Saturday, November 23, 2013

Do You Suffer Joint Pain and Stiffness in Your Wrist Or Knee? Gout Vs Pseudogout


Joint pain is a common side effect of old age. Ligaments and tendons begin to be less forgiving and cartilage begins to erode. Our knees, elbows, ankles and wrists can all be tender and sore as we go through our daily lives. However, if you continue to suffer from stiffness and joint pain, there may be more to it than just normal wear and tear.

Gout is a form of arthritis and can strike in the middle of the night with joint pain and soreness. Without notice, you can awake with twinges of pain in your big toe, finger or other areas like ankles and knees. Although the pain may last for several days and go away, the condition can re-surface at any time in the future.Over 2 million people in the U.S. alone deal with gout and most often it afflicts men more than women. Gout usually develops in men over 30 and post menopausal women. Males are more likely to suffer if overweight and diagnosed with high blood pressure.

Pseudogout is similar in nature and is also a form of arthritis but usually targets the knees or wrists even though other areas can be affected. Pseudogout can be caused by irregular development of calcium deposits within the cartilage area between the knee or wrist joints. Once the calcium deposits enter the fluid resulting pain can occur.

Pseudogout targets an older age group, usually people age 60 or older are affected, where gout can occur much earlier in life. During an episode of Pseudogout, your wrist or knee joint may be swollen, red or purple in color and warm to the touch.

In summary, joint pain and stiffness can be attributed to just overdoing a particular activity, but chronic pain can become more serious as you age. A healthy lifestyle and diet could be a major factor in reducing the risk of chronic joint pain. Exercise is also a factor in strengthening your joints and muscles and reducing high blood pressure to combat age related diseases. Low impact exercise can be used in the beginning and as your joints become more flexible, stronger as more physical activities can be pursued.

Treatment of Degenerative Knee Disease - What to Do When Your Knee is Screaming in Pain!


Effective Management and Treatment of Degenerative Knee Disease

Degenerative knee disease or Osteoarthritis of the knee is a progressive, irreversible condition that is typically seen in people over 50 years of age. It is brought on by the loss of cartilage in the knee, which can lead to stiffness, pain and eventual deformity and loss of motion.

Although this condition more commonly affects the inner (medial) aspect of the knee it can also either affect one (unilateral) or both (bilateral) sides of the knee. Symptoms for this condition typically develop slowly over several years.

Primary Causes of Degenerative Knee Disease

Apart from direct causes such as aging, being overweight and direct injury to the knee, the incidence and progression of osteoarthritis is also related to a few other factors. These factors range from high impact stresses at one end to prolonged inactivity at the other.

o Sports : Activities that result in high impact stresses on the knee joint affect the chondrocyte and matrix of the hyaline cartilage. This can lead to initial blistering and, when not properly managed, can lead to joint surface fissuring and erosion, which are precursors to degenerative knee disease.

oRepetitive motion and excessive pressure: When applied to the knee joints can lead to the degeneration of the hyaline cartilage. Although the articular cartilage possesses high tolerance for such overload, severe and prolonged impact can lead to its deterioration.

o On the other end of the spectrum, prolonged inactivity can also lead to degeneration of the articular cartilage. Although it is far less common, management and treatment are important especially in situations that require prolonged immobilization.

Treatment Components of Degenerative Knee Disease

The effective treatment and management program focuses on the pain and mechanical components of the degenerative knee disease.

Pain control and management is done by providing appropriate intervention to treat both local pain and systemic pain. Over the counter pain medication and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications are typically recommended to manage the systemic pain whereas cryotherapy, intra-articular cortisone injections and electrical stimulation can be done to control the local pain. Always speak to your physician regarding the use of any medication.

The mechanical component of the treatment regimen involves a comprehensive weight reducing program. Being overweight puts excessive strain on the knees and even if this was not the direct cause of the condition, it can aggravate the knee and cause it to deteriorate even faster. Contrary to popular misconception, exercising can actually be good if you have degenerative knee disease. Not only does it help keep your weight down, it also helps keep the knee flexible. The recommended activities will typically be low impact such as swimming.

The use of unloader knee braces is particularly essential for effective management and treatment of osteoarthritis. Studies have shown that the device can effectively normalize joint mechanics and relieve pressure on the affected knee allowing for increased mobility and reduced pain in the joint.

If you wish to use a conservative and cost effective treatment style you should consider an unloader knee brace today.

Relieve Knee Pain With Exercise


Most knee injuries occur because of damage to the knee from stretching, twisting or stressing it from a particular direction. How to relieve knee pain with exercise depends on the severity of the knee injury and where it is located. The type of treatments typically involved with knee injuries consist of compression wraps, rest, ice, elevation, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, and exercise. Surgery is only suggested as a last resort after the swelling and inflammation is down.

Strengthening muscles around the injured knee helps it regain stability and flexibility, with the focus of the exercises depending on where the injury is located. Exercise training could be in applied to several areas - the hamstrings (back of the thigh); calf; hip; ankle; or quadriceps (muscles in back of the thigh). Exercises to relieve knee pain can be done at home, at physical therapy offices, athletic clubs, fitness centers, clinics or hospitals.

Rehabilitation stages

The purpose of the early stages of knee rehabilitation is to achieve a full range-of-motion of the knee joint. But the knee is not the only part of the body affected, as rehabilitation involves a progressive state of exercises ranging from the knee to the hip, to ankle strengthening. This involves adequate exercises that will improve the person's balance and stability along with improving knee pain. Strengthening the knee area from a work-related or sport-related injury, affected by the individual's personal activities, needs to be done in order to prevent further injury to the same area.

Generally, relieving knee pain with exercise takes about two to four weeks before returning to normal activities. However, it may take longer to maintain maximum knee stability with further exercises or physical therapy. Obviously, all knee injuries can never be treated the same way. Some may be successful with exercises, depending on several factors:

• What type of injury has happened to the knee
• What is the amount of damage to the knee
• What will be the lifestyle after the knee is fixed - sports or daily activities?
• Is the patient willing to change or modify his lifestyle if needed because of the knee injury?
• A strong motivation is needed through the knee rehabilitation in order for the knee to be strengthened.

Taking a break from high knee activity when doing knee exercises

Relieving physical activity when living with knee pain will help the knee get better with less pain. Things like running and playing sports should be avoided as they will place more emphasis on the injured knee and legs. Exercises with knee pain should be combined with low-impact activities - swimming, nonimpact elliptical training, use of proper shoes, or arch support inserts.

Knee joint exercise may require icing the knees for up to 20 minutes after the exercise period. Used to decrease knee pain, ice is also used to speed healing of the muscles and tissues in the area. Elastic wraps can be used to hold the ice. Footwear is also important for someone with a knee injury. Running shoes or walking shoes are made different than normal everyday shoes. Some individuals use arch support placed in the shoe, while others may need to use temporary braces or supports until the knee is healed.

Exercises to relieve knee pain should be done for a couple of minutes at a time. It is also good to do them twice a day. Exercises come from a doctor or physical therapist, with directions regarding their usage and how long. Most will involve quad exercises, as they make the person's front thigh muscles much stronger. This is important as it controls the front of the kneecap and its movements.

Facelift - Everything You Need to Know


Fine lines, wrinkles, loss of elasticity, nasolabial folds (also called laugh lines) and crow's feet are some signs of ageing which are inevitable. Facial skin laxity and sagging are experienced by all of us as we age. These marks of ageing are absolutely harmless but they can become irritating and may bother you.

So, how to overcome effects of ageing on the face? The answer is, Facelift!

Facelift (rhytidectomy) is a surgical procedure that helps you achieve a more youthful facial appearance by reducing visible signs of aging in your face to a great extent.

The Procedure
The procedure involves removing the wrinkles, sagginess and any excess skin as well as tightening of the muscles in the mid-face, lower-face and jaw-line.

While performing this anti-ageing facial surgery, a cosmetic surgeon makes an incision inside the hairline at the temples extending it in front of and behind the ear, possibly extending into your lower scalp. The surgeon then will raise your skin toward the scalp, rearrange the underlying muscle and connective tissue in a higher position and remove some fat as well as excess skin to give you a vibrant, firmer and a more youthful facial skin. Lastly, the skin is re-draped over your face and incisions are closed with sutures or staples.

A facelift is more often performed with a combination of mild sedatives (in which you are numb but partially awake), general anesthesia or local anesthesia (to numb your skin).

Besides restoring a wrinkle-free, more youthful facial skin, a facelift can produce remarkable results by restoring loss of volume in the cheeks and removing prominent lines by the side of the nose and angles of mouth.

Since a facelift may rejuvenate the three certain parts of the face, your surgeon may suggest you additional or alternative procedures like neck lift, forehead lift, facial implants, eyelid shaping, ear surgery or skin peels to enhance the outcome of the surgery.

What to Expect After the Surgery?
Immediately after the surgery, a large, fluffy bandage may be applied around your face. The dressings are usually removed within a day and may be replaced with an elastic wrap. Very little pain, and moderate swelling and bruising of the eyelids and other parts of the face may be experienced after the surgery. You are strongly advised to avoid strenuous activity until the swelling has subsided.

If a drainage tube has been inserted during the surgery to drain any excess blood or fluid that may collect beneath the skin, it will be removed 1 to 2 days after the surgery. All sutures or staples will be removed within 5 to 10 days, though it may take up to 6 months for incision lines to mature.

Your facial skin may become rough and dry for a few months and numbness of the skin may last for several weeks after the surgery.

Recovery
Two to three weeks after the surgery, you can resume light exercises and routine activities, and for strenuous work and exercises you will have to wait for six weeks.

Risks
As with other cosmetic procedures, facelift does come with some potential risks. The most common risks and problems caused by having a facelift include:

• Reactions to the anesthesia and post-surgery medications
• Bleeding under the skin (hematoma)
• Infection
• Hair loss (alopecia)
• Tissue loss (fat necrosis)
• Permanent scarring caused by blistering of the skin
• Possible injury to ear and facial nerves
• Permanent numbness, skin discoloration or changes in skin sensitivity
• Accumulation of fluid
• Delayed wound healing
• A rare risk of pulmonary embolism
• Asymmetry of the face and skin contour irregularities
• Alopecia or hair loss can occur at the sight of incision
• One of the biggest risks is that you may get unsatisfactory results.

Arthritis Knee Pain Natural Home Remedies - Safe and Effective Methods to Treat Arthritis Pain


Knee pain may be the result of overuse, inadequate warm-up or cool down, inadequate stretching and also poor form during physical activity. People suffering from knee pain due to simple causes often clear up on their own with simple care and applying simple remedy. Due to excess weight also there may be a greater risk for the problems of knee pain.

Usually knee pain is caused by -

1. One of the causes of the arthritis may be bursitis. It is an inflammation from the repeated pressure on the knee like if any one kneels for a long period, overuse or injury.

2. It is also caused due to arthritis which includes rheumatoid, gout, osteoarthritis or some other connective disorder like lupus.

3. It is also caused due to the baker's cyst. It is a fluid-filled swelling which is behind the knee and this problem is accompanied by inflammation due to other causes like arthritis. If there is a rupture in the cysts then it causes pain in the back of your knee which may travel down to your calf.

4. Tendinitis is also one of the causes of knee pain. It is related with the pain of the knee and especially in front of the knee which get in worse condition while going up and down stairs or inclines.

Severe pain and instability of the knee joints can be caused due to torn or ruptured ligaments. It may be caused due to strain and sprain, minor injuries to the ligaments.

Some of the remedies for knee pain

Yoga is very effective for treating knee pain. Doing regularly yoga with breathing exercises help you to relax and also to cure knee ache because it is caused by the mental stress also. Yoga helps to bring flexibility in the knee joint by natural way.

Warrior posture is also very helpful for reducing the joint pain. You can try this by standing with your feet 4 foot apart. Then turn your left foot in inward direction and right foot in outward direction. Keep your chests facing straight and in front. Stretch your both the arms and bend in the direction of right knee and also turn your head to look at your right knee. Repeat this process with each leg.

Usually the specialist also recommends that if you want to take off the load of the knee then perform at least 5 squats daily and once a day.

Friday, November 22, 2013

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

3 Secrets to Knee Harder and Faster


The knee is one of the most powerful weapon in your body. A simple knee to the head can knock a guy out quickly and simply. It can also break bones and stop any kicks quickly in its tracks. It is one of the most offensive and defensive weapons that we have on our body. All martial arts have knees, and the most effective martial arts know how to use the knees better than anyone else. Here are 3 secrets how to get lightening fast and hard knees like no other!

1. Squats

To get the most strongest knee that you can ever have is to squats as many times as possible and quickly! The power of the knee in martial arts mainly come from the hip flexor muscles of your body. So to strengthen them quickly and easily, you have to do squats as much as you can which work on your hip flexor muscles. Squats also make you jump higher and faster because you need to bend down and then push up from your feet to straighten up!

2. Kneeing your chest

If you knee your chest as fast and quickly as possible, you help strengthen your knees and also flexibility. To have fast knee speeds, you have to have good flexibility. Also kneeing yourself helps you to build toughening and resistance to pain.

3. Running

To have fast and strong knees, you have to run as much as you can. At least 5 miles a day is the minimum to get knees as strong as a bull. This will help build up endurance and strength of your knees.

The Worst Day of My Life


I've always known that my dad loved me, but I guess that hadn't become truly real to me until a day I was stranded in the middle of a parking lot.

I only had three real possessions. The oldest of the three possessions was a Gibson guitar. When most people think of a Gibson guitar, at least people who know guitars, they think of top of the line, up there with the best. Mine however managed to be the worst. Most of the strings would un-tune after a few minutes, somehow the frets were rusty, and body would have dings and nicks from where my brother would knock it off the stand or drop it out of the case. One time, while it was in its case, it was run over by a mini-van. Miraculously it was still intact. Thank the Lord I had sprung for the expensive case.

My second possession was my laptop. Back then it was the bomb. It seemed to weigh about 30 pounds. I carried it all around campus. I told my dad it was for taking notes in class, but really I just played DOOM on my breaks. I even had a cordless mouse that let me navigate the game much easier.

My last possession was my baby blue Chevy S-10 pick-up truck. I had just dropped a large chunk of my college savings fund to help pay for this bad-boy. It was a five-speed stick shift, 4-cylinder, and no A/C. This truck developed my addiction for driving. Most people I know hates to drive, because of nasty traffic, the seemingly wasted time, or just having to sit still for a prolonged period of time. I, on the other hand, lived in the middle of nowhere, so driving became natural. Just getting to Wal-Mart or the gas station took about half an hour, and getting to Arapahoe Community College had a total of two hours round trip.

These long trips gave me my opportunity to rest. I obviously wouldn't sleep, but my mind could relax. I listened to music, observed people, and let my mind wander. It was my haven. One day, my haven was all but destroyed.

My classes were over for the day, and I was new in town, so I had no real friends to talk to. That didn't bother me much, but I still seemed to brighten when I saw my truck. I got to school early for a 7:30 A.M. class, so I got one of the better parking spots. As I approached the driver's side door, I reached into my pocket to pull out my black and yellow Pacific Sunwear lanyard, but left pocket was empty. The left pocket is where I always put my keys, but I guessed maybe I could have put them in my right. They weren't there either.

I remembered retracing my steps in my mind, but shortly finding out the truth when I saw the keys dangling from the ignition. I had locked myself out of my car. Crap. I let my head drop, and window met my forehead sooner than I anticipated, so the impact hurt a little more than I was willing to admit. Of course, I had given my spare key to my father, but he was in town. Which means he would have to drive all the way home, in the boonies, then drive another hour back to the ACC parking lot. Again, he would do just about anything for me, but this wasn't the first time I'd locked my keys in the car. Actually, it wasn't the first time that week.

I had locked my keys in the car already twice that month, and once earlier that week. Both times my dad had bailed me out with the spare key. I could tell that he was getting a little perturbed at the driving and wasted gas that went into my rescues, so I regretting having to call him a third time to ruin the third day this month just for me and my forgetfulness.

That's when a campus security guy drove by slowly. He was patrolling the lot. He briefly waved, but then moved along slowly to the other lots on campus. It was only after he left that I realized the help he could have been to my current situation. Luckily, my only luck of the day, I had the campus number in my phone, so I called and after about half an hour, a security officer came by with the proper tools to jimmy open my lock.

I was happy that I didn't have to bug my dad, but it was clear that this fellow had never done anything like this before. He pulled, pushed and even suggested that I break out a back window. The fellow was of course joking, but my expressionless gaze told him immediately that I wasn't in the mood. Finally he positioned his flat, metal hook in just the right place to pull the lock over into the right spot. Relief must have shown on my face because he brightened up instantly as well.

With that I shook his hand and walked around to the other side of the vehicle to get my backpack out of the shade. I didn't want my spiffy new laptop computer sitting out in the Colorado sun. When I did though I encountered my second speed bump. My front passenger tire was completely flat. My relief from opening the door was carrying over into my next problem, so I wasn't as upset as you'd imagine. I'd changed plenty of flat tires, so it wasn't going to be a problem.

Now is the point in my story where things really start to avalanche. I bend down to look under my truck to retrieve my spare tire when I noticed a bike lock securely fastening the spare tire in place. At first I was confused. I thought I missed a step and I needed a special key or something to unlock the tire, but after a moment of thought I came to the conclusion that I was yet again stuck. My relief had no successfully worn off and was being replaced with a mild rage.

I called my campus police friend back and told him about my new problem. He just chuckled. It was the kind of chuckle you hear from someone who isn't actually amused. A disgusted chuckle would describe it better. He was as tired of my as I was of him. Reluctantly he agreed to bring bolt cutters and rescue me for the second time. I do believe thought that he took it upon himself to take his time though. It was well over forty-five minutes before he pulled up behind my parking spot.

He quickly "unlocked" my tire, and forgoing the handshake, packed up and drove off. From there I pulled my tire iron out of my truck and used it to unwind the crank that held the tire in place. My mind wandered to all the stress and time I had wasted just trying to get off campus. It was also particularly hot, and I was sure that I was beginning to redden and burn on my arms and neck. I snapped out of autopilot when my tire iron didn't quite fit onto the lug nuts of my flat tire. I was confused. Why would a tire iron not fit the lug nuts? Whatever the absurd reason was, my rage had now reached a new level. Not only were my keys locked in the car, but the tire was flat, the spare was locked up, and now my lug nuts were the wrong size.

In hind site, I'm convinced that this was the point in my life where I developed a very real problem with anger.

Anyway, I was not about to call the security guy back to my car, otherwise I'm sure he would have loved to try out the dusty taser strapped to his hip. Instead I absentmindedly reached for my new ratchet set that I had stowed back there for no real purpose. If I had thought it through a bit, I might have skipped it, but I was in no mood to think. I just matched the right sized socket to the lug nut, attached the ratchet, and began to tug. I had no leverage with the six-inch handle. In my frustration I resorted to standing on the lever and slamming my full weight down in an attempt to loosen the nut. After a few mini-jumps, it finally gave! I was thrilled! I looked down, and instead of a loosened nut, I saw a bend ratchet. I had actually bent a steel handle to about 130 degrees! Had I been a violent person, I might have given a good punch into my window. I restrained myself though.

I was out of ideas. I rested my back against the truck and slowly slid until I was sitting on the asphalt with my knees curled up tightly against my chest. Normally I am a patient guy, so I wasn't worried about the hours that I could have been spending on homework or watching Harry Potter. I was worried though about not getting to my youth group later that evening. I was the leader of the small Jr. High youth group at the time, and I was supposed to be there to lead a Bible study. I looked down to my watch and found that it was already almost five. There was only an hour, and I still needed my tired changed, to drive all the way home to pick up my stuff, I needed to pick up some students, and get all the way back into town. Essentially, I was screwed.

My day had hit rock bottom. I was stranded and too ashamed to call anyone for help, not that I had anyone really to call except for my dad. That's when it finally dawned on me that I would have to call my dad to have him bail me out. I had accepted the fact that he was going to be upset. I was too old to be yelled at, but I knew when he was disappointed or frustrated with me.

It took me a few moments to get up the courage to call him, but I knew it was my only option. He picked up immediately.

"This is Dave."

"Hey, Dad."

"What's up Jon?"

I hesitated, "Umm..." I stopped again. "So, I need your help."

"Yeah?" I could tell that silently he was really thinking, "ARE YOU KIDDING ME! YOU LOCKED YOUR KEYS IN YOUR TRUCK AGAIN!" So I just hurried on to the part where he would hopefully feel sorry for me. I spilled out my entire story in probably about forty-five seconds. I exhaled deeply while my dad paused, I'm assuming to soak it all in and decide what to do. Before I knew it, he burst out laughing.

"Sorry"

"What are you sorry for?" He seemed appalled that I would be ashamed to call him for help. I guess I knew deep down that he would always help me out in a bind, and he seemed to understand that this was all out of my control. He could also probably sense how frustrated I already was. He chuckled again, "Are you at school?"

"Yeah."

"I'll be right there." He hung up with another good-hearted laugh. At least I knew he wasn't upset. My rescuer was at the church, so it didn't take long for him to make the trek out to my Arapahoe Community College. Once he did we hopped into his forest green Saturn heading for Target. Our first item of business was to obtain the proper tire iron.

I decided to splurge on the iron that had four different size options. I was convinced that one of them would fit, and after the day I had I wasn't taking any chances.

I remember thinking how I should have just called my dad right from the beginning instead of wasting three hours of my life in the parking lot of Arapahoe Community College. I should have just trusted that even if he was mad, he would still love me enough to stop what he was doing to come get me. He always had in the past, so why should it have stopped then?

Knee Pain When Walking - An Overview - Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention


The knee is an especially vulnerable joint. It takes on a lot of stress when you walk, run, jump or climb anything. Even if they have not incurred any major knee trauma, many people will still suffer from knee pain brought on by regular wear and tear over time.

A. ) How do you Determine the Cause of Knee Pain?

If you get severe knee pain while walking, chances are the pain would not have been caused by the walking itself. A number of observations will help your doctor determine the immediate cause of your knee pain. Some of these include:

1.) Your age
2.) Whether your knee has suffered an injury at some stage
3.) Exactly where the knee pain is (front or back of the knee, inside or outside section of the joint)
4.) Did the knee pain start suddenly or has it come on gradually over time?
5.) What are the activities that bring on the knee pain?

B. ) What are the Common Knee Pain Symptoms?

In addition to determining what caused the knee pain, you will also need to consider the exact symptoms you are suffering from in order to be able to get the right treatment. Some of the most common knee pain symptoms include:

1.) Locking (where you cannot straighten or bend your knee)
2.) Popping or snapping sensation in the knee
3.) Giving way (feeling as if your knee is giving way when you walk)
4.) Inability to put weight on the knee
5.) Grinding feeling
6.) Swelling and whether this appeared suddenly following injury or appeared more slowly
7.) Worsening knee pain when walking or bending the knee

C. ) What are the Possible Causes of Knee Pain when Walking?

The following are just some of the more common factors that cause severe knee pain when walking:

1.) Tendonitis - Tendonitis is an inflammation or irritation of the tendons. In addition to having a swelling in the front of the knees, if you suffer severe knee pain when walking and it feels worse while climbing stairs or when running, then you may have tendonitis.

2.) Meniscus injuries - Meniscus injuries are caused by a tear in the cartilage in your knee joint. This can cause severe pain in the knee and a feeling that you cannot straighten out the knee. There will also be some swelling.

3.) Bursitis - Inflammation of the cushioning fluid sacs in the knee causes bursitis. If you have bursitis your knees will be stiff and swollen and they will feel painful even when you are not walking.

4.) Knee arthritis- Knee arthritis involves stiffness, swelling and knee pain when walking.

D.) What Can be Done About Severe Knee Pain when Walking?

If you are suffering from severe knee pain when walking, it is important that you consult your doctor for an accurate diagnosis. Appropriate treatment will depend on the cause and severity of the pain and could involve surgery or anti-inflammatory medication.

A knee brace is one of the most effective ways to protect your knee from further injury or whilst recovering from surgery. The brace works to keep the joint stable and prevent movements which could cause further damage to the knee. Other options for self help include ice packs, rest and elevation and compression bandaging to prevent fluid build-up. Physical therapy is extremely beneficial as it strengthens the supporting muscles, which then help to stabilize your knee and reduce the severe knee pain when walking.

Hyaluronic Acid For Osteoarthritis


Hyaluronic acid (HA) is already widely used in skin care and anti-aging treatments, and it can be used to treat osteoarthritis. Recent studies show that 80 % of patients with osteoarthritis experience relief when given HA treatment, and although some patients do not have the same response, the success rate is more than enough to make HA the new arthritic wonder drug.

Osteoarthritis is actually caused by the degeneration of synovial fluid of the arthritic joints. They break down into smaller units and in effect decrease their own shock absorption effectiveness and greasing properties. HA is injected into these joints to revive and replace poor synovial fluid. In most cases, after a while, patients experience relief. There are also HA tablets available for patients who prefer oral ingestion, but experts still argue that the injectable forms are more direct and effective in providing faster relief. HA treatment is not instant. You will typically have four or five injections before you experience any relief.

HA has been approved by the FDA as a safe treatment drug for osteoarthritis. It cannot be bought over the counter and you cannot administer it yourself. Consult your physician before deciding whether HA treatments are for you. Some patients experience pain after HA injection, and may need to curtail activities for some time. HA treatments do not promise 100% pain relief, and maintaining a good diet and exercise is recommended in addition to treatments.

In addition to being an effective treatment for osteoarthritis, other benefits of hyaluronic acid include: increased mobility, softer skin, faster wound healing, fibromyalgia relief, retinal lubrication, clearer vision and dry skin relief.

How to Effectively Use Physiotherapy For Knee Injuries


If you have ever experienced an injury to the knee then you will know that it can be one of the most painful places to get hurt. Its not an experience that you would wish upon anyone. It can really be a killer especially for those that play sports. There are athletes all over the world that experience the pain of knee injuries every year, and it can be as simple as a small sprain to something as serious as a tear. Thankfully most of the injuries that athletes experience are minor and they do not have to go into surgery. The great thing with small injuries is that an athlete can do physiotherapy treatment to the injured area to relieve the pain that they may be experiencing and get themselves back in action for the sport that they play in.

The first thing that doctors recommend to most patients that have experienced a knee injury is to seek physiotherapy treatment. More specifically they recommend it those that have experienced any kind of strain, torn ligaments, or torn tendon. Where an injury is serious and physiotherapy is not working to relieve the patient of the pain that they are experiencing then will a doctor consider the option of surgery to be done. Surgery is the last thing that the doctor considers, and never seen as the first resort, when a person has injured their knees. The problem of doing knee surgery on a patient is that the pain experienced can be horrific and recovery can take a long time.

There are many different kinds of knee injuries that a patient would experience some pain. The most common type of injury caused to the knee is a ligament sprain which happens when there is a sudden twist caused to the knee usually done by jumping or running. If a ligament gets torn then it can cause internal bleeding in the knee which will result in the knee swelling up. In some cases a torn ligament does require surgery but it can often be fixed with physiotherapy, but a sprained ligament can usually be sorted with just physiotherapy treatment.

So there you have it if you do experience a knee injury then in most cases the doctors advise would be to seek out physiotherapy treatment which will most likely solve the problem. Only if a doctor sees the injury as serious will surgery ever be considered.

Knee Posture and Alignment


The knees are the largest joints in the body, controlled by very powerful muscles and coping with very high levels of physical stresses in movement and activities. The knees are designed to take the weight of the body and propel the body in walking and running. Two joints make up the knee itself, the main one between the large rounded lower end of the femur and the flat expanded upper end of the tibia and the second between the small facets behind the patella and the anterior aspect of the femoral condyles. The knee is held together by large and powerful ligaments, two at the sides known as the medial (inside) and lateral (outside) collateral ligaments. The remaining two are internal and known as the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments.

The collateral ligaments stop the knee bending excessively sideways into knock knee or bow leg, and the cruciate ligaments prevent abnormal front and back movement of the knee. The large knee muscles, the quadriceps and the hamstrings control knee movement and provide motive power for the joint, with the buttock muscles also considerably influencing knee function. The posture of the knee joints can significantly affect the ability of the knee to function in normal activities. The patella can, with injury, time or repetitive activity, develop a pain problem related to it not tracking well in the groove formed by the femoral condyles.

Knock knee deformity can form as the knee becomes osteoarthritic, especially in the lateral knee compartment, opening the inside of the joint to a degree and putting a stretch on the medial collateral ligament. Bow leg deformity does the opposite, with increased medial compartment wear and a stretch applied to the lateral collateral ligament. If a knee is injured the person will tend to keep the joint in around thirty degrees of bend, where the joint feels most relaxed, and in some cases the knee will recover but some of the full extension of the joint will be lost, a problem known as fixed flexion deformity.

Physiotherapy assessment involves checking the alignment of the knee in a lateral and front and back direction, taking in the alignment of the feet also which can materially affect the posture of the knee. The physio will measure the range of movement of the knee, looking at the alteration in knee posture which occurs during the action. Treatment may include exercises, bracing, stretches and insoles.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Knee Pain - How to Determine If You Need a Knee Replacement


When trying to determine whether your at the point if you need a knee replacement or not, one of the first steps you will want to take is to have through orthopedic consultation with your surgeon to determine if you are a candidate to begin with. At this point the knee pain should have been dealt with using conservative measures.

Initially your knee pain will have brought you to an orthopedic surgeon who may have prescribed physical therapy to start with. There you would have received treatment that dealt with a combination of modalities and exercises that will be targeted at the root cause. Knee pain can be brought on by injury, osteoarthritis, or general weakness where your muscles that protect the joint are not doing their job any longer.

Once you have tried all the conservative measures to hopefully decrease your pain including synvisc injections for instance to create a larger joint space, and if no relief is obtained or is just temporary lasting a couple of weeks to a month, than it may be time to get your knee replacement.

Orthopedic surgeons confront this issue almost everyday in the office with their patients. Patients generally will ask when is the appropriate time to get their knee replaced. Most surgeons will inform you that you will know.

I can tell you from first hand experience that I knew precisely when it was time to get my knee replaced. I knew for instance it was time when I could not walk more than 100 feet before I was looking for a place to sit. I also knew it was time for a replacement when the pain became so unbearable that I would forego leaving my home unless it was absolutely necessary. Driving a car can also be a challenge when you are sitting in the driver's seat with your knee on the affected leg constantly in a flexed positioned causing you extreme pain and muscle spasm.

Sleeping at night can become a troublesome event as well. When you cannot sleep due to excessive knee pain or find that you have to consume large quantities of pain relievers to help you sleep,than you know it is about time to get the knee replaced.

Your orthopedic surgeon however will steer you in the right direction just by looking at x-rays and your ability to walk and function on a daily basis. If your x-rays show that your knee compartment is in a condition known as bone on bone than there is not much more that can be done at least until stem cell replacement is perfected.

At that point it would benefit you to get the knee replaced as soon as possible. By prolonging the surgery all you are doing is causing more damage to the joint and surrounding musculature and, setting yourself up for a difficult rehabilitation.

Once the knee is replaced you will than say why did I wait so long to get this done.

THE Ministry of Prayer Has Been the Secret And Power of All of God's People


"Prayer should be the breath of our breathing, the thought of our thinking, the soul of our feeling, and the life of our living, the sound of our hearing, the growth of our growing." Prayer in its magnitude is length without end, width without bounds, height without top, and depth without bottom. Illimitable in its breadth, exhaustless in height, fathomless in depths and infinite in extension."-HOMER W. HODGE

"THE ministry of prayer" has been the peculiar characteristic of all of God's people (saints). This has been the secret of their power. The energy and the soul of their work has been the closet. The need for help outside of man being is so great. Because man's natural failure to always judge kindly, justly, and truly, and to act the Golden Rule, so prayer is enjoined by Christ to enable man to act in all these things according to the Divine will. By prayer, the ability is secured to feel the law of love, to speak according to the law of love, and to do everything in harmony with the law of love.

God is our Father, so God will help us. We need God's good things to help us to "do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly before God." We have to have Divine help to act brotherly, wisely, nobly, to judge truly and charitably. God's help to do all these things, in God's, way is secured by prayer. "Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you."

In the wonderful productivity of Christian graces and duties, the result of giving ourselves wholly to God, as recorded in the twelfth chapter of Romans, we have the words, "Continuing instant in prayer," preceded by "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation," followed by, "Distributing to the necessity of the (people) saints, given to hospitality." Paul as a result writes as if these rich and rare graces and unselfish duties, so sweet, bright, generous, and unselfish, had for their center and source the ability to pray.

This is the same word which is used in the prayer of the disciples which ushered in Pentecost with all of its rich and glorious blessings of the Holy Spirit. In Colossians, Paul presses the word into the service of prayer again, "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving." The word in its background and root means strong, the ability to stay, and persevere steadfast, to hold fast and firm, to give constant attention to.

In Acts, chapter six, it is translated, "Give ourselves continually to prayer." There is in it constancy, courage, unflinching perseverance. It means giving such marked attention to, and such deep concern to a thing, as will make it obvious and controlling.

This is an advance in demand on "continue." Prayer is to be nonstop, without intermission, diligently, no check in desire, in spirit or in act. The spirit and the life must always be in the attitude of prayer. The knees may not always be bended, the lips may not always be speaking with words of prayer, but the spirit is always in the act and communication of prayer.

There should not be any adjustments of life or spirit for closet hours. The closet spirit should sweetly rule and adjust all times and occasions. Our activities and work should be performed in the same spirit which makes our devotion and which makes our closet time sacred. "Without intermission, continuously, attentively," describes a richness, energy, ceaseless strength and fullness of effort; like the full and exhaustless and spontaneous flow of an artesian stream. Touch the man of God who consequently understands prayer, at any point, at any time, and a full current of prayer is seen flowing from him.

But all these indescribable benefits, of which the Holy Spirit is made to us the conveyor, go back in their character and all the results are because of prayer. Not on a little process and a measly routine prayer is the coming of the Holy Spirit and of His great grace inured, but on prayer that set on fire, by an unquenchable desire, with such a sense of need as cannot be without, with a fixed determination which will not let go, and which will never faint till it wins the greatest good and gets the best and last blessing God has in store for us.

The First Christ, Jesus, our Great High Priest, forever blessed and adored be His Name, was a gracious Comforter, a faithful Guide, a gifted Teacher, a fearless Advocate, a devoted Friend, and an all powerful Intercessor. The other, "another Comforter," the Holy Spirit, comes into all these blessed relations of fellowship, authority and aid, with all the tenderness, sweetness, fullness and efficiency of the First Christ.

Was the First Christ the Christ of prayer? Did He offer prayers and supplications, with strong crying and tears unto God? Did He seek the silence, the solitude and the darkness that He might pray unheard and un-witnessed save by heaven, in His wrestling agony, for man with God? Does He ever live, enthroned above at the Father's right hand, there to pray for us?

Then how beyond doubt does the other Christ, the other Comforter, the Holy Spirit, represent Jesus Christ as the Christ of prayer! This other Christ, the Comforter, plants Himself not in the waste of the mountain nor far into the night, but in the chill and the night of the human heart, to awaken it to the struggle, and to teach it the need and form of prayer. How the Divine Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, puts into the human heart the load of earth's almighty need, and makes the human lips give voice to its mute and unutterable groaning!

What a mighty Christ of prayer is the Holy Spirit! How He quenches every flame in the heart but the flame of heavenly desire! How He quiets, like a weaned child, all the self-will, until in will, in brain, and in heart, and by mouth, we pray only as He prays. "Making intercession for the saints, according to the will of God."

Physiotherapy After Hip Replacement


Total hip replacement has matured into a routine operation for the relief of hip pain and disability due to hip arthritis, giving some of the greatest quality of life increases of all medical procedures. Typically performed in older people, many get a good result from their hip replacement surgery but many do not reach their greatest potential due to lack of follow up rehabilitation in the post-operative period.

An osteoarthritic hip joint is likely to cause a degree of pain and disability for a year or more before the person comes to operation. This period of difficulty can cause influential changes in the tissues around the hip which can be relevant in the postoperative period. Pain and weakness can make us use our joints less, avoiding pushing them to the ends of their movement, a process which gradually reduces the joint's range of motion. Adaptive shortening occurs in the hip's ligaments, as the structures shorten in response to the fact that the joint is not being put through its full range any more in the normal daily pattern.

When a hip joint is not used in the normal way or through its full range the muscles which power it will lose some of their strength. The hip joint is designed to bear weight and to move the body around which involves high levels of power, provided by the largest muscles in the body, the gluteal muscles. The ability to run, walk, get up from a chair, climb stairs and go uphill is facilitated by the power of the gluteal muscles to a great extent. If these muscles weaken they can reduce a person's independence to an important degree.

The hip abductors, a smaller muscle group of the gluteal muscles, are important in controlling the side to side stability of the pelvic girdle in gait, with weakness of these muscles interfering with walking. Standing on one leg in walking we hold the opposite side of the pelvis up to avoid it dropping and make bringing through the moving leg more difficult. The hip abductor muscles do this and if weak we feel unstable in walking and tend to lurch towards the weak side, making us lean our trunk towards the other side to restore balance. This is described as a positive Trendelenberg sign.

The abnormal Trendelberg gait imposes unnatural forces on the hip and requires side flexion of the spine to hold balance on each step. The abnormal gait which results fails to strengthen the hip abductors and remedy the problem. With hip problems we tend not to extend our hips fully so the gait cycle is shortened as the hip extensor muscles fail to attain full movement and power. A restriction in hip joint movement and the presence of muscular weakness makes mobility more difficult and can make the outcome of the operation less satisfactory in the absence of rehabilitation.

Patients typically have impaired balance and coordination even before they have their joint replacement operation, with some improvement occurring as the hip's function moves more towards normal after the joint has been replaced and the mechanical function of the hip is restored towards normal. Other impairments usually include the sense of joint position sense, an important ability the lack of which compromises balance and makes falling more likely.

Physiotherapists assess a patient's hip function and ability to get through their normal daily work, looking at the deficiencies in the joint so they can plan the rehabilitation. Noting the gait of the patient will be the first thing in the assessment, moving on to checking movements of the hip, knee and spine to check for any restrictions due to joint stiffness. An abnormal gait can be habitual and the physiotherapist will analyse and correct the gait pattern towards normal.

Excessive range is not encouraged in hip replacements due to the risk of dislocation. Next the muscle power in all the surrounding muscles will be tested and then the person's balance reactions and joint position sense. Once the assessment is complete the physiotherapist will give the patient a programme including joint mobility, strengthening, and balance and gait correction. Many with hip arthroplasty do not reach their best potential due to a lack of rehabilitation care after the operation.

Post Surgery Massage Therapy


My goal in writing this article is to educate the public, but most principally medical students and physicians and surgeons to the need to inform post-surgery patients of the benefits of massage therapy in reducing contractures, relaxing muscles which have become tight and guarding due to the trauma of the surgery and the displacement by surgical tools, and the laying down of collagen substructures which cause scar tissues around the incision and surrounding tissues. There is always enormous swelling and reduced flexibility and stiffness following surgery. The incision site and the underlying adhesions to muscle tissue and fascia because of tension, displacement, and cutting/suturing create scar tissue. It is vital that that incision site and joints be massaged after 7 days of healing. Of course pressure and intensity of massage will be light at first and will increase as time goes on helping to reduce swelling, redness, and pain.

I encounter many clients who are post-surgery and who have never received any instruction by their general physicians or surgeons to seek massage therapy as an integral and necessary part of their post-surgery treatment. I don't know whether this information is not made available at universities or whether the consequences of neglecting to inform patients is not fully appreciated.

The result is that the post-surgery population is suffering needlessly in pain for months and years because of untreated contractures, muscle adhesions, guarding muscles and scar tissues and its resulting consequences of reduced range of motion. Therapeutic massage has been scientifically proven to assist in solving these type of post-surgery issues.

I have achieved tremendous reductions in pain and noticeable and measurable improvements in tissue texture suppleness, and increased range of motion from the application of repeated therapeutic massage treatments for a range of surgery patients. The clients which have benefited from these treatments include shoulder rotator-cuff surgeries, breast reconstruction post-mastectomy, knee re-construction, hip replacement, and bi-femoral bypass affecting the groin and abdominal regions.

I would like to emphasize the importance to our post-surgery patients in reducing their post-surgery trauma, pain, and assist in improving the mobility and flexibility of tissue and joints through the use of regular therapeutic massage treatments.
I am disappointed and angry when my patients tell me that their surgeons and physicians tell them that there is no benefit for them to receive massage therapy post-surgery. My patients comments are all the same:

"I was not told of the benefits of therapeutic massage treatments after my surgery".

Degenerative Joint Disease Causes and Home Treatments


The degenerative joint disease causes are typically wear and tear injuries that occur over time. In fact, advanced age is a major risk factor of degenerative joint disease and it is rare for anyone over the age of 70 to be unaffected in some way by this progressive disorder. However, treatments are available that can help decrease the pain and stiffness associated with degenerative joint disease.

Degenerative Joint Disease Causes

Though degenerative joint disease, also known as osteoarthritis, can come on as a consequence of everyday life, its onset can be sped up by certain factors.

  • Trauma due to sports

  • Trauma from work-related activities or injuries

  • Repetitive motions of a joint for a long time

  • Infection in a joint

  • Excess weight, which puts pressure on the weight bearing joints.

Degenerative joint disease is common in the weight bearing joints (spine, hips, knees, ankles, feet, and toes) but can also occur in the non-weight bearing joints (shoulders, elbows, wrists, hands, and fingers).

If you wake in the morning with stiffness, which goes away after moving for about 30 minutes, you likely have osteoarthritis. This is a classic sign of the disorder as is pain in the joints that is aggravated by exercise and relieved by rest.

Degenerative Joint Disease Home Treatments

You will not be able to completely cure degenerative joint disease but you can treat the symptoms and lessen the pain and stiffness. Below I have listed some common home remedies for degenerative joint disease:

  • OTC (over-the-counter) drugs like acetaminophen (Tylenol) are the first remedy tried by most osteoarthritis sufferers. Aspirin will have similar pain-relieving effects but may be harder on your stomach

  • NSAIDS (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen and naproxen can provide some relieve from pain and are commonly thought of as a step up from Tylenol or Aspirin. Talk with your doctor if you feel a need for regular use of these pain relievers.

  • OTC glucosamine and condroitin formulas have mixed results but some claim good results with their regular use.

  • There are a number of pain-relieving lotions and creams. Try Capsaicin (Zostrix), this may feel unusual at first but has proven to be helpful for the temporary relief of degenerative joint disease.

  • Hot or cold packs may provide temporary relieve. Hot packs can warm the joint and aid in pain-free movement. Cold packs help reduce swelling and pain that may occur following exercise.

  • Allow sufficient time to rest the affected joint and if repetitive movements aggravate the symptoms, take step to change your routine.

  • You do not want to avoid exercise because it helps to keep your joints mobile. However, you may need to shift your exercise routine to exercises that do not stress your joints. Swimming and water activities are non-weight bearing exercises. You can also walk instead of jog to put knees under less stress.

  • Alternative treatments like acupuncture and massage may provide you with relief.

Wearing Supportive Braces With Joint Pain


If you suffer from joint pain and stiffness, you may be inclined to wear a brace to help stabilize the joint. Joints damaged by age or overuse may become weakened and stiff during everyday activities. A supportive brace may help alleviate this pain and stiffness throughout your busy day. Whether it's inflammation from an injury or arthritis, braces can offer patients a reprieve from the pain and stiffness.

What Are They?

A supportive brace is just as it sounds. It is a contraption that you wrap around the weakened joint which lends support and aid to the joint. There are many types of braces for such pain, such as a knee brace, ankle brace and the like. Generally the brace will have a type of restriction which keeps the joint in perfect alignment and can ease the pain associated with overused joints. For example, a knee brace can lend support to a weakened knee joint, realign the joint so that it is in proper alignment with the hip and back, and help ease the pain of misalignment.

If you have an injury to a joint, bracing it can help speed up the process of healing, by keep the joint in proper alignment. Braces with strong support are frequently utilized by individuals who have experienced some trauma to a joint, like overuse or sprains. For this, supportive braces can strengthen the muscles and ligaments associated with the injured joint by essentially acting as a second muscle group, keeping the injured muscles from experiencing additional trauma.

For those who suffer from arthritis, supportive braces can increase motility of the damaged joint and in some case, relieve the pain associated with the condition. Often arthritic braces act as an insulator, applying heat to the afflicted joint to reduce pain by keeping it warm. Neoprene sleeve are a common type of arthritic supportive braces. The neoprene sleeve can insulate and thereby help alleviate joint pain from arthritis.

Should I Just Go Get One?

As with any medical condition, it is always advisable to seek medical treatment for any injury or disorder. If you have joint pain, you may have a more serious arthritic condition which may require surgery. Minor injuries do not always require a supportive brace and in fact supportive braces can do more harm than good if worn inappropriately. This is why it is important to consult a physician before wearing a supportive brace. Only a physician can affirm whether a supportive brace is the right choice for you.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

How Rickets Develops in Infants


If the baby is lacking the mineral of Vitamin D, then his bones will not grow properly. This deficiency mostly presents itself in children or infants. The causes of this sickness is due to lack of Vitamin D. This vitamin will be received if children have adequate sunlight exposure or right amount intake of Vitamin D. The sunlight is important in the formation of the Vitamin D - needed in the formation of the bone in human.

The rickets will also develop if phosphorus and calcium is lacking or inadequate in the child's diet. Weak bones and muscles are the symptoms of mild rickets. If not medicated earlier, the bones become distorted or deformed and have fractures. Thickening of the wrists and ankles are other early evidences of rickets. Bones of the spine, pelvis, and long bones of the legs can be distorted. Bow legs can be the result of rickets.

It generally occurs in infants six to eighteen months of age. The earliest symptoms consist of restlessness irritability and sweating of the head. The junction of bone and cartilage at the front of the ribs on either side of the breastbone, enlarge forming two rows of hard nodules because the skull bones are soft, the head takes on a square shape. Other symptoms include bowlegs or knock- knees, a protruding abdomen and constipation. X - rays will reveal poor development near the ends of the bones. The pelvis may become deformed, a special problem for girls who when mature may have difficulty at childbirth.

Rickets is demineralization of the child bone. It is caused due to a lack of calcium and phosphorus, the chief minerals elements in bone structure. It was poorly absorbed from the intestine because of the deficiency of vitamin D. synthesized in the skin when exposed to sunlight and is essential for the absorption of calcium and phosphorus. The cause of this disorder includes shortage of vitamin D, a diet lacking calcium and phosphorus kidney failure in which phosphorus is lost.

Safely Decorating Your Kids Bedroom


o Wall Decorations:

Never place a wall hanging, picture, poster, or any other decoration on the wall within the baby's reach. Remember that once the baby is able to stand and reach up these things can be hazards. They can knock wall hangings or pictures off the wall, and hit themselves with them. If it is a picture in a frame with glass, if they were to knock it down, it could break and shatter, causing severe health hazards. If it is something as simple as a poster, it can still be dangerous, because they can rip off a piece of it, and put it in their mouth, leading to choking.

o Bumpers:

It is always a good idea to use bumpers for a baby's bed, but it is equally important to make sure that the bumper and all other kids bedding fits the crib properly. Bumpers are used to prevent the baby from getting their arms and legs between bars, or between the crib and mattress, and can provide much safety this way, but if it does not fit properly, it can pose more concerns than before, because not only will it allow the baby to get these appendages in these places, it can essentially pin them there.

o Musical Mobiles:

These are excellent tools on occupying your baby, and adding decoration to the bedroom, but they need to be used in a safe manner. Once a baby begins pushing up on their hands and knees, the mobile should be placed at the baby's feet, and once they start pulling up, it can pose a strangulation hazard, so you may want to remove it altogether.

o Pillows, Blankets and Kids Bedding:

Babies only need one lightweight blanket on them while they are sleeping, such as a receiving blanket. The blanket should only reach as far as their chest, and it should be tucked in tightly around the baby, possibly either around the crib. They do not need pillows or extra blankets. A pillow or an extra blanket can suffocate a child, especially an infant that can not move his head away quickly enough. This also applies to stuffed animals in the crib.

o Crib Sheets:

It is very important that the only sheet you put on a crib be a fitted sheet, and that it fits securely around the mattress. If the elastic won't hold it on, and it comes loose and slides up onto the bed, it can get tangled around the child and suffocate her.
Washing all kids bedding:

Do not forget to wash all sheets and blankets before putting the infant in the bed. They can be washed in regular laundry detergent, but to avoid any allergies or irritants on baby's soft skin from it, sometimes it is best to use baby detergent.

Infants should ALWAYS sleep in a crib which meets current federal and ASTM standards.

o Mattress

It is also important to pay close attention to how the mattress fits into the crib. The tighter it fits, the better it is, because this leaves less room for them to stick a hand or finger, or any other body parts. Crib mattresses may seem rather hard to an adult who is accustom to a soft bed to sleep on, but they are made this way for a reason: safety. This keeps them from suffocating themselves, and is the same reason it's never good to let an infant sleep on an adult's bed, or on a pillow, or even a comforter. The only thing that should be under the baby on a mattress is a fitted sheet, and possibly a mattress pad and/or waterproof pad.

o Sleeping Position

A healthy infant should always sleep on their back, unless you are directed otherwise by a physician. Even without a pillow or fluffy blanket in the bed, a baby on their stomach can get stuck face-down and not be able to move their head to the side to get air, leading to suffocation.

o Mini Blinds and Curtains

Just as with wall hangers and pictures, it is very important not to ever place a baby's bed near a window with mini blind or curtains. The cord from mini blinds pose a strangulation risk, and they can pull on curtains, pulling themselves out of the crib. Either of these can also cause endangerment if the baby pulls on it hard enough to pull it down on top of them.

Knee Pain


Knee pain is an extremely common complaints among older men and women. There are many causes, not the least of which is osteoarthritis which affects over 27 million Americans. Some of the more common causes include arthritis, already mentioned, ligamental injuries, cartilaginous injuries, patellar tendinitis, dislocated kneecap, bursitis and Baker's cyst. Less commonly conditions such as gout, Osgood-Schlatters and osteochondritis - the previous two seen almost exclusively in adolescence- will cause knee pain.

The knee is a hinge joint which is formed by two bones and held together by four ligaments. The kneecap covers the ventral side of knee enabling a friction free pain free movement. The joint is surrounded by a membrane that produces a fluid which helps to nourish the cartilage and keep the slippery. Between the bones in the upper leg in the lower leg, which meet at the knee, is cartilage. This cartilage also helps to cushion the joint and create a friction free motion.

Being only moderately overweight can put excessive forces on the knee causing significant wear and tear - osteoarthritis. Research has shown that during walking the hips, knees and ankles will bear up to five times a person's total weight in force. For every pound of extra weight a person carries another 5 pounds is an added to each knee during walking. Contrast this with a 10 pound weight loss being the equivalent to 50 pounds of extra stress relieved from the joints.

Arthritis in the knee will typically affects people over the age of 50 and is more common in those who are overweight or who have suffered significant knee injuries in their earlier years. Researchers have also found a genetic predisposition which means that it tends to run in families.

The pain of knee arthritis will progress as the condition worsens. What is very interesting about arthritis that occurs in the knee is that it does not always progress steadily over time. Individuals will often report that symptoms fluctuate with the weather and that they have good months and bad months.

The most common symptoms that individuals report when they have arthritis pain in their knee is that the pain increases with activity, they have limited range of motion, they experienced swelling in the joints, it feels as if the knee "gives out", they have stiffness in the joints, there is tenderness when they press on the knee and the knee may become deformed.

According to a study done at the University of Iowa researchers found that women who had strong thigh muscles, quadriceps, were 50% less likely to develop knee pain compared to those who had the weakest muscles. This supports previous research that sounds strong quadriceps muscles protects against cartilage loss. However, the increased muscle strength did not prevent osteo arthritis but actually decreased the pain and symptoms that the woman experienced. X-ray evidence showed that 10% of those individuals with strong muscles who had no pain did have evidence of arthritis on x-ray.

This evidence supports other research which has found that "saving the joints" by becoming totally sedentary will not slow the process of arthritis. In a study published in 1992 in the Annals of Internal Medicine researchers found that those who had arthritis in their hip did better when they did not "baby themselves". Becoming sedentary lead to a loss of muscle and bone strength at a time when these individuals needed it most.

The goal of treatment is to decrease pain in the joints through a multidisciplinary team approach. Patients are often evaluated and treated by physical therapists who can help them develop programs to improve muscle strength, function and range of motion. Physicians and pharmacists work together to find adequate medical pain control while social services is brought into play to help individuals find support in the community and act as a liaison in the workplace.

Individuals who have arthritis in the knee will also find benefit from using a cane held in the hand opposite from the side with the arthritis. The cane should be of correct height which any medical supply company can adjust. Weight loss is another significant portion of treatment in order to decrease load bearing on the knee.

Some individuals find relief from mild to moderate pain using cortisone injections into the joints. It is not recommended more than every two to three months. While an ace bandaged may be helpful to control swelling and gives some psychological benefit need braces are generally not helpful. However, recent special braces developed specifically for individuals with osteo arthritis in the knee as well is wedged shoes have been found to decrease the bearing load on the joints and therefore the pain and degeneration of the cartilage.

Individuals who suffer from osteo arthritis of the knee often find that their lifestyle changes over time and as the disease progresses they lose more and more function. However, with some minor dietary changes, weight loss, exercise and support using a cane many are able to continue to function well in their daily lives with only minor adjustments.

Knee Pain, Knee Injuries and Iliotibial Band Syndrome


Knee pain and knee injuries, as a result of Iliotibial Band Syndrome, can be an extremely painful and frustrating injury that puts a big strain on both the knee and hip joints.

Knee pain and knee injuries are very common among runners and cyclists. However, they don't usually occur in an instant, like a hamstring strain or groin pull, but commonly start off as a twinge or niggle, and progress quickly to a debilitating sports injury that can sideline the best of us for weeks.

For those who aren't familiar with Iliotibial Band Syndrome, let's start by having a look at the muscle responsible for the problem. The iliotibial band is actually a thick tendon-like portion of another muscle called the tensor fasciae latae. This band passes down the outside of the thigh and inserts just below the knee.

If you look at the anterior (front) view of the right thigh muscles and follow the tendon of this muscle down, you'll see that it runs all the way to the knee. This thick band of tendon is the iliotibial band. Or iliotibial tract, as it is labelled in the diagram.

The knee pain occurs when the tensor fasciae latae muscle and iliotibial band become tight. This causes the tendon to pull the knee joint out of alignment and rub against the outside of the knee, which results in inflammation and pain.

Causes

There are two main causes of knee pain associated with iliotibial band syndrome. The first is "overload" and the second is "biomechanical errors."

Overload is common with sports that require a lot of running or weight bearing activity. This is why ITB is commonly a runner's injury. When the tensor fasciae latae muscle and iliotibial band become fatigued and overloaded, they lose their ability to adequately stabilize the entire leg. This in-turn places stress on the knee joint, which results in pain and damage to the structures that make up the knee joint.

Overload on the ITB can be caused by a number of things. They include:


  • Exercising on hard surfaces, like concrete;

  • Exercising on uneven ground;

  • Beginning an exercise program after a long lay-off period;

  • Increasing exercise intensity or duration too quickly;

  • Exercising in worn out or ill fitting shoes; and

  • Excessive uphill or downhill running.

Biomechanical errors include:


  • Leg length differences;

  • Tight, stiff muscles in the leg;

  • Muscle imbalances;

  • Foot structure problems such as flat feet; and

  • Gait, or running style problems such as pronation.


Treatment For Iliotibial Band Syndrome

Firstly, be sure to remove the cause of the problem. Whether is be an overload problem, or a biomechanical problem, make sure steps are taken to remove the cause.

The basic treatment for knee pain that results from ITB Syndrome is no different to most other soft tissue injuries. Immediately following the onset of any knee pain, the R.I.C.E.R. regime should be applied. This involves Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation, and Referral to an appropriate professional for an accurate diagnosis. It is critical that the R.I.C.E.R. regime be implemented for at least the first 48 to 72 hours. Doing this will give you the best possible chance of a complete and full recovery.

Hip and Knee Joint Pains


The occurrence of hip and knee pain together can be excessively inconvenient, which can badly affect the usual activities of the body; such as standing, running and walking. The knee and the hip joint are two of the most important joints of the body. Both joints are situated at the ends of the thigh bone. These joints work together to give support to the whole body weight. At the same time, these joints are responsible for sustaining the movement of our body. Any kind of pressure on the hip joint will definitely affect the knee joint. Also, if the knee joint experiences any kind of disorder, the hip joint will be affected. Hip and knee pain ranges from mild, moderate to severe. It may last for a short period of time or may be chronic lasting for days, weeks or months.

CAUSES OF HIP AND KNEE PAIN.

The following are some common causes of hip and knee pain.
1. Bone fracture: Sharp pains usually occur when the bones in the hip and knee are broken. Broken bones in these joints can occur due to shock, such as bad fall. This problem is common with elderly people because they are more fragile due to age.
2. Muscle strain: Both the knee and hip areas include many muscles, and when these muscles are overworked they get strained causing sharp pain in the affected regions. This problem often occurs when one engages in a strenuous physical activity without adequate warming of the muscles.
3. Osteoarthritis: The hip and knee joints consist of a tender tissue known as cartilage which promotes smooth mobility of the joint. When this tissue gets worn out as a result of osteoarthritis, the bones of the joints will start rubbing against each other. This situation causes the joints to be stiff and very painful.
4. Bursitis: this condition causes pain around the knee cap and hip bone. It usually occur as a result inflammation of bursa; a fluid in the sac that provides protection to the joints and bones of hip and knee. The common symptom of this problem is hip and knee pain with a particular sleeping position.
5. Pregnancy: pregnancy can also cause hip and knee pain due to a change in body structure. The increase in the size and weight of the uterus puts more pressure on the knee. And as the abdominal muscles are excessively stretched, the hip muscles get strained. Due to these reasons, pregnant women often experience more hip and knee pain.

TREATMENT OF HIP AND KNEE PAIN.

The cause of the pain will best determine the nature of the treatment to be taken. Therefore, it is very essential that you first seek professional advice from a physical therapist, a gym instructor or a fitness trainer before indulging in any treatment for hip and knee pain. Proper rest will be of a great advantage in easing of muscle pain. Limiting physical activities can as well help to stop pain from getting bad. Ice can also be applied to reduce the swelling effect on the joints. Pregnant women should apply heat or seek for therapeutic massage to relax the muscle.

Once the pain is reduced, muscle strengthening exercises should be applied to completely get rid of the problem. Some of the exercises you can opt for are hamstring stretching, hip flexors stretch, swimming, water aerobics, Pilates, cycling, weight machines, walking etc.

With strict adherence to the some of these exercises recommended to you by your physical therapist or fitness trainer you can effectively get rid of hip and knee pain and at the same time protect your joint from further injury.

NAFC Master Level Certified personal trainer Rochelle Gravance knows how to deal with knee pain. She combines her expert knowledge from more than a decade's work developing her clients' health and fitness with the personal experience as a young athlete in recovering from a devastating knee injury to help people lost their knee pain. Escape from the costly and risky path towards knee surgery peddled by the medical establishment. Visit Rochelle's website now at http://losethekneepain.com/ to take back control of your health.

The VMO - The Key to Patella Tracking, Knee Pain Relief and Knee Joint Stability


The VMO, or vastus medialis obliquus, is the large tear drop shaped thigh muscle, that lies just above and on the inner side of the kneecap, or patella. It is one of the four quadriceps muscles in the front of the thigh, but it is the only one that attaches directly to the inner (medial), upper margin of the patella.

For this reason, it pulls inward on the kneecap and opposes the slightly outer (lateral) pull of the other three muscles. The VMO is most active in the last 30 degrees of extension, meaning that it helps to lock the knee out, fully straight. So, you can see that this one muscle has a strong influence on both the kneecap and knee stability, as a consequence of its anatomy.

Pain behind the kneecap usually results from a direct blow or a fall, or it may result from maltracking, meaning that the kneecap is pulled off its normal path, usually to the outside (lateral side), and often because the VMO is weak and can't counteract the pull of the other three quadriceps. Usually, this is accompanied by tightening or contracture of the soft tissues on the outer side (lateral side) of the kneecap, which makes it much harder to treat and correct the problem.

Some combination of these factors is usually involved in kneecap pain, which can also be accompanied by instability, or giving way of the knee. Over time, these factors can result in degenerative softening of the cartilage under the kneecap, a disease called chondromalacia patellae.

The other major source of pain in the knee comes from within the joint, either from a twisting injury that may injure a meniscus, one of the cushions within the joint, or a sprain of one of the ligaments, or an effusion, or "water on the knee," which results from inflammation of the lining membrane of the joint, the synovium. And, in the older population, degenerative arthritis within the joint is also a source of knee pain and instability.

In every case, strengthening the VMO is critical to relieving knee pain and restoring knee joint stability. So, what exercises are best for doing that? Here again, we take our lead from the functional anatomy. Since the VMO muscle fully straightens the knee, and is most active in the last 30 degrees of extension, we want to load the muscle within that range of motion, to strengthen it.

Isometric exercises, technically defined as muscle contraction without shortening, those done with the knee fully straight, can increase VMO tone and strengthen its tendinous attachments. For example, quad setting is done by tensing the straight leg, contracting the quadriceps, as hard as you can, for six seconds. This is particularly important when you have a fresh injury, or in the first few days after knee surgery. It adds strength, but without any movement of the joint.

Similar in effect is straight leg raising. Lying on your back, with the opposite leg bent up (to straighten your spine, and relieve stress across the lower back), you tense your quads, and, while maintaining the contraction, then slowly raise the straight leg up, to about 45 degrees. Then, slowly lower it again. To start with, try for 3 sets of 15-20 repetitions. This, too, is an exercise that is very useful in the immediate aftermath of an injury, or surgery.

Isotonic exercise is muscle contraction with shortening and what we normally think of as exercise, with overt movement of the joint. This type of exercise can utilize the resistance of bodyweight only, or additional external resistance, like free weights, or an exercise machine.

The simplest exercise is a quarter squat. With or without weights, with your back against the wall, simply squat down just a quarter of the way, approximating about 30 degrees of knee flexion, then stand straight and tense the quads strongly.

Even full range movements, like Full Squats or Hindu Squats, can be converted to VMO strengthening exercises by that isometric tensing of the quads, with the knee fully straight, with each repetition.

My personal favorite for working the VMO is the Hack Squat. In this exercise, you hold a barbell or two dumbbells behind your knees and leaning backward to put maximal stress on the VMO, do quarter squats. It's helpful to have a wooden block under your heels to help with balance.

Machine exercises are also useful, but leg press machines are probably better for your knee than leg extension machines, because the leg press loads your knee from above, and is more physiological (a "closed chain" exercise). This is especially true if you have kneecap disease, like chondromalacia patella, or patellofemoral arthritis. Here again, you can handle very heavy weight eventually, because you're using it for a very short arc, just 30 degrees.

Whatever exercises you choose, you will begin to notice an improvement in your pain and your stability within about 10 days, and real improvement within 30 days. As the VMO becomes stronger, your patella tracking will improve and your knee will subjectively feel more stable. Although this regimen can't cure everything, it can go a long way toward making your knees feel better and stronger. Give it a try.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Benefits Of A Whole Body Vibration Machine


Neuromuscular training is offered by a vibration machine to improve muscular strength, power and balance. There is a platform on the machine for standing and sitting. The user can control the frequency of the vibrations (speed level) and length of time used according to his fitness level and particular needs. The vibrations' intensity increases with higher frequency levels. The un-weighted strength exercises like push-ups and squats can be performed while using the machine.

Muscular Strength

There is an increase in the muscle growth by performing isometric exercises on the vibration machine, as seen on the exercise chart and video. Everyone, including seniors can benefit greatly from this. If you have knee osteoarthritis, you can increase your muscle strength by doing exercise positions such as lunges, dips, and squats for 60-90 seconds as little as 3 times per week.

Special Requirements

For people with various disabilities, who are unable to undergo regular strength training exercise, whole body vibration can offer them a great deal. They can strengthen their muscles, as well as receive many other exercise benefits, with little impact on their joints or stress on their cardiovascular system. People who have multiple sclerosis or suffer from Parkinson's disease can also take advantage of this machine to increase strength and stability, balance and flexibility. Even the very elderly can use and benefit from vibration exercise training. Users in their 90's are improving their quality and quantity of life by safely using whole body vibration 3 or more times per week.

Flexibility

Vibration training increases flexibility. Synovial fluid is released into the joints within 90 seconds, resulting in lubrication that enhances movement. Also, the stiff muscles resulting from stiff joints are relaxed and loosened up to move more freely. As the circulation pumps oxygenation into the damaged joints, healing can take place. That is why there are several ways in which whole body vibration increases flexibility, range of motion and decreases joint pain. Osteoarthritis is one of the conditions that can greatly benefit.

Bone Density

As we know, bone density decreases in post-menopausal women, but that doesn't have to be the case.Studies show that with whole body vibration training, the deterioration can be thwarted. This reduces the chance of the occurrence of osteoporosis as a risk of post menopause.

Recovery

Muscle recovery is another benefit of the whole body vibration machine. Exercisers can recover from an intense physical workout by using the machine afterward, to prevent stiffness and soreness the next day. A relaxing way to massage those tired leg muscles after a long period of standing or sitting is to lay on the floor and rest the calves right on the rapidly moving platform. Ahhh, what relief!

Health and Anti-Aging

Vibration exercise greatly increases the lymphatic drainage, which results in cleansing the toxins from the body. The blood circulation is increased with the rapid muscle contractions, thereby increasing oxygenation to all the cells to repair and regenerate. Oxygenation plays a significant role in the prevention of disease and aging.

Therapy

Vibration Exercise results in elevated HGH (human growth hormone) levels. If you have undergone a surgery or suffered from an injury, healing is enhanced through these elevated levels. Athletic injuries are also treated with sports massage by using the vibration machine. Whole Body Vibration also makes neuromuscular reduction possible in various situations such as stroke, CP and MS.

Learn How To Break Dance


Break dancing - what is it about this street dance that enthralls so many people? Is it the cool moves, the acrobatic displays of nerves and strength or all of these elements? If you want to learn to break dance, then read these important tips that you need to know before you start breaking with the best of them!

Break dancing has moved into the mainstream with more people each year wanting to become break dancers. But what exactly do you need to be aware of before you get started?

1. If you want to learn to break dance, then you need to strengthen your body first. You also need to be pretty fit. As you progress from beginner to intermediate level, you will be placing more stress on your wrists, ankles, knees, spine and shoulders, so you need to make sure your body is strong enough in order to take this kind of stress. And if you do injure yourself, make sure you give your body enough time to heal before you start breaking again.

2. Watch before you learn. If you have a vague idea of what break dancing is all about, you need to watch a proper performance. When you see the dancers whip their bodies around, hurtle to the floor and spin on their head, you may have second thoughts about it. Originally, this was a street dance, where performers taught newcomers the intricacies of the movements.

3. Make sure you have the right teacher. It's very important you have the right person teaching you how to break dance. You want someone who has a lot of experience in performing and teaching in this form of dance. That way, you can avoid making common beginner mistakes and advance more quickly.

4. You can learn at the gym, dance school or even online. There may not be many classes being taught at your local gym or dance school, but you're spoiled for choice online. Thanks to the internet, you can download break dancing instructions or watch videos online. It can be very convenient to learn from watching online videos at home, knowing that nobody will be watching you make mistakes or looking awkward when you're just starting out. As long as you have a clear space around you so you don't knock anything over, learning online may be the easiest option for many.

5. Learn the basic moves first.

The first move is the top rock. This is the prelude to the dropping and spinning. There are different top rock moves you can learn.

The second part to break dancing is "go down" or drops. This is where you go from standing during the top rock to dropping onto the floor. Some of these moves include the corkscrew and funky zigzag.

The third element is the freeze, where dancers literally freeze in position. The freeze is used when the performer is in a difficult looking position, so that the move looks impressive to the crowd watching him or her.

The fourth part are the power moves. A lot of beginners want to learn the power moves first, because the crowd goes crazy over them! But you have to learn the basic break dance moves first, before you get to the power moves.

As you can see, learning how to break dance looks quite involved at first, but breaking down the choreography shows that anyone can learn this street dance and soon you'll be thrilling them on the dance floor!

MRI's Do Not Always Detect The True Cause of Pain


I recently began treating a patient with the clearest symptoms identifying the cause of her knee pain. The mechanism of injury was clear. She noted that she performed a lot of housekeeping and so she was on her knees alot. She felt that this caused her to have the left knee pain.

I asked her to point to where she was having her knee pain. She pointed to the knee fat pads. These are located just below the knee cap just on either side of the patella tendon. The patella tendon is the tendon that attaches the knee cap to the lower leg bone that allows you to bend and straighten your knee joint. The fat pads act as a lubricant below the patella tendon to allow it to move without interfacing with the bones of the knee joint.

It was absolutely clear that when I palpated or touched the fat pads, that the patient's level of pain skyrocketed through the roof. This is known as point tender pain. It indicates that the tissue being touched, in this case the fat pads is the tissue creating the pain signal that the patient is complaining of.

The other clinical indicators were a strained and weak quad muscle (front thigh muscle) and thickening in the quads indicating that the quad had strained. Finally there was increased lateral movement of the knee cap in the knee joint. This indicates that the quad muscle is weakened and creating decreased upward force on the knee cap.

So this was a case that was neat and clean. The patient kneeled enough on her knee to irritate the fat pads. This created thickening in the fat pads which created pain at this location. The quads strained because they had to work harder to support the patient because when weight bearing, the pain at the fat pads was making it harder for the quads to contract because pain acts an inhibitory response to muscles contracting. There was thickening in the quads indicating that they had strained and there was increased lateral movement of the knee cap reinforcing that the quads were producing less tone due to the strain.

This is the kind of case I love. It presents with everything to understand the cause of the pain and therefore it is very easy to resolve the pain. That is of course if you understand how to use a clinical evaluation to establish the proper diagnosis.

Enter the orthopedist. He uses no clinical evaluation. He depends strictly on the MRI to establish a cause or diagnosis. So he has this woman get an 1800 dollar MRI which shows up a torn meniscus which he suggests requires surgery to resolve her pain.

Let's examine these events. The orthopedist suggests surgery for a torn meniscus that he found on an MRI. It doesn't matter that this patient's pain is unequivocally at her fat pads and a torn meniscus could never create pain at this location.

It doesn't matter that studies have shown that almost as many people with no pain can be found to have degenerative meniscal tears as those with pain. These tears found on MRIs were healed by the body and require no intervention, they simply exist.

The only thing that matters is that 1800 dollars was just spent to identify the cause of this woman's knee pain even though the cause was overwhelmingly obvious based on a clinical evaluation.

Now you're not this woman, why would you care if her insurance company paid for a completely worthless, unnecessary MRI? Because her insurance company may be your insurance company. And it isn't just her premiums that pay all the claims that the insurance company has to pay, it is all the premiums of all the insured in that insurance company. And if enough worthless claims have to be paid and there isn't enough money collected through the existing premiums, then your premiums have to be raised or the services the insurance will pay for will be reduced.

So this lady's situation better mean something to you just as your situation should mean something to her. There is a financial and physical toll that must be paid for using unnecessary MRIs to establish invalid diagnoses that lead to unnecessary medications and surgeries. The financial toll is to your premium that has to be raised to cover all these worthless claims and the physical toll is having pain that may be unending because an improper diagnosis was achieved by an invalid method. Think about that the next time your physician recommends an MRI as the method of establishing the cause of your pain.

Osteoarthritis Affects Eight Out of Ten Over 50s


Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting eight out of ten people aged over 50. It cannot be cured but osteoarthritis careis available to help slow its progression and ease the symptoms.

Osteoarthritis develops gradually over a period of many years and can occur in several different joints. Knee pain or pain in the hips are the most common symptoms of osteoarthritis, as it tends to affect the large joints that are used as part of everyday life. The pain, if left untreated, can affect mobility and restrict the ability to live a normal life.

Several factors play into the development of osteoarthritis, the majority of which cannot be prevented. Age and gender are important as those most likely to suffer from the condition tend to be women over the age of 50. Obesity can also cause osteoarthritis, as carrying extra weight puts extra pressure on joints, leading to knee pain and even pain in the spine.

So what osteoarthritis care is available to those who suffer? Well along with the usual medications and surgery that doctors will discuss, there is much that you can do - for free - to relieve the pain and reduce the stain on your joints.

Most importantly, is to maintain an ideal weight. This can be done through a mixture of healthy eating and exercise. The exercise doesn't need to be high impact, but it does need to be regular - walking every day, swimming or low impact sports like tennis are all good ways to keep fit without putting extra pressure on those joints.

Massaging the muscles around your joints can also help relieve hip and knee pain; use some deep heat or relaxing oils to really relax the muscles and keep you flexible. Other ways to reduce the stress and pressure on the joints and keep the muscles supple include wearing thick-soled shoes, which will absorb the impact of your walk and reduce jarring on the joints. Walking sticks are also beneficial as they reduce the weight your joints have to carry.

Osteoarthritis - Is There Any Modern Day Cure To This Disease?


One of the most feared and extremely debilitating diseases that are a major cause for partial and permanent disability in the world is osteoarthritis. The joints in the body, especially the limbs, are the most affected. There are extremely painful conditions leading to decreased movement, tenderness, inability to walk or make a fist formation and a host of other pseudo psychiatric effects.

Osteoarthritis has its origins in degenerative hereditary conditions and it goes down through the genes into the progenies. It is feasible that any joint in the body can be affected but the most common areas are the knees, hands, hips, spine and feet.

In extreme cases, there is permanent disfigurement too. Swelling in these areas is marked leading to a gradual limp in the gait and virtual inability to climb stairs. Pain gradually increases during the daytime and bedtime becomes unbearable or, at the very least, very uncomfortable. With the complete wearing off taking place in the cartilages, the bone joints rub against each other increasing the pain many fold. Even the slightest touching of one bonehead with the other in the missing cartilage area causes enormous pain.

Since the disease is degenerative in nature, osteoarthritis does not have a permanent cure. There may be medication for pain relief but that is purely temporary in nature. Steroids and anti-inflammatory drugs may be used to prevent worsening of the pain. Surgical treatments such as complete replacement and resurfacing procedures have been able to address the issue with some success but again, the costs involved in these procedures are astronomical. There are also continuous post-surgical medications that may become necessary depending upon the progress made.