Knee Reconstruction Surgery - Key Questions to Ask Your Surgeon

Not so long ago twin sisters aged fifteen years of age in the same sport at the same game injured their ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) in their knee. One did the left knee the other her right. An ACL injury causes the recipient to be restrictive when it comes to any side way movement, in others words you cannot side shuffle, change direction quickly, step to either side and also you cannot weight bare. ACL damage is one of the most common knee injuries equated to running, jumping and contact sports for males or females. These particular twins were playing the sport of choice netball, which has a lot of stop start movements as well as plenty of jumping and running and the occasional contact.

So with this journey into the unknown of a ACL injury we had plenty of questions that needed answers, so we could get to the end with the correct results.

What can cause this injury?

The surgeon explained that an ACL knee injury happens due to incorrect weight allocation to the knee area from down would force of your bodies movements. For example being tackled in a rugby game and being pushed back in a kneeling position backwards with your thigh area going the wrong direction to your knee and lower leg. Side stepping with the wrong weight distribution. Also playing netball and when landing after jumping having your weight go the wrong way you want causing you to twist your knee. Being over weight and trying to train again with not enough support from your thigh, calf and hamstrings to your knee.

How could this been prevented?

Preventative measures for this injury means having to build up and strengthen the muscles in your quad (thigh), calf and hamstrings. By incorporating exercises to suit these muscle parts you will have an excellent chance of non-injury in that area. Also technique is a vital ingredient to support this, executing the correct movements with the right about of force will lessen the risk of injury.

Take a look at the top sprinters in the world, look at the development of their quads, calves and hamstring areas, they are unbelievable, but this is why they can run at super human speeds. They have bi-o-mechanically changed their body shape to cope with the G-forces they put out when they run.

How do you treat this injury?

According to the surgeon the treatment depends a lot on the severity of the injury. An x-ray followed by a MRI may be required to fully assess the damage and give the best course of what is needed to sort out the injury surgically. This operation consists of cartilage (ligament) replacement; grafting mainly from your hamstrings does this and the new ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) is fastening to the femur (thigh bone) and the fibula (lower leg) by staples or screws.

What is the next step after surgery?

Rest period of around two weeks keeping leg elevated, also at the same time try to slowly weight bare with the use of crutches when going to the bath or moving around, remembering to only do what you can depending on how much pain you can tolerate. The main reason for this is to get the walking movements back, because the surgery would have caused your knee to cease up. Once you and your physio are confident in your progress rehab in the gym can start.

What does the physio offer?

Firstly you get an expert in the field of Anatomy and physiology that means they have the best knowledge of what the human body can and cannot do. They will put you through the right program for your knee recovery, explaining why you must do certain exercises for your rehab. They also have the ability to tell if you are not doing your program to the best of your capability. The physio is your ticket to a speedy recovery, but only if you have the commitment and determination to do the work.

When can one go back to physical activities?

Once you have done all the work required and the physio is happy with the progress, only then can he determine whether or not you are ready for that big step back into physical activity. Some of the factors may be that your muscle development from surgery has finally improved to a state where you can now begin to train and exercise more frequently. Also that you are able to increase your work load in your sessions, like weight training-lifting more, running longer and more importantly have less uncomfortable pain from you injury. Lastly the fact that your visits with your physio have gone from everyday to one visit a week shows him you are do the work not just with him, but also at home.

So these are just some of the questions you may want to ask your surgeon and physiotherapist if you are ever in this situation requiring an ACL knee injury.

Runner's Knee Pain? Try a Knee Band

During the first few years of running, many new runners have problems with running knee pain. This is commonly called "runner's knee". It is much like tennis elbow in that the tendon of the lower muscle rubs across the joint and becomes irritated.

The pain occurs just below and often to the outside of the knee cap.

In the case of runner's knee, the tendon of the lower quad muscle rubs across the knee joint and becomes inflamed. This rubbing is worsened as the quad muscle fatigues and tightens. This pulls the tendon more tightly across the joint which causes the eventual pain.

When I had problems early in my running career, I would simply have to stop running for several days as the pain subsided. It was a lot like taking 3 steps forward and 2 steps back all the time with my training. I was not aware at the time, but much of the running knee pain was caused by doing too much too fast. I was not following a good schedule.

I did discover something that helped tremendously however. I found a special knee band online which worked really well. It greatly extended my distances before the onset of the runners knee pain.

It fits tightly around the knee just below the knee cap. It is not uncomfortable at all and the snugness of it actually feels good. It somehow puts pressure on that tendon and keeps it stretched to a point that alleviates the pain.

Sometimes I would put it on at the start of runs and other times I would carry it with me around my wrist until I felt the first twinges of the knee pain as I was running. The band was almost a miracle in how well it worked.

It allowed me to increase my distances and thus increase the strength in my leg muscles. As those muscles become stronger the runner's knee problems become less severe and less occasional.

As I became stronger and better able to run long distances, the knee pain no longer was an issue.

I do suggest that runners only use the band when it is required. It is best to keep your stride and joints working in the most natural movements. Although the band is comfortable, it no doubt causes slight tweaks to one's stride and style.

Also, although the band works very well, it is not a replacement for poor running shoes. Knee pain, along with other injuries can and will continue if proper running shoes are not worn. New runners can avoid continued knee pain while running (along with other injuries) by wearing correct fitting shoes. Always buy quality running shoes at running stores where the staff are knowledgeable and can properly support individual foot configurations.

Hockey Custom Orthotics & Orthotics For Sports in General

Hockey custom orthotics may help with plantar fasciitis, arch pain, heel pain and spurs, pronation, weak arches and tired, aching feet.  In other words, they may help a lot. 

Regardless of your sport of choice, using customized insoles can help improve your game.  Those that have tried them report reduced pain, everywhere from the lower back to the feet.  They have also reported reduced fatigue, which allowed them to participate for longer periods of time.

In addition to those benefits, they may also reduce your risk of injury to the knee, hip or ankle by correcting pronation.  Pronation is when the heel bone angles inward causing a knock-kneed effect.  If a person with a pronated foot does not make additional efforts to correct the problem, the result can be a fallen arch, which is very painful.

Pronation can also cause shin splints, knee pain, Achilles tendinitis and plantar fasciitis.  As you may be able to see, many of the conditions that affect the feet are interconnected.  One can cause or worsen another.  A problem in the heel can cause pain in the arch and vice versa. 

Although they are beneficial in all sports, hockey custom orthotics may be particularly beneficial in providing additional support to the ankles.  Any hockey player should spend extra time on lower body workouts that strengthen the calf muscles.  Elastic band workouts that strengthen the Achilles tendons and improve flexibility are recommended.  Stretching is, of course, important, but so is a good warm up.  Stretching cold muscles can increase your risk of injury.

But, there are some things that additional exercise cannot "fix".  Almost all people are born with slight differences in the feet, legs and hips that can cause a slightly uneven gait and interfere with one's athletic ability.

If you need hockey custom orthotics, you probably need insoles in all of your shoes.  If you have yet to consult a podiatrist or orthopedic specialist, it might be a good idea to do that.  But, orthotics will cost more if your order them through the doctor's office.  They are more affordable when you order them online.

Unlike other sports, where skates are not involved, the importance of equipment maintenance cannot be overstated.  If you have pain in your knees, shins or feet not caused by a fall or other injury, your skates could be to blame.  If the blades are not sharpened correctly, that could be responsible for your problem. 

Injuries can sometimes lead to the need for hockey custom orthotics.  It's a tough game.  No matter how much padding you wear, there is additional stress placed on the joints.  If you want to continue to enjoy the game and perform to the best of your ability, you need to take advantage of everything that sports medicine has to offer. 

A little physical therapy could be advisable.  Regular massages or visits to the chiropractor might be necessary.  Hockey custom orthotics are just one of many things that have been brought to us by the field of sports medicine.  They help amateurs and pros alike. 

Best Knee Brace For Exercise - Braces That Can Help You Keep Active in Your Sport! - Special Report

Do you want a way to help you decrease your knee pain when you exercise? - Has the discomfort of your knee problem ever stopped you from pushing yourself the way you want to?

Introduction: If you like (or need) to exercise then you already know how very important your knees are! You are basically shut out of many forms of exercise if your knee pain is getting the better of you. This is no surprise. - At this point, you are probably looking for some answers. Well, this free information can help to present a very effective way to improve your knee support, and stability, while helping to decrease your knee pain. Ready?

1.) Every Knee Problem is Different

Let's continue to be real here. You already know that every person is made differently, and so are knee problems. They are all different as well. So, now what? - Well, we are setting the stage here for you. - Some knee problems are mild to moderate in terms of intensity, while others are severe. It is important for you to get in contact with a physician about your knee problems, because their medical advice will help guide you. This free health information about knee braces (below) will help you, but we are not your doctors.

2.) Best Knee Braces For Exercise

On a subjective level we all can also think about our knee problems. What level is your knee pain at on a scale 1-10? How about your knee instability? Rate your knee instability on a scale of 1-10 as well. This is really important stuff because it will help to guide you to the best exercise knee brace for you! - We do recommend that people error on the more serious side of the knee pain and instability issue, because you have to be ready with the best support available when things get bad.

Mild Knee Braces

These are usually made from elastic. Elastic braces are typically made from drytex or neoprene and are usually made in a sleeve like design, or a wrap around style. These supports will help to act as a reminder for you not to make certain and painful movements. The extra support can help to reduce your knee pain. It is important to note that if you have a moderate or severe knee condition, then you will need to bump up your support.

Moderate to Deluxe Knee Braces

After having rated your knee pain or instability, you may have come to a moderate or severe outcome. Well, in these cases you will most likely be looking for a knee brace that has hinges. Don't worry. These hinges do not make the brace uncomfortable, nor do they make it heavy. These hinges and uprights will help to provide improved support to your knee by helping you to avoid hurtful side to side movements, or front to back movements that will make your knee pain soar! - When you take this information to a knee brace website, remember that not all hinged knee braces are made the same so you will need to do a little research when you get there, but you are off to a great start!

How to Get Your Boyfriend to Appreciate You! Here Are the Steps Every Woman Must Follow Right Away

If your boyfriend is too shy or insensitive towards you then he might not be able to speak up or appreciate the efforts that you have put in the relationship.

Here are some cool tips that will get your boyfriend to appreciate you for life.

Appreciate him first. In order to get appreciation, you will also need to show some appreciation first. You can praise your boyfriend's new haircut or clothes and watch him slowly respond to your praise by appreciating you too.

Make him miss you. If he has started to take you for granted then it is time to burst that bubble. You too can enjoy yourself by going out a few times with your girl friends. Allow your boyfriend to miss your presence and make him live without you around for a few hours to knock some appreciation into his head.

Let him realize that you care for him. Instead of silently providing undying love to him, let him realize through carefully selected words that you care for him and that he needs to appreciate your efforts by words and actions.

This will goad your ignorant or insensitive boyfriend into action as he will feel that he might lose you forever if he does not get his act together.

Surprise him occasionally. You should surprise your boyfriend occasionally by buying tickets for his favorite game and allowing him to go with his buddies or by organizing a candle-light dinner followed by a walk on the beach only for the two of you.

Your boyfriend will surely love you for this and show his appreciation in more ways than one.

Make visible changes. Exercise your body, get that hip haircut and get that skin scrubbed and polished for a well-groomed look. Guys are visual creatures and once he realizes the effort that you have taken to get preened for him then he is sure to appreciate your new looks, clothes and hair style.

Let him watch others appreciate you. Nothing will get your boyfriend's goat more than him watching others, especially guys appreciate you for your looks, attitude or caring nature. This will force your boyfriend to pull up his socks and appreciate you more so as to keep other wolves at bay.

Let him loose, for a little while. If your boyfriend is too dumb or insensitive to understand your needs then let him loose for a little while. Tell him that you need a short break since you are tired of his uncaring attitude towards you.

A few days and nights spent without you will get his heart aching for your love and he is sure to return back to you on folded knees and repentant lips.

Far Infrared Therapy Aims To Help Painful Knees

Do you suffer persistent knee pain?

Are your sore knees preventing you from enjoying an active life style?

Has your doctor told you to exercise but the knee pain is just too great?

Far infrared therapy garments offer effective, beneficial health care solutions for stiff, injured knee joints. Knee osteoarthritis is the main medical condition causing disability and reduced mobility in older people. Knee osteoarthritis usually occurs in both older people and ex-athletes because the cartilage between your bones erodes with age, incorrect or excessive use, thus allowing them to rub against each other to cause pain.

A 2008 American university study has researched the best ways to treat knee osteoarthritis in older people and ex-athletes, with specific focus on the type of exercise training needed to achieve the optimum benefit for knee osteoarthritis. Exercise is beneficial in a lot of ways, concludes the study. It's the best medicine you could ever take because it solves so many health problems.

Taking a new approach to exercise programs, the researchers asked their patients to train at high speeds with low weight resistance, instead of the more traditional low-speed, high-resistance knee osteoarthritis therapy. The aim of this style of training is to achieve faster movement. This leads to speedier reaction times, such as crossing busy roads or achieving a quicker recovery response from an accidental tripping. Traditional physiotherapy has focused on building strength in knees but neglects the importance of speed in life's everyday activities.

Far infrared therapy garments play a vital role in maintaining the required flexibility and pain-free joint movement needed to enhance a faster, smoother joint action. This is because, for many sufferers, the excruciating pain and inflammation of knee osteoarthritis prevents them undertaking suitable exercise, frequently leaving them wheel chair or bed bound. Fortunately, these new technologically-advanced fibres are now available to assist pain sufferers achieve the greatly improved health benefits and life style they desire. Using the scientific principles of far infrared thermal energy, these therapy garments provide warming compressive support which can also reduce inflammation, promote improved healing and reduced pain in damaged knee joints. For sufferers, far infrared therapy knee body bands allow them to see positive results from their exercise regimen, so that once painful movement becomes comfortable, easy and fluid.

In a separate trial, a university research report published in The States has found heat-retaining Body Bands worn over arthritic knees is effective in reducing joint pain and stiffness in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. Arthritis sufferers given the heat-retaining FIR therapy garments reported up to 25 percent decrease in their score on a standard osteoarthritis index.

Orthopedic surgeons who frequently operate on patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis agree many people are too quick to seek a surgical or medicinal solution rather than safe, less toxic or less invasive treatments, such as far infrared therapy. Further, people need to be aware that they can avoid or delay surgery through gentle, regular exercise. It is important to understand that no new artificial joint put in today is going to be as good as the one you were born with.

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome - Signs, Symptoms and Treatment Methods - Knee Braces That Help

1.) What is Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome?

The knee is the largest and one of the most used joints in the human body. There are a number of things that can go wrong with the knees, but one of the more common knee injuries is called Patellofemoral Pain syndrome or PPS for short.

The exact causes of PPS are unknown, but it's thought that it has to do with the way the kneecap moves along the groove on the femur (called the trochlea). Pain caused by PPS usually originates in the front of the knee, and commonly occurs in people who are either overweight or are athletes. It also tends to strike teenagers.

2.) Symptoms of PPS include:

Pain usually occurs when the knee joint is being used. - Squatting, jumping or going down stairs are prime examples of when PPS pain may occur

A buckling at the knee. - The knee may refuse to support your weight causing it to buckle beneath you

A popping sound or grinding sensation may occur when you use your knees to do mundane every day things, such as walking

3.) Treatment Options

The best way to treat PPS is to stay away from activities that cause you pain. - Stay away from anything where you have to use a bent knee position, such as kneeling. Not avoiding these situations can make the symptoms worse.

Anti-inflammatory Drugs

Anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Ibuprofen can be used to treat PPS as well. When symptoms are at their worst, resting the knee is a good idea. Providing your knee with as much rest as possible is one of the best ways to treat PPS. You should also consider losing weight if you're overweight. This will help lessen the amount of pressure that is exerted on your knee on a constant basis.

Ice

Applying ice to the knee will usually help bring any swelling down, bringing you relief from some of the symptoms of PPS.

4.) A Well Designed Knee Brace

Bracing the knee whenever possible, in order to provide the knee with more support and help prevent it from buckling is another great way to treat PPS. Bracing the knee helps stabilize the kneecap and helps prevent the symptoms from worsening.

If all else fails and your symptoms begin to worsen, surgery may be unavoidable. If you notice any of the symptoms listed above, you'd be wise to start bracing the knee as soon as possible. Rest your knee, and avoid doing activities that aggravate the knee joint. Losing weight and staying in shape is also a good idea.