Saturday, November 16, 2013

Patellofemoral Joint Replacement - What Exactly is Involved?


The total knee replacement (or arthroplasty) is a very common operation and brings great relief to many sufferers of osteoarthritis. A patellofemoral replacement is a much less common procedure and because of this is more difficult to find information on.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease characterized by the loss of articular cartilage and resulting in pain and deformity. The knee is a very common site for osteoarthritis. As this type of arthritis is typical in weight bearing joints, it is most common in the knee between the tibia (shin bone)and the femur (thigh bone). It is not unusual for there to be coinciding patellofemoral arthritic changes when the weight bearing surfaces are worn. This is why the patellofemoral joint is frequently replaced at the same time as the tibiofemoral joint.

What is more unusual is the isolated patellofemoral joint replacement. This is the joint between the femur and the patella (kneecap). It is unusual because the joint is considered minimally weight bearing and as such is usually less affected by years of use. This is why patellofemoral replacements are usually the result of a previous significant event such as a fracture or a long term anatomical difference. This is the reason the main weight bearing surfaces are intact in these cases.

In fitting with modern surgical practice, a patellofemoral replacement only replaces the affected areas. The prostheses used are very different from the traditional total knee replacements. The back surface of the kneecap is replaced along with the groove at the front of the femur, and that is all.

The rehabilitation following the surgery is basically the same as that of a total knee replacement. The time in hospital is often less however as there is less significant bony disruption and potentially less pain.

Because isolated patellofemoral osteoarthritis is usually the result of trauma, those undergoing a replacement tend to be younger. For this reason they have higher physical expectations of their replaced knee and they may not last as long as they would in a more elderly patient.

When health professionals talk of prosthesis failure the usual cause is prosthesis loosening. The materials used today are very resilient and it is not the replacement that usually fails but the junction between the replacement and the bone itself.

One of the key benefits of the patellofemoral replacement is that it does not significantly affect any future total knee replacements. This means that it can be performed in relatively young people and delay the need for total knee arthroplasty.

The ability to operate on younger people adds an extra step in the treatment chain and can result in osteoarthritis sufferers experiencing much less pain in the lead up to a total knee replacement.

The usual recommendations for arthritis sufferers still remain:

Lose Weight if possible
Increase exercise levels
Gain Quadriceps strength
Take appropriate analgesia

Patellofemoral osteoarthritis can be a life changing condition. It is always wise to investigate all non surgical options before going down the surgical route. If you have honestly done everything you can to hold back the pain of patellofemoral arthritis but have been unable to manage it, discuss the surgical options with your Consultant. They will let you know if you are suitable for this kind of surgery.

The Controversy About Leg Extension Machines


Professionals within the fitness industry are used to lively debate. We are accustomed to hearing researchers argue dynamic vs. static stretching. We have heard many opinions about the best ways to build muscle: low weight, high reps or heavy weight, low reps. And the debates continue. One such controversy involves the use of particular weight lifting machines common to many gyms. Are these machines a good use of your time and energy? Can some of these machines actually be a detriment to your health and fitness?

Leg extension machines are a controversial weight machine. These machines have a seat and a padded bar that rest at the juncture of the leg and foot. As you lean back in the seat, you lift the legs up until they are nearly straight and then slowly let the legs back down. The amount of weight your legs lift can be adjusted.

If you use this type of machine, you are focusing your lifting efforts on your quadriceps (the large muscles of your front thigh area)-namely the vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius, and the rectus femoris. Interestingly, this machine lets the hamstring muscles completely relax as the quadriceps do all of the work. Many avid lifters are attracted to this particular machine because they feel that this isolation really helps them emphasize each of the four muscles in the quadriceps. And of course, if you get judged on your physique while posing, you want some major muscle definition. They're right about this isolation, but are leg extension machines a good weightlifting choice for the average person?

I think not. Of course, as is to be expected with any controversy or debate, there are various schools of thought regarding leg extensions. Some say these machines are hard on knees. Others say the machine has a common rehabilitative method for knee injury or knee surgery is the leg extension machine. How can both be true? I would suggest that using leg extensions in a rehab atmosphere works because light weight is used to correct muscular imbalances. But if we are talking about the typical person doing leg extensions on the machine at my gym, they are not lifting 5 or 10 pounds. Rather, they're lifting much more weight. Such a difference in weight makes a tremendous difference in terms of how the knee is affected.

Other common criticisms of the leg extension machine:

A condition known as Chondrolmalcia Patella may be brought on by the leg extension machine. This painful condition makes the kneecap's normally fluid, smooth arc of motion crooked and pulls the kneecap out of alignment.

A 1988 study found that tension on the anterior cruciate ligament happened when lifters fully extended their legs during the leg extension exercise. This tension could ultimately cause a tear. Tears often require surgery.

A lot of people have muscular imbalances because they are out of balance in terms of hamstring vs. quadriceps strength. This muscular imbalance can bring on a host of knee issues.

But you might be thinking, "What can I do in place of the leg extension machine?" Squats, when done correctly, are the absolute best exercise for leg strengthening. Squats are the king of leg exercises. Don't go for isolation while you ignore other muscles. Squats are also a functional exercise. This means that they mimic natural movements that people use throughout their everyday lives.

Use your gym time wisely. Work all of those leg muscles at once by doing squats. Leave the leg extension machines to the professional bodybuilders.

What is Runner's Knee?


Runner's knee is a term used to describe a constellation of symptoms of knee pain that is frequently encountered in running athletes. Other terms that have been used to describe this condition are "anterior knee pain", "chondromalacia patella", or "patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS)". Runner's knee involves the kneecap, quadriceps tendon, patellar tendon, and the associated soft tissues that are critical to extension of the knee. Historically, "runner's knee" was attributed to irritation and softening of the cartilage lining on the undersurface of the kneecap ("chondromalacia"). More recently, however, it has been recognized that overloading of the underlying ("subchondral") bone can be a substantial source of pain, as it has a rich nerve supply. The soft tissues and fat pad in the front knee can be causes of pain as well.

Who gets Runner's Knee?

While classically associated with long-distance running, any activity that places significant stresses on the front of the knee joint ("patellofemoral") can result "runner's knee". This includes repetitive jumping sports like basketball or volleyball, as well as skiing, cycling, and soccer. The repetitive pressure and stress between the femur and patella in these sports can result in softening of the cartilage and abnormal loading of the underlying bone.

How does Runner's Knee present?

Runner's knee presents as activity-related pain in the front of the knee and around the kneecap. While the pain develops during athletic activity, it can often be most pronounced afterwards during a period of rest. Pain is also felt after sitting for a long period of time with the knees bent - the bent position actually increases the pressure between the kneecap and femur. For the same reason, marathon runners will often paradoxically complain of greater difficulty running downhill rather than uphill. Kneeling, squatting, or direct pressure on the front of the knees may be uncomfortable as well.

What things might predispose me to Runner's Knee?

The kneecap and its cartilage is subject to very high forces with daily activities, and any injury to the cartilage or factors which result in increased pressure between it and the thigh bone ("femur") can increase the risk of "Runner's Knee". These include:

o Malalignment of the kneecap and/or leg
o Subluxation or dislocation of the kneecap
o Direct trauma to the kneecap
o Overuse with running and jumping activities
o Wide hips and/or "knock knees" (valgus) resulting in maltracking of the kneecap
o A weak quadriceps/vastus medialis muscle
o Flat feet ("pronated" feet)
o Direct trauma to the kneecap
o Overuse with running and jumping activities
o Wide hips and/or "knock knees" (valgus) resulting in maltracking of the kneecap
o A weak quadriceps/vastus medialis muscle
o Flat feet ("pronated" feet)

In certain cases, runner's knee results from irritation or injury to the soft tissue around the kneecap. For this reason, inadequate muscle strength and/or stretching of the thigh and calf muscles can predispose to "Runner's Knee" as well.

What can I do to prevent Runner's Knee?

While certain predisposing factors such as kneecap and leg alignment are not in the control of an athlete, other preventative measures can be taken to minimize the risk of "runner's knee". These include:

o Quadriceps and vastus medialis strengthening - a strong quadriceps and, specifically, the vastus medialis muscle will improve the tracking of the kneecap and help to minimize contact pressures between the kneecap and thigh bone.
o Keep your weight down - the patellofemoral joint experiences forces that are 8 to 10 times our body weight, such that even small reductions in weight can significantly reduce the forces on the kneecap. Ten pounds of weight loss can be as much as 80 to 100 pounds less force of the kneecap when climbing or descending stairs.
o Stretch before running or jumping activities - Strains of the patellar tendon, quadriceps tendon, or other soft tissues that stabilize the patella can cause significant anterior knee pain. Warming up and stretching both before and after exercise can help to prevent strain injuries to these structures.
o Wear proper shoes and orthotics - Flat feet ("pronated" feet) can predispose to maltracking problems and knee pain. Orthotics to reconstitute the arch of the foot can help to alleviate these symptoms. High heels can also worsen anterior knee pain and should be avoided if you have "runner's knee" symptoms.
o Plan for a good running surface - Running on a flat surface without steep, downhill slopes can help to prevent significant stress on the knee cap. Even, padded surfaces and good running shoes can help as well.

How is Runner's Knee diagnosed in athletes?

Usually, the diagnosis of "runner's knee" can be made in athletes based on the history and physical examination of the knee by your sports medicine specialist. The exam will evaluate the stability of the kneecap as well as alignment of the leg. Signs of tenderness under the kneecap and/or instability will be assessed. Strength and tone of the quadriceps and hamstrings will also be determined. Flexibility of the feet and loss of the arch should also be noted as this will predispose to kneecap problems. X-rays, MRI, and CT scans can all be useful adjuncts depending on the examination findings and symptoms. Special views can show the position and alignment of the patella in its groove on the thigh bone ("trochlea"). Tilting of the patella that leads to abnormal contact pressures can be appreciated. If instability of the kneecap is suspected, CT scan can help to determine abnormalities in alignment and position. MRI is useful to evaluate for softening or injury to the cartilage on the kneecap and femur.

What is the treatment for Runner's Knee?

The first line of treatment for "runner's knee" is typically nonoperative. Recommendations include:

o Stop running, jumping, or any of the activities that cause pain in the knee. Even though it is difficult, the athlete must refrain from competition until he/she is pain-free. Fortunately, low-impact activities such as swimming or cycling can allow the athlete to maintain their aerobic fitness while protecting the patellofemoral joint.
o Avoid running down hills or down steep slopes or stairs that increase pressure on the kneecap.
o Ice and anti-inflammatory medications can certainly help to relieve the pain in the front of the knee.
o In certain cases, taping of the kneecap ("McConnell taping") or use of stabilizing braces for the kneecap can help. These are particularly useful in the setting of instability of the kneecap.
o If the athlete has flat feet ("pronation"), orthotic inserts to reconstitute the arch can be extremely useful to alleviate symptoms.
o When the knee is pain-free, a course of rehabilitation for range-of-motion of the knee and strengthening of the quadriceps and vastus medialis muscle may be useful.

However, exercises that are performed with the knee bent should be avoided, as the pressure beneath the kneecap is increased in this position. Instruction on preventative stretching exercises for the quadriceps, hamstring, and calf muscles is very important as well. In rare circumstances, the knee will continue to be painful and refractory to all of the nonoperative measures described above. When the pain of "Runner's Knee" prevents the athlete from returning to play, surgery may be considered.

The specific treatment will depend on the underlying cause for the pain. Arthroscopic ("minimally invasive" camera-based) surgery can be pursued to manage softening or damage of the articular cartilage of the kneecap and thigh bone. If there is accompanying instability of the knee cap, soft tissue reconstructive procedures or re-alignment of the leg ("osteotomy") may be performed to improve the tracking of the patella. These may also be performed to relieve abnormally high pressures between the kneecap and femur.

Osteoarthritis Treatment With Homeopathy


In simplest terms, osteoarthritis is nothing but failure of joint pattern. It is certainly a degenerative joint disease, characterized by degeneration of articular cartilage and proliferation of new bone, cartilage, and connective tissue at the same time. Often secondary inflammatory changes are observed in the synovium.
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Sadly the incidence of osteoarthritis seems to be on rise according to global surveys. The age onset of OA is reducing drastically over the period of last few years. Now the incidence is stated to start at the age of 30 years and by the age of 65, more than 80% people have degenerative changes in their joints. Older women are peculiarly affected more and certain geological variations are found too.
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Causative and Risk Factors of Osteoarthirits-
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(1) The primary etiology of OA is termed as idiopathic where no known cause can be determined.
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(2) Secondary OA results due to some or the other systemic or local factors as below-
- intra-articular fracture
- trauma of any type
- occupational (elbows in pneumatic drill operators)
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Gout
- Tabes dorsalis
- Diabetes mellitus
- Peripheral nerve lesions
- Metabolic diseases like Wilson's disease
- Hip dysplasia
- Paget's disease etc
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(3) Sedentary habits, improper diet habits, sports injuries, absolute lack of exercise or overt exercise regimes, etc can be called as some of the modifiable risk factors of OA
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Signs and Symptoms of OA-

  1. In most cases, joints of spine, hands, knees, and hips are involved

  2. At least initially, only one or a few joints are affected

  3. Knee and hand involvement is peculiar

  4. Characteristically the first few joints to be involved are distal and proximal interphalangeal joints, carpo-metacarpal joints of thumb, etc.

  5. Gradual onset of symptoms

  6. Intermittent pain and aching in joints typically is aggravated by movement of that joint and is better by resting it

  7. With the advancement of the disease process, limited movement of joints is noticed. Initially this restriction of movement is attributed to pain and spasm of muscles but later capsular fibrosis, osteophyte formation, and remodeling of bone set in.

  8. After minor sprains or twists, there are usually effusions into the joints when crepitus may be felt or even heard.

  9. Associated muscular wasting is noted, because of which there is loss of muscle control over the joint, resulting in recurrent injury.

  10. Due to hyperaemia of subchondral bone, there is usually nocturnal aching in bones

  11. Deformities like Heberden's or Bouchard's node formation, and finally osteoarthritis deformans may set in.
How Homeopathy Can Help in the Patients of Osteoarthritis?
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Homeopathy is not a magic. It is a full-proof science and art of applying the nature's principle while treating any disease with the natural drug substances aptly potentized to extract their curative properties. Therefore homeopathic principle is the most important one to be considered while treating any disease condition or the patient (more aptly).
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The most important thing to remember while treating a case of OA homeopathically is that "Pay ample attention to characteristic symptoms of the disease and not to the common ones!"
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It happens many times that a homeopath puts a common symptom of the disease as his priority while choosing the drug and as can be well judged, it leads to failure. Also paying good attention to the mental picture of the patient prior to catching the disease, during the disease process, and while on regime is one of the topmost priority while treating OA. You will observe that the "mind" is the organ that gives you good hint for appropriate remedial diagnosis in osteoarthritis patient.
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Here we are listing top 10 remedies that may be of use during acute treatment phase of chronic osteoarthritis. Remember again that there is no alternative to constitutional therapy to be formulated individually for every patient, to help him find relief on all planes, while reducing his OA successfully.
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Homeopathic Remedies for OA-
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(1)Calcarea fluor-
- Indurated feeling of joints with stiffness
- Stony hardness of joints
- Nodal swelling in fingers that are hard on palpation
- Chronic synovitis and bursitis affecting hip and knee joint
- Sluggish temperament
- Coldness about wrists and ankles
- May be associated with varicose veins
- Pain usually begins on left side
- Worse in cold wet weather and while beginning to move
- Acute attack of pain in joint usually sets after a sprain
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(2)Sticta-
- Stiff, rheumatic diathesis
- Rheumatism usually beginning in upper extremities
- Diagonal pains
- Soreness and stiffness in joints of neck extending to shoulders
- Old-maid's OA of knee
- Red spot on the affected joint
- Associated with restlessness of hands and feet and profuse sweats on hands
- Bursitis with cold moist limbs
- Incessant talking
- Worse by change in temperature, movement, night
- Better in open air
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(3)Ruta-
- Bruised sore aching in all bones
- Nodal osteoarthritis
- Paralytic rigidity of joints
- Weak paretic feeling in the mornings in hip, small of back, lower limbs etc
- Deep felt pains in long bones
- Osteoporotic changes in bones in elderly women with frequent bone fractures attributed to brittleness of bones
- Affections of wrists and ankles
- Feeling of heat on skin face etc
- Sometimes burning neuralgic pains about the joints
- Worse by over-exertion, sprains, cold wind
- Better by motion, lying on back and warmth
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(4)Bryonia-
- Right-sided complaints
- Slowly advancing osteoarthritis
- Stitching pains in joints
- Irritable constitutions
- Inflammatory joint diseases affecting knee, shoulder, hips, etc
- Associated with absolute constipation, no desire
- Dry heat aggravates all complaints including joint pathology
- Congestive synovitis
- Worse by motion, stooping, exertion, morning
- Better by rest, cool open air, bandaging, damp days, lying on painful part
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(5)Belladona-
- Acute inflammation of joints
- Marked redness and heat over the affected joint
- Congestive constrictive pain in joints
- Excessive restlessness with incessant talking
- Joint pains with spasms of muscles
- OA starting at young age
- Worse by heat, checked sweats, pressure, touch, movement
- Better by light covering, rest in bed
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(6)Rhus tox-
- Paretic weakness in and around joints
- Recurrent sensation of dislocation of joints
- Sore, bruised or stiff pains about joints
- Swelling in joints with burning pains
- Principally left side is affected or the pain goes from left to right
- OA set after recurrent sprain of a joint or after overexertion
- Paralytic pains in elbows and knees
- Legs feel as if made of wood
- Wakes up with pain in limbs
- Edematous swelling of limbs
- Worse by wet, cold, beginning motion, rest, sprains, etc
- Better by continued motion, wrapping the joint, rubbing, and fomentation
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(7)Rhododendron-
- Fibrous tissues are affected
- Small joints of hands are principally affected, also those of forearm and lower limbs
- Extreme sensitivity to windy stormy and wet weather
- Rapidly changing pains, zigzag variety
- Descending pains
- Confused stupid feeling prevails
- Affections of wrists
- Worse before storms, rough windy weather, night, rest
- Better by heat, in sun, motion, wrapping up
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(8)Pulsatilla-
- Venous constitutions
- Swollen joints with dull aching
- Associated with numbness of extremities
- Acute periostitis
- Pains down the limbs alternate sides, with heaviness of legs
- Sticking pains in tibia with heaviness and cold sweat on legs
- Associated with foul foot sweat
- Chilly patient, yet averse to heat in any form
- Associated with digestive disturbances
- Worse by warmth, rest, beginning motion, evening, lying down, in bed
- Better by moving about slowly, cold, open air, after a good cry
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(9)Ledum pal-
- Affection of small joints
- Tendons, ankles affected
- Left-sided affection of joints
- Ascending type of arthritis
- Purple, swollen (puffy) joints
- Shifting tearing pains
- Cold and edematous joints
- Gout
- OA resulting from recurrent sprains, especially of ankle joint
- Pain associated with coldness of joints
- Profuse night sweats
- Worse by injury, motion, night
- Better by cool air, cold bathing
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(10)Actea spicata-
- Affection of small joints, especially wrist and finger joints
- Tingling pains with numbness and weakness
- Paralytic weakness in all joints
- OA set in old age, in people with debilitated states
- Swollen joints that cannot be moved
- Deformed joints
- Extremely sensitive joints to cold in any form
- Worse by cold, slight exertion, night, and touch
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Auxiliary Line of Treatment-
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In any case of osteoarthritis, one must suggest certain exercise regimen for early recovery. Rather, any regime without it is of no use in the long run. Also it is stressed that unless the pain is lessened, one should not exert the affected joint beyond certain limits. Therefore, seeking professional advice before you embark on any exercise regime is must!

What I Learned From Rocky Balboa


What I Learned from Rocky Balboa. I saw Rocky Balboa yesterday with my son Chris. It is a typical Rocky movie and worth the time and money for all you underdog fans, especially you older folks who need a bit of inspiration to get out of that easy chair. (Sylvester Stallone is 60!) By the way, he is working on Rambo IV to be released in 2008!

I won't tell you about the movie but there was three lines that I heard that we can all learn something from.
As close as I can remember they are:

"Life is hard and it will knock you down, but it is not about how hard you get knocked down, its about how far you keep going forward after you get knocked down that matters."

From the minute we are born life is a struggle, it always was and always will be. We start by struggling to breath, roll over and then to crawl. We start to stand and we fall down time and time again until we learn to balance ourselves upright. Then comes that task of walking and running that is accompanied with cuts scraps and bruises. Do we stop? No we press on in spite of the pain, in spite of the struggles, in spite of the falls. Then for most, we tackle a bicycle, roller-skates, and baseball, with more falls, cuts and scrapes. We fight to get good grades in school, we fight for friendships and we fight for love. We fight to keep a marriage together and we fight for our children and when we are old, we still fight off sickness and pain and hurt from the aging process just to stay alive. Good fighters not only have to train for speed and power but they also need to be able to take a hit and keep going. If they get knocked down, they have to get up and keep going until the final bell rings.

Folks, life is going to knock you down, it will deliver you some disastrous blows that will not only knock the wind out of your sails, but it will drive you to your knees. Be it through disappointments, health issues, death of a loved one, or loss of a job, rest assure you will encounter one of life's deadly blows. Everyone does. But it is the ones who get up before they are counted out who have a chance at seeing the victory. These people look toward the prize. They know that failure is not about getting hit and knocked down, that is to be expected when you are in a fight. Failure is staying down and not getting back up before the bell rings.

God will one day ring the final bell for us, it is then when our battle will be over and not until then. If you are still breathing, you should still be fighting. Don't ever give up, be it in ministry, relationships, finances or health. If you have encountered one of life's deadly blows, take a moment to catch your breath and renew your strength and then get up, put your faith in your trainer (Jesus) and press on toward the goal and remember; all around you are people who are fighting, they need someone who has experience to help them get through life as well, why not find someone and teach them what you know?

"You are a fighter, that's what fighters do, they fight."

When you know what you are, it is much easier to do what you need to do. Me? I am a preacher, motivator, and part time writer, that is what I am and what I do. Auto mechanics work on cars, plumbers plumb, Carpenters build and writers write. If you don't accept what you are and the gifts God gave you, you will never be satisfied with your life and you will always be running after something else. I know, I struggled with it for years and it wasn't until I gave up running after everything I wasn't and focused on becoming what I was, did I even begin to be satisfied. I love to sing, but if you have ever sat in front of me in church you will know that I can't sing, Oh I got the noise part down pat, but the joyful part, well that is one gift God hasn't given me. No matter how many CDs I cut, I will never be successful at it, so I don't even try. Folks God has given gifts to men, we all can do certain things that other people cannot do. I cannot handle the things nurses have to handle, my stomach will not tolerate it, so I cannot make it as a nurse. But praise God for the ones who can! Some people cannot stand before a crowd and speak, I have no problem with that. What is it that God has gifted you with?

What comes natural to you? If you want to live a full and satisfying life, you must find out what that gift is, be it raising and teaching children, cooking, writing, serving, driving a truck or running a company. Whatever gifts God gave you, focus on becoming the best at them and be satisfied. If it is a struggle to do what you do, maybe your doing something you shouldn't.

"Who has the right to tell someone they can't do something when they pass all the requirements."

This is one area where we have to be careful. Sometimes in man's desire to make sure things are done right, they often discard those who are gifted and called simply because they haven't met the requirements that man put in place.

I have met many gifted and talented musicians that have never had a lesson in their life, yet if anyone asked us what we would have to do to play a certain instrument we would tell them they would have to find a teacher and take lessons. To which I would respond, yes that is the typical way but not always the only way. Some people have been gifted and qualified by God to do certain things and who are we to say they cannot or should not do them just because they didn't go through mans way of doing them. The bible tells us to examine and test the spirit, not to discard them just because they haven't met our requirements. Just look at every person God used in the bible and show me one whom man would have chosen for the task. We need to see if the person is gifted for the task in spite of his ability to prove it on paper.

How many pastors are there that have all kinds of degrees but can't seem to hold a church together? Yet man still puts them in place only because of some piece of paper they have. You can take this same question and apply it in the work force; we have all kinds of trained and qualified people in positions yet how many times do we run across people who are lousy at their job?

Called people do not need to be forced to practice, study or improve themselves. My oldest son plays the piano and my youngest the drums, they both can play fairly well, yet have never had a lesson and I never had to tell them to practice, to learn or buy music books. They did it all on their own. No one has ever had to tell me keep learning how to be a better pastor or to do research on something that I am gifted in. It is a part of me, it is a pleasure and I want to do it and will do it regardless if anyone tells me to or not.

Bottom line; When you are looking for someone to fill a task, look for the called and gifted BEFORE you look for the ones who have been qualified by man. It will make all the difference in the world.

And you thought Rock Balboa was just a movie about some old has-been getting back into the ring?

Tips For Massaging Babies Who Don't Like Being Massaged


My aim is to create Happy Babies through massage but of course not all babies lie there cooing as you lovingly perform infant massage techniques on them. From running classes and teaching hundreds of parents and babies it is not uncommon at all for babies to howl indignantly at the first sign of massage, and the worst thing you can do is grit your teeth and carry on - you run the risk of creating a negative association in their minds. So I have written this short article to help those mums with babies who don't like being massaged.

So why bother? Surely if the baby doesn't like it, just don't do it? Well of course that is an option but when you consider all the fantastic benefits of infant massage it is worth trying some of the ideas discussed here.

Tip #1 Set the Scene

Think about the environment and your baby. Is it warm, calm, quiet? A sensitive baby being undressed in a draughty church hall with six other babies when they are used to quiet, peaceful days at home just the two of you, is likely to protest. Some babies love the social interaction of being with other babies, and being in a new, simulating environment, and some don't. Think about which you baby is and set the scene accordingly. Choose a smaller class, in a warmer environment, or get a DVD or download and practice at home.

Tip #2 Dress (and undress) Wisely

If you are going to a class, or doing the routine at home, dress your baby in loose, comfortable clothes. Sleep suits are ideal. Tugging and pulling clothes off a baby can be a bit stressful for them so make things as easy as possible for both of you. Undress them slowly and gently, with lots of positive encouragement to make them feel happy and comfortable. A major problem with small babies is that they feel insecure when naked (don't we all?!) so bear this in mind. Place a muslin or blanket over the parts of the body that aren't being massaged. This prevents them getting cold and increases their feelings of security, so unless your baby is one that loves to be naked at any opportunity (mine were, and frankly still are) this is a good strategy.

Think about your own massages (you do remember them right? A long, long time ago...) and how you are draped with towels and only the section you are having massaged is exposed. For newborns, temperature regulation is very important so I would recommend massaging in the home for the first few weeks. For the baby who point blank refuses to be undressed happily, or the parent who want to massage without getting involved with oil (whilst out and about for example) it is lovely to massage through the clothes. Single layer is best and gentle effleurage to the back and legs whilst being help upright to the shoulder is very calming and soothing - I imagine you do this naturally anyway so you are already practicing baby massage every day! If they are not happy lying flat on the floor sit with your back supported and let them lie on your knees, that way they can see you better too.

Tip #3 Timing is everything

The time of day you massage is important, but I can't tell you the best time for you. This is one of the most common questions I get asked but it is so individual to each baby's routine but my advice is always this: Massage at your baby's happiest time. Every baby has a good period of the day - some its mid morning, some mid afternoon and some around bedtime. The common consensus has often been to make massage part of the bedtime routine and I would support that, but not if by the time the bath is done, your baby is screaming hungry and exhausted. That is not the time to start massage.

Evenings can also often be a manic time, with partners arriving home and whipping baby up into a frenzy, or older siblings wanting their share of your attention, or people to feed (sometimes even yourself) and so on. So in some cases it seems madness to try and fit 'massage the baby for 20 mins' into this time when you have spent all morning sat just the two of you watching Jeremy Kyle and eating hobnobs (just me then?). I have found from the feedback from my mums at classes that massage in the morning leads to better quality daytime naps that day and improved sleep that evening. Also if you are massaging for colic, mid morning is a calm, quiet time and massaging then seems to have a positive knock on effect on that evenings' colicky time. So make positive associations and massage when you are both at your best.

Tip #4 Fit it into your schedule, not the other way round

Another point I should make here is that you shouldn't feel that you must sit and perform a full 20 minute routine every day - I am sure you have enough to worry about without feeling guilty that you haven't done massage too! Try to fit in a full massage a couple of times a week, yes, that is great, but also be creative, and fit it into your routine not the other way round. I'm passionate about massaging the feet (since I am a trained reflexologist) so I would recommend massaging the feet every day, and a good time to do this is during a nappy change (and there are enough of those in the day) and when they are having a little kick about.

Tip #5 Be Happy

If you have a baby who isn't so keen on being massaged, it can be easy to feel tense prior to starting, especially in a group situation. Your baby will pick up on this through your body language and their own sixth sense! Stretch, get comfy and relax yourself before starting. Make sure you have everything to hand (oil, wipes, towel). maintain eye contact and smile! If you are concentrating hard and looking at your hands rather then at them, then they can get a little concerned. Eye contact, smiling and singing silly songs all help!

I hope the above helps if you have a baby that isn't so keen on being massaged. You may also find that as time goes on different moves are preferred and disliked so it is important to try again in a few weeks and see if things have changed. Enjoy your baby!

Friday, November 15, 2013

Pain and Stiffness Getting Up and Sitting Down


You're told that you have arthritis. Is it the knee, hip, back or neck? Well, you're not alone. Osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease can be common if you don't take care and maintain your muscles, bones and joints.

Osteoarthritis commonly affected weight bearing bones and joints such as the hips, knees and spine. The synovial fluid inside the hip, knee and spinal articulations lubricates and nourishes the joints, cartilages and intervertebral discs. Joint and cartilage nutrients are absorbed by osmosis. By-products are also excreted by osmosis.

Osmosis is the movement of things through a pressure gradient. Joint movement and mobility create a pressure gradient inside the joint that pumps and circulates synovial fluid just like the heart pumps and circulates blood and its contents.

If the articulation is restricted and the range of motion is reduced then synovial fluid cannot circulate and nourish the joints, cartilages and intervertebral discs. Restricted joints wear out their bones, cartilages and intervertebral discs quicker than those that are allowed to bend and turn without any hindrance.

Watch how people walk at the mall or on the street. You'll notice that some waddle like a penguin as they walk. Those people have restricted mobility in their hips, pelvic and may be even the knees. Imagine how much extra wear and tear is put on the joints with each step.

Other factors that influence the development of osteoarthritis include lifestyle, nutrition and fitness level. The amount of wear and tear of osteoarthritis is not age-related.

Have you ever wondered why your arthritic knee, hip, back or neck is stiffer in the morning or after sitting down for a while? You may even feel some aches and pain. As you get up, it's quite stiff and sore to take the first few steps. But after moving around for a bit, the stiffness and soreness gradually decrease.

As you begin to move, you're creating a pressure gradient in the joint. And when the pressure is high enough, the synovial fluid begins to circulate and lubricate the joint easing the stiffness. With restricted joints, the range of motion is reduced; it takes longer to reach the required pressure level for circulation, lubrication and osmosis.

A common way to increase joint mobility is to increase flexibility. It's sad, but true. As you get older you lose flexibility and strength in muscles, tendons and ligaments. Daily routine of stretching is a good way to maintain joint flexibility and preventing further osteoarthritis.

Another popular way is to take nutritional supplements, especially glucosamine sulphate. Healthy and unrestricted joints make their own glucosamine sulphate. As you get older, the amount of glucosamine sulphate produces decreases. Glucosamine sulphate prevents premature degeneration of cartilages. It also helps retention of synovial fluid to hydrate the joints. Without glucosamine sulphate synovial fluid level becomes inadequate. Restricted joints do not make and absorb enough glucosamine sulphate which causes the intervertebral discs, cartilages and joints to degenerate quicker.

Guess what? Glucosamine sulphate circulates within the joint and absorbs to the cartilages and intervertebral discs by osmosis.

Consider taking glucosamine sulphate instead of glucosamine chondroitin. The body cannot effectively absorb glucosamine chondroitin; its molecular structure is too big to be absorbed. Furthermore, take glucosamine sulphate with MSM. Methyl Sulfonyl Methane (MSM) improves the absorption of glucosamine sulphate. You may not notice any quick improvement with glucosamine sulphate since it takes about 3-4 weeks to show any results.

And finally, chiropractic treatments are an excellent way to prevent osteoarthritis and maintain any farther degradation of osteoarthritis. Chiropractic treatments improve joint mobility and increase the range of motion which is critical in creating osmosis and pressure gradient. Chiropractic treatments also restore restricted joints to their normal state of function and movement.

Knee Brace For Children - Even a Child Can Get a Brace to Help Support Their Knees! - Special Report


Knee Braces For Children

How are your child's knees doing? - Do they ever complain that they have sore knees, or maybe something worse?

Introduction: Knee braces are not just meant for the high profile adult athlete that has blown their ACL! Knee supports for children can really help to reduce knee pain and improve their overall knee stability. Sometimes you can get a knee support that will not only due these things, but it will also help provide them with padded protection if and when they play contact sports.

1.) The Reasons Why Your Child Could Benefit from Support

We have all heard the stories of how kids having growing pains. Sometimes it is Osgood Schlatter's disease, or sometimes it is actually a ligament problem that causes the pain or instability. The reasons may vary, but the bottom line is that you can not always just leave them in pain. Low profile, light weight knee braces can really take your child's stability to the next level, and in turn, these supports can help to keep your child active because their pain can decrease when the brace is worn. We are not just saying this so you will buy a brace from a store that we promote. It is the truth. Many people will tell you that the second they put on the brace, the feel much more stable and their knee pain decreases almost immediately.

2.) So What Size Should I Get For My Child?

This is a good question. Basically, what you will want to do is take three important circumference measurements. Take a circumference measurement 6" (15cm) above and below the center of your child's knee center. Then take a circumference right at their knee center as well. This will usually be all the measurements you will need to help you make the right decision. - No need in guessing when the sizing chart is that available to you.

3.) Mom, Dad,... My Knees Hurt!

If you ever hear this, then you should seriously consider getting the proper support for your child. Sometimes, the pain comes from within and a knee brace can help. Other times, it will help to reduce painful movements that will stop an injury from getting worse! This is another very important function of knee braces! - Do not over look them, because it could be the one thing that really made a huge difference for your child. (This is good health information, but you should also speak to your doctor for medical advice.)

ACL Tears - What to Expect During Recovery


ACL tears are one of the most common forms of knee injuries, especially for athletes involved in high-risk sports like basketball, skiing and football. Recovering from an ACL injury can be a very difficult and long journey. In this article we will examine the entire process, from injury through recovery, and discuss what an individual who has recently sustained an ACL tear can expect during each phase along the way to help make the recovery process more manageable.

Causes of ACL Tears

ACL tears often are the result of a sudden change in direction, such as pivoting, cutting, awkward landings or sidestepping moves made in sports like basketball, skiing or football. Of course an ACL tear can also occur in non-sports settings as well.

The anterior cruciate ligament (or ACL) is one of the four major ligaments in the knee that connect the tibia and femur bones that help form the knee joint. Torn ligaments, such as the ACL, cause the knee to be unstable.

Immediately following the injury, the patient usually will experience some pain as well as swelling and instability in the knee. To properly diagnose an ACL tear, a physician will usually order either x-rays or an MRI to determine the extent of the injury.

Treatment Options

There are both surgical and non-surgical treatment options available for ACL tears. The best form of treatment will largely depend on the person's activity level and the severity of the injury. For those who live fairly sedentary lifestyles non-surgical treatment may be an option, depending on how serious the injury is. Children may also need to forgo surgery because there is a risk of plate damage since their young bodies are still growing.

A non-surgical treatment program will involve extensive physical therapy and education. The patient may also wear a hinged knee brace to help with instability and prevent further injury.

For serious athletes and those with physically demanding jobs or active lifestyles, surgery is most likely the best option. For full ACL tears or combined injuries, surgery is also usually recommended.

ACL Reconstructive Surgery

Surgical treatment of a torn ACL involves reconstructive surgery where the damaged ACL is replaced with a graft made from tendon. The most common grafts are from a patellar tendon, hamstring tendon, or tendon from a cadaver. ACL reconstruction surgery does have a high success rate. Before undergoing surgery, the patient may be sent to do some physical therapy for a few days or weeks first.

Recovery from Surgery

After surgery, the patient will normally spend a few days lay in bed to recover. Once out of bed, he or she will most likely will be using crutches for a few weeks and after that may wear a functional hinged post-op knee brace.

Rehabilitation and Recovery

Rehabilitation usually starts several days after surgery. The main focus is on strength and mobility. The major goals are to strengthen the damaged knee and muscles surrounding the knee, such as the quadriceps muscle, as well as work on restoring range of motion and stability.

Physical therapy does involve doing lots of repetitive exercises and does require plenty of determination and focus. Serious athletes will spend almost every day, or at least several times a week, in the training room working on strengthening their knee. It is very important that the patient is willing to spend several months of hard work to restore their knee to full strength.

The rehabilitation process will generally last from six to nine months before an athlete is cleared to play contact sports again. The physician and trainer may also suggest that the patient wear a knee ACL ligament brace while playing to help protect and provide stability to the knee.

ACL reconstruction surgery does have a high success rate. A full recovery mostly depends on the severity of the patient's injury and the dedication put into the rehabilitation process. It may take six months to a full year and a lot of hard work to regain full strength, but it is possible to recover from an ACL tear.

A Short History of Long Socks


One of the more fun and fashionable trends you'll see these days is that of thigh high socks and stockings being worn by all kinds of women for all kinds of occasions. From the convenience and warmth they offer to the fun, playful options available, above the knee socks and hose have come a long way. But just how far have they come? Let's take a brief look at the history of socks and stockings.

While the first socks were quite a bit different than what you think of today, they actually date all the way back to the stone ages. At that time they were simple animal skins that were gathered around the foot and tied around the ankles. And there is evidence that the ancient Egyptians had some form of knitted sock already (really not too surprising when you consider how advanced they were in so many ways. The fact that they had knitted socks just fits in with the rest of the story of these amazing people).

By the 8th century BC the Greeks started using a form of socks that were made from the matted hair of animals. While it isn't clear whether these were worn by the general public, it seems that perhaps they were limited to use in theatrical plays, and more specifically in comedies. I guess matted animal hair socks are pretty funny looking if you think about it.

Much later, by the late 1400's, pants and socks became a single unit which later became known as 'tights'. Most often they were made from fine silks, wool and/or velvet of many different colors. In fact, it wasn't unusual to have each leg of the tights being a separate color.

Up to this point in time, these kinds of tights or 'hose' were worn primarily by the wealthy. But a hundred years later, by the late 1500s, the invention of knitting machines allowed for more mass production of the garments, making them more accessible to more people.

By the 19th century in the United States, we began to see the creation of full on knitting mills, pushing production levels even higher and accessibility to even more common folk. At the same time, fashion was leading to men's pants to become longer and longer which caused stockings to become shorter and shorter. In fact, as the stockings continued to get shorter, the name was eventually shortened as well to simply 'socks'.

Knee Joint Pain Treatment, Symptoms and Major Causes


The knee provides the maximum support to our body and bears all the pressure and force while standing, walking and running. Therefore any disturbance in the knee joint leading to knee joint pain can be most disturbing. Serious condition of the knee joint reduces the mobility to a great extent leaving the individual confined to indoors being cut off from the outside world.

The knee joints are surrounded by different ligaments and cushioned by padded cartilages that help in bearing the load while standing. The fluid filled sacs called bursae present around the joint serve as lubricators to reduce the friction between the tendons.

Symptoms

The symptoms of the knee joint pain varies according to the cause, on the timing of the day or while performing a particular activity. Different symptoms indicate different causes that require different treatment.

1. Popping sound in the joint accompanied by pain

2. Feeling of crunching and grinding

3. Locking of the joints preventing the bending and the strengthening of the knee.

4. Swelling, inflammation and redness on the knee

5. Knee pain accompanied by fever.

6. Sometimes the pain starts with the first step of the day early in the morning subsiding later.

7. Climbing stairs causing pain in the knee.

Causes

Knee joint pains are caused due to injury, aging or over activity of the joints especially in sports.

1. Arthritis is the most common cause of knee pain observed in aged people due to the degeneration of the cartilage which forms the support of the knee and is inflammatory.

2. Autoimmune disease like Rheumatoid arthritis and Gout also cause pains in the knee causing inflammation.

3. Chondromalacia is observed in younger women due to the softening of the cartilage in the knee.

4. Women suffer from knee pains after menopause due to low estrogen levels.

5. Bursitis that occurs inside the knee.

6. Calcification of the ligaments inside the knee can cause pains.

7. Infection in joints.

Treatment and medication

1. Exercises like swimming and cycling are beneficial in treating arthritis related knee joint pains in the early stage. In extreme cases knee replacement surgery is performed that helps to regain the lost mobility.

2. Application of ice packs and hot compresses relieves the pain.

3. Regular massaging of the knee with medicated and herbal oils like Rumatone Gold, eucalyptus, aloe vera gel camphor and menthol helps in reducing inflammation and the pain.

4. Drinking few cups of tea made from meadow sweet flowers, marigold is helpful in treating knee joint pains.

5. Opting for a low calorie diet to keep the body weight in control.

6. Sufficient rest should be provided to the knees with regulated movements to prevent deterioration of the condition.

Knee Arthroscopy Recovery


Knee surgery is done to treat physical conditions such as arthritis or to repair damage due to injury. While traditional knee surgeries are quite involved procedures, knee arthroscopy and arthroplasty are much faster, requiring much less recovery time.

Arthroscopy is primarily a diagnostic procedure where one or more incisions are made around the knee to insert an instrument known as the arthroscope. This instrument enables the surgeon to see into the inner knee to get a better idea of the condition of the knee. Sometimes, the procedure is also used to remove fractured bone or cartilage or to repair damaged ligaments. Unlike arthroplasty which is a more involved inpatient procedure, arthroscopy is a simple outpatient procedure, where the patient can go home the same day within a couple of hours.

Complete knee arthroscopy recovery might take anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks. The patient is however required to follow a recovery regimen comprising of four steps abbreviated as RICE - rest, ice, compression and elevation. For effective knee arthroscopy recovery, the patient has to take good rest. Icing is another procedure that aids recovery. As part of physiotherapy, compression and elevation of the leg can help in regaining full mobility of the joint.

Nutrition also plays an important role in knee arthroscopy recovery, by strengthening and rebuilding exiting ligaments, muscles and cartilage. A protein rich diet consisting of chicken, beef, pork, fish and legumes are good for providing energy and regenerating red blood cells in the body. They are also a good source of vitamin B. The diet should also include vitamin C as proteins and vitamin C together help make collagen which actually binds cartilage and ligaments together. Collagen supplements can also be added to ones diet in either capsule or powder form.

Krill oil contains omega 3 essential oils which are known to reduce inflammation and pain. Krill oil further lubricates the joints and helps patients move more easily. A combination of Glucosamine, MSM and Chondroitin is known to decrease inflammation and promote healing in the joints.

Apart from nutrition, patients would also have to make behavioral changes to facilitate knee arthroscopy recovery in the shortest time possible. Smokers need to quit their habit as smoking enhances inflammation giving rise to pain and stiffness in the joints. Smoking can also delay the healing process and increase the time needed for complete knee arthroscopy recovery.

Excess weight can sometimes be a major cause of joint problems. Overweight patients should try to decrease or at least keep from putting on weight during the knee arthroscopy recovery period.

Proper rest, a nutritious diet with proper health supplements and a good physiotherapy regimen can help patients who have undergone arthroscopy to recover completely within a relatively short period of time.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Doctor - Does Acupuncture Work for Arthritis?


Traditional Chinese medicine has used acupuncture to relieve pain as well as to cure disease. During an acupuncture session, a practitioner will insert thin needles into the skin at any one of more than 2,000 carefully defined meridian points. The ancient theory of why acupuncture is effective is that needle insertion restores qi (life force) flow throughout the channels of the body. When qi is at optimal levels, there is harmony with the universal forces of yin and yang. This leads to improved health and relief of pain.

While the traditional acupuncture approach has been to use the needles by themselves, modern acupuncturists may rotate the needles or apply low levels of electric current to improve the effectiveness of the procedure. Sometimes acupressure is also given during the same session. Moxibustion which is the use of herbs that are burned during the procedure is also used. Some practitioners also use "cupping" which is a method where suction cups are applied to meridian points.

Theories as to how acupuncture relieves pain have included the "gate theory" which suggests that pain signals travel along neural pathways through "gates." If a competing stimulus such as acupuncture needles, then pain signals are blocked.

Another theory has to do with endorphin release by the brain due to acupuncture stimulus. Another theory is that acupuncture helps produce analgesic neurotransmitters in the spinal cord.

One large study of acupuncture in osteoarthritis of the knee was performed at the University of Maryland. Researchers compared traditional Chinese acupuncture with sham acupuncture (using either retractable needles or real needles inserted into false pressure points). The study group consisted of 570 patients who reported limited benefits from anti-inflammatory medication and exercise.

The study demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in both pain measures as well as mobility measures in patients receiving real acupuncture versus sham acupuncture.

The authors concluded that "True traditional Chinese acupuncture is safe and effective for reducing pain and improving function in patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis who have moderate or greater pain despite background therapy."

Some notes of caution. The effect of acupuncture in relieving pain is not huge. The effects are modest and do take time. The second issue is that the placebo effect undoubtedly enters into the equation.

An interesting study from Dr. George Lewith in Southampton, England used positron emission technology to demonstrate that brain blood flow was altered in a different manner with real acupuncture compared with sham acupuncture therefore validating the concept of a real pain modulating effect of acupuncture on the brain.

Unfortunately, acupuncture does take a long time to work. Dr. Hochberg from the University of Maryland states, "You really have to give acupuncture ... six months in order to get maximum benefits from it."

Another downside is the cost. Generally, the charge is anywhere from 60 to 100 dollars a session. Expect that it will cost about $2,000.00. Fortunately, some insurance carriers will cover the cost.

Acupuncture will not be a substitute for conventional treatment. You should use it in conjunction with your regular arthritis therapy. Make sure you see a licensed practitioner.

Knee Surgery - Top 3 Tips to Know Before You Go


Top 3 Tips to Know Before You Go for Knee Surgery

Knee surgery is one of the most common joint replacement practices. A lot of people suffer from knee osteoarthritis and arthritis but it can be difficult to understand the appropriate time to go in for knee surgery. In addition, there is confusion about what one should expect after the knee surgery. As an individual, you may have various questions in mind that you would like to discuss with your doctor. Amongst the people who undergo knee operations, the success rate has been ascertained to be more than 90 percent. The outcome is fruitful as the patients are able to perform their day to day activity and at the same time get great relief from pain.

The top three tips to know before you go for knee surgery are-

First and foremost, it's very vital to understand and be mentally prepared about whether or not you are ready for knee surgery. Consult your doctor, as he and his team member will take you through the procedure and educate you about the complications that may arise post operatively. They will let you know about the date of surgery so that you can take precautions before going in. So before you go for knee surgery it is a must to prepare your medical insurance documents and go through the pre-surgery medical tests that are required.

Once the entire prerequisites are in order, you will be informed on what to look forward to during knee surgery. You will come to know about the options of anesthesia available, the duration of the surgery, the time period for which you need to stay in hospital. You will also be informed about how long to take rest and the discharge formalities. The doctors will also provide you with a set of instructions that you need to follow after you are discharged. This is a later stage that comes after the surgery is done. As mentioned, it's important for the patient to understand what complications may arise after the surgery is done. However, the complications associated with it are very low and are found in less than 2% of patients, the most common being blood clotting in leg veins. Hence preventive guidelines should be followed to avert these kinds of complications. This generally includes workouts to encourage circulation in the legs, elevating legs, blood thinners and compression stockings.

Before you go in for your knee surgery you should know that you will have to undergo a lot of do's and don'ts. It becomes compulsory for you to strictly follow the guidelines laid by the orthopedics to avoid any form of complications. Do your exercises regularly as prescribed by the physical therapist. Resting is very important and you need to balance you activities thus giving your knees adequate rest. Be cautious that you do not slip or fall as this may increase the pain and complications and last but not least, hold on to the restrictions and avoid anything that may harm your knee.

Knee Ache Treatment - The Search For Relief - Find Helpful Treatment Options


How are your knees doing?

Aching knees plague many people. If you're knees throb and ache at various times, you are probably searching for the best knee ache treatment available at a low cost, right?

On one hand, we hope you never have knee pain, but when you get it, then it is time to face your pain issues. Let's discuss some options here.

Knee aches and pains can come from any number of sources. Your knee ache may be chronic, or it may stem from an injury. Recommended knee ache treatment may vary, depending upon the cause of the pain. For instance, if your knee ache is being caused by overuse or traumatic injury, the use of ice in conjunction with rest may help relieve the discomfort. If your knee ache is being caused by a chronic condition such as arthritis or Chondromalacia Patellae (wearing of the cartilage under the kneecap), your recommended knee treatment may include physical therapy or muscle strengthening exercises.

But whether your pain is being caused by injury, overuse, chronic condition, misalignment, dislocation, or any other of the numerous conditions that can cause aching discomfort, the most effective knee ache treatment may be a knee brace.

Just think about this for a second...

1.) Sometimes you just do not have the time to rest your knee, due to your busy schedule. Can you relate?

2.) Pain killers and ice can only go so far to help you, and they surely do not promote healing.

3.) Surgery, although it can be helpful, can be invasive and costly.

4.) Knee braces are great because you can use them right away and they can help reduce your pain, and promote healing, due to the stability that can provide.

Knee braces are designed to help address a number of factors that can contribute to your aches and pains. A support can help keep the knee joint in it's proper position and keep the kneecap properly aligned with the joint. Further, a brace can help relieve the excessive stress and strain on the joint that contributes to, or aggravates chronic conditions such as arthritis or chondromalacia. A support can also give some much needed support to overused or strained muscles and ligaments within the joint, helping to promote healing in the event of an injury, and helping prevent additional injury from occurring.

Of course, you should always seek the advice of a qualified physician when it comes to your finding out your exact diagnosis and heed their medical advice. But when it comes to support, a knee brace can become your new best friend for many reasons.

A common misconception about knee braces is that they need to be custom made to suit your knee and, consequently, are prohibitively expensive. To the contrary, however, a knee brace does not necessarily have to be custom made to fit properly, and there are many adjustable braces available designed to fit your knee. Consequently, they are much more affordable than you may think. Another common misconception about knee braces is that they are bulky, restrictive and uncomfortable. Again, this is not necessarily true. Knee braces come in a variety of styles, many of which are lightweight, fit comfortably and allow for freedom of movement. Yet, they still offer the support you may need to serve as an effective knee ache treatment.

The bottom line is that the choice is always yours. We hope your knee pain goes away by itself, but if it does not, then the information here can be of great use for you.

How to Choose an Orthopedic Surgeon


Orthopedic surgeons do more than just practice on the elderly and athletes. Many people may need an orthopedic surgeon for a wide variety of different ailments. Orthopedic doctors practice on all parts of the musculoskeletal system including the bones, joints, nerves, tendons, and even the skin.

The orthopedic surgeon must treat a variety of conditions and diseases, as well as injuries, fractures, dislocations, and strains. Because of their extensive knowledge, you also want to ensure that the surgeon you choose has the necessary background and specialty training. When selecting a surgeon, do not hesitate to ask about their history and their methods of care. It's also important that you feel as though you could develop a solid doctor-patient relationship with the surgeon, as your treatment will only be successful if you can completely trust your doctor. Be sure to find a doctor who offers a variety of services.

Because they are surgeons, they typically offer several different types of surgical treatment including hand surgery, knee surgery, laser surgery, and microsurgery. However, in addition to surgical treatments, they should also offer a variety of non-surgical treatments such as pain management, internal medicine options, and physical therapy options.

The California Hand Surgery and Orthopedic Specialist Medical Clinic is a great place to find a qualified orthopedic surgeon. They also offer a wide variety of medical treatments, both surgical and non-surgical. The practice is over 20 years old, and physicians are QME, AME, IME, and Board-certified.

You can rest assured that you are putting your body into good hands when you go for treatment. For more information, visit MendYou.com.

Cervical Disc: Degeneration and Replacement


Patients with degenerative cervical disc disease who have long been trying to relieve arm and neck pain with conservative treatments such as exercise, chiropractic, physiotherapy, etc., all to no avail, can benefit from cervical disc replacement.

Degenerative disc disease is a spinal condition where one or more discs in the neck become damaged, causing arm pain, arm weakness or numbness with some degree of neck pain. Discs act as shock absorbers between the spinal bones or vertebrae. When a disc deteriorates and loses its ability to act as a cushion, it starts compressing adjacent nerves or the spinal cord, which causes neck pain that worsens by sitting, bending or twisting.

Cervical Disc
Before digging deep into cervical disc degeneration and replacement surgery, one must understand what cervical discs are.

There are 23 discs in the human spine, six of which rest in the neck (cervical region), 12 in the middle back (thoracic region), and 5 in the lower back (lumbar region). Each cervical disc rests between seven small bones (cervical vertebrae), numbered C1 to C7. These discs are made of varying percentage compositions of collagen and ligaments, and act as the cushions or shock absorbers in the cervical spine and allow the neck to be flexible and absorb the load (axial load) of the head.

Disc Degeneration
Degenerative disc disease may lead these small shock-absorbing discs to lose their flexibility and ability to cushion the spine. In the cervical region, this condition typically occurs at the C4-5, C5-6, or C6-7 segment.

Cervical disc degeneration can be hereditary, develop with old age or through an injury. Patients with the condition may experience numbness, tingling, or even weakness in the neck, arms, or shoulders due to irritated or pinched nerve roots in cervical vertebrae, making it hard for them to perform daily activities.

The worn out disc typically shrinks in its height, which can also contribute to the pinching on the nerves in the neck.

Disc Replacement
Cervical disc replacement is a revolutionary surgical procedure using artificial cervical disc implants, an alternative to cervical spine fusion which involves locking two or more of the vertebrae together to stabilize the pain.

Unlike the fusion operation, the replacement surgery involves permanently removing the degenerated or damaged cervical disc and replacing them with an artificial disc device (prosthetic disc).

The artificial cervical disc is inserted between two cervical vertebrae after the removal of the diseased disc. The artificial disc helps fill the gap between two bones as well as maintain or reestablish the normal height of the disc space.

Approved by the Food and Drug Administration in July of 2007, the artificial disc device is intended to decompress (relieve pressure) on the nerves and spinal cord as well as preserve motion and flexibility in the neck.

The surgery is more advantageous as it eliminates the need for a bone graft, as well as helps patients regain the postoperative neck motion faster and return to normal activity early.

Who and Who Does Not Need It?
If one or two discs in your neck are badly damaged and causing chronic pain in neck and arms, then you may be a candidate for disc replacement surgery.

But the surgery may be considered only if the pain is not relieved adequately with six months of conservative (non-surgical) care, which includes anti-inflammatory medications, exercise, physical therapy, or cold/heat therapy.

The surgery is mostly considered for patients with cervical disc herniations that are significantly taking toll on patients' quality of life and ability to function.

However, the implantation of artificial disc is not an option for all patients. Those with arthritic back bones or suffering from degenerative disc disease at multiple segments in the spine are not appropriate candidates for this surgery.

Arthritis Treatment: Assistive Devices for Osteoarthritis of the Knee


Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and is characterized by progressive deterioration of joint cartilage. Cartilage is the gristle that caps the ends of long bones and provides shock absorption and gliding properties. OA is also characterized by decreased regeneration of cartilage.

While it typically occurs after the age of 40, it is becoming clear that OA can actually begin much sooner, sometimes as early as the teen-age years.

OA incidence does increase with advancing age. While joint damage from osteoarthritis progresses relatively slowly, the inexorable progression leads to joint stiffness and pain, gradual deformity, joint instability and eventual loss of function.

The standard approach to OA involving the knee is fairly straightforward. Analgesic and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), thermal modalities (ice), physical therapy, exercises, and injections of glucocorticoids and viscosupplements (lubricants), are pro forma. These measures are, at best, palliative.
Eventually, most patients go on to have joint replacement surgery.

[Recently, the use of mesenchymal stem cells for treatment of OA of the knee has been found to be effective in many cases, extending the time or even reducing the need for replacement.]

Studies looking at gait have shown that patients with OA of the knee shift their weight to the medial (inside) compartment of their knee while walking.

In addition, the pain, deformity, and instability of knee OA leads to gradual quadriceps weakness and atrophy. All of these play a role in the altered gait characterized by patients with OA of the knee.

In addition to quadriceps strengthening exercises, measures that unload the medial compartment of the knee may be effective in improving exercise tolerance, reducing pain, and improving function.
There are two types of devices that can accomplish this.

The first is an unloading type of brace. These braces, made of lightweight polymer materials, are designed to "open up" the closed medial compartment. When this is accomplished, there is a marked improvement in gait, as well as reduction in pain.

Another very effective device that's overlooked and sometimes even resisted by patients is a cane.

"The use of a cane with the purpose of reducing the biomechanical load on the joints of the lower limb is part of the treatment for patients with knee osteoarthritis. This strategy is expected to increase both independence and tolerance to exercise, allowing a more efficient gait, with a reduction in joint stress." (Jones A, Silva PG, Silva AC, et al. Impact of Cane Use on Pain, Function, General Health and Energy Expenditure During Gait in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2012;71(2):172-179)

A cane should always be used in the hand opposite to the affected knee. Studies have shown this reduces the load on the medial compartment of the knee and also normalizes gait mechanics.

At our center, following stem cell procedures, we almost always temporarily have patients use an unloader type brace after the procedure and advise the use of crutches early on and a cane after that in most cases.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Sore Joints - The Secrets To Quick Pain Relief


If you're like myself and millions of others you have either one or many sore joints that could use some really good, fast relief from all the pain you have to endure on a daily basis.

Trust me I think I know exactly how you feel, sure yours might be worse than mine or vice versa but none of that really matters because when your joints hurt they just hurt.

For me the big one is my left knee. Man I will tell you what, all those people who say that you can't feel the changes in the weather in your sore joints just don't know what the heck they're talking about. I feel it big time and I have spoken with plenty of other people who can feel it too.

Maybe some of this will sound familiar; when I would over work my knee the knee pain would be pretty intense kind of like a burning sensation and mine was behind and under the knee cap. Then my knee would get kinda loose and unstable and start popping out just walking around the house.

It got so bad there for while that I was wondering if I was going to need surgery. I didn't want to miss that much work because knee surgery recovery time can be quite a while. Yes I also have other sore joints like my shoulder that used to make it almost impossible to sleep in that side at night without waking up 10 or more times.

There are 2 secrets to ending joint pain for good that I found worked for me and now has worked for all of my friends that were suffering from sore joints too.

Secret number 1; Water - yes just plain old ordinary water was one of the keys to me finally getting rid of this terrible joint pain. Here's the thing; did you know that 70% of Americans are typically dehydrated?

I personally would have never guessed that in a million years. I would have thought that with all the harping all the health Guru's do on TV and everywhere else that people would most likely be super saturated with H2o but as it turns out that's just not the case.

I didn't think it was possible, but I too was dehydrated. I thought that a lot of the other beverages that I consumed throughout the day counted as my "fluids" intake, turns out I was wrong.

The only fluid that counts towards your daily water requirement is pure water, nothing else just water. You can't substitute it with coffee, tea, soda or even iced tea, it has to be pure water only.

So, take the next week and be sure you're getting all of your water requirements every day for at least one week, I guarantee you will be surprised at the difference it makes in the way you feel with your sore joints and also your energy levels will improve.

As it turns out daytime fatigue is also caused to a great extent by dehydration. Of course that makes sense because your body is over 70% water so if you want it to work correctly you need to give it what it's made of.

The second secret that I uncovered was through a really well nutritionally educated doctor. He said that I needed to find a source of collagen peptides. Not just plain old collagen but the little tiny peptides that are the building blocks of our collagen. Turns out once I started researching this that there is a ton of studies that have been performed on this very subject and the people in the studies had some pretty amazing statistical changes.

Back Pain Surgery - 5 Types of Spine Surgery For Your Back Pain


Spine surgery is a medical option that doctors usually recommend for treating severe and continuous back pain conditions. This treatment option is often applied as a last resort when all other conservative treatments have been exhausted. Hence, doctors may recommend that the surgery be applied at least between 2 to 6 months after every other treatment options have been exhausted. This article looks at the types of spine surgery that are performed by doctors on patients that have different cases of severe back pain.

1. Discectomy - This is a type of surgery that is targeted at the herniated disc in the vertebrae. The disc is removed through this procedure so that the patients can be relieved of the pains on the nerves.

2. Foramenotomy - This surgical procedure is carried out to remove tissues that are compressing the nerves in the back. If the condition in the back is more than herniated disk then foramenotomy is usually applied. Also, this procedure helps to remove a part of the bone that constricted the nerves in the spinal column.

3. Laminectomy - This procedure is used to treat back pains identified to be caused by spondylolisthesis and stenosis. It can be used to remove bones that are affected in the spine. This option can be carried out with spinal fusion.

4. Spine Fusion - This is a kind of surgery that is done to stop movement between adjacent vertebrae. This is often used in treating unstable spine known as spondylolisthesis.

5. Spinal Disc replacement - Although this procedure is not common, it is applied as a new surgical treatment for back pain. There are specific types of back ache which this procedure is usually carried out on. Moreover, it is used most times in association with spine fusion surgery.

Bunkai No Waza (Interpretation of Kata With Techniques)


Now that autumn is upon us and the farm (or what is left of it) is taking less of my attention and energy it is time to engage in other endeavors. Writing about martial arts is one of them. I think naps are second on the list.

I have heard many contemporary martial artists complain about kata and that it is such a waste of time to practice these useless techniques in a sequence that no one will ever attack you with. They obviously do not understand the importance or function of kata and with some of the traditional bunkai I must agree they are worthless.

I teach jujutsu. I research the techniques in however a limited way that I may but it is usually on the mat and pain is involved. I have studied other martial arts. Some, like Shotokan, stress the use of kata as a training medium and others do not use kata at all, such as Haganah. I must clarify that I am talking about the formal exercises that contain from 20 to 65 techniques in a set pattern.

The Heian kata, as I understand the history, were developed around the early 1900's as elements of "the school children's art". This is what was presented in the school systems to prepare the youth physically for military service without hurting each other in schoolyard fights. It was designed to fail, the real bunkai was never presented. Other kata have been around for many years and come from various sources such as China and Okinawa. I have recently read a book by Dr. Bruce Clayton concerning these kata and the historical linage of their development. God bless this man because he states in the book that the majority of the "karate Kata" techniques are actually jujutsu techniques. I could not possibly agree more.

When I began training in the martial arts in 1967 we were taught Heian Shodan almost immediately and our training consisted of kihon (basics), kata (forms), and kumite (free sparring). The training was brutal and typical Shotokan. The how was presented very well. The why was lacking. The bunkai (technical interpretation or the application of techniques) was the same old interpretation. This is a down block, this is a front punch, don't ask questions. Practice until you understand. Now that has some value because it forces you to think on your own if you will but don't stray from what the sensei says. That is a blaspheme and is forbidden.

Well I had studied Shotokan for about sixteen years when I walked into a jujutsu school. I squared my shoulders and stated: "I have a black belt in Shotokan. You make me pat out!" They did. But as we learned the basic and intermediate techniques the moves seemed familiar. I could not place my finger on what or why at the time but it was there. The more I studied jujutsu the more I learned about karate. I did not realize it then but there is a symbiotic relationship that I have been searching for since. (Watch the trailer on my website. That explains my quest for truth in the martial arts quite bluntly.)

For years I tried to get the jujutsu to support the karate techniques but it would just not fit. I had it backwards. The karate supports the jujutsu! Punching and kicking are rarely decisive. Joint locks, throws and strangulations are, if done correctly, always decisive. The problem comes if I attempt to do a joint lock, throw or strangulation without setting my opponent up first. That is where the punching and kicking comes into play.

Now how does this relate to the kata? That punch is not necessarily a punch. Where is that kick actually going in relation to your previous or next technique? For a moment please contemplate the kata as being a catalog of techniques and an encyclopedia of pressure points and striking angles. There is a code to the kata and if you crack the code the techniques make sense and are very devastating. This is where Dr. Clayton's book has relevance as to the historical roots of the kata.

It does not matter if my explanation of the kata aligns exactly with that of the founder's explanation. It is my practice and it must be relevant to me and the application and validity must fit today's situations.

Let us examine Heian Shodan. This is the first "normal" kata taught after learning the Taikyoku (first cause) kata. It contains twenty-two movements and takes about one minute to complete though I have seen it done in fifteen seconds. Trust me that is too fast to visualize your opponents and to examine and learn the vital points and angles that the points must be struck.

Movement 1: Yoi or ready position. Stand with your feet about shoulder width apart. Fists are held in front of the thighs about six inches. I have seen and I do myself, cross my wrists and pull them into the yoi position. Is there a combat technique there? Yes. Imagine your opponent poking you in the chest and counseling you for some egregious error on your part. Assume Skippy is poking you with his right hand. Reach up with your right hand and grasp his forefinger with all four of your fingers and supported with your thumb as if making a fist. Now go into the yoi position. If you do this with a friend do it slowly and allow your partner to do down. They will. And they will be in a position that you can punch TW 17 or GB 3 with your left hand. Oops. Knockout!!

On the command "Hajime" or begin, look to your left, turn to your left, step forward with your left foot. Do the set position with your right arm pointing down at a 45-degree angle and your left fist covering your right ear. Traditional bunkai says you are being attacked with a mid level kick and you are doing a downward block and a lunge punch. [Timmy was convinced that this would work so I attacked him with a mid level kick. He did the block and started to step forward with the lunge punch and ran right into my fist that flattened his nose!]

Skippy is not attacking from your left side. It means he is punching at your face with his right hand and he is directly in front of you!

[Movement 2] As he punches, your left hand deflects the fist to your right side. At the same time your right fist drives into his floating ribs downward at the forty-five degree angle. Your target is the tip of the 11th rib (Liver 13). Then your right hand comes back to check the opponent's punching arm. Grasp him at his wrist as close to the joint of the hand and the wrist as possible. Squeeze and pull [Heart 6/ Lung 8]. Pull him into your "downward block" as you again attack the floating ribs at as close to the same spot as you punched as possible.

[Movement 3] The next move is a lunge punch to the midsection of your opponent. Now if you have done the two strikes on the same point your opponent will be doubling over because there is not much to support the floating ribs. Step forward with your punch but use your right forearm to strike the Sternocleoidmastoid muscle (LI 18). At the same time use your right leg to sweep the opponent's legs out from under him. (In judo this is o-soto gari. Most jujutsu folks know this as Mountain Storm or Yama Arashi) Oops! Knockout!
Now that Skippy is laying on the ground and most likely unable to get up you can now turn your back on him. It was watching this movement on the FIGHT TO SURVIVE website that prompted me to go train with them.

Movements 4,5, and 6
Also look for techniques in the transition moves but let's KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid). Skippy II is standing in front of you and reaches out and grabs your right wrist with his right hand. This will be one of about four techniques that can be done with this movement.

[Movement 4] This is normally called a downward block but let us just assume that you take a fighting stance instead of standing there like an idiot. After all this is about fighting, isn't it?

[Movement 5] Pull your right hand down and toward your left side. Bring it up in a large circle on your left side and come down with a "hammer fist". Traditional interpretation is that the attacker has grasped your right wrist with his left hand. The circle motion is an escape. The escape has some merit but the hammer fist to the chest is ridiculous and it does not address what your left hand is doing.

Skippy has grabbed your right wrist with his right hand. As you pull him toward you trap his right hand to your right wrist with your left hand. Complete the circle. It does not have to be a large circle to follow the line of the kata. As you bring your hammer fist down ensure that Skippy's arm is slightly bent so your small finger knuckle presses against the edge of Skippy's wrist at Heart 6. Done right Skippy will drop to his knees to escape the pain.

[Movement 6] Step forward with a middle level left hand lunge punch.

With Skippy on his knees a left middle level lunge punch will strike him in the temple (Gall Bladder 3). Oops, knock out!

This is but an example of what is in the kata. How many of the moves were jujutsu techniques? Essentially all of them can be classified as Jujutsu techniques. Jujutsu has punches and kicks and movement three of the kata is known generally as katsume dori. A strike there along with the punches to Liver 13 is a cross body meridian strike and can be really nasty and very effective. So as far as not being able to use the kata techniques in a fight, well I will just have to take that under advisement.

Train hard.

Please Don't Say JUST a Trail Horse


Is trail riding the activity you best enjoy with your horse? If so, you are like the majority of horse owners in the U.S. It's a wonderful way to get out and see some country you might not be able to see from car or foot, plus it gives us a chance to have something fun to do with our horse once it has been well trained.

A common problem I see with many horse/rider combinations is that the rider seems to feel that "just" trail riding doesn't require a horse with much training. I contend that trail riders should be mounted on horses that have as much or more training as other horse endeavors require. Think about it. When you go out on a trail, you never know what you might encounter-it might include traffic, backpackers, rough terrain, strange animals, or a slew of other things that the horse might be not see elsewhere. You may be traveling on trails well away from road access and have only the horse to depend upon to carry you safely.

If you are mounted on a horse than only knows go and hopefully whoa, you are basically at the mercy of the horse to see you safely through the ride. You are not as safe as you should or could be. What happens if you need more than just go or whoa? It's not unusual to be in a situation on a ride where your horse might need to back up, move its body around an obstacle, turn around in a tight space, or even sidepass.

For starters, trail horses need to be comfortable enough not to get upset if their feet get tangled in brush or vines, need to respond to your request to move their body away from a tree that could knock your knees or head, be able to jump fallen trees that may block the trail, and not be worried about branches that may slap at them or be trimmed and fall on them. They need to be comfortable walking down banks, into water, and walking up steep inclines without rushing. A good trail horse is not dependent on the horse in front of it to set its speed or direction. There are many times when a rider needs to act independently of what the others are doing.

There are some horses out there that handle the trails basically without any guidance from their oblivious passenger riders and follow along doing what the others do, but there are many more good horses that need some rider guidance and help to make the ride enjoyable. This is where it is the human's responsibility to make sure that they have the training themselves to help support the horse in whatever situation comes up. "Just trail riding" should involve as much prior thought and training as showing, distance riding, or any other activity that someone might want to do with their horse. It's not an excuse for sloppy or non-existent horsemanship, and people should be proud to say I'm a trail rider-leaving out the word "just"!

Knee Pain Relief - ACL Hyperextension Injuries - Knee Braces That Provide Meaningful Support


Have you ever hyperextended your knee?

You might be wondering,... "what the heck does that really mean?"

The term "hyperextended knee" refers to an injury in which the knee joint is somehow forced into a position that is beyond what is considered to be its normal fully straightened position. When someone hyperextends their knee, the lower leg is excessively positioned forward in relationship to the upper leg (i.e. the tibia is pushed excessively forward compared to the femur.)

Can you relate to this kind of incident?

You have seen the pictures of a hyperextended knee. The ones that make you cringe. This knee injury can easily occur due to an awkward landing after a jump, or an impact to the anterior aspect of your knee. It can also happen as a result of trying to stop running to abruptly. In sports such as basketball, soccer, gymnastics, volleyball or rugby, you can imagine for yourself scenarios that would cause the knee into an overly straightened position.

How can you treat a hyperextended knee?

Sometimes the damage is nominal. You can have passing pain and/or swelling that subsides with time. Unfortunately, a hyperextended knee may lead to a ligament tear (partial or complete). These kinds of ligament tears may include your ACL. Unfortunately, if it is bad enough, surgery may be needed to reattach the ACL.

A physician may evaluate your injury by reviewing your past medical history, or by doing manual tests. X-rays of the knee or MRIs can also be used to evaluate your knee condition.

Rest, applying ice, and taking over the counter pain relievers have all been used to help treat a hyperextended knee injury. (Whenever taking any drugs consult your physician). These can all be used to help, along with the use of a knee brace.

Knee braces can help control the degree to which the knee is allowed to be hyperextended. The support that they can provide can reduce your knee pain and decrease the chance of this kind of knee injury from every happening in the first place. Do not look back months from now wishing you would have done something to help protect your knee. A knee brace can help promote healing of this kind of knee injury.

Open Patella Knee Support - Neoprene Knee Brace - A Lightweight Support Can Be Very Effective!


Are you looking for a knee support?

Not All Knee Braces Are Made The Same, Let's Discuss This Very Quickly...

Knee braces are all made with the right intentions. They are made to help support your knee and to help reduce any knee pain you might have. Sometimes they are made with material that will cover your kneecap and others are made to allow for an open patella. Most have an open kneecap, so let's figure out which one you need in the following sections...

Finding The Right Open Patella Knee Support Is The Real Trick

Many knee supports have an open patella. Some are made from elastic material such as drytex or neoprene. Others are made for more serious knee ailments, that also have an open patella.

So What Do You Do?

One of the best things you can do is to ask yourself a few basic questions, when it comes to a knee brace.

1.) How Severe Is Your Knee Pain?

Many people come to this conclusion by trying to rate their knee discomfort on a scale 1-10. Think of the number ten as being the most severe on this scale. Sometimes, knee pain is worse then others, so it is probably a good idea to determine when your knee pain is the worst and choose the more intense knee pain level. You will see why later...

2.) How Severe Is Your Knee Instability?

Sometimes people have more knee instability as they climb or descend stairs. Others have more instability when they run or get out of a chair. It is important to think about how bad your knee instability is on a scale 1-10 (Ten being the worst). It is also important for you to consider when this instability is most severe.

3.) Physician's Diagnosis: Have you visited your physician and have they given you a definitive diagnosis for your knee ailment? This will be important information when it comes to getting a knee brace.

When you take this information to a knee brace website and you are looking for the right kind of knee brace, the answers you have determined will help you. The reason why we told you to error on the side of have more knee pain or instability is that we do not want you to be under prepared when the moment comes and you need all the support a well designed support can give to you...

(Self Diagnosis is never recommended either. Always speak to your physician about medical advice. - This article is very helpful, but we are not your physician)

Don't Look Back

You can forgo getting a knee brace. It is your choice. We just don't want you to look back in the future wishing you would have given yourself the support you needed, while you still had the time...

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Home Remedies For Knee Pain


With the passage of time, we do not realize the amount of stress our body goes through. We tend to ignore the wear and tear our body withstands. The knee, especially, on which the weight of the body stands and which aids us in movement for our day-to-day activities, is one of the important parts of the body that is affected. Due to its functionality this joint tends to go through some form of knee pain if not taken care of.

Elderly people face a lot of problems like arthritis, osteoarthritis and torn ligaments among others that result in knee pain. If the knee joint problem is overlooked over a period of time, it can cause immense knee pain. However, immediate attention and regular remedies can be followed to eradicate this issue.

Today, there are many home remedies prescribed by medical consultants but one should refer to a doctor to know which one suits the best. One of the best known home remedies is known as PRICE. PRICE is an acronym that stands for Protection, Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. This is one of the widely accepted home remedies that is followed to overcome knee pain. Using ointments that contains soothing essential oils can lessen the knee pain caused due to inflammation or injury.

Avoid using excess cream that may cause discomfort due to heat that may burn the skin. Do exercise for your knee joints that target the muscle around the knee and help in strengthening the muscles. While doing stretching exercises be alert to go slow and do not overstretch as it may tear a muscle. Intensification of the muscles that sustain the knee with exercises is the most vital thing to do to look after your knees from injury. Weak and fatigued muscles cannot sustain the knee joint or act as a shock-absorber for your knee. When you experience a cramp, stretch the affected muscle with one hand while you smoothly massage and knead the center of the muscle using your alternate hand. Walk it out.

Once an acute cramp is surpassed, avoid doing heavy exercises right away. As an alternative, take a walk for few minutes to maintain the flow of blood back to the knees. One can also go in for nutritional supplements like chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine sulfate, S-adenosyl-methionine (SAMe), niacinamide (vitamin B3) and vitamin E as this may help in alleviating the knee pain caused due to knee injuries.

Some other forms of home remedies include making paste using leaves of rasna, black phaseolus seeds, country mallow and castor and all these can be applied on the joint. In addition, you can make a paste using castor, turmeric mixed in clarified butter or goat's milk and wheat. Extra weight and obesity is also one of the major reasons for knee pain and hence losing those extra pounds can help you to get rid of the knee pain.

Do jogging, walking, or swimming, whatever you are comfortable with and stay fit to avoid any knee pain. During the winter, keep you knee warm by using wintergreen lotion as it produces heat and reduces pain. If it's not adequate, then wrap your knees with warm clothes after applying the lotion. Always seek advice from experts before opting for any remedies as your keens are an important part of your body and helps your body movement and do other important activities.