Joint Pain & Arthritis
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Rheumatoid arthritis is not only a painful and debilitating disease. It is also a risk factor for other diseases such as heart disease and osteoporosis. Research shows that these diseases can be held off by exercise and other lifestyle changes.
For the sufferer of rheumatoid arthritis, life is a constant learning experience. Each time a new movement is done, one finds out if it makes the condition feel worse or better. Rheumatoid arthritis patients may feel fatigue. They will likely have a great amount of pain and stiffness in their joints.
Physiotherapy is one way to combat the effects of rheumatoid arthritis. This will be an ongoing therapy that will require dedication over the rest of the patient’s life. However, it is common that the exercises and other therapies help the rheumatoid arthritis so much that the patient will have incentive to keep doing them.
A physiotherapist understands how all the parts of one’s body work together to create movement. Bones, muscles, joints, ligaments, and tendons: the physiotherapist knows how they all fit to make one walk or stand. With this knowledge, the physiotherapist can devise methods to help one keep moving. This is the most important part of rheumatoid arthritis treatment.
Early in one’s treatment, the plan will take shape. It will include ways to prevent rheumatoid arthritis from disabling one. As time goes by, the focus will shift to a more here and now sort of treatment. Exercises will be geared more towards current problems.
Water exercises can be used for people with rheumatoid arthritis. These exercises allow the person to get much needed strengthening and stretching exercises done. At the same time, there is little or no pressure on the joints or spine. Physiotherapists use water exercises as an important part of the treatment plan.
Strengthening exercises help the muscles provide more support to the joints of people with rheumatoid arthritis. If there is not enough muscle tone, the patient will have more trouble walking or doing other normal movements. The rheumatoid arthritis will dominate the movements instead of the muscles dominating them.
Heat therapy can be used in conjunction with ice therapy for rheumatoid arthritis. A physiotherapist can tell the patient when and how long to leave on heat packs or ice packs. Other heat therapy is done by ultrasound.
People with rheumatoid arthritis can benefit from manual procedures, such as massage. A person with the stiffness that accompanies rheumatoid arthritis can be very limited in how far he can move his joints. Massage improves movement and increases this range dramatically.
One of the most important functions a physiotherapist serves for patients with rheumatoid arthritis is as a motivational coach. The physiotherapist should be trained in the psychology of chronic disorders and pain management. She will be there to encourage you to keep trying, keeping moving, and never giving up.
Physiotherapy is only a part of the treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. Diet and medications are also used, for example. Yet, without physiotherapy, many people who suffer from this disease would be in much worse pain.
read comments (0)Exercise and Arthritis
Posted by Les in Uncategorized
Wherever bones meet, there is also cartilage, a rubbery, protective layer that ensures your joints bend smoothly and painlessly. But even cartilage cannot do this tremendous job alone. A thin membrane called the “synovium” provides fluid that lubricates the moving parts of the joint. When the cartilage wears out of the synovium becomes inflamed, the result is generally a case of “osteoarthritis” or “rheumatoid arthritis.”
Your bones hang out in a lot of joints. Knee joints. Hip joints. The joints in your fingers and the joints in your toes.
In osteoarthritis, the cartilage can be eroded so much that bone does rub on bone. Thos type of arthritis develops gradually over a lifetime as a simple result of the wear and tear placed on your joints over the years. Very few people escape some degree of osteoarthritis, though the severity varies a great deal.
As a matter of fact, if you are over the age of 50, you are likely to have at least one joint affected by osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis affects men and women equally and is by far the most common type of arthritis, with almost 16 million Americans in the list.
In rheumatoid arthritis, damage to the synovium is at the source of trouble. Doctors and researchers are not absolutely sure what causes it, but most think that rheumatoid arthritis is a disease in which the immune system actually attacks certain tissues in the body, including those that connect the joints and the synovium.
Rheumatoid arthritis begins with swollen, red, stiff, and painful joints, but it may progress until scar tissue forms in the joint or, in extreme cases, until the bones actually fuse together. Almost 75% of the 2 million people with rheumatoid arthritis in the United States are women. The disease can hit as early as teen years.
Exercising and Arthritis - Your Prevention Options
Investing a little time in developing a good weight-bearing low-impact exercise and stretching plan can add up to great results when it comes to staving off arthritis pain. Strong muscles help protect the joints from wear and tear, and the movement keeps joints flexible.
That is why the quest for fitness is at hand, even if you are 50 years and over. However, most Americans over 50 are still right where they always were sitting back and watching others jog by. Most of them contend that that is just for people who have been athletic all their life, or some say exercise is for young people and engaging into exercise will do them more harm than good.
There are still some that insist on excusing their selves in exercise routines because they do not just have time or they have less energy than ever before. These are all lame excuses. Hence, it is time to start to get rid of those pains. Start exercising.
Consequently, preventing arthritis is not an exact science, but physicians have discovered a few ways to lower your risk. Here is how:
1. Do not wait around
The single most important measure anyone can take to prevent osteoarthritis of the knee is to lose weight if they are overweight. Extra weight puts extra stress on your knees. If you are 10 pounds overweight, for example, you put 60 pounds per square inch of extra pressure on your knees every time you take a step. That extra pressure can slowly but surely erode the cartilage in your knees, leading to arthritis.
A study has clearly supported the theory that weight loss weighs in on the side of prevention. In the study, overweight women who lost 11 pounds or more over a 10-year period decreased their risk of developing osteoarthritis of the knee by 50%.
2. Stretch those muscles
Any kind of stretching is good as long as you do not bounce, which can lead to a muscle pull. This is according to some of the professors of clinical medicine in New York City.
Try to hold a slow, steady stretch for 15 to 20 seconds, then relax and repeat. It is best to flex up by stretching before any exercise, especially running and walking. But it is also a good idea to stretch each day. Ask your doctor to teach you stretches that focus on potential arthritis trouble spots, such as the knees or the lower back.
3. Walking is always the best exercise
Take a good long walk at least three times a week or participate in a step-aerobics or low-impact exercise routine maximum results. There is no proof that running is bad for the joints, but remember, it may aggravate an injury if you already have one. Just remember to check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program.
The bottom line is that of all the healthful habits, exercise is the most important. This is because people are designed to be active. Hence, it is really important for people to exercise in order to stay healthy and keep those joints free from wear and tear.
Just keep in mind that the unexercised body, even if free from the symptoms of illness or problems like arthritis, is not at its full potential. Hence, start exercising right now!
Today’s roundup of interesting articles on arthritis from around the internet. The article on cherries is particularly interesting.
Cherries Fight Arthritis Pain
Forty-six million Americans have doctor-diagnosed arthritis. That’s one in five American adults. With that figure expected to rise more than 40 percent by 2030, it’s certainly not an issue to ignore. That’s where the cherries come in. …
Arthritis Of The Foot
Unfortunately, there are more than 100 different kinds of arthritis that can affect the human body. The most common form, however, is known as osteoarthritis. This form develops as we all get older and is known as the wear and tear …
Simple Way Of Knowing If You Have Arthritis Of The Feet?
Arthritis of the foot often develops because of wear and tear from years of rubbing. In time, the cartilage that protects the ends of the bones wears out. This brings about inflammation, swelling, and some of the worst aching you can …
Information on Joint Pain - Arthritis
Arthritis is one of the most usual diseases in the world. Since there is no cure to this disease it remains to be controlled since it is fast becoming a potent cause for concern among middle aged and older people all over the world. …
Arthritis Conditions
Gout is the oldest form of Arthritis and is the result of too much Uric Acid. The Uric Acid deposits crystals in the joints, leading to “Gouty Arthritis“. The joint pain, inherent to all Arthritis sufferers, is referred to as …
Does Running Cause Arthritis?
Posted by Les in Uncategorized
Is it a foregone conclusion, that if you run for years, you will have arthritis? Many of my patients are concerned that the aches and pains that are inevitable from distance running are actually harbingers for the future aches and pains of arthritis. This fear is even strong enough to get older runners to quit and start a lower impact exercise regimen like swimming and cycling. Is this a reasonable fear? Yes and No! Running by itself does not cause arthritis; improper biomechanics coupled with the rigors of running can cause arthritis.
Consider the stress of running on the joints for a minute. The foot hits the ground and the bones and joints experience force up to six times the runner’s body weight at impact. The joints are being asked to move and glide efficiently and smoothly while enduring this stress. In the event of a misstep or stumble, the joints need to continue to be stable to maintain their perfect alignment.
Osteoarthritis, a.k.a. “wear and tear arthritis”, is what runner’s dread. This is degeneration of the articular cartilage which absorbs shock, distributes stress and allows the joints to glide smoothly. The ability to run pain free depends on the health and integrity of this cartilage as we age. In osteoarthritis, the surface of the cartilage becomes roughened, fissured and even starts to shred into small fragments. These fragments “float” around the joint and cause more damage. The bone tries to protect itself by producing small bony prominences called osteophytes which actually in the end make the joint damage and pain worse.
Any kind of sports participation can increase the incidence of osteoarthritis due to increased twisting forces, high impact, muscle weakness or over-development and joint instability which causes abnormal peak pressures and greater stress in certain areas of cartilage which can lead to osteoarthritis. Nevertheless, for normal joints , there is no scientific evidence that simply the action of running, even over a long period of time, causes permanent joint damage or even a predisposition for osteoarthritis.
What is the risk of osteoarthritis in runners? Many studies of long-term runners show no increased incidence of osteoarthritis in these competitive runners. Some studies did show more evidence of osteophytes, but no correlation with joint pain or instability. Confusing the issue for many runners are the numerous incidents of misdiagnosis of repetitive stress injuries like patella-femoral syndrome as arthritis. This is reversible and caused by abnormal tracking of the kneecap, which is treated with physical therapy and orthotics.
Joints are in fact strengthened by activity and damaged by inactivity. Studies have shown that the articular cartilage actually thins and becomes more fragile with inactivity, therefore increasing the risk of arthritis. Joints adapt to the stress of exercise and become stronger and more able to endure the long term stress of running. Remember the doctor saying to increase slowly? This is why. Ligaments and muscles, which support the joints, are strengthened and reinforced by the stresses of the running activity, improving joint mechanics, if the joints are properly aligned.
Here is the truth about foot biomechanics. Proper biomechanics during the strengthening process is essential for joint health. Improper biomechanics can increase the stress on the joints in an abnormal fashion and actually increase the incidence of osteoarthritis and hasten joint damage.
Bottom line? Running does not increase the incidence of osteoarthritis unless the lower extremity biomechanics are faulty. In fact, almost 75% of Americans over the age of 65 experience some symptoms of osteoarthritis. This is not increased in runners. In fact, running may actually help with the symptoms of osteoarthritis.
The benefits associated with long distance running profoundly overshadow the risk of osteoarthritis. In runners, orthotic devices to correct their biomechanics early in their training may actually decrease the stress associated with increased osteoarthritis. If you have joint symptoms, see a sports medicine podiatrist today and have your gait realigned. Your joints will thank you. Remember, your feet are meant to carry you for a lifetime. Don’t let the fear of osteoarthritis rob you of the joy of a lifetime of distance running!
Dr Marybeth Crane is a sports medicine podiatrist and a life-long runner. For more information on foot and ankle health as well as doctor-approved foot care products, visit her website at http://www.faant.com or read her blog at http://www.myrundoc.com
Drugs Usage For Arthritis And Its Side Effects
Posted by Les in Uncategorized
Drugs Usage For Arthritis And Its Side Effects
By Guy Katir
Mangosteen supplementation may also be helpful in preventing the side effects associated with the stronger drugs used to treat the more severe rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, because of anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals found in the fruit. Boswellia has been used for centuries to reduce inflammation and pain and improve arthritis symptoms. Aiming to achieve long-term pain relief by targeting the cause, not just the arthritis symptoms, should be the goal of arthritis natural tonics for health and wellness.
Although it is understood what causes rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, it is unclear what causes the disease itself. Try avoiding high levels of omega six fatty acids in your diet as these lead to worsened arthritis symptoms. In order to go beyond merely relieving arthritis symptoms, it is important to make dietary changes.
Most common are digestive problems, ulcers, back problems, muscle strains, and chronic fatigue, joint problems, arthritis symptoms, and migraine headaches, cardiac and dental pains. People wonder whether yoga can help alleviate arthritis symptoms. Treating rheumatoid arthritis symptoms typically consists of treating the pain and reducing the inflammation.
The report “I Cured My Arthritis You Can Too” suggests that white flour aggravates arthritis symptoms. In our office we have found the Immunolab assay (Fort Lauderdale, FL) to be useful in excluding food allergies as a potentially important contributing factor to arthritis symptoms. Her site contains information and resources on arthritis treatment, arthritis symptoms and diet for arthritis.
Her site contains information and resources on arthritis treatment, arthritis symptoms and diet for arthritis. Different drugs and treatments may be prescribed depending on the severity of the rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and the stage of progression of the disease. You also need to watch out for allergies; they can trigger inflammation, and aggravate arthritis symptoms.
Ancient Chinese medicine custom fits acupuncture treatment according to the individual arthritis symptoms of patients with a unique combo of acupuncture therapy, Chinese herbs, bodywork, and lifestyle changes. After diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis, only your doctor and you can make decisions about what treatment plans to include in the management of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.
Guy Katir
http://www.solikatir.com/Arthritis-Condition.html
Find out the root cause of Arthritis and How to reverse it!
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Is Arthritis Causing You Pain?
Posted by Les in Arthritis
Is Arthritis Causing You Pain?
By Glenda Erceg
Arthritis, even a mild case is no fun. Arthritis is painful and can have a negative effect on your life. There are some things you can try to lessen the pain of arthritis. Some remedies do not require a prescription. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about any arthritis solutions.
Some people are able to alleviate arthritis pain by taking aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen. Many people use
over-the-counter joint medications to lessen the pain of arthritis. These medications claim to make joints stronger thus making arthritis less of a problem.
Exercise can be a wonderful way to deal with arthritis. Water aerobics often is helpful for people who have arthritis. Others find walking lessens arthritis pain. There are exercise classes specifically geared toward people who suffer from arthritis.
There are folk remedies for arthritis that some people swear by. One is eating five golden raisins soaked in one tablespoon of gin. The raisins should be eaten every day and there are lots of people who say that this technique has greatly improved their arthritis. Another folk remedy is to use castor oil and rub it into the affected area. Follow this treatment with a heating pad.
There are prescription drugs that can help arthritis sufferers. Some of these medications work really well for some and not well at all for others. You may need to try more than one medication to find the one that works best for you. Talk to your doctor about possible side effects from these drugs. There are also some arthritis medications that can not be taken if you have other medical problems.
There are many ways to lessen arthritis pain. You might want to start with exercise and over-the counter solutions and go from there.
For more information and resources on Arthritis visit http://www.healthmattersinfo.com/arthritis
Curing Arthritis
By Guy Katir
Though none of these arthritis medications cure arthritis, they can relieve pain, relieve symptoms, and even slow down the progression of rheumatoid arthritis. The blood pressure of the patients, whether the patient is a diabetic patient or whether he or she is undertaking certain drugs, antibiotics etc should all be known before prescribing for undertaking glucosamine to cure arthritis. You cannot expect to cure arthritis through dietary changes but, in conjunction with using tea tree oil, the right foods can alleviate many of the painful flare-ups.
Glucosamine sulphate cannot cure arthritis but it can reduce the symptoms. For years, there has been a myth that states the elimination of nightshade vegetables such as tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, and peppers will cure arthritis. When looking for an arthritis cure, people who suffer with it will try anything to relieve its symptoms and they end up with some unproven remedies that may not work.
Unfortunately, there is no way to cure arthritis. Some natural treatment options: No medicine or drug can completely cure arthritis or slow its progression without causing side effects.
Omega-6 fatty acids are found mostly in plant seed oils such as evening primrose and sunflower oil, and can also have a positive effect in relieving arthritis symptoms. Aiming to achieve long-term pain relief by targeting the cause, not just the arthritis symptoms, should be the goal of arthritis natural tonics for health and wellness. The report “I Cured My Arthritis You Can Too” suggests that white flour aggravates arthritis symptoms.
Most common are digestive problems, ulcers, back problems, muscle strains, and chronic fatigue, joint problems, arthritis symptoms, and migraine headaches, cardiac and dental pains. Different drugs and treatments may be prescribed depending on the severity of the rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and the stage of progression of the disease. Her site contains information and resources on arthritis treatment, arthritis symptoms and diet for arthritis.
Her site contains information and resources on arthritis treatment, arthritis symptoms and diet for arthritis. Multiple studies have suggested that rheumatoid arthritis symptoms could be reproduced by the reintroduction of certain foods and ameliorated by excluding these foods from the diet.
Guy Katir
http://www.solikatir.com/Arthritis-Condition.html
Find out the root cause of Arthritis and How to reverse it!
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What Causes Childhood Arthritis?
By David Chandler
Childhood arthritis is a disease that occurs in children under the age of 16. It causes pain, stiffness, and swelling in one or more of the joints. This pain, stiffness, and swelling are called inflammation. With childhood arthritis, the inflammation lasts longer than six weeks, and is not caused by an injury or other illness. Childhood arthritis is also called juvenile arthritis.
How common is childhood arthritis? It affects 1 in 1,000 US children under the age of 16.
Both boys and girls are affected by childhood arthritis. Arthritis is not just a disease of old people. In fact, approximately one in 1,000 children under the age of 16 suffers from arthritis. Juvenile arthritis is among the most common chronic childhood disorders.
What causes childhood arthritis?
The exact cause of childhood arthritis is unknown. Childhood arthritis does not usually run in families and cannot be passed from one person to another. The onset of childhood arthritis may follow an infection or injury, but these events do not cause the arthritis.
With childhood arthritis, the body’s immune system stops working properly. The immune system’s job is to fight off germs and disease. However, in a child with childhood arthritis the immune system attacks healthy tissues. What triggers this process is unknown.
What can you do about childhood arthritis? If your child has inflammation, in one or more joints for more than six weeks your doctor may perform a physical examination of your child and order tests, such as x-rays and blood tests to find out what is causing the inflammation. There is not just one single symptom, sign, or test that will give a diagnosis of childhood arthritis.
If your doctor thinks your child has childhood arthritis, he or she will usually refer your child to a rheumatologist (pronounced room-a-tol-o-jist). A rheumatologist is a doctor who has received special training in the diagnosis and treatment of problems involving inflammation of the joints, muscles and other parts of the body.
For more information, visit http://www.ArthritisInfoCenter.com
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Arthritis Herb - Ginger
By Stewart Hare
In this article about the arthritis herb ginger, you will discover:
- What is ginger?
- Why is ginger a great arthritis herb?
- How much arthritis herb ginger to take to help with you?
What Is Ginger?
The perennial plant ginger grows in the countries of south-east Asia.
The underground stem, the rhizome, is the part of ginger which is used for medicinal purposes.
The rhizome of ginger contains unique ingredients such as:
- Essential Oils
- Zingerone
- Gingerol
Ginger has beneficial health properties such as:
- Analgesic
- Antihistamine
- Anti-inflammatory
- Anti-nauseant
Apart from helping with the symptoms of arthritis, ginger can also help with the symptoms of the following health conditions:
- Motion Sickness
- Morning Sickness
- Indigestion
- Flatulence
- Diarrhoea
- Poor circulation
- Dizziness
- Headaches
Why Is Ginger A Great Arthritis Herb?
Ginger has been used for centuries as an arthritis herb for rheumatism and arthritis because it has anti-inflammatory properties that help to reduce swelling and pain associated with arthritis.
How Much Of The Arthritis Herb Ginger, Do You Need To Take To Help With Your Arthritis?
It is best to take 255 mg of concentrated extract of ginger supplement twice a day to help with the symptoms of your arthritis.
Clinical trials have shown that by taking this amount for six weeks that the degree of arthritis pain was reduced and the condition improved.
So, to sum up…
Ginger has been used for centuries as an arthritis herb.
Ginger has unique beneficial health properties which can help the symptoms associated with arthritis.
Ginger is quiet safe to take, although some people do suffer from heartburn when consuming it.
Stewart Hare C.H.Ed Dip NutTh
Download ‘How To Beat Arthritis Naturally’ Free E-book
Website: NewBeingNutrition.com
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Coffee May Help Gout
Posted by Les in Gout
Gout medical studies have found that coffee can actually be beneficial for treating gout. The results of these studies are very interesting as coffee has long been considered a beverage that should be avoided by gout sufferers, as it is believed caffeine raises uric acid levels (increased uric acid levels in the blood is the main culprit behind gout attacks. Gout is characterized by swelling and intense pain in an affected joint - commonly the big toe). However, though caffeine may still be a risk factor, there appears to be an ingredient(s) in coffee that has the opposite effect. Gout medical research that concluded in the spring of 2007 discovered that the more coffee men consume the lower their risk of gout. In this Canadian/American study which was published in the Arthritis & Rheumatism journal June 2007, it was found that men who drank a minimum of 4 cups of coffee daily, lowered their gout risk by as much as 40%. The study was based on data that was collected from over 45,000 male medical professionals who participated in the study. It was found that after 12 years of study, just over 750 of the more than 45,000 men who drank tea and coffee developed gout. Based on self-reports kept by each medical professional, those conducting the study were able to determine that while tea had no effect, the more coffee the men consumed, the more they reduced their risk of developing gout.
The gout medical study found that men, who drank 1 - 3 cups of coffee per day, lowered their risk of a gout attack by 8%. However, those who drank 4 - 5 cups per day reduced their risk by 40%. Additionally, those men who proved to be ‘coffee addicts’ and drank 6 or more cups per day had almost a 60% lower gout risk.
On the other hand, it was discovered that men who drank 1 - 3 cups of decaffeinated coffee reduced their risk by 33%, while those who drank 4 cups of decaf or more, only reduced the risk of gout by 27%.
Although the medical research team does not know what the exact substance or substances within coffee that reduce the risk of gout, the gout medical team thinks that phenol chlorogenic acid, a strong antioxidant that exists in coffee, may be one of the major factors. Furthermore, it should be mentioned that the team believes that caffeine in coffee does not contribute to the reduction, as tea which also contains caffeine does not appear to offer any benefits.
It is important to note that the researchers focused their study on men aged 40 and older. Their reason for this was because men 40 years of age and older make up the highest gout population. Therefore, although coffee appears to make a difference in the average man that fits this age group, it is not known if coffee has the same gout reducing effect on women and younger men.
More studies will need to be conducted to confirm the precise reasons why coffee reduces the risk of gout. Therefore, while increasing the number of cups of coffee you drink per day may lower your chances of gout, the increase in coffee may not be beneficial for other health conditions. Therefore, be sure to talk to your doctor about the gout medical coffee study, and seek his/her advice before you consider increasing your coffee consumption.