Saturday, February 22, 2014

Dog Arthritis - Common Types of Arthritis in Dogs


Dogs can suffer from different kinds of arthritis, which literally means inflammation of the joints. The most common form of arthritis in dogs is osteoarthritis or canine arthritis. Dogs are more prone to arthritis than in cats or horses and can usually take one of the several forms:

Osteoarthritis - A slow, progressive disintegration of cartilage in your dog joints is called osteoarthritis and is a chronic degenerative joint disease. When the cartilage of a joint is worn away the adjoining bones begin to rub against one another causing muscle discomfort and joint pain.

Hip Dysplasia - A malformation of the hip sockets is called hip dysplasia. The irregular malformation of the "ball and socket" allows excessive movement in the joint causing muscle pain, chronic inflammation leading to tissue deterioration and occasional calcium deposits. Hip dysplasia is most common among larger breeds of dogs.

Elbow Dysplasia - Another form of dysplasia is found in the elbows usually of large breed dogs. This disorder is typically hereditary in nature. In elbow dysplasia the bones become misshapen causing chipping with use resulting in discomfort and pain. An animal suffering from this condition will display lameness in the affected leg.

Knee Dysplasia - This malformation of the joints can also be found in the knees. Knee dysplasia also has the same "bone chips" which cause pain and lameness as it progresses.

Stifle Knee - A common problem with the stifle joint (knee) involves torn ligaments which creates instability of the joint. Joint dislocation is a common complication of the stifle knee. The stifle joint is placed under tremendous use and strain making inflammation at this location common. Poor or irresponsible breeding practices are the greatest reason for these issues.

Osteochondrosis - Inflammation of the cartilage or osteochondrosis is directly linked to poor breeding. Inadequate nutrition can also exacerbate this condition. The symptoms of osteochondrosis include pain and inflammation, and is coupled with cartilage disintegration.

Kneecap Dislocation - When the kneecap repeatedly moves and pull out of it's proper joint position it is known as kneecap dislocation and is associated with leg bones that are poorly formed. Again, this is a condition resulting from poor breeding or genetic inheritance.

ACL Repair Surgery Is Not the Only Option


All athletes around the world will surely agree that an ACL injury is one of their scariest injuries. This is basically because a healthy knee is a very important part of an athlete's physical condition. ACL injuries are very common among skiers, football players, and whatever sports involve so much physical motions and contacts. What makes this injury so serious is the fact that it can mean the end of an athlete's career. Fortunately, there are a couple of options in terms of ACL repair surgery.

The very first symptom of an ACL tear is the popping sound inside the knee joint that is surprisingly audible, which is commonly followed by severe pain and too much swelling in the knee area. There are worse symptoms that may appear, depending on the severity of the damages done to the ligaments. Many tests are also available these days that can assess the stability of the knees at first. The results will then be examined by a doctor, and the extent of the injury will be eventually figured out. It should be noted that too much swelling may impede the visibility of the exact damage, so usually, a couple of weeks would be needed to let the swelling subside.

An ACL injury can be very critical and devastating, so it is necessary that the right ACL repair surgery be done to allow the patient to gain back his or her physical form and also to be able to play the sports again. The technology has led the way for a patient's better chances of recovery. The initial stages of the surgery will be focused on minimizing the swelling. So after the injury is sustained, ice packs should be placed on the affected knee every two hours.

There is no way that the torn ligament can be repaired, so the treatment is called reconstructed through the use of a different tendon or ligament. Most of the time, what is used is either the hamstring tendon or the patella tendon. Surgeries are actually not the only option of people with torn ACL. If the patient does not need to have a physically active lifestyle in the future, then there is no need to undergo an invasive ACL surgery.

Rehabilitation is the other way to treat an injury in the ACL. The rehabilitation program would first need to focus on the reduction of the swelling of the knee. The joints will also need to be able to have various movements again. The next part of the program is the strengthening of the knee and the muscles around the knee joints. If the damage to the ACL is not so extreme, physicians would often recommend only the rehabilitation instead of an ACL repair surgery.

Lean Body Workout - Get Jiggy With It


Today's lean body workout is designed for ultimate fat loss, muscle sculpting, overall conditioning and time efficiency.

Because intensity is a major component in how effective a given workout is at boosting metabolism, burning fat and adding lean muscle mass, it's important to use a duration that allows for maximum effort over the longest period of time possible.

In short, to cash-in on the hugely important post-workout "afterburn" effect, you need to find that sweet spot, where you can sustain an all-out effort for a decent length of time. In my research I've determined that very intense 10 to 15-minute workouts produce fat loss and a sculpted, lean body in the shortest amount of time.

Of course, if you can make it longer than 15-minutes with a near maximum level of effort, I'd encourage you to do so for even more substantial results.

Another component I've added to this lean body workout is explosiveness. By using an explosive concentric phase on the strength training exercises, we'll recruit more fast twitch muscle fibers. This leads to greater fat loss and more gains in lean muscle mass (which produces additional fat loss down the road).

Lastly, I've optimized the duration of exercises performed and the rest period, to give better results. Studies show that a time-under-tension of approximately 40-50 seconds for each lift leads to optimal fat-burning. After each circuit, a brief rest period of 30 seconds is used, which forces the body to create a large oxygen debt.

Because the body has to work hard to "repay" this oxygen debt after the workout is over, you'll benefit from a sharp increase in metabolism. Depending on your intensity level, this could be significantly elevated for up to 2 or 3 days. Hello lean body.

You'll need 11-minutes of precious fat-burning time, one heavy dumbbell, a small amount of space and lots of focus to knock out this body sculpting workout.

Perform all four exercises for 45 seconds each, back-to-back, then rest 30 seconds and repeat the circuit two more times for a total of 3 circuits. Focus on using a full range of motion and exploding through the concentric (lifting portion) part of each exercise.

Lean Body Workout:

A1) One-arm dumbbell clean, into push-press (right arm) x 45 seconds

A2) One-arm dumbbell clean, into push-press (left arm) x 45 seconds

A3) Staggered body weight push-ups (one hand high, one hand low and alternate after each rep) x 45 seconds

A4) High knees (exaggerate movement and explode the knees upwards) x 45 seconds

A5) Rest 30 seconds and repeat the circuit two more times

In just under eleven minutes you can get "jiggy" with it and cause enough chaos to place your body in total fat-burning mode for hours after the workout has ended. The result is a few steps forward in the path to carving out your own lean body.

Labrador Retrievers - Beautiful, Popular and Prone to Joint Problems


Intelligent. Patient. Tolerant. Mild mannered. Loyal.

With traits like these, is it any wonder the Labrador Retriever is the most popular breed of dog in the world? Since 1991, the Labrador Retriever has been the most popular registered breed in the United States, as well. They are gentle, affable and intelligent and considered by many to be the perfect family pet. They're also known for their working ability and are the most popular breed of working and guide dog in the United States, as well!

With good medical care and proper feeding, you can expect your Lab to live upwards of 13 years. It is a healthy breed with relatively few major problems... but, like other full-breed dogs, they are susceptible to certain inherited disorders, particularly those of the hip, elbow and knee. While not as common in Labs as in other breeds, dysplasia is also a concern.

Labs are somewhat prone to dysplasia of the hip and elbow, especially in larger dogs. Indeed, hip dysplasia is the most common genetic problem affecting dogs of all breeds. Canine hip dysplasia is a general term for the malformation of the hip joint that eventually leads to arthritis. This malformation occurs when the two parts of the hip joint - the ball (femoral head at the top of the upper leg bone) and socket (the "dented" area of the pelvic structure) are misaligned or misshapen. Dogs suffering from dysplasia are not as active as they could be due to significant pain. Often, the only cure for dysplasia is costly surgery to replace the dysplastic hip joint.

Labs also suffer from the risk of knee problems. A "luxating patella" is a common occurrence in the knee that results in the leg being "bow "shaped. This abnormality can cause abnormal wear and tear on the joint, resulting in the development of painful osteoarthritis for some Labs.

The only way to decrease the prevalence of these disorders is through conscientious breeding practices. However, even the most vigilant breeders cannot eliminate these genetic disorders altogether. There's no way of knowing whether an animal will develop a joint disorder later in life.

Regular trips to the veterinarian can play an important role in early detection and early treatment of problems. Unfortunately, the most commonly prescribed treatment for animals suffering from genetic disorders such as hip dysplasia is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. As in humans, these medications provide temporary relief by decreasing inflammation, but not without a host of potential side effects.

There is an alternative, however.

Supplementation with glucosamine and chondroitin - the natural building blocks of healthy cartilage - offers relief from pain with long-term healing and little risk of side effects. Like NSAIDs, glucosamine and chondroitin decrease inflammation but they also give damaged joints the raw materials needed to build new cartilage, resulting in true relief from pain.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury - Who Should I See About My Torn ACL?


If you suspect that you have torn your Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL), it can sometimes be a bit confusing as to who you will need to see about it. There are a number of things that need to happen for you to ensure that your injury is diagnosed correctly, completely, and treated the right way. And there are different medical professionals who have different skills and focus that may assist you in this process.

Here are the key professionals that you will most likely need to see about your torn ACL, with a brief summary of what each of them will do for you and how they can help you:

1. General Practitioner (GP) - Usually where most people go first. The GP, your local family doctor, does have an important role to play. The GP is not necessarily going to be able to diagnose a torn ACL very easily unless they have a particular interest or speciality in orthopaedics or fitness.They will press different parts of your injured knee and ask you questions, but they will not give you a definite diagnosis. Where the doctor really comes in handy is for writing you a referral to get an x-ray and an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). The x-ray will check for bone damage and the MRI will check for soft tissue damage. The Anterior Cruciate Ligament falls into the soft tissue category which is primarily made up of ligaments, muscles and tendons. You will often find that you can't get a x-ray or MRI without having a written referral. Importantly, you would also need to visit the doctor to get a referral to an orthopaedic specialist.

2. Physiotherapist - Contrary to the understanding of many people, you actually do not always need a referral to see a Physiotherapist. For example, in Australia you certainly don't need a referral. It is suggested that you see a Sports Physiotherapist. They are the ones that see the most patients with this type of injury. So why should you see the Physiotherapist? Well, it is because they will be able to confidently diagnose your knee injury and most of the time can confirm whether or not you have an ACL tear. They will generally conduct 3 movement tests on your knee to check the state of your Anterior Cruciate Ligament. If they determine that your Cruciate Ligament is not torn, they will be able to treat your knee for the existing pain and discomfort. They will guide you through the necessary recovery from whatever the actual injury may be, and you will most likely not have to see anyone else. If the Physiotherapist is unsure, they will send you for an MRI and quite possibly and x-ray at the same time. If they are sure it's a torn ACL, they will explain your options to you, treat your knee for the swelling and discomfort, and suggest you see an orthopaedic specialist if you are interested in an ACL Reconstruction.

3. Radiographer - Quite simply, these are the people that perform the MRI and x-ray on your knee. They will provide you with large film photos of the inside of your knee and write you a report of their findings and observations. It may take a couple of weeks before you can get an appointment and it may take a couple of days to get your photos and report.

4. Orthopaedic Specialist - These are the experts in this area. You will generally need a referral for your first visit to the Orthpaedic Surgeon, though not for subsequent visits. They will confirm whether you have a torn ACL by a combination of the 3 movement tests, asking you how you injured yourself, and of course consulting the MRI and x-ray photos. They will explain in detail the options for ACL Surgery and will give you some idea of the costs. Though it is important to note that there are very few places where you will find out up front exactly what costs you can expect throughout the entire ACL Reconstruction and recovery process. The cost of the ACL Surgery performed by the Orthopaedic Surgeon is certainly going to be your biggest cost.

5. Massage therapist - These are the people you would see in the event that you have stretched or strained muscles during your physical activity and need a massage to either loosen up the muscles or relieve some of the tension in your muscle groups. After having an ACL Reconstruction, you will have a leg that is quite stiff and sore however you need to check with your Orthopaedic Surgeon or Physiotherapist whether it is advisable to have a massage and at what point in your recovery it would be appropriate and safe. Once you are well into your ACL recovery period, seeing a massage therapist can be helpful as you return to physical activity and get back into your sport.

As you come to terms with the possibility of tearing your Anterior Cruciate Ligament and deal with the pain resulting from your injury, it can be overwhelming trying to figure out who you really need to see about the knee injury. It is always advisable to get an injury checked by an appropriate medical professional rather than let it go and hope that all will be well. And as you weigh up the decision over ACL Surgery, ask the medical professionals as many questions as you can and do your research to arm yourself with as much information as you possibly can so that you don't run into any surprises.

Friday, February 21, 2014

Stairway to Heaven - Why Climbing Stairs Prolongs Quality of Life


Are you 40 years old or older? Do you have vague knee or hip pain that might be stopping you from wanting to go up and down stairs as often as you used to? Did you know that this might be the least of your problems?

In reality, if you are a woman, you may have already started to lose bone mass. If you are a man, you probably have not started to lose bone mass, but you will soon. Yes, men over the age of 65 are also at risk of osteoporosis.

"But it hurts. Why would climbing stairs hurt and be good for me?"

Well, you may be experiencing arthritis in one/both of your knees. There are several contributing reasons as to why stairs may aggravate this pain, but most importantly is form. The next time that you climb stairs, I want you to focus on putting your whole foot onto the higher step before climbing (i.e. toes flush against the beginning of the following step.) In doing so, you'll place your foot and knee in a much healthier position as you ascend. If this is still difficult and/or painful for you, you might want to try a smaller step and progress only if pain-free. And, guess what? Stairs will help strengthen the muscles around your knee to eliminate future pain.

Stairs are one of the most important 'maintenance' exercises that you can do. Not only do stairs require that you use at least 3 joints at once (hip, knee, ankle), requiring increased oxygen consumption and therefore increased metabolism, but they also help build bone. Through weight-bearing exercise, such as stair climbing, squatting, lunging, push-ups, etc., your body's "osteoblasts" are activated. 'Osteoblast' is just a fancy name for 'bone builder.' Your body feels stress through the long bones of your legs while climbing stairs and responds by layering more bone to protect the area.

Did you know that hip fractures are one of the most deadly injuries to occur in the older adult population? If you are 40 or older, and you'd like to live a fracture-free older adulthood, I highly recommend that you find a way to make stairs a regular part of your routine NOW! Even if you do not exercise regularly, this is one area that can help you without having to leave your home.

Arthritis Knee Pain - 3 Ways to Improve Knee Joint Mobility


Is arthritis knee pain affecting your joint mobility? Well don't feel discouraged because for many of us who have arthritis, this is part of the course for this disease.

We tend to look at this disease as part of getting old but when we are in are 50's we don't feel old. All the activities we use to do like bowling, golfing, and biking, we still want to do but arthritis knee pain may be preventing us from doing them.

We also tend to think of arthritis as a disease that is not very serious. In actuality, osteoarthritis can cause the joints to wear down to the point of severe debilitation. If ignored, it can lead to joint replacement surgery and over use of prescription pain reliever which have many side effects.

However, we can learn today 3 ways to improve joint mobility as it relates to arthritis knee pain.

1) Don't sit in the same position for long periods of time. Have you notice that when we sit in the same position for long periods of time our joints become stiff? The reason why is because the oxygen, nutrients, and fluid our joints need to maintain flexibility are lacking due to decrease blood circulation.

2) Drink 6 - 8 glasses of water a day. When we are younger, we can get away with not drinking the required amount of water that is needed each day. As we get older, staying hydrated is extremely important. Water is needed to provide lubrication for the knee joints to stay fluid and limber.

3) We must lose weight. It is just that simple. Obesity is the number one disease that leads to so many other diseases. Extra weight on the knees causes a lot of pressure and stress on them. Overtime this contributes to the wearing down of knee cartilage.

Remember - Ultimately we are in control of our own health. We can sit back and do nothing about arthritis knee pain or we can begin incorporating these tips in our lives today.

Easy Steps You Can Take Today to Erase Hip Pain


...and one of these tips you can get from a sewing class!

"More than 100,000 Americans are unable to get from their bed to the bathroom without assistance because of problems related to their hip or knee." So says Dr. Nathan Wei, Clinical Director of the Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of Maryland. He adds, "Too many people put up with pain when there are so many treatments available."

The hip joint plays a major role in weight-bearing and walking.

It's a ball-and-socket joint that combines great stability and a wide range of motion. This joint is comprised of the head of the thigh bone (femur) which is shaped like a ball. This sits inside a cup-like area of the pelvis called the acetabulum ("socket"). It is surrounded by powerful muscles that help maintain the body in an upright posture and also help with walking. Many ligaments also help support the structure of the hip.

The most common symptom with hip problems is pain

Pain due to hip problems may be felt in the groin, on the outside of the hip region, the buttock, inner part of the thigh, the front of the thigh, and even the knee. In fact, there have been patients who've had knee surgery... when the problem was really in the hip. NOT a good thing! Pain coming from the hip joint also needs to be distinguished from low back disorders as well as knee disorders. Activities of daily living that are affected by hip pain include going up and down stairs, getting out of chairs, getting out of bed, getting shoes and socks off and on, and sexual intercourse.

Hip pain is often aggravated by weight-bearing.

Besides arthritis, hip pain can be due to bursitis. The most common is trochanteric bursitis. Trochanteric bursitis is inflammation of the large bursa that sits on the side of the hip. It tends to come on in middle-aged people. The major symptom is a deep aching pain over the upper outer thigh. It is made worse by walking. It is often bad at night and is aggravated by lying on the affected side. The treatment consists of anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy, steroid injection, and stretching exercises.

Another potentially serious condition is avascular necrosis of the hip.

Here, a patient will have severe pain- usually in the groin. Weight-bearing is excruciating and the pain may also be present at night. Avascular necrosis is a condition where the blood supply to the head of the femur ("the ball") is interrupted... ...and the head of the femur actually dies! The bone collapses. Remember the great athlete, Bo Jackson... he had avascular necrosis. The diagnosis is confirmed by MRI scanning and the treatment involves surgical procedures. In patient with an arthritis condition, treatment modalities should include anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy, exercises, and weight reduction, if necessary.

Specific stretching exercises are helpful.

Dr. Wei says, "One of my favorite is called thread-the-needle. You cross one leg across the thigh of the other. Reach down through the hole formed by this crossing over maneuver with the same side hand as the leg you're using to cross over. Clasp fingers with the other hand behind the thigh and gently pull. You'll feel the stretch! Hold for 10 seconds. Repeat with the other side."

Joint replacement- known as hip arthroplasty- is still the resort of choice in patients with end-stage arthritis.

Indications for arthroplasty include:

oloss of function in the hip.

In the past, the limiting problem was that the replaced hip was only good for 10 to 15 years with "normal" use.

Problems that limit the lifespan of hip replacements are

owear and...

oinflammatory response to particles that eventually cause loosening in some patients.

What Are Mesenchymal Stem Cells And Why Are They Important for Arthritis?


Mesenchymal stem cells, also known as MSCs, are cells that can differentiate into a number of cell types.

The distinction here should be made between the term "multipotent" and the term "pluripotent."

Stem cells (SCs) obtained from an adult are multipotent. While they can differentiate into a number of different cell types, their ability to differentiate is somewhat limited. That makes them different from embryonic stem cells. These are SCs obtained from fetuses. Embryonic SCs are "pluripotent" meaning they can differentiate into virtually any type of cell. While this makes them almost ideal for tissue repair, there are potential problems. The first is the ethical one that is still being debated in many quarters. The second is that while their power to differentiate is unquestioned, the ability to turn them off at the right time is a concern.

Adult MSCs can differentiate into various types of connective tissue which makes them valuable as a potential source of regenerative tissue for the treatment of disorders such as arthritis. In fact, adult MSCs are often referred to as "repair" SCs.

MSCs are found in the bone marrow, synovium (lining of the joint), the pulp of deciduous (baby) teeth, fat, and muscle.

Another source of MSCs is the umbilical cord.

Researchers are now discovering the various factors that cause MSCs to home in different areas of disease and damage.

Small proteins called chemokines apparently attract MSCs because these cells have receptors for chemokines on their surface. When a tissue is damaged or diseased, there is a release of chemokines which then travel via the bloodstream. When these chemokines bind to receptors on the surface of MSCs, they cause the stem cells to migrate to the site of injury.

In addition, other substances, called adhesion molecules, also present on the surface of MSCs play a role in cell migration to an area of injury.

To date, multiple methods for introducing SCs have been used. For example, orthopedic surgeons tout the benefits of microfracture. While short term benefit may be derived, microfracture surgery requires lengthy recuperation. Also, studies have demonstrated that the type of cartilage produced by microfracture is weaker fibrocartilage as opposed to the more desirable and stronger hyaline cartilage.

Recently, some studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of MSCs in combination with fat and platelet rich plasma in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Further studies need to be done to corroborate the early research.

What is unknown at the present are the following:

How many MSCs are required for repair of large areas of damage such as is found in osteoarthritis?

What is the role of MSCs in modulating immune system function? Some studies indicate these SCs have immunomodulatory effects.

While marrow contains a large number of MSCs, fat actually has a greater number per unit volume. Therefore, what is the role of fat in tissue regeneration?

Is there a method for inducing the chemokine and adhesion molecule functioning so as to enhance stem cell repair?

What is the optimal environment which permits SC reparative function?

Core Breathing for Knee Pain With the Art of Walking Mindfully


This program address a type of knees pain caused by weak muscles ability to coordinate between the lower core muscles down to the angle, foot and toes with skeleton leg alignment between feet, ankle and knee and hip title. The knees, in this program, functions to support the upper body ability to transmit lower core generated force down to the top of the knee then pass through the knee joint base on alignment to the lower part of the knee down to the ankle, foot and toes during walking. The skeleton alignment of the knee between upper and lower parts of the leg affects possible of pain in the knee during walking.

If you have knee pain as you walk, but you can walk, there is hope in your ability to walk with little or without pain and create enjoyment during walking. By mindfully using this program 4 parts core breathing to generate strength from the lower core muscle area creates physically strength to be directed to feet, hands and head.

The Art of Walking and the Way of the Breath with mindfulness directs lower core strength and energy to selective muscles that can activate to the whole foot area if directed too. The goal is to shape the foot action in the most effective form to move the body.

Understanding the function of the knee by dividing the leg into two parts above and below the knee. The knee acts like a junction point to transfer force from the hips to the feet yet the feet gives support to the knee. The more you engage the lower core and feet and direct your feet during walking will produce less strenuous presser on the knees.

Finding a method that gives understanding and basic techniques to build your own way to affect your knee pain during walking is a goal. By using the Art of Walking and the Way of the Breath Mindfully give a walker ability to shape the knee during walking.

There is two points that have to be understood at the same time for one to be affective to change knee pain. First is lower core strength if it is weak you do not have muscles strength ability to give the foot muscle strength to walk that place extra stress on the knees. The main ability to make the feet strong is seated in lower core area with the ability to direct muscle tension throughout the legs which gives the knees its ability to do its function in walking.

Second part is how to develop lower core strength effectively requires ability to use that area of the core to bring in breath and exhale breath with range of movement as your walking. The movement range and muscle tension level of the lower core increases possibles to affect feet strength during walking therefore the knees play a different role in walking.

If you have pain in shins and around the knee there is a high chance it is caused be ankle or foot and toes weakness that affect alignment of skeleton between foot and knees and hips.

The other half to the knee challenge is how you direct your feet during walking so the knee muscles are not strained base on how the foot is being used in walking. Finding the most natural way to walk is the goal that make this program art to develop as experience that influences the whole body.

People can walk in many ways with the feet for they can be turn out, in or pointed straight as your walking. Each way has different affects on muscles in the legs that influence knee pressure during walking.

How you walk with your feet affects how the knee area is being used and if it is not the most affective way to walk that will place extra strain on knee joint during walking. Many people over 50 feel pain in their knees and the question what can be done? This program is a energy view point, a person has to keep the lower core and leg muscles toned and skeleton alignment with the most affective way to mindfully walk. The way a person walks is a habit and changing a habit to adjust to aging physical change is just another challenge in life to remind one they exist with a body and not just a mental thought.

Here are some suggestion to change your pain in the knees as your walking. Finding someone that can align the knees with ankle, feet and hips is just a step. Once you have alignment between the three points, hips, knees and feet, then comes how to strength that alignment come next. Understanding why they go out of alignment is a must so you can change the pressure and usage of the knee during walking.

Every one is different but the closer you walk to this program ideas of walking naturally the less pain is possibly. To change how you walk to lower you knee pain is a challenge that requires develop muscle coordinated strength from the hips down the upper part of the knee then lower part of the knee to ankle, foot and toes then how to direct the shape of the foot during movement during walking.

This program has number of suggests to affect muscle coordination strength ability during walking. It begins with core breathing ability to form range of movement in the lower core that will generate strength in that area. If the lower core is weak all the parts of the leg are weak which places more stress on knee joints as you walk.

Start with toes and realize the toes have to have strength and range of movement so there is balance ability as will as force to move. The toes setup balance and directed force and if they are weak your balance is weak your effort is low as you walk. Then foot strength to work the arch in your feet to affect movement of the foot with strength. The arch strength forms the pathway of the ankle to rotate the foot to move the leg up to the hips. Lower core strength is in the hip area and that area provides energy and strength to activate the feet.

Here is an order to the process to walk. The hips holds the lower core strength ability that is transfer down the leg base on muscle tone conditioning and knee to the ankle. The ankle directs the out side of the heel of the foot to begin rotating a long the outside edge of the foot base on the arch to the little toe. The little toe activates the out side muscle of the leg to give strength support the ability to walk tall. Then each toes plays it part to bring foot and strength to ball and big toe that activate the big muscles in the leg in order to push hip forward this forms one part of walking from your feet.

The condition of these parts have to be looked at in order to form judgment about your knees pain and what is possible. Then there is how you move the foot to walk affects the strain on the knees and influences the function ability to move the body. How to think about your feet direction given purpose of movement of the body.

Here is energy point of view, your energy will flow in the direct of your toes. This program address walking by having your toes pointed straight ahead as you walk so your energy force and balance is the strongest as you walk. This is about what creates the strongest walking form in balance and strength. You should stand with toes pointed straight ahead so you start your foot movement to walk.

Suggestion is finding exercises that make toes, foot and ankle muscles engaged and stronger with the lower core muscle in different part of the core breath movement lets the knees be a junction area to transfer force between lower core into the feet area during walking.

The more you link exercises to the lower core and the movement of the foot and toes gives knees ability to keep alignment which will produces less pain. The ability to keep walking is a challenge as you get older but there are so many benefits to be gain in walking.

What lowers strength to the feet and the ability to breath and walk is stress in shoulders muscles. The more emotional stress that is being held in the shoulders the hard to walk effectively and increases the chances of knee pain. Stress and knee pain can be linked together for the more you relax the shoulders the hips and body can have lower muscle tension and move easier in life.

To change stress requires changing the way and how you breath throughout the day for breathing is a learned habit for humans that reflects their emotional physical state of being in the moment.

Meniscus Tear Knee Braces - Special Report


Knee Pain. Who needs it!?

You may be wondering why your knee hurts, and what you can do about it...

If you have a meniscus injury, you are probably well aware of the discomfort that it can cause you. Sometimes, meniscus tear problems do not just stop at the level of knee pain,...you can also have problems moving your knee as well.

So, what can you do if you have a meniscus tear?

There are different types of treatments that are available to help treat the meniscus tear. Sometimes rest is all that is needed. The problems is, how much time do you have to rest your knee?

You can also try to use ice for your knee in order to reduce pain and swelling issues. This can be helpful, but do you really think that this will help the meniscus heal?

Surgery is a last resort, but it is another way you can address a mensicus problem. Yes, surgery can be helpful, but it can be a costly and an invasive procedure.

Do not get us wrong, all of these options can be helpful, but the use of knee braces should not be overlooked. Many doctors recommend trying a knee brace because they will help add needed stability to your knee and can also help reduce knee pain issues that you may be having. Some knee supports act as a reminder for you to not make knee movements that will be painful. While other knee supports are more high profile and will physically reduce painful movements that may continue to insult your meniscus tear.

Wearing a well designed knee brace can be a very effective and inexpensive way to protect the knee while it is healing. After the knee has healed, knee supports can help to prevent more injuries to the knee. They can help protect the knee joint and ligaments around the knee that are prone to being torn.

When you care about your knees you need to take pain very seriously. We hope that you never have knee pain issues, but if you do you better address them carefully. Small problems can become big ones in a hurry.

Our last points about getting a knee support: Do not get a knee brace from someone that just reads the label either. It is important to deal with a brace specialist when getting a well designed knee support.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Arthritis In Knee: Symptoms and Treatment Options


Arthritis in knee is common, although much more common forms of arthritis are found to be in the hands and fingers.

Arthritis in the knee is most commonly known as osteoarthritis. People who suffer with osteoarthritis in their knees may start to notice some stiffness and swelling around the knee cap. These symptoms may get better throughout the day if you encourage regular movement to stop your knees from seizing up.

Osteoarthritis occurs because the body breaks down the cartilage around the joints, this break down can end with the total loss of joint cartilage. When the cartilage breaks down, the bones become inflamed, this inflammation can causes bone protrusions.

The symptoms of osteoarthritis in knees are:


  • Sharp pains in the knee area,

  • Periods of stiffness which may or may not ease throughout the day.

  • Movement difficulties.

Some individuals with osteoarthritis in the knees may not have any noticeable symptoms. This can be because the osteoarthritis develops slowly.

If you have arthritis in knee, natural treatments are available and they may help you cope with the symptoms. These can include;

Red pepper, aids the circulatory system. This can be made into a paste and then rubbed onto the skin of the affected area. Red pepper can also be incorporated into your daily diet.

Cayenne pepper, you can apply this as a paste to the skin or as I stated above or you can incorporate this in foods. This food aids the heart by acting as a stimulant. This can increase the flow of blood throughout the body and will result in a natural pain reliever being produced by the body.

Ginger, is an anti inflammatory this can reduce the aches and pains that are caused by inflammation.

Garlic, aids blood flow in the body, this boost of blood flow can reduce inflammation and may reduce any pain.

A gentle massage of the knees could reduce the aches and pains, this can also increase blood flow. By incorporating an oil into the massage you will be promoting healthy, supple skin.

If you are able to make the required changes to your diet you may start to notice improvements after 2 - 3 weeks. In conjunction will a healthy diet you should try to do at least 30 - 60 minutes of light exercise per day.

If osteoarthritis symptoms are no longer manageable and the pain you are experiencing gets unbearable contact your doctor or other health professional, they will be able to give you adequate advice and they may prescribe pain relief.

Arthritis in knee is a common form of arthritis, symptoms can be dealt with although this condition can not be cured. You will find that you can be prescribed pain relief and ointments or lotions to help cope with the symptoms. In early arthritis in the knee you can reduce the speed that the cartilage breaks down. Anti inflammatory medication will help reduce swelling and soreness.

Arthritis in knee is very common, all symptoms can be dealt with effectively. If you require more information consult a doctor or other health professional.

Avoiding Total Hip or Knee Joint Replacement Surgery


Due to arthritis and other causes, many people may need total hip or knee joint replacement surgery later in life. Physical Therapists may help you delay surgery or prevent it altogether via exercise, stretching, and pain management. Pain management may also include methods like taping, electric stimulation, ultrasound, and lasers.

Physical Therapists will help you know the source of pain, by evaluating you. A good Physical Therapist will ensure that your specific needs and goals are addressed in the program of rehabilitation. You should also receive education on how to limit stress on your injured joint to minimize pain.

If a joint replacement has to happen, work with a Physical Therapist before the surgery to get stronger and to understand what will happen after the surgery.

After total joint replacement surgery, why is Physical Therapy important to your recovery?

Your joint will function better with a good exercise program. Limited range of motion and strength after surgery can lead to pain and difficulty walking. The exact procedures your doctor has performed, should dictate the progression of strengthening and flexibility exercises. In order for healing to take place, you will have specific limitations placed on bending or putting weight on your leg.

Your Physical Therapist will design a regimen to restore flexibility and strength to your trunk, hip, and leg muscles. An important role is played by neuromuscular control in coordinating your leg muscles, so that you can balance. It is helpful to improve muscle movement and co-ordination by including balance training in any rehabilitation program. Your physical therapist should also help to limit the effects of post surgical scar tissue. Thus, limiting it's effects on your ability to move your limb due to muscle imbalances.

Can You Avoid Joint Replacement Surgery?


Imagine for a moment that you have terrible joint pain. Let us assume the pain is in the knee, though feel free to choose another location. The agony has gotten so bad and so constant that you are forced to see your orthopedic surgeon. He or she tells you that you need a knee replacement, that your knee has degenerated so much that the cartilage is gone, you are bone on bone, and your only path to relief is getting a new knee.

Is there another option? Another perspective? Let's take a step back and start from the beginning:

Every time we do anything, from running and playing sports to walking and lifting up our children, force enters our bodies. It is the job of the muscles to absorb that force, and when they do that job correctly we can keep doing our activities over and over again without pain. Problems occur when the muscles don't absorb all of that force, so it is then diverted to areas like tendons, ligaments, and discs. When even small amounts of force get into these areas continuously over long periods of time, these areas begin to degenerate and we have joint pain.

In this sense, the muscles are like the shock absorbers on a car. If they don't absorb the force of the car going over bumps, the body of the car will get damaged just like the joint. When the car is damaged for this reason, are you going to buy a new car? Or are you simply going to replace the shock absorbers?

Assuming you like the car to begin with, replacing the shocks is the clear choice. Following this analogy back to the body, the doctor has presented the option of buying a new car instead of fixing the problem with the shock absorbers. This option does not fix the problem. Now, instead of force being transmitted to the original knee, it is going to be transmitted to the artificial one. The artificial one will wear down just as the original one did, and it too will have to be replaced. So even if you do get the new knee, don't think for a moment that the problem is fixed. The underlying issue of force absorption still needs to be addressed.

What if there were another way entirely? A way to dramatically alter the way that the body functions, a way to ensure that the muscles absorb all of the force and keep it out of the injured joint? What if, at the same time the muscles were keeping force from re-aggravating the joint, we could draw large amounts of blood to the joint and allow the body's own healing and repair mechanisms to take over? That sounds like a recipe for reversing the real problem.

Such a recipe is, in fact, a very effective way to fix the problem. One example of this recipe has already helped many, many grateful people get out of pain and avoid surgery. It is In-Balance followed by ARPwave Therapy.

Developed by Dr. John Pietila, the In-Balance protocols will make sure that your muscles are being properly stimulated at the neurological level to absorb the force that enters your body. This process lays the foundation for healing, as it ensures that our progress will not be sabotaged by constant re-aggravation of the injured area. Once in balance, it is then time for ARPwave therapy.

ARPwave therapy uses a very unique, direct current modality called the ARP, and it is applied in a way that is vastly different from traditional stim. This therapy is unique because it is able to accomplish several things at once. While building strength and improving range of motion, the signal from the ARP simultaneously breaks up scar tissue and flushes inflammation while it increases blood flow and forces the body to break compensation patterns. In traditional physical therapy these steps each require their own phase, and each can last several weeks. Compressing these phases into one is not only more efficient, it is more effective because it allows the body's healing mechanisms to work synergistically to bring about greater healing.

The end result of this process is that the underlying problem is gone, and the body has its greatest opportunity to heal the symptoms of degeneration. And isn't that what we're really after, empowering the body to perform the healing miracles it is capable of?

How to Prepare Your Home Before Having Hip Or Knee Replacement Surgery


Hip or knee replacement surgery is rarely an emergency. Take the time to prepare your home before you go to the hospital. The preparations you make before can speed your recovery after the surgery and reduce your stress levels while you recuperate.

Walk around your home and look for potential problems. Push a chair in front of you to help you identify risky areas. Remember you won't be picking up your feet as briskly as you do now.

Your want to consider two factors: safety and convenience.


  • Remove throw rugs and small items from the floor.

  •  Tape down electrical cords and wires.

  •  Rearrange furniture to make wider pathways that can accommodate a wheel chair, walker or crutches

  •  Set up a bedroom downstairs for yourself. Climbing up and down stairs is a skill you may have to re-learn.

  •  Make sure the things you use frequently are on lower shelves and within arms reach.

  •  Get a long handled grabbing device to help you get things off higher shelves

  •  Make sure stairs have hand rails

  •  If you don't have a walk-in shower consider installing grab bars in the bathtub

  •  Buy an elevated toilet seat and have it installed

  •  Set up your recovery area. Prepare the place you will spend the most time with an appropriate chair, a phone, TV and remote control, glasses and reading materials.

  •  Get a carpenter's apron or a large canvas shoulder bag to help carry things around the house

  •  If you have to make your own meals prepare a supply of frozen casseroles, soups or other easy to prepare foods, especially those you can make in a microwave

  • Plan ahead if you need transportation to doctor's or the grocery store. Remember, with your new hip or knee you will be more able to help someone else, so don't be afraid to ask friends, neighbors and family to help.

Enjoy your new hip or knee and the pain free experience it will bring you.

Can I Kneel on My Knee Replacement?


I had my knee replaced in the fall of 1999, and I can report to you that I have kneeled on my total knee replacement for close to 10 years now without one problem. So the theory that you cannot do this is highly questionable. Many orthopedic surgeons will tell you not to do it for multiple reasons. Some will tell you try and find out. So there is no hard fast rule that you can or cannot, it will depend on you.

I have been kneeling on my knee replacement now without any problem every day at one time or another due to my work. You can kneel on your opposite leg of course but if your knee was replaced on your dominate leg, you will tend to favor going down on that one if you can kneel without difficulty.

There is no time frame on the exact time when it would be safe. I would like to suggest once the incision is completely closed and you have had the surgery 4-8 months and rehab is completed,you may find at that time trying to kneel on it when in the yard. Your knee though may be tender to any sensation for a number of months after surgery so you may favor it for awhile.

If you have your original patella or kneecap left after surgery, in time you may find you can kneel on it. If you have a patellar button that was placed to act as your new kneecap then that will be a different story.Of course you must have good leg strength to get up from that position and balance. Many elderly individuals lack one or the other and in most cases may not have a reason to kneel anyway.

I'm talking to the babyboomers out there who are not ready to pack it in yet as far as outdoor activities are concerned.

So the answer is yes. You can kneel on it without hurting the prosthesis but always before you part ways with your surgeon, check with them just to get their take on it.

Ageing and Arthritis


Humans are funny. We spend nearly 40 years maturing to our peak of physical and mental ability, and then it all immediately starts going wrong. As we get older all sorts of body parts start to protest about doing their jobs, often quite loudly.

Some of it can't be helped, of course, but other things can. A lot of the problems we suffer as we age are the result of abuse we've inflicted on our bodies when we ere younger. Unfortunately when we're younger the consequences aren't obvious, but a few years down the line they are. Of course by then it's often too late to do much about it.

A common health problem in older people is arthritis. There are several kinds of arthritis, with different causes, but the most frequent is osteoarthritis; it's estimated that 30% of women, and nearly as many men, suffer from it by the age of 65. Osteoarthritis can be caused by an old injury but normally it's a result of simple wear and tear on the joints. To a large degree this is normal; during our lifetimes our bodies do an enormous amount of work, which can be anything from typing and sewing to moving heavy furniture, and it all involves movement in our joints. It's no surprise that after a while the cartilage that lubricates them begins to get a bit worn, and allows the bones themselves to come into contact. That's when osteoarthritis starts to set in. It can be extremely painful, and prevents sufferers from carrying out many activities.

Normal wear and tear contributes to osteoarthritis, but it's now known that there are aggravating factors that can bring it on earlier or make the effects much more severe. Hard physical work is one of them; applying extra stress to the body wears it out faster.

The other is a group of issues which health professionals class as "biomechanical irregularities." This covers a variety of issues such as bad posture, high arches or overpronation of the feet when walking or running. Any of these conditions forces the joints to move in a way that's slightly different from how they're meant to. Think of what happens if you run your car on underinflated tyres. Instead of the tyres wearing slowly and evenly over the full width of the tread, giving good grip and a long tyre life, wear happens much faster at the outside edges of the tread pattern. The result is tyres that don't do their job as well and don't last nearly as long. Well, it's just the same with your joints.

Your knee, for example, should be passing directly above your big toe with every step you take, and your body weight will act on the centre of the knee where it can be easily absorbed. If you overpronate, though, your knee passes just inside your foot. That moves your weight from the centre of the knee to the inside edge of the joint. The first result is that you'll feel pain beside the knee as the muscles work harder to stop it buckling; later you'll find that the inside edge of the joint, where the cartilage is thinner, has been worn down by the abuse and osteoarthritis is developing. Anything that stops your joints working normally carries the same risk.

The good news is that by taking a few precautions when you're younger you can help your joints work properly and seriously reduce the wear on them. Not only will this delay of prevent arthritis later in life, it'll cut down on pain and muscle tiredness right now.

One of the most important things you can do is improve your posture. If you work at a desk, make sure that you sit with your feet flat on the floor, your wrists supported just in front of your keyboard and your back straight; that will help avoid wrist and spine problems later. If you tend to slouch, learn to keep your shoulders back and your torso upright.

If you overpronate or have high arches it's important for you to remedy that with proper foot care. An important aspect of that is the use of orthotic insoles to support your weight properly and encourage your ankles to pronate normally. Custom insoles will also help with posture, which takes some of the load off your spine too.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Role Of The Occupational Therapist In Seating - 1


Correct seating for the patient with rheumatoid arthritis is very important, as if the patient has a seat/chair that is not suitable, it will result in pain and/or discomfort aggravation. On top of that, it will also contribute to the worsening of his or her independence when they want to get up to go toilet, answer the phone, have a meal etc.

Very few patients with rheumatoid arthritis have adequate seating support in their chairs. Perhaps it is a financial limitation, or it may be a case of lower priority so the project may have been shelved. For seating clinics, many simply provide a means of elevating the seating itself as an option, which most of the time, unnecessary for the person with rheumatoid arthritis.

When choosing a chair for a patient, the following should be considered

1. Patient is to wear his or her usually worn home shoes to ensure that the correct height is measured using day to day tools and equipment.
2. The fabric needs to be a firm one (vinyl material causes perspiration, which leads to other problems)
3. The adequate seat height for the patient is measured from the bottom of the shoes (soles) to the back of the knees of the patient in sitting, and the knees must be at right angles (90 degrees).
4. Seat depth is measured from the back of the buttocks, to the back of the knees of the seated patient.
5. Seat width needs to be measured with the patient seated in the chair, with 1-1.5 inches extra space on each side from the buttocks. This is for turnings, transfers and overall comfort. It should not be more than a total of extra 3 inches as it will result in a further apart arm rests.
6. There needs to be backrest contours along the entire length of the spine, including the neck, and angled to suit each individual patient.
7. Arm rests are required, and they should support the arms without requiring the patient to hunch their shoulders.
8. Each arm rests for the chair should be level, or inclined slightly at the digits, reaching right to the front of the knees to help the patients in getting to stand.
9. It is best when the arm rests are padded with cushions to make room or accommodate painful flare up of joints and nodules.
10. There should not be any boards or crossbars that brace the front legs of the chair, as this will limit the patient's ability to stand up on their own.

Training Female Athletes - How to Jump and Land to Prevent Injury


Girls/women, it is critical that you learn early in your sports career (ages 9, 10 or 11) the proper jumping and landing technique in order to train properly for your sport, prevent injury and increase your vertical jump. In research done on female athletes, we are seeing that jumping mechanics differ from male athletes and these differences are predisposing women to a greater amount of leg and knee injuries due to bad technique on take-off and landing from jumps. We know that girls/women play sports in a more upright position causing weak trunk, hip and leg musculature. Girls/women also jump with incorrect knee position and land in an upright position thus allowing the knee to move side to side or twist during landing. Improving technique and getting stronger in the hips, legs and core will decrease your chances of sustaining a leg injury.

We also know that girls/women tend to have a wider pelvic angle and increased low back curve, factors that result in the femur, or upper leg bone, rotating inward and the knees assuming a "knock knee" position. This "knock knee" position places stress on the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL). Combine these factors with landing forces up to five times your body weight, and you are at a high risk for injury. These ground reaction forces place a great amount of tension on the muscles, tendons, ligaments and cartilage surrounding the knee. One of our goals at Female Athletes First.com is to teach girls/women how to jump and land, therefore, we have listed for you the keys to developing correct form on the take-off and landing from a jump. We cannot stress enough the importance of trying to perform each and every jump with the correct form.

Take-off:

1. Use your arms when you jump, meaning, take your arms back behind your body for balance and to prepare for the jump. Jumping is a coordinated movement involving many muscle groups in the body. The muscles in the shoulders, back, chest, arms, core, hips, legs and feet all work together to put you in the proper position for take-off and to propel you up into the air. Strengthen these muscle groups for increased stability and power.

2. Use the thumbs-up rule, which is driving or punching your arms and hands with thumbs upward on the jump. This arm and hand motion can account for approximately 10 percent of the height jumped.

3. Knees should be bent at least 60 degrees or greater and hips flexed 30 degrees or greater before the take-off. In other words, bend your knees more and squat down farther before you jump. Your ankles will be flexed 25 degrees or greater if you do this.

4. Keep a neutral spine before take-off and not a rounded back or sunken chest position. You also don't want to be bent over too much at the waist. 5. Keep knees over your feet. We don't want to see "knocked knees" while in the squat prior to the jump.

5. Jump straight as an arrow. Maintain a tall hips posture and project them upward (and at times forward) for height and distance.

Landing:

1. Try to land softly, light as a feather, we don't want to hear a loud landing or a loud slap on the landing.

2. Land on the ball of the foot and sink into your heel.

3. Land with flexed hip, knees and ankles to absorb the landing forces.

4. Maintain a straight back, neutral spine position.

5. Land with chest over knees and knees over the feet. Again, don't land "knock kneed."

6. When performing multiple plyometric movements in an exercise session, try to be like a super ball. Be as quick and elastic off the floor, the idea being to spend the least amount of time in contact with the floor.

7. Land on two feet if at all possible to help absorb the landing forces.

When performing a jump training program always remember that Quality is better than Quantity. It is better to have six quality jumps than 10 sloppy ones. Athletes should have a good strength and flexibility base before starting on a jump training program. Always train on the proper surfaces. Land on an exercise mat, grass, track or wood gym floor.

A proper plyometric training program should consist of a balance and mix of jumps, hops and bounds. Incorporate jumps and hops into your program done both forward and back and side to side. Different directions stress different muscle groups and will aid in injury prevention. Keep the volume of jumps or foot contacts per session low especially with beginners, anywhere from 25 per day and 100 per week. Plyometrics can be performed 3- 4 times per week, skip a day in between sessions or divide the jumps into linear and multi-directional days if done on back to back days. Always be aware of the amount of jumps being done in each session. Perform your jump training program in the presence of an informed coach, parent or teacher. This person must be able to supervise and provide the correct feedback on each and every jump.

Osteoarthritis Vs Rheumatoid Arthritis


Your doctor just diagnosed the pain in your knees as arthritis and prescribed some over-the-counter pain relievers, cold compresses, and rest. After leaving the office, several questions may come to mind.

  • What does this diagnosis mean?

  • Is the arthritis just temporary, or is it going to be chronic?

  • How will it impact your life going forward?

  • Will you still be able to jog, ride your bicycle, or continue gardening?

  • Will you have to give up your job and go on disability?

The word arthritis means "acute or chronic inflammation of a joint" according to Dictionary.com, and can be accompanied by pain or changes in the joint. But this simple definition does not tell the entire story. There are many types of arthritis-type illnesses, and further diagnosis by your doctor may be necessary to establish an effective treatment plan. The purpose of this article is to give you some basic information on two types of arthritis: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis is an illness that is characterized by cartilage wearing away in a joint. It is quite common and usually diagnosed in the older members of the population. The person can have osteoarthritis in a single joint (such as a knee or elbow) or multiple joints (such as the finger joints in a hand). As the osteoarthritis progresses, the joint may not fit together correctly and develop bone spurs, thereby causing the person pain when they use the joint. If pain is in the knee or hip joints, the person may have difficulty walking or when they use the stairs. If the arm or shoulder joint is affected, there may be difficulty getting dressed or other routine activities.

Rheumatoid arthritis (also called RA) is less common, but it also causes pain and inflammation of a joint. The cause is not worn out cartilage. It is caused by a change in the immune system that causes the person's body to attack the tissue lining the joint, which is called synovium. The attacks cause a fluid build up in the joint space and produces pain. The joints are usually affected in pairs, meaning that it could be in two knees or ankles at the same time. RA is a chronic illness, and may come and go over time. Many people feel fatigued when the illness is active, and experience flu-like symptoms. Over time the person can have damage to the joints and, in very rare, severe cases, damage to internal organs.

There are many web sites that have a great deal of information on these two types of arthritis. Two good sites are the Arthritis Foundation at http://www.arthritis.org/index.php and WebMD at http://www.webmd.com/. Check out these sites out to become more informed on arthritis, and work with your doctor to set up an effective treatment. It is the best way to preserve your joints and continue leading a good life.

Legg-Calve-Perthes Explained


Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, also known as ischemic avascular necrosis, is a condition that results in transient loss of blood supply to the hip joint. It is usually seen during childhood and is more prevalent in boys. The disease can disrupt normal blood flow to the bones in the hip joint, particularly to the head of the femur. This can lead to deterioration of the hip joint causing it to heal poorly or possibly break.

The indicating signs and symptoms to look out for include limping, decreased mobility in the hips, stiffness and pain in around the hip, thigh, groin and knee. Some children may even have a short leg on the affected side. Presently, the cause of Legg-Calve-Perthes remains unclear. What doctors do know is that boys are five times more likely to have this condition compared to girls. Also, this disease is more commonly seen among Caucasian males.

A physical exam as well as diagnostic studies such as x-rays, MRI and bone scans can help to properly diagnose this condition. If Legg-Calve-Perthes disease is detected at an early age, the chances of correcting the condition are favorable. However, if left untreated, it may cause permanent hip deformity due to the deterioration of the hip joint. In addition, leaving Legg-Calve-Perthes disease untreated may increase the chances of developing osteoarthritis as an adult.

This condition is usually addressed through a medical specialist such as a pediatric orthopedist. Depending on the severity of the condition, the doctor may recommend treatment that includes physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication, braces, crutches or a cast. The goal of therapy is to prevent any damage or stress to the hip joint. If conservative treatment does not help, your doctor may suggest surgery to correct the condition. Unfortunately, doctors cannot prevent Legg-Calve-Perthes from occurring since the cause is still unknown. However, with time and patience, doctors can treat the condition and get children back to their normal daily activities.

Why Arthroscopy is NOT the Answer For Arthritis


Considering arthroscopic surgery for that persistent arthritic knee pain, that just won't leave you alone? Maybe you should think again. And I'm a former knee surgeon, telling you this. The truth is, you may do just as well with conventional, alternative, or complementary conservative treatments and save yourself pain, risk and money.

In a study published in the September 11th, 2008 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine, a group of Canadian researchers, from the Fowler Kennedy Sport Medicine Center of the University of Western Ontario, compared two groups of patients with known moderate to severe osteoarthritis. 178 patients were randomly assigned to receive either surgery ( arthroscopic lavage - a washout of the joint, by saline- and debridement-essentially a "clean out" of the joint), followed by optimized physical and medical therapy, or non-surgical treatment, ie., physical and medical therapy alone. After comparing the results of each group at two years, it was objectively documented that patients treated by arthroscopy, medication and P.T. did no better than those that had no surgery and were treated only with conservative measures.

Their conclusion was that arthroscopic surgery of the knee for osteoarthritis (degenerative or "wear and tear" arthritis) "provides no additional benefit to optimized physical and medical therapy." In other words, there was NO DIFFERENCE between those that were treated surgically and those who were NOT. This, of course, suggests that surgery done strictly for arthritis pain is not warranted.

Their study confirms the findings of an earlier study done in 2002 that compared arthroscopic surgery with sham surgery (ie., skin incisions were made that mimicked true arthroscopic portals, but instruments were not introduced into the joint). Short term pain relief of pain in BOTH groups (ie., real surgery and sham or fake surgery) was the SAME! This result was attributed to a placebo effect in the sham surgery group.

This result was so impressive that Medicare used it as a basis for their determination to refuse to pay for arthroscopy for the treatment of arthritis pain. And this study was a reinforcement of an even earlier study that compared arthroscopic surgery with merely lavage (injecting and extracting saline, or salt water, into and out of the knee joint, to wash it out). Here, too, there was NO DIFFERENCE between the surgery and the wash-out groups.

So, this most recent study is just more evidence of what you know instinctively- letting the body heal itself is the best course, except in advanced, or end-stage osteoarthritis.

In my years of orthopaedic practice, it was my experience that if a patient had full-blown arthritis, there was little reason to arthroscope them, UNLESS they had a sudden increase in very specific joint line pain, giving way, or locking (so-called mechanical symptoms) that suggested a displaced, or entrapped tear of the meniscus, or a fulminant synovitis (inflamed lining membrane of the knee, as in Rheumatoid Arthritis) that would not respond to medical treatment, or needed relief, but were a poor risk for major joint surgery, like a total knee replacement.

I used arthroscopic surgery for very specific mechanical or synovial overgrowth or inflammatory problems, NOT just as a "catch-all" treatment for arthritis pain. I always believed in a conservative approach first, letting the knee itself declare if and when it was ready for a major surgery, by failing to improve. I STILL DO.

There are times when surgery is needed. To deny this, or make frankly stupid statements that "surgery is NEVER warranted," is to deny the facts. But surgery should be the last, or the best option - not the first line of defense. In short, when it comes to arthritis, as with any other medical problem, you want to AVOID the UNNECESSARY SURGERY.

So, what to do? There are a number of things that you can control that will give you relief. First, lose weight. Every pound you lose reduces stress across the knee by 3-4 pounds, even higher if you climb stairs or attempt to run. Don't run, jump or do anything that involves impact to your knee.

Avoid red meat-it's a source of arachidonic acid, a chemical precursor of inflammatory chemicals, like prostaglandins, that stimulate pain receptors.

OTC pain relievers may be helpful, but MUST be taken with FOOD, to protect your stomach from the side effects of NSAID's (like Advil or Aleve), and should be avoided if you have ulcers or acid reflux.

Natural remedies, like fish oil, Lyprinol, willow bark, ginger, and devil's claw are effective and may also be helpful.

But the best long term method to relieve pain and restore function is consistent low impact exercise. Exercises that stretch and strengthen the muscles around the knee not only provide support and maintain motion of the joint, but stimulate endorphins and intrinsic growth hormone release, both of which help to relieve the pain of arthritis. You can't cure arthritis, but with these and other non-operative measures you can relieve your pain and delay surgery, perhaps indefinitely.

You Are No Good To Anyone Dead - Health Tips For The IT Professional


When was the last time you took a good hard long look at your overall health? Was it days, weeks, months or even years ago? Do you think that you are an iron man and can persevere through anything? I was once in that state of mind, nothing could knock me down, maybe just pushed back a bit which allowed me to recover well. Not anymore!

A lot of things have changed since those days. Those days weren't all that long ago. Today my overall health is one of the most important strategies in my personal business plan and a key in my life plan. I am no good to anyone dead. To my family, business, friends or anyone that cares about me.

The wakeup call occurred one day when I was pushing close to the three hundred pound mark and my knees were seriously hurting due the strain of the extra weight I was carrying around.
Some days my knees would lock up tight to the point where I couldn't even get up because of the amount of pain. I was tired all the time, and I was no good to anyone, I lost the drive and desire because I was frustrated with myself and that I chose to gain all this weight. No one force feed the hot dogs at the hot dog stand to me as I went between clients or the extra plate at the buffet. I chose that lifestyle.

Since then I have dropped close to fifty pounds and starting to feel a lot better, not as tired, I have more energy and I do not need to sleep nearly as long to feel totally rested. This a great place to be. How did I get there?

No miracle diets, no special potions, simple eating the right feeds with a combination of a good exercise program. That is it, pretty straightforward. Instead of taking that quick hot dog on a way to a client's office, I plan daily to eat healthy, have a good lunch in the middle of the day, something that will contribute to my overall well being and give me long lasting energy for the entire afternoon. Another tip - cut out the junk food snacks. Bring snacks in the office or carry along with you that are healthy. I am not a healthcare professional; I recommend that you consult with someone that specializes in diet to understand what is best for you.

One additional tip that I can share with you on my experiences is that I have cut out drinking soft drinks and other beverages along the same lines. During the day, I drink nothing but water and try to cut down on the amount of coffee that I drink. I find that drinking water during the day keeps my mental retention high and focused on my tasks at hand. I can't say what water is better than others, I just have the regular water in our water cooler, and it seems to be working for me.

Your health as an IT consultant or business owner is critical to your success, without you running your business, will your business survive? How would poor health affect your family life? These are questions you need to ask yourself. It is even more critical when you are a sole entrepreneur, when you are not able to function, create your work, sell your solutions - where is the money coming in from? Having a healthy lifestyle combined with the recommended amount of exercise will aid in you having that competitive advantage in the marketplace. Give you the energy to shine over perhaps your competition that can't keep pace with you. There are a lot of reasons to choose a healthy standard of living, what is yours?

Feeling Pain In The Knee? Try The Leg Wedge Pillow And Its Benefits You Will See


Have you spent nights without being able to sleep because of knee pain? This article is meant to help you understand why it happens and what you can do about it, but, in order to achieve this, it is important to understand the anatomy and function of the knee.

The knee joint is a very large and complex joint of the body. It is made up of four bones called femur, tibia, fibula and patella, which are connected by muscles, ligaments and tendons. The patella is a small bone in front of the knee which slides up and down in a groove in the femur as the knee bends and straightens. There is a type of cartilage in the knee called articular cartilage which is a smooth shiny material that covers the bones in the knee joint and allows the knee bones to move easily as the knee bends and straightens.

One of the most important causes of knee pain is osteoarthritis, this is the most common type of arthritis which means inflammation of a joint, in this case it would be arthritis in the knee. Osteoarthritis affects the articular cartilage in the knee which starts to degrade until it becomes thin or form cracks. After a long while the cartilage can become completely "worn away" causing the bones to rub together, resulting in knee pain.

What doctors advice

Doctors recommend treatments in order to decrease pain, improve the range of motion of the knee and its functions which give the ability to run, jump and play sports. These treatments include: knee replacement surgery for most extreme cases and, medications, nutritional supplements and educational options for less severe cases. They also recommend supportive devices and products like canes, knee braces and an orthopedic knee pillow that allow them to get a comfortable and proper sleeping position and reduce the knee pain.

The Leg Wedge Pillow is a knee support pillow that provides people the proper sleep positioning. In its closed or folded position, when fastened with its velcro fasteners, this pillow serves as a knee wedge pillow. People will be able to feel the pressure and tension release as their body is perfectly aligned and the knee pain is considerably reduced or even disappears as soon as they place the Leg Wedge Pillow between their knees, allowing them to sleep comfortably and quietly all night long without waking up in the middle of the night because of the pain in their knees, and they will also feel much better during the next day.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Arthritis Treatment: Stem Cells - Master Cells for Treating Osteoarthritis of the Knee?


Osteoarthritis of the knee is a common problem for which only symptomatic treatment is currently available. In recent years, the use of stem cells (SCs) has drawn interest as a therapy that might help to slow down or perhaps even reverse this condition.

The use of SCs in medicine is not new. They have been used in bone marrow transplant procedures for almost half a century.

What is also known is that these cells have a number of desirable features including the ability to repair damaged tissue, reduce inflammation, modulate the immune system, and respond to areas of injury through a complex series of messages sent via cytokines, protein "Pony Express" riders.

It is only recently that these properties have stimulated the interest of researchers who view these cells as having "pharmaceutical" potential in treating disease.

SCs are the body's basic building block cell. They are essentially "blank slate" cells that can renew themselves and mature into various cell types in organs as diverse as the heart, the gut, muscle, and joint tissue.

In previous articles I've discussed the different types of SCs that have been used in basic as well as clinical research.

Embryonic SCs are the cells that have been mentioned in the news most frequently. They are unique in that they are capable of differentiating into any type of mature cell in the body.

They were once touted as the "miracle cell" that would be used to make entire new organ systems.

However, the harvesting of SCs from embryos requires the destruction of the embryo, a process opposed by conservative religious groups.

On a different note, the perpetual capacity to divide can lead to the formation of SC induced cancers.

By contrast, adult SCs have less ability to differentiate, but can reduce inflammation as well as stimulate blood vessel formation. This latter property is useful for tissue repair. In fact, they are often referred to as "repair SCs."

Some companies are developing allogeneic products designed to be eventually marketed just as any pharmaceutical product would be. These cells are harvested from a healthy donor. They are then cultured outside the body in order to increase the total number of stem cells. Theoretical problems include transmission of disease as well as rejection, by either the host or by the SC graft.

The autologous approach, using a patient's own SCs, is the subject of interest by a number of biotech companies. Various investigations into proprietary methods for enhancing stem cell number and potency have attracted much attention.

This approach of using the patient as their own source of "medicine" eliminates the risk that the cells will be rejected.

There are multiple branches of medicine where there is growing enthusiasm to use these healing cells. In particular, our center has been conducting procedures where there is early, yet undeniable proof of improvement in both clinical as well as objective parameters in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee.

Learn Explosive Martial Arts Techniques!


ead on if you'd like to learn more about some diverse and powerful martial arts techniques that can save your life in the many violent situations that you can encounter today.

Learn martial arts techniques : 1 - Trapping your attacker. When you 'trap' your attacked, you are preventing them from raising their limbs, effectively keeping them from hitting you. Grasp your opponent's arms and hold them tightly to their thorax. During this time, you can use your available limbs to strike your opponent while they are incapacitated.

Learn martial arts techniques : 2 - It's a common belief that Taekwondo style kicks to the face and head will be ineffective in harming your attacker. In an actual fighting situation, you can never allow your opponent to knock you over or cause you to become imbalanced, as that will give them the ultimate advantage. Don't aim your kicks that high - focus on the groin, shins and knees.

Learn martial arts techniques : 3 - Focus your attacks on body parts which are most vulnerable to damage and injury. Forget about having a 'good, clean' fight. If you are attacked, you need to use all of your resources to take down your attacker, be it kicking at the groin, punching the throat, scratching, biting, and whatever it takes to be victorious. The streets do not have a standard to follow when you are attacked.

Learn martial arts techniques : 4 - Don't do anything too complex, and remember to defend yourself by blocking attacks and keeping a good distance. Move close and stop punches that are being directed at you, but keep everything within a distance where you can deflect or block it.

Strange Shooting Knee Pain - What You Will Need to Do - Knee Braces For Support and Pain Reduction


A strange shooting knee pain can be very troublesome to the individual who suffers from it.

Maybe you can relate...

It can also be very perplexing when it comes to finding the cause of the strange shooting pain. In most cases, strange shooting pain in the knee is the result of a torn or damaged ligament in the knee, which can also cause the knee to sometimes buckle up. It is usually caused by some type of stress on the joint or injury.

Here are some measures you should take if you feel a shooting pain in your knee that continues on and off for more than a week:

See a Doctor

If you have strange shooting knee pain that is persistent, it is important that you talk to the doctor and get a full examination done. While a pain in the knee is not likely to be life threatening, it can have a huge impact on your daily routine. An injured ligament is often the result of a breakdown of the ligament over time or an acute injury. If you are a former athlete, you are more at risk for a torn ligament. Talk to your doctor about recent activities as well as activities that you once participated in. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis so if you have a repeated strange shooting knee pain, make an appointment to see a doctor.

Expect X-Rays and an Examination

Your doctor will most likely ask you to get an X-Ray or an MRI done to see what is wrong with the knee. In addition, the doctor will also do a clinical examination of the knee to see how it hurts and when you feel the shooting knee pain. After the doctor determines the cause of the condition, a proper diagnosis can be made and proper treatment recommended.

Treat the Injury

If you have a torn ligament, you will need to follow the advice of the physician to treat the injury. The doctor will often times advise that you wear a knee brace when you walk and also apply ice if there is any swelling. You may also be advised to take over the counter pain medication if the knee hurts badly.

In some cases, depending on the reason for the strange shooting knee pain, the doctor may also suggest that you perform some exercises to help alleviate the knee pain.

There can be many reasons why you may experience this type of strange shooting knee pain and it is best to get it diagnosed by your doctor and to follow the recommended course of treatment. Leaving the pain untreated or resorting to wrong treatment could be disastrous to the knee. Wearing a knee brace is often times one of the best thing you can do for your knees if you experience any strange shooting knee pain. It will help allow you to enjoy full range of motion (if your physician allows this) with your leg while still restricting the leg and preventing it from any advertent movement that could cause a strange shooting pain in the knee.

Not only do people usually feel the physical support and pain reduction within the first few moments of putting on a knee brace, but many times people will tell us that it helps them mentally too. The confidence that the brace helps to provide (relative to your injured knee) can be an extra bonus!

So You Think Your Knee Pain is Not Affecting Your Sex Life?


Well Think Again...

Every time you take a step and experience pain, tenderness, swelling, discomfort, etc. in your knees the rest of your body MUST compensate for that experience. This is a fundamental principle on how your body is designed to function. If you have pain in your knees your body compensates in the hips, lower back, upper back, neck, shoulders, and arms.

You name the body part and your body is holding tension to compensate for your knee pain.

You can compare the body to a bicycle wheel with spokes. If you tighten one of the spokes this changes the tension in the rest of the wheel. The very same thing happens in your body when you have knee pain.

Now with that understanding of the interrelatedness of your body parts, here are some of the ways your knee pain is affecting your sex life.

First of all, from the basic standpoint of not being able easily bend your legs presents a difficulty in itself. This in conjunction with the inability to kneel also plays a large role in depriving you of a more fulfilling sex life.

Second, looking back at the example of the bicycle wheel, your body tenses up to protect your knee from getting injured further. Which causes your hip begins to pull up and compensate for the knee injury. You will immediately start to feel tension build in your lower back as you lean more onto the opposite leg stressing that as well. Much of the tension which goes into leaning to the other side is experienced in your pelvis were there are some very sensitive organs for both men and women. This is the prostate for men and the uterus for women.

These organs also experience the stress and tension that translates up the body from the knee injury. Some of the symptoms that you may experience as a result of the tension in your pelvis are:

In Men:
- Decreased Sex Drive
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Premature Ejaculation

In Women
- Decreased Sex Drive
- Sexual Difficulties
- Severe Menstrual Cramps

These of course can change over time and the longer you take to address your knee pain the worse the situation becomes.

The third affect knee pain has on your sex life has to do with your nervous system.

You see when your body is experiencing knee pain. A part of your nervous system (The Sympathetic Nervous System) is turned on which is designed for the response of either "Fight, Flight, or Freeze." With your body experiencing knee pain it is unable to resolve this conflict to get to a state of relaxation (The Parasympathetic Nervous System). All this tension stuck in your nervous system never allows your body to relax enough to be able to experience the sex life you were born to experience...

How you approach your knee pain has a lot to do with the duration you can expect to experience your knee pain. If you are looking to "put a bandage" on it, meaning take pain killers and pretend it will go away. You are less likely to have long term beneficial results in your body.

However, if you approach your knee pain as an opportunity to learn more about your body and discover the underlying causes associated with your knee pain. You are more likely to not only overcome your knee pain, you are also more likely to live a richer more fulfilling sex life.

Can You Run After Knee Replacements?


So, you are considering having knee replacement surgery and you want to know if you will be able to return to the activities that you enjoy after the procedure. If you think that this type of surgery is the best solution for your situation, you are probably in constant pain when you walk and put weight on your leg. You know that the knee replacement will improve your mobility tremendously, but you want to have realistic expectations for your recovery and rehabilitation.

Whether or not you will be able to run following your knee replacement surgery is up to you and your doctor. Doctors generally will not recommend that patients participate in high impact activities. Artificial knee joints will break down with excess wear and tear, just as your natural knee has done. However, if being able to run is your goal in having the procedure, you can make a plan with your doctor and your physical therapist to get back in running shape. How quickly you will be able to return to the sport is a matter of how much effort you put into your rehabilitation.

The first several weeks following your knee replacement procedure are critical in assuring that you achieve a full recovery. You have to find the right balance of rest and rehabilitation. You may want to get up and start walking immediately, but remember that knee surgery is not a minor procedure. Your body does need time to heal. You want to get yourself moving more and more every day, but you don't want to risk damaging your new knee with too much, too soon. Before you leave the hospital, you will likely work with a physical therapist to help you understand the initial exercises you should do every day. It is important that you complete those movements as instructed.

When you decide you are ready to move on to more vigorous workouts, get the approval of your doctor before beginning the new program. When you and your doctor collaborate, you will be more likely to get to your goal of running again. It is possible that you will be able to run after your knee replacement surgery, but you need to fully understand the risks and complications that may arise when you undertake a high impact activity with an artificial joint.

If you want to jump-start your program, find and follow an exercise program that has already shown proven results. Equally important is finding a trainer or mentor who has a positive attitude toward recovery from knee surgery and who can teach anyone the same mindset. Believing it can be done and working with someone who has already achieved the desired results in the key to returning to running or any other high impact activities and remaining pain free.

Monday, February 17, 2014

Knee Replacements and Social Security


Before undergoing knee replacement surgery you should check with a good disability lawyer about Social Security and disability benefits. Social Security benefits are handled by State authorities, and not all States automatically treat knee replacement arthritis as a disability. You should be able to get benefits, at least for the duration of recovery from knee replacement pain, and potentially after. You will want to learn in advance what the application process is and what you need to do to get a disability award before you have the knee replaced.

It is possible you could qualify for Social Security assistance to help with the cost of knee joint replacement surgery. A panel for the National Institutes of Health reported the cost of total knee joint replacement pain surgery could often be less than paying Social Security benefits over the remaining years of expected life. They went on to say mobility and quality of life could be improved for 90% of the patients. If you have knee arthritis, even if you haven't undergone surgery, you could still qualify for Social Security benefits. You may even qualify for knee replacement arthritis surgery. Speak to a disability lawyer about the range of motion required to qualify and then have your doctor certify how much mobility you have (or have lost) due to arthritis.

If you have already undergone knee joint replacement arthritis surgery and the knee replacement pain is excessive or unbearable, to the point after six months you are still not mobile enough to walk without assistance, you can apply to the Social Security Administration to be classified as disabled. If you have been denied benefits, again, speak with a good disability lawyer. A skilled disability lawyer will understand what you're going through and the processes that will get you the benefits you deserve. They can guide you through the process, often filing papers on your behalf. Should you need to reapply they can do that too. Claims by people with attorneys are granted more often than those who file without the help of an attorney.

Disability is not an advantage, but if you are disabled due to knee joint replacement arthritis or a lack of mobility, you have a right to disability benefits. These benefits are designed to help make your life easier when faced with immobility from knee replacement pain. Don't let the pain and immobility of your knees keep you from getting what you rightly deserve.

What to Expect in the First 6 Weeks After Total Knee Replacements


When you make the decision to have total knee replacement surgery, you want to be sure you have a complete understanding of what to expect before, during, and after the procedure. This type of surgery, while a common one, has many associated risks and complications. These problems can occur both during the procedure and in the recovery period. To avoid having reoccurring issues with your new joint, what you do in the first 6 weeks after total knee replacement is critical.

Knee surgery is not a minor procedure. Your knee will be swollen, and you will be in pain afterwards. It is important to be able to appropriately manage that pain. Your doctor will work with you in the hospital to find the right dosage of pain medications that will allow you to feel comfortable and stay relatively alert. Don't try to tough it out and not take pain medication when you really need it. At the same time, be sure to let your doctor know if your pain is not manageable. Never increase your dosage without your doctor's permission.

During the first 6 weeks following your total knee replacement, you will need to have frequent resting periods to allow your body to heal. However, that doesn't mean that you should remain completely sedentary. In fact, if you spend your days in bed or on the couch, you put yourself at risk for developing a blood clot. You can help prevent the development of blood clots by using compression stockings as directed in your discharge instructions. When you are resting, be sure your legs are positioned higher than your heart. This will also help with the post-operative swelling.

You should be able to complete the exercises that you were taught by your therapist in the hospital. Each day you must make attempts to increase your stamina until you are back to your normal routine. As your overall strength increases, there are additional exercises that you should try in order to improve your flexibility and the ease of function in your new knee. While you are in this initial 6 week recovery period, you must avoid any activities that could cause damage to your joint and delay your rehabilitation. You can fully recover from total knee replacements, but you will need to put in time and effort.For more information on how to go from knee surgery to an active life, take a look at Pain Free Knees, http://www.knee-replacement-video.com.

What Is the Typical Knee Replacement Surgery Cost?


When your knee experiences inflammation or deformity or when a movement of your knee is hindered by arthritis or any injuries, you might undergo a procedure called knee replacement surgery. It is to change the joint of your knee with a prosthetic. With the use of metal shell the femur is replaced, as well as the use of plastic piece with a stem the tibia is also replaced. Sometimes a plastic button is also placed under the surface of the kneecap.

What is the typical knee replacement surgery cost?

The country where you will choose to have your replacement surgery done is the most high up determining factor of its cost. The average cost of this treatment would cost about $40,000 in the United States. But for those patients who are insured, the knee replacement surgery costs will be covered by the insurance company only if the procedure was ordered by the physician as necessary. When the procedure is for experimental purposes, the insurance company will not pay for the expenses. There will still be out of the pocket costs and it would range to a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars, depending on your deductibles and coinsurance. Some medical institutions will charge about $3,000 to $4,000.

For those who are uninsured, it must be noted that some medical institutions give discounted prices. If the total cost is $35,000, you will only have to pay about $29,000 to $33,000 after availing the discount. On the other hand, they can consider other countries who are offering a much less expensive knee replacement surgery than in the United States. This surgery costs roughly about $13,000 in Mexico, $11,000 in Costa Rica, $18,000 to $22,000 in Singapore, $12,000 to $14,000 in Thailand, while the most inexpensive alternative is $7,000 in India. Although they charge much lesser than in the United States, these countries, along with the other countries not mentioned, also offer excellent facilities and well-trained doctors.

Causes of Joint Pain


Joint pain is a feeling of uneasiness, stiffness, achiness, inflammation and soreness around the joints of the body. The pain is usually a sign of mild or serious diseases, conditions and disorders in your joints, which can result from trauma, autoimmune diseases, infections and other unusual diseases. This pain can sometimes be mild or moderate or severe and may last for short or longer period of time.

Joint pain may occur due to a benign circumstance like mild sprain. It can occur as a result of temperate condition, infection or disorder such as ankylosing spondylitis, bursitis, a dislocation or a moderate ligament sprain. Also the pain can be as a result of severe circumstances that can actually threaten one's life if not taken care of as fast as possible. Those circumstances may include bone cancer and leukemia. Joint pain sometimes occurs through a variety of traumatic situations like joint separations, ligament sprains, tennis elbow, swimmer's shoulder, sport injuries, dislocations, sprained ankle, autoimmune disorder, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, septic arthritis and rheumatic fever.

JOINT INJURY.

This is an injury to any part of the joint in your body causing pain. The injury can affect or hurt the bone, ligament and other tissues in your bone joints. The injury could be severe and persistent. Most of these injuries occur during sports. Those that requires urgent attention come with warnings, symptoms and signs. Acute sport injuries are always noticeable injuries that often creep up gradually and then progress to worse situations that can lead to chronic joint pain, particularly when not taken proper care of at the initial stage. But when such injuries are properly attended to at an early stage, serious damage or long term pain will be avoided. It is important to understand that sport injuries, no matter how mild they seem to appear at the initial stage, should be quickly attended to with the use of proper exercise to avoid acute and chronic joint pain.

VIRAL INFECTIONS.

A viral disease is any kind infection or illness coursed by a virus which is a species of microbe. The microbes are usually tiny organisms that cannot be seen except with the use of microscopes. Other similar problems include fungi, bacteria, and some kinds of parasites. Infection occurs as any of the above mentioned organisms enter into your body either through breathing air that is already infected, eating contaminated foods or having sexual contact with those that are infected. When such organisms finds their way to your joints it can cause a mild, moderate or severe joint pain. The most common kind of disease that results from viral disease is arthritis particularly reactive arthritis. This disease causes stiffness, swelling and joint pains. Other infections like the common cold, flu and bacterial infections can also cause aching joints.

Joint pain is usually caused by variety of conditions like body or bone injury which is most common with sports, infections, illness, joint strain as well as joint sprain. This pain might appear to be mild, moderate or severe at the initial stage, whichever case it may be; immediate attention needs to be given to it with a proper exercise to avoid acute and chronic joint pain.