will make people curious as to what you have in store for them. Your header or cliché should also make people want to, of course, purchase your product or avail of your services. One word of caution though: please try not to make promises in fine print or that are false. Not only are they irking to customers or to the law, they also affect your credibility as a businessperson.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Pain Management For Knee Injuries


The knee is the largest and the most complicated joint which is most susceptible to acute injuries. Knees are weight bearing joints that can easily rotate, twist and straighten according to our desired position. They are used for accomplishing various body movements like walking, sitting, standing up, running etc. These movements are controlled and managed by the muscles, ligaments, tendons and spongy tissues that cushion and protect the knee joints and provide them strength and flexibility.

Knees injuries, fractures and knee joint pain are the most common complaints that people suffer in everyday life. There are many reasons of knee injuries such as twisting the knee, overuse, falling or a sport injury that results in damaging the ligaments and cartilage that ultimately leads to the generation of knee pain. Physical therapy and massage therapy are the most effective and natural ways of pain management for tackling knee injuries.

Physical Therapy - Gentle & Holistic Way of Pain Management

Physical therapy is a profound and gentle method of pain management that can effectively treat knee injuries and decrease pain. A physical therapist deals with these sorts of injuries by providing certain exercises which strengthens, stretches and supports the damaged muscles and helps decrease knee pain. Physical therapy helps increase muscle strength, provides stability to the joints, increases joint mobility, enhances the range of motion and at the end brings relief from pain. The number of sessions for physical therapy is solely dependent on the severity of the injury. A physical therapist will diagnose and check the affected body area and recommend a course of physical therapy to strengthen damaged muscles and joints.

Massage Therapy - Healing Soft Body Tissues

Massage therapy is a whole-body approach that significantly induces the healing process of the body to promote a sense of well-being. It is a proven method of pain management that releases muscle tension and restores joint mobility. A professional massage therapist, with his skilled hands manipulates various gentle and passive body movements to the affected areas. This increases muscle relaxation, improves blood circulation and helps relieve pain.

There are various types of massage and manual therapies that significantly combat various illnesses, promote overall well-being and are effective for pain management.

• Acupressure is a technique which is derived from acupuncture procedures. In this therapy a massage therapist applies physical pressure to acupuncture pressure points by hands, elbow or with some other device. This will result in stimulation of the healing process to the affected body part.

• Swedish Massage is a type of massage therapy which helps reduce pain, joint stiffness and enhances body function in osteoarthritic patients. It is highly effective for enhancing blood circulation.

• Rolfing is a type of massage which is intended at providing structural integration to the myofascial system and restores the natural balance of the body.

Massage therapy is a holistic and gentle approach to health which is considered as the most important pain management technique for musculoskeletal injuries. Various exercises and body massages provided by the physical therapists or massage practitioners, help increase muscle strength, restore joint mobility, help reduce pain and lower the prevalence of the future injuries.

Flying Overseas After a Knee Replacement


After you have had a knee replaced, knowing when and how to travel for the first time on either long distance domestic flights or international flights can be challenging.

There are several tips that I have learned after flying several times overseas that I found have helped me and are also recommended by orthopedic surgeons for all knee replacement patients.

1. Arrive Early At The Airport. Though this is recommended for all travelers you will find that once you arrive at the gate you will have to pass through the metal detectors which will in turn set off the alarms. You than have to allow for several minutes for a pat down. What I do is go through the airport scanner this way they see the prosthesis and do not bother with the time it takes to find someone who can do the pat down. I find that carrying a joint replacement card does not do any good, you still have to go through the same process.

2. Buy Yourself a Pair Of Compression Stockings. This is one of the best investments you can make. I travel with a pair on every flight. I find you do not need the waist-high stockings as some people use, I have found that a good pair of knee-high stockings do the job just fine. You can buy a pair from a medical supply store for instance or you may find them at your local drug store. These are important do not forget them.

I still get some minor swelling in my foot if I fly overseas and the my knee replacement is over 13 years old.

3. Take a Baby Aspirin Before Boarding The Flight. I carry with me the 81 mg baby aspirin when I travel and make sure I take one about thirty minutes before boarding the flight.

4. Take a Walk Every Hour or Two. This is important not only for those of you who have had a knee replaced but for anyone who has a circulation problem or other medical condition. I make sure I get up every couple of hours at least and go to an area of the plane that allows me to stretch and work on exercises such as heel raises for the calves and partial mini-squats along with marching in place. I find these types of movements combined with walking in the isles beneficial in keeping the swelling to a minimum after knee replacement surgery.

When I fly overseas I generally take a flight that lasts for approximately 16 hours one way, so following these tips have helped me tremendously cut down on the discomfort that can be associated with long distance travel.

If you have further concerns, be sure to talk with your orthopedic surgeon as well for some helpful advice on how to prepare to fly and, when you can actually begin to travel after joint replacement surgery.

What to Expect If Your Knee Joint Pain Does Not Go Away Easily


If you are even moderately physically active, then you must have, at some point in your life, experienced knee joint pain. If the discomfort doesn't go away in a few days of routine home care and relaxation, do you have to go and seek professional medical advice? Here is when it is best to see a doctor:

If, as a consequence of injury, your knee has swollen up virtually immediately;
if it looks as if the bones are deformed;
in the event you can no longer bear weight (i.e., get up comfortably);
when you've got insufferable ache;
if you happen to have lost sensation below the injury site;
if the foot and ankle have turned cold;
or in case your knee area is red and warm and there's an accompanying fever along with the injury.

Normally, knee joint pain can be resolved at home by rest, applying ice, compression, and elevation (RICE). If different symptoms, such as recurrent ache and swelling, persist, then medical care is probably in order.

How Knee Injuries Are Diagnosed

Should you decide to seek medical help, you will first be given questions to complete a medical history. Naturally, the physician will wish to know the main points concerning the injury, such as when, where, how it happened, to find out what structures in the knee are perhaps damaged. If the injury is due to a direct blow, then a fracture or contusion (bruise) might be the issue. If it was a twisting injury, then a cartilage or meniscus tear could be the reason for the pain. What else might have placed stress on the knee and to potentially trigger a tear in the ligament?

Be ready to answer other inquiries to further assist with the diagnosis. For example, was swelling present, and did it happen instantly or did you first notice it hours later? Were you able to stand and walk immediately after the damage? Is there discomfort in different areas, such as the ankle or hip? Does it damage especially bad when going up or down steps?

The physician will then examine the knee, first to make certain every part is where it belongs. If the kneecap is fractured or the patellar tendon is injured, the kneecap can slide out of position. The physician can easily check to see if the kneecap is sliding to the outside or lateral part of the knee; if that is the case, then the patellar tendon is dislocated. If the knee is held slightly flexed, then there may be fluid within the joint space, since joint space is maximal at 15 degrees of flexion.

Feeling the knee, referred to as palpation, comes next. The physician can correlate the particular location of the ache to the underlying structures like ligaments or muscle-insertion points. Palpation over the space between the bones within the front part of the knee, often called the joint line, could be associated to fluid or tenderness resulting from a meniscus injury. The doctor might examine the uninjured knee to the injured one by exerting stress on the unhurt knee to see how loose or tight the normal ligaments are.

X-rays of the knee may be advisable to make certain there are not any broken bones, but if no direct blow to the area has precipitated the knee joint ache, then plain X-rays or imaging of the knee via an MRI might wait till another time.

Causes of Arthritis and Effects of Glutathione


While it is a common disease especially among the elderly, the exact causes of arthritis are for the most part, unknown.

Arthritis is a common disease especially among the elderly yet the exact causes of arthritis are, for the most part, unknown. Of the more than 100 types of arthritis, only several have an identifiable cause. The rest are idiopathic. Rheumatoid arthritis, for example, and most cases of osteoarthritis have no known cause.

Even when the cause is identified, it is unclear as to how some people develop the disease when others who have gone through the same conditions and share the same risk factors do not. For instance, a person with a broken knee may develop arthritis several years down the road, but other people with a similar broken knee may not get arthritis.

There are however, several factors that have been linked to the development of arthritis which some people even consider as causes of arthritis.

Here are some of the common risk factors for arthritis:


  • Heredity

Certain types of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis and gout can be passed down through the genes. Individuals with a family history of arthritis need to be extra careful because they have a genetic predisposition to the joint disease.


  • Injury

Injuries and trauma to the joints are among the most common risk factors for arthritis. They may not immediately lead to arthritis but they can do so in the long run. A deformity or tear in the surrounding cartilages, tendons and ligaments caused by a joint injury can result in scars and weakened areas.

Further injury, abuse and strain on the weakened joint can completely compromise the integrity of the joint and eventually pave the path for arthritis to set in.


  • Aging

Aging also numbers among the most common risk factors for arthritis. In many cases, the disease is a normal event that occurs with old age. Just like the cogs in the wheels of a car, joints eventually break down after a lifetime of wear and tear.


  • Infection

Local infections can be disseminated in the bloodstream and carried to the joints and other parts of the body. The infectious agents may be bacteria, fungi or viruses. Arthritis cases caused by the spread of infection are few and far between and usually affect individuals who are already suffering from another type of arthritis.


  • Abnormal Metabolism

Metabolic abnormalities can also lead to the development of arthritis.

The abnormal purine metabolism in gout, for instance, can lead to the formation of uric acid crystals which usually lodge themselves at the joints of the big toes.


  • Autoimmunity

Autoimmunity happens when the body attacks its own cells and tissues. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune and inflammatory type of arthritis.


  • Other Diseases

Some diseases can count as risk factors for arthritis because arthritis can be developed secondary to these disorders. Severe cases of Lyme disease, for example, can result in the swelling of various joints.


  • Obesity

Extra weight places extra stress on weight-bearing joints. If the joints are unable to bear the added pressure, then osteoarthritis can occur. It is therefore important to maintain a normal weight by eating a well-balanced, well-portioned diet.

Benefits of glutathione can also help curb obesity. This powerful antioxidant helps flush out bad cholesterol from the body and also has anti-inflammatory effects which is very helpful for people with arthritis.


  • Gender

Both males and females can get arthritis but certain types of the joint disease play favorites. Osteoarthritis, for example, is more prevalent in middle-aged women. On the other hand, gout is more common in men than in women.


  • Sedentary Lifestyle

An inactive lifestyle can also be a contributing factor to the development of arthritis. Without exercise, the joints and bones become weak. A sedentary lifestyle usually goes hand-in-hand with obesity.

Effects of Glutathione on the Causes of Arthritis
Glutathione is not well known amongst doctors let alone a household word, however, do a search on the National Library of Medicine PubMed and you will find over 90,000 articles on glutathione (also known as GSH).

Glutathione and Arthritis

At Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands, rheumatologists proved that by increasing the glutathione levels in affected tissues, that inflammation at the cellular level showed definite improvement.

Since the causes of arthritis are chronic inflammation, scientists have proven that by raising the glutathione levels in the immune system, inflammation could be minimized or prevented.

Known as the master antioxidant, some of the benefits of Glutathione not only alleviates some of the causes of arthritis by boosting the immune system which in turn reduces inflammation, but also provides other benefits like lowering blood cholesterol and over 60 other different diseases.

How Strong Are Your Knees?


As a baby boomer and avid tennis player, I have seen many people experience knee problems. Some of them receive cortisone injections, others spend weeks doing physical therapy, some go on a diet to lose those extra pounds, and others opt in for surgery. One of my tennis idols, a competitive tennis player still traveling around the country to play in national USTA tournaments in her 90's, Billie Burr, once shared with me that she had undergone two hip replacements and one knee replacement. And she still continues to play competitive tennis.

As a former professor of health and physical education, many of my colleagues were professional athletes: basketball players, dancers, fencing and tennis pros. They put more than average stress upon their knee joints and eventually, in their 40's or 50's, opted to undergo arthrocscopic surgery to repair a torn ligaments. Shortly after the surgery, they appeared to feel almost as good a s new, back to their sports and enjoying their pain-free movement.

However, an increasing number of baby boomers are now choosing partial or complete knee replacements at an early age. When knee replacement surgery was first introduced, it was designed for elderly patients with a fairly restricted lifestyle who would not add undue stress to their joints after the surgery. But the new wave of knee replacement patients are often athletic and determined to continue participating in sports indefinitely.

Knee replacement surgeries are wonderful, when they are successful. But if a problem occurs, even years later and a second surgery is required, there is a serious risk of potential complications. Infections occur in about 2 % of the cases and dangerous blood clots can occur.

Therefore, it is not advisable to have a keen replacement surgery unless the symptoms are severe and you have tried all other options: rest and relaxation, medication to alleviate the pain, cortisone shots, physical therapy, loss of excess pounds to put less pressure on the joints, and body therapies to balance the energetic system and relax the neuromuscular patterns in your body.

After having attempted all of the above remedial measures, if the pain is still intense, then first consider the less invasive arthrosocopic surgery to repair any damaged ligaments. The next option is a partial knee replacement if the damage is only to a small area on the knee. Finally, if all else fails, have the complete knee replacement surgery with the knowledge and understanding that your activities may be limited afterward.

Recovery from a complete knee replacement surgery depends upon many factors, especially your willingness to do faithfully do the required exercises, to eat better, keep your weight down and rest more often. If you are determined to return to an active lifestyle, you may be one of the lucky ones with no further consequences. However, it is essential to monitor the sensations in your knee and cease any activity that brings back that twinge of pain.

How strong are YOUR knees? Better to think about that now, before they become weak and compromised. Keep your thigh muscles, abdominal muscles and back muscles strong and keep you body balanced and in alignment to prevent undue stress upon your knee joints.

New Treatment for Osgood-Schlatters Disease


Most people don't fully understand the pain associated with Osgood-Schlatters Disease (OSD)... including doctors. OSD is one of the most common causes of knee pain in young athletes. It causes swelling, pain and tenderness just below the knee, over the shin bone (also called the tibia).

Current medical statistics advises to take the patient out of sports for a period of six months.

OSD is a inflammation of the tissue of the tibial tuberosity an area directly below the knee cap. The area of the knee just below the patella (knee cap) is where the main pain generation of pain begins. It usually starts as a tight or grabbing pain and can lead into sharp severe pain. The pain brought about by some type of movement such as running or jumping. The pain can become extremely painful in many cases. The pain normally is diagnosed when a child complains pain while running, jumping in sports or any other types of repetitive movements. Osgood-Schlatters commonly affects boys who are having a growth spurt during their pre-teen or teenage years but can easily as well affect young girls as well. One or both knees may be affected. When the large muscles of the thigh lose their ability to absorb force that force is transferred to the knee which causes a pulling affect to this are causing inflammation and pain.

Upon seeing a doctor an examination will note painful palpation to the area below the knee. That area is usually raised, tender to the touch and inflamed. An X-ray will usually confirm the diagnosis. The doctor will notice on the X-ray a separation of bone on the upper tibia bone which is your shin bone. This separation is very painful upon any type of direct palpation.

New treatment developed can begin to alleviate pain and increase range of motion within the first few treatments. Clinical studies have shown that the new treatments can have the patient back to their sport in a couple of weeks - if not sooner. Many patients have seen complete resolution of pain and disability in one week.

MyoFascial Disruption Technique (MFDT) is a unique manual treatment that has shown through clinical trials to be 95% faster in relieving pain as compared to other current treatments. Co-developed by three doctors, the basis for their discovery using research findings dating back decades. MFDT locates the exact area of damage which can be corrected in an extremely quick period of time. MFDT has been shown to treat many forms of soft tissue injuries with speeds of healing documented to increase the healing the symptoms of Osgood-Schlatters Disease.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Hip Replacement Timing - Why Delaying May Be the Wrong Choice


My world was split into two. With medication I was pretty well pain-free but unable to concentrate or focus on anything at all. Without it I was in serious pain and my mobility was so reduced that I could barely manage stairs let alone leave the house. Diagnosis - severe osteoarthritis. My life had become focused on my hip and the prospect of surgery.

A hip replacement at 52? No! Surely I was too young. I asked my medical friends, who were unanimous in their answers; "delay having a hip replacement for as long as possible". Okay, I thought stoically, I'll hang on. But for how long? How would I know when I'd reached "as long as possible"? How could I factor in the length of time I'd be spending on a waiting list? How was I going to function until then? And was waiting really the right answer? I entered "hip replacement timing" into Google and started reading.

The first thing I learnt was that all weight bearing implants have a finite life. As the two surfaces rub together they shed minute bits of debris. This debris sets up a reaction in the body which loosens the tight fitting implant. A loose implant is a painful implant. Sooner or later it will need to be replaced.

Wear is not just associated with the length of time we have the implant for, it's also about what we do with it. The more active the patient is the greater the rate of wear and young people tend to be more active than their elders. From my point of view one of my desired outcomes from surgery was to get back to an active life. Maybe a bit more subdued than before (no more rock climbing) but still one where I challenged myself physically from time to time.

I learnt also that weight plays a key role in how quickly a weight bearing joint, such as a hip, lasts. Heavier patients wear out their hips faster than lighter ones. This is true for both the original joint and its replacement. Students of mechanical engineering will understand that 1kg of body weight puts approximately 4kg of pressure on a hip joint.

But did any of this really matter? If a hip replacement is a fairly straightforward, routine operation surely they could just change my implant once it wore out? Sadly that isn't the case.

Revision surgery involves taking out the old implant and replacing it with a new one and is considerably more complex. Second time around (let alone third) there is less bone stock to work with and the tissues surrounding the joint, and holding it together, have lost much of their flexibility. Without that flexibility it is harder to align the new implant optimally and correct alignment is crucial to reduce the rate of wear.

There is also a higher chance of a serious post-operative complications following revision work. These are nasty. They include painful dislocation ( a trip to A&E), infections (possibly necessitating the removal of the new implant to clean out the infection) and deep vein thrombosis (potentially fatal!).

The case seemed to be made - delay surgery - let one implant last a life time.

I was convinced. I was convinced for all of 10 minutes which is when I started to think about what that would mean for me. Years more serious pain and heavy duty medication and an ever dwindling life both inside and outside the home.

I started looking for the other side of the argument. Might the new generation of implants come to my rescue?

With traditional implants the hip side of the replacement joint was made of polyethylene, which wears out relatively quickly. Replacing this to give a metal-on-metal implant worked well and extended the life span of the new joint. Better yet was ceramic-on-ceramic - where both sides of the joint are made from a type of metal oxide known as ceramic. This has a very low rate of wear and unlike its metal-on-metal counterparts isn't associated with potentially hazardous metal ion debris. This form of ceramic is the 2nd hardest substance on the planet - the hardest being diamond. Somehow I doubted that would be available on the NHS. Still 2nd hardest sounded good. How long would that last?

Well the jury is still out on that question, mainly because these new prostheses are still evolving and sufficient time hasn't yet gone by to evaluate their wear rate. It is hoped that they'll last between 25-30 years - about double the life of a traditional implant. A quick calculation and I realised I'd only need one more (unless I was heading for a Guinness Book of Records type of life span).

I was already beginning to swing to the sooner rather than later approach when I found some information discussing the physiological problems associated with delaying surgery. Medics have always acknowledged that delaying surgery meant the patient would have to endure increasing pain and lack of mobility but the approach seemed to be it just had to be endured. Now the consequences of long-term severe pain and limited mobility are being recognised.

Whilst waiting for surgery my hip joint would continue to wear away increasing both the amount of pain I experienced and the need for very strong medication. Furthermore this wear might also gradually deform the joint itself and one consequence of that may be that options for less invasive surgery, such as hip resurfacing, were lost.

But it's not just the affected leg that is being damaged. As the "bad" leg become less able to weight bear the "good" leg must take on more of the work. The danger here is that the additional stress on the "good" leg's hip and knee joints will hasten their decline and may even result in further joint replacement work.

And it didn't stop there. All this pain and decreased mobility would result in weight gain, loss of muscle mass, a deterioration in the quality of life and an inability to carry out activities of daily living such as shopping and socialising. It sounded like a recipe for depression as well.

A survey of younger patients undertaken by hip replacement and recovery.com - a one-stop information shop - showed that almost 30% of younger patients felt they should have had surgery earlier and that delaying surgery had significantly affected their lives. Their most often stated concerns were the loss of quality of life and further damage to their joints. One respondent wrote touchingly about how she had not been able to participate in the lives of her growing family due to pain and immobility.

There is no simple answer as to what is the best time. I believe it is imperative that all hip replacement patients understand the advantages and risks in either going for early surgery or delaying it. Such an understanding will allow an informed discussion with the surgeon. If your surgeon radically disagrees with you and you don't accept his reasoning, then ask to be referred to someone whose views more closely match your own.

Some pointers as to when it might be time for the operation:

  • When the pain wakes you at night

  • When you are taking opiate based medication daily.

  • When you can't walk a mile or carry a bag of shopping.

  • When you realise you can't look after yourself

  • When you're quality of life is significantly diminished.

So did I wait? Well I tried to put it off a bit. I called my consultant who explained that I was already practically bone-on-bone and the maximum I could hold out for was two years. That, we agreed, wouldn't be worth the pain.

I am now 13 weeks post-op and pretty well pain-free. Yesterday I ran up the stairs. I've started going out - shopping and socially. I've got a life again. I love my new hip.

Hip Replacement in Young and Active Patients


More & more young & active patients world wide are in need of hip replacement surgery. In such cases, it is imperative to pay special attention to the technique to ensure a successful outcome & longevity of the operation. Traditionally a total hip replacement was performed in the older age group. Young patients with hip pain either had to endure pain or subject themselves to a total hip replacement with its inherent disadvantages of dislocation and life span of 10 to 15 years. Now, recent advances in bio- materials and techniques have made it possible for young patients to get a satisfactory & successful outcome after a hip arthroplasty. Definition of a young patient - The deciding factor is not necessarily the patient's age, but their activity level. Even many older patients like to play Tennis, Golf or participate in physical activity. This applies also to anyone who can be expected to live for a long time, is biologically (not chronologically) young and has good bone quality.

Today even septuagenarians meet these pre requisites. Surgeons have to re think their conventional strategy of putting in a total hip with a metal on poly bearing. Resurfacing also poses several un answered questions and cannot be considered as a panacea. Causes leading to hip pain in young patients- Avascular necrosis is the leading cause leading to hip arthritis followed by developmental dysplasia of the hip.

Perthes disease, slipped upper femoral epiphyses, sickle cell disease and post traumatic arthritis are other causes leading to the common outcome of secondary osteo-arthritis . In middle and older Caucasian patients, Primary osteoarthritis is the commonest cause of hip pain. Limitations of hip resurfacing Off late, hip resurfacing has been vigorously promoted on the internet as a possible & preferred treatment. However there are some inherent un answered problems with hip resurfacing. Elevated metal ion levels, metal allergy, metallosis are some of the side effects of metal on metal hip resurfacing. The long term impact of raised metal ion levels is unknown. Females in all age groups are high risk candidates because of the risk of fertility curbs in young & femoral neck fracture in the older.

However the attraction of a hip resurfacing drives many females to ignore these risks and choose a hip resurfacing. Dr.Venkatchalam discusses an alternate bone sparing safe approach in young & active patients. These approaches combine the advantages of a hip resurfacing and total hip replacement. Why do you prefer the short stem ? The various short stem prostheses like the Proxima hip & METHA combine the advantages of resurfacing & THR. On the acetabular side a full range of options is available to the surgeon.

The force transfer in the femur is more proximal and more biological. Lack of a distal stem component eliminates the incidence of thigh pain. In addition these implants open up the vast range of bio materials available. All bio-material combinations like metal on metal, metal on poly, ceramic on poly, ceramic on ceramic are possible. These promise excellent longevity. If a revision becomes necessary, then one can switch to a standard stem. Some of these models like the METHA hip make it possible for the surgeon to tailor the implant to the individual's anatomy. What other innovations can you use to ensure a proper implant positioning?

Navigation allows the surgeon to place the implant in the optimal position. What are the special considerations in Asian patients? Dysplasia and osteo necrosis constitute the most common indications for total hip replacement in India & Asia. Primary osteo-arthritis is rare. Moreover these patients are younger and more active. Their social and religious habits such as sitting with crossed legs dictate to the surgeon that he must use a prosthesis which provides a large range of movement. Risk of dislocation has to be reduced.

Anatomic differences also exist. All these variables require a special implant concept and very wear resistant materials with a large diameter. To summarize, treatment of hip arthritis in the young poses a challenge to surgeons and scientists. Hip resurfacing while offering a possible solution has some draw backs. Short stem prostheses with newer bio materials promise to overcome these deficiencies and offer a long lasting surgical outcome.

Meniscus Tear - Recovery Information for Knee Injuries and Knee Pain


If you are suffering from a knee injury keep reading this article. I'm going to provide information to speed up recovery and limit pain. Knee injuries are very common and it is indeed important to figure out what type of injury you are dealing with. Let's take a look at the most common injuries and how to assess recovery.


  • Meniscus Tear - The menisci are shock absorbers and weight distributors for the knee joint. A meniscus tear normally occurs during an improper or fast movement during flexion (knee bent) and rotation of the leg. The meniscus can be torn in 3 degrees of severity. A mild meniscus tear cause slight swelling and discomfort and may limit range of motion for a short term. A second degree tear generally causes increased swelling, additional pain during movement or weight bearing, and takes longer to heal. This type of tear may require surgery. If you have moderate-severe pain and a large amount of swelling see a doctor right away. Your doctor can provide an MRI which he will use to evaluate the seriousness of your injury. A severe tear to the menisci usually almost always requires surgery.

  • Torn ACL or other ligaments - Just like a meniscus tear an ACL tear or other ligament tear can be evaluated in degrees of severity. A minor tear may not require surgery and with proper rehab your knee will be close to 100% functional. A moderate ACL tear may require surgery and will cause more pain and swelling. A complete or severe tear to your ACL will require surgery if you want to play sports or run ever again. Post surgery exercises can be completed to nurse your knee back to optimal health.

Exercises for a meniscus or ligament tear - Post surgery requirements for exercises are much different then folks who decide not to go under the knife. Great examples of exercises to strengthen the muscles around the knee include; stationary bike, reverse incline treadmill walking, hamstring curls, supine limited leg extensions (non weight bearing) Ball wall squats (if no pain) supine ball hamstring curls (limited ROM) and single leg balae exercises (non weight bearing, pain free only). In addition to these exercises make sure you ice your knee to reduce swelling and wear the knee brace prescribed by your doctor.

Oh and try not to take too many pain pills. After my surgery I got addicted to pain killers. Not fun!

Arthritis Knee Pain Relief


Osteoarthritis or simply called knee arthritis is a kind of arthritis that is caused by the breakdown and collapsing of the cartilage. Cartilage is the protective layer between the two joints. It occurs mostly in old males aged 45. There are two causes of knee arthritis; the primary and secondary osteoarthritis. If the cause of arthritis is unknown, it is said to be the earliest. It is related to aging. When a person gets old, the cartilage degenerates also thus; causes the friction of the joints. On the other hand, secondary osteoarthritis is caused by the risk factor condition like obesity, joint surgery, gout, and trauma. A severe joint pain is the symptoms of this kind of arthritis.

The joint pain from knee arthritis is unbearable and might prevent you from doing your normal activities. Knee arthritis pain relief is needed. Apirin and acetaminophen may be enough treatment for mild osteoarthritis. Among the two medicines, acetaminophen is most preferred because it has less side-effect especially to the elderly people. Topical pain relieving cream may also be applied like capsaicin and methyl salicylate. New medications include Voltaren gel and Flector Patch. Both are anti-inflammatory. There are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen and nabumetone. These types of medicines have side-effects, which can be very uncomfortable. Alternative medicine for knee arthritis is available. It includes supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin. A shot of cortisone too may give an effective relief.

In addition to the above medication, weight reduction and stress free lifestyle is advised. Exercise is a helpful activity. It strengthens muscles and bones that support the joints. Exercises suited for this pain are swimming, walking, stationary cycling, and very light weight training.

Above all, resting is the most effective way of treating sore knee joints just physically but emotionally as well.

A visit for doctor's consultation is needed when symptoms persist. There are a lot of medications available for the relief of knee arthritis. Do not sacrifice things from a single pain. Give attention to the early signs and symptoms of knee arthritis and any other abnormalities in your body. Prevention is always better than cure.

ACL Surgery Recovery Timeline


Read the 7 essential tips to speed up the ACL surgery recovery timeline. The typical ACL reconstruction rehabilitation timeline is 6-9months with some going much longer. However if you follow these 7 recovery tips you will see an immediate increase in the rate at which you are recovering.

What affects your ACL recovery rate?


  • Extent if damage done to the ACL during the initial injury

  • Strength of your leg and knee before you have surgery

  • Amount of rehabilitation and post operative physiotherapy you actively participate in

  • The surgeons procedure and skill level matters

  • If there are any medical complication in the surgery or after it

7 Tips to Improve the Surgery Recovery Timeline

1. Use hamstring from your other leg or donor tenant.

After you are healed this technique won't mean you are any better than choosing another technique. However, if you are interested in being able to function quickly minimizing the damage that happens to the injured leg by taking the hamstring from the opposite leg significantly improves the time it takes to be able to walk on the leg

2. Manage Pain Regularly

Managing pain is more than just comfort. If you successfully manage the pain you are more likely to do the exercises you need to do to be able to recover quickly from ACL surgery and maintain the timeline. In order to manage the pain effectively the best thing to do is set a timer and take the medication regularly and NOT only when you feel the pain coming back.

3. Reduce swelling in knee

Reducing the swelling in the knee shortly after surgery makes a big difference in ACL recovery. The sooner you get the swelling down the sooner you can begin the rehabilitation exercises. To bring the swelling down follow the old acronym RICE.

i. Rest
ii. Ice
iii. Compress
iv. Elevate

I recommend using a cryo cuff and keeping it on almost all the time. Just make sure you have circulation and its not too cold if you decide to sleep with it on.

4. Focus on Range of Motion

The first exercises that you do will focus on range of motion and this is so that you will be able to progress to other exercises. Although you may not think range of motion ties directly to strength loss it does since once you have sufficient range of motion you will be able to walk and once you can walk the rate of atrophy significantly declines.

5. Don't be stupid

This one goes without saying but I think one of the main reasons recovery is delayed is when someone does small damage to their knee shortly after surgery. For example if you cant reach something wait for help or get something else don't put yourself and your recently reconstructed knee in dangerous situations.

6. Set yourself up for success

Its important to have everything around you set up so that you can best make use of your time. If you become to stir crazy it will be difficult to focus and stay motivated on your recovery. Make sure you include the things around you that you will find useful during your recovery

i. Food
ii. Pain medication
iii. Water
iv. Alarm clock/timer
v. TV/Movies
vi. Books
vii. Phone
viii. Music

MOST IMPORTANT!...

7. Set an ACL surgery Recovery Timeline with Goals

a. Nothing will have a bigger impact on the rate you recover than having a ACL surgery recovery timeline. The timeline will help keep you motivated and on track while you progress through your rehabilitation. During my first rehabilitation of my first torn ACL I did not have a guide and as soon as I lost focus I stopped going to physiotherapy after 2 months. Having a recovery timeline will keep you working towards your goal of returning to your pre-injury level of activity.

Developing Collegiate American Football - Running Back Strengths


Up Downs Conditioning Drill

Up downs is an excellent conditioning drill that will improve reaction time and endurance. This drill starts by having the players run in place as fast as they can encourage them to get their knees up as high as they can. From time to time the coach will signal to the players, by whistle or a command, to get down - meaning that they drop down do a push up and get back up as quickly as possible to run again. Because this drill can be very taxing, it is important to increase the time spent at this slowly over time as the player's strength increases.

Conditioning: The Quick Jump

Conditioning in football is meant to help you react quickly on the field moving in a variety of directions. This practice drill is intended to increase reaction speed and the ability to quickly change directions. It starts by placing players in a small four square box. The drill starts by having a player stand in one area or box, and has them jump diagonally, laterally, frontwards, and backwards from one area to another. Coaches should encourage one foot jumping to increase further strength and reactions on the field.

Prevent fumbles with strong techniques

You can't run with the football until you have learned some basic ball security measures. There is nothing worse than almost getting a first down or even a touchdown and fumbling the ball, for this reason there is a great need for ball security. A great way to teach tight ball security is with four points. First grab the football with your carrying hand with the tips of the football being covered with your fingers. The second point is your forearm wrapped around the ball and shielding it from the defense. Third, pull the football in close to your bicep to protect it from opponents jabs and attempts to make you fumble. The final point is keeping the football high and tight against the ribcage. Practice holding the football and having defensive players try and knock out the football by any means possible. In this way you can practice great defensive moves to force a fumble, and also focus on offensive ball protection.

Some benefits to Weightlifting

Let's not forget weightlifting. It is one of the essential elements that will help you improve your game. The effects of weight lifting will add muscle to your body and increase strength, this straighten will add to your maximum power. Maximum power differs in importance to strength due to the fact that it is exertion during play and not just muscle mass. Strong and powerful execution will enable fast plays, quick action, and recognition on the field. Weight lifting can cause injuries, and as such we highly recommend having a professional coach on hand during weightlifting sessions. You trainer will also help you accomplish your weightlifting goals and teach you new techniques.

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Exercising Through Injury the Right Way


Injuries - they happen to the best of us. Because if we're exercising the right way, intense and daily, chances are we'll suffer an injury eventually. But just cause we're stuck on the couch with a bum knee doesn't mean we need to abstain from exercise altogether. On the contrary, exercising through injury can actually help speed up the healing process and keep your spirits up. And for active people yearning to get sweaty, performing light exercising around your injury will help you maintain fitness and strength.

First and foremost, listen to your doctor. He or she will probably tell you to take it easy on the heavy weights and the high impact exercises, which is the best advice you can get. Attempting to lift heavy weights before you're ready will only aggravate your injury; and joint impact is what causes most injuries, so imagine what jogging on the concrete will do to your already injured joints. If your doctor gives you the go ahead, there are ways to exercise through injury.

Swimming

Swimming is probably the best exercise for injured athletes. Because the water supports your body weight, there is little to no impact on your joints. Plus, swimming wind sprints is incredibly taxing on your arms, your core, your legs - pretty much your entire body gets a great workout from swimming. You may not sweat while swimming, but you'll definitely working hard!

Biking

Whether you're out on the road or on a stationary machine, the biking motion isn't just a low impact, safe way to get a cardio workout; it's also a therapeutic way to rehabilitate your knee after injury. The constant fluid motion puts your knees through their full range of motion, allowing you to stretch your stiff post-surgery limbs and get them back in working condition. If you feel up to it, increase the resistance or head uphill for a killer way of exercising through injury.

Rowing

Using a rowing machine, or even getting out on the water in a boat, is a great way to exercise your upper body through an injury. If your legs are injured, rowing won't aggravate them. If your upper body is injured, the circular, steady motion won't put too much stress on your joints. Of course, before exercising through injury, start out slow and pick up the pace if you feel up to it.

Replacements

You can effectively replace your favorite workouts if you're saddled with an injury, simply by trying out new workouts that don't affect the injured area. If you can't run, try doing high reps of sit-ups, push-ups, or pull-ups, which will get your heart racing and build strength (if you do it with enough intensity). If you've got a herniated disc and are unable to squat heavy weights, try doing body weight squats instead. You probably won't gain any strength, but at least you'll work up a sweat and maintain strength.

Burpees

And perhaps the greatest body weight exercise of all is the burpee. Done correctly, the burpee will target your lower body, upper body, all while giving you a cardio workout similar to doing sprints. Simply start in the squat position. Drop your hands to the floor and perform a push-up, then bring your feet up and explode upwards into a squat. Come back down and repeat. The first few seem easy enough, but once you hit double digits you'll be pouring sweat. It's very low impact and doesn't require any heavy weights, so the burpee can be an effective way to exercise through injury.

Are Bumps on Finger Joints Signs of Arthritis?


If you have bumps on your finger joints you may have early signs of arthritis.

About two years ago, a friend of mine who is in her 40's came to me for advice about arthritis. Her doctor had told her that her neck was like she was 65 years old. Not only did she have arthritis in her neck, but in her feet as well. My friend is passionate about horse riding - how much longer will she be able to do that?

Both my parents had arthritis - my father's was in his feet and hands, my mother's in her back. My husband has arthritis in his knee - a result of a rugby injury and having cartilage removed. Arthritis is both painful and debilitating.

What causes arthritis?

There are two types of arthritis - osteoarthritis (the most common, caused by wear and tear) and rheumatoid arthritis (inflammation of the joints due to an autoimmune disease).

According to Doctor Ray Strand "over 70% of the people over 50 years of age have some degree of degenerative arthritis ".

Joint fluid from an inflamed joint, contains excessive free radicals. To counter free radical damage we need to consume a diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables and to supplement with optimal levels of antioxidants which include Vitamin E, beta-carotene, selenium, Vitamin D and Vitamin C. It is also advised to consume glucosamine which supports healthy cartilage.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease - caused by a virus or bacteria. The immune system becomes confused and it attacks itself rather than the bacteria or virus. The joints become inflamed causing chronic inflammation, pain and swelling; and the joint fluid which is usually thick becomes thin, so the cartilage becomes less protective.

My horse-riding friend is a 'health nut' - she eats organic food and has a healthy lifestyle. But that hasn't been enough to prevent Osteoarthritis. My suggestion is to add advanced-quality broad spectrum nutritional supplements - antioxidants, multi-vitamins, multi-minerals, glucosamine and omega-3 to a healthy lifestyle to support healthy joints and bones. And to also continue with exercise to maintain fitness, muscle strength, heart health, relieve pain and stiffness and to get better quality of sleep.