How to Build Healthy Bones as You Age
As we age, our movements and reflexes become slow, we typically tend to cut back on activity, and our bones get thinner and lose their density. Here are some easy steps you can take that may help strengthen your muscles, add density back to your bones, and protect your joints. Maintain a healthy body weight Although maintaining a healthy weight sounds simple, but for many people, this is a difficult task to maintain. Our joints are weight-bearing, so keeping an optimum weight is vital to our mobility and overall health. Besides putting extra strain on your knees, hips, spine, etc., …
Ergonomic Tips for Working from Home
Since mid-March, millions of Americans have been working from home in an effort to stem the number of coronavirus infections. Home workspaces can be less-than-ideal ergonomic conditions such as a low kitchen chair, couch that makes you slump, etc. Having a good ergonomic workspace can make or break your work-from-home experience. Here are some tips and tricks to help create an ergonomic-friendly workspace at home. What Not to Do Do not use your couch as a workstation: Your couch is not an ergonomic-friendly place to work (even if it’s tempting to feel comfortable). Do not hunch over your laptop: To …
Winter’s Almost Here – Common Ski Injuries
Two of the world’s most popular winter sports are skiing and snowboarding. Despite being the most popular, they are also two of the most dangerous. Injuries are almost an inevitable part of skiing since you can reach speeds anywhere from 25 to 45 miles per hour. Back in 2014, skiing and snowboarding-related activities were attributed to over 200,000 doctor’s office or hospital visits. Common Skiing Injuries Knee Ligament Strains & Tears The most at-risk areas of the body for tears while skiing is your ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and MCL (medial collateral ligament). Your ACL helps to ensure the shin …
What is Chronic Back Pain?
Chronic back pain occurs when back pain continues for 12 weeks or longer, even after an initial injury or underlying cause of back pain has been treated. About 20 percent of people affected by acute low back pain develop chronic low back pain with persistent symptoms at one year. Treatment may successfully relieve your chronic back pain, but in some cases, pain continues despite medical and surgical treatment. Potential Causes of Back Pain Trauma from an auto accident or fall Injury from heavy lifting, exercise, or a sudden and awkward motion Osteoporosis or small compression fractures Arthritis (causing the hollow …
What Can I Do to Keep My Bones Healthy?
Your bones are responsible for providing structure & support for your body. They protect your vital organs and act as attachment sites for muscles that allow the body to move. Bones also store minerals like phosphorus and calcium and release them into the body when they are needed. There are a multitude of factors that can cause bones to become weak and brittle. Weak and brittle bones can lead to breaks, fractures, and long-term health issues. Tips to Keep Your Bones Healthy Diet: Osteoporosis or bone-density loss can occur if your diet is low in calcium and vitamin D. Physical …
Can You Break the Same Bone Twice?
There is an old adage that states you can’t break the same bone twice because the bone grows back stronger than before. Unfortunately, this is a myth. There is still a chance you can fracture it again in the same place in the future. The odds are no higher or lower. However, there is a brief period as a bone heals that the fracture site is stronger than the surrounding bone. Later in the healing process, the fracture site and surrounding bone will reach equal strength, and the bone is not any stronger or weaker once it heals. To understand this, it’s …
Strains vs. Sprains
Sprains and strains are common orthopedic injuries. Often used interchangeably, these two terms to describe the overstretching or tearing of soft tissues in and around your joints. What is a Strain? A joint strain is the overstretching or tearing of muscles or tendons. Tendons are tissues that connect your muscles to your bones. Common areas for strains include: Back Legs (quadriceps and hamstrings), calf muscle Elbow What is a Sprain? A joint sprain is the overstretching or tearing of ligaments. Ligaments are the bands of tissue that connect two bones together in a joint. The most common location for a …
What Is Spinal Stenosis?
Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spaces within your spine, which can put pressure on the nerves that travel through the spine. Most often, spinal stenosis occurs in the neck and the lower back. Spinal stenosis is most commonly caused by wear-and-tear changes in the spine related to arthritis. Other causes may include spinal injuries, overgrowth of bone, herniated disks, and thickened ligaments. Types of Spinal Stenosis Spinal stenosis is classified according to where on the spine, the condition occurs. It’s possible to have more than one type of spinal stenosis. The two most common types are: Cervical stenosis.In …
What Causes Hand Pain?
The hand is a complex structure composed of many different bones, muscles, and ligaments. We heavily rely on our hands to perform everyday tasks. Because of this, there are many places that something can go wrong and cause hand pain. Below are some common causes of hand pain. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a common condition that affects the hand and wrist. It occurs when the Median Nerve in the wrist is compressed. Nerves carry messages between our brains, spinal cord, and body parts. The Median Nerve carries signals for sensation and muscle movement. When the Median Nerve …
What Causes Stiff Joints?
Do you find it more difficult than usual to walk, stand, type, or perform other daily tasks? If so, you could be suffering from stiff joints. Stiff joints can affect any joint in your body, including your fingers, hands, wrists, knees, and elbows. What is Joint Stiffness? Joint stiffness can occur when a joints range of motion is limited or difficult to move. It’s common to happen after lying in bed or sitting for some time. You may have difficulty walking, standing, or putting weight on your joints. In other cases, it can be more severe and include pain and …