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Myths and Facts About Back Pain
While the common cold claims the most sick days among U.S. workers under age 45, lower back pain comes in a strong second, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. In addition, it says, some 80 percent of adults are expected to experience lower back pain at some point in their lives.
Even though back pain is so prevalent, it's surrounded by a host of common misunderstandings. Among them, according to Kam Raiszadeh, an orthopedic surgeon who is medical director of the Advanced Spine Institute at Alvarado Hospital in San Diego, are:
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Chiropractic Technique Reduces Blood Pressure
A particular chiropractic adjustment has been shown to significantly improve high blood pressure, according to recent research. "This procedure has the effect of not one, but two blood-pressure medications given in combination," said study leader George Bakris, a medical doctor who is director of the University of Chicago hypertension center. "And it seems to be adverse-event free. We saw no side effects and no problems." Read more about Chiropractic Technique Reduces Blood Pressure
Cutting-Edge Knee-Replacement Gadgets
Medicine is ever advancing - and that includes orthopedic medicine, which has now developed gender-specific artificial knees that match the subtle anatomical differences between men and women. Technicians have also produced a computer program to assist orthopedic surgeons in correctly positioning replacement knees. These two elements - gender-specificity and computer-navigated surgery - are being hotly discussed these days whenever orthopedic surgeons come together in professional gatherings. Read more about Cutting-Edge Knee-Replacement Gadgets
Glimmer of Hope for Spine-Injury Victims
It's just in rats for now, but scientists have induced spinal cord regrowth by taking tiny nerves from the rib cage, bathing them in a growth-inducing protein, and then grafting them into the area of the cut spinal cord. "By using tiny nerves from the rib cage as cables connecting the severed spinal cord, we were able to get some improvement in leg function," said Dr. Vernon Lin, a professor of physical medicine at the University of California at Irvine and director of the Spinal Cord Injury Group at the Long Beach Veterans Administration Medical Center. Read more about Glimmer of Hope for Spine-Injury Victims
Young Athletes Avoid Injuries With Warm-up Routines
A simple set of new warm-up exercises provides young athletes considerable protection against season-ending knee injuries, according to a recent sports-medicine study. The findings, presented by scientists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, were published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine.
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Stay Young by Running
For people who run regularly, you may be extending your disability-free, higher quality of life. When senior author, James Fries, began research on vigorous exercise in 1984, many scientists expected the results would do more harm than good. Some experts believed the long-term effect of serious running would be an onslaught of orthopedic injuries, with older runners suffering from chronic injury. But Fries believed it would improve quality of life and reduce the period at the end of a person's life where they couldn't carry out daily tasks on their own. Read more about Stay Young by Running
Smoking's Link to Back Problems
Smoking causes cancer, lung disease and heart attacks, and disrupts body chemistry in such dangerous ways that a host of other ailments can result. So it's not surprising that even back problems might be caused by nicotine and smoke ingestion. Indeed, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) says smoking diminishes the blood supply to the bones, and saps them of calcium, both of which increase the possibility of the onset of osteoporosis. Suggestive of the relationship between smoking and back issues, one's chances for success after back surgery improve dramatically if one is a nonsmoker or has ceased smoking. Read more about Smoking's Link to Back Problems
A Natural Solution to Osteoarthritis Knee Pain
As a result of intensive research, treatments for osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease continue to emerge. Osteoarthritis is a common ailment that affects millions of Americans, with the knee being the most likely joint to be afflicted. As the disease progresses, the cartilage that normally cushions and lubricates the joint begins to degenerate. This leads to joint friction, inflammation, pain, stiffness, and eventually deformity.
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As Goes Oral Health, So Goes General Health
Many studies are showing a persistent connection between gum disease and other ailments that afflict corners of the body far afield from the teeth. Specifically, when gingivitis (early-stage gum disease) or full-blown periodontal disease is present, it's often the case that doctors find that a patient has diabetes, kidney disorders, preterm labor, certain types of cancer, osteoporosis or even Alzheimer's disease. Read more about As Goes Oral Health, So Goes General Health
Discovery Hints At the Immune System's Role in Bone Loss
A new study out of UCLA links high cholesterol and osteoporosis and identifies a new role that the body's immune cells play in bone loss. Published in the Journal Clinical Immunology, the research could lead to immune-based approaches for treating osteoporosis. The disease causes fragile bones and increases the risk of fractures, causing lost independence and mobility.
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