TMJ Mouth Guard - The Not So Effective Way to Treat TMJ

In this article I'll discuss my opinion of a TMJ mouth guard and its effects on the different types of TMJ sufferers. A TMJ mouth guard sound good in theory, and they do work, but they don't fix the problem of TMJ. Most TMJ sufferers actually have weak or damaged joints, and the TMJ mouth guard will provide some pain relief, but can actually further damage the joint if used too often.

A small portion of TMJ sufferers have a stress related form of TMJ. I don't consider this to be true TMJ, as their jaws are not damaged or weak. When people are stressed, they tend to clinch their jaws and bite down. This makes for sore jaw muscles and some jaw pain, which can be fixed with a TMJ mouth guard or some stress relief. Keep in mind that a guard holds your mouth open all night which causes an increase in harmful bacteria of the mouth and can lead to gingivitis over the long term.

A majority of TMJ sufferers have damaged or weak joints because of trauma, or hereditary causes. I don't recommend a mouth guard for these folks. This will further weaken the joint by forcing the mouth open for 8 hours a night. While it may feel good at first, over time, it will hurt to close your mouth and can cause even more pain. I tried a TMJ mouth guard for 4 months, and this is what happened to me. I recommend some TMJ exercises that will not only relieve pain, but will build up the weakened joints and strengthening them to rid yourself of TMJ all together.

5 Steps to Correct Any Muscular Imbalance

So, you might be wondering what exactly is muscular imbalance and what does it have to do with achieving your fitness goals?

Muscular imbalances occur when there are uneven strength levels between certain muscles which creates uneven forces on the joints often resulting in a host of consequences down the road such as joint and muscle pain.

A common example of muscle imbalance is when the hip flexors and quadriceps muscles(on the front of the hip and leg) are stronger than the glutes and hamstrings (on the back of the hip and leg). This often results in knee and/or lower back pain because the hip muscles are weak and so the hip flexors, quadriceps and low back muscles over compensate.

Improperly balanced muscles can lead to other problems such as:

• Poor posture resulting in chronic pain and/or injury


• Faulty movement that create more stress on the body


• Decreased sports performance (running, golf, tennis, basketball, etc...)


• Stronger muscles that compensate for weaker muscles resulting in repetitive stress

The Muscular Imbalance Cycle

Muscular Imbalances > Inefficient Movement > Improper Joint Stress, Decreased Joint Stability > Pain/Injury > Decreased Activity, Weight Gain, Health Problems

5 steps you can use to correct any muscular imbalance

1. Address your muscle imbalances immediately- Muscular imbalances will not correct themselves and the longer you wait to address them the worse they get over time. Just because you may not feel pain now doesn't mean you don't have improperly balanced muscles.

2. Stretch tight muscles daily- This sounds so simple yet most people completely ignore stretching tight muscles because they don't want to deal with them, they're painful to stretch, they don't know how to stretch properly or they don't realize which muscles are tight until an injury occurs.

3. Strengthen weak muscles- Each muscle in your body has an opposing muscle. For example your biceps and triceps are opposing muscles. When one muscle is tight the opposing muscle is typically weak. As time goes on this leads to joint and muscle pain. By strengthening your weak muscles you even out the relationship of opposing muscles and create better muscle balance which helps you avoid pain and injury.

4. Get weekly massages for tight muscles- Either a qualified masseuse can do this or you can use a foam roller or a medicine ball.

5. Consult with a qualified fitness professional with expertise in dealing with muscular imbalances- These individuals can tell you exactly what is out of balance and help you develop a plan to restore muscular balance and eliminate pains or injuries you may already be dealing with.

So, there's 5 steps you can use to help correct any imbalance and eliminate joint or muscle pain. It's not all that difficult to do and it will definitely help you maintain an active lifestyle healthy and pain free.

Correcting muscles imbalances can help eliminate or greatly reduce neck, shoulder, lower back, hip, knee, foot and ankle pain.

Not a bad deal now is it?

Three Ways Bad Teeth Can Ruin Your Life

Bad teeth don't just make you look awkward-they may seriously ruin your whole life! Bad teeth smell bad, look pathetic, and become loose, infected and eventually fall out, leaving you-yes, you guessed it-toothless. In addition, bad teeth can cost you days of agonizing pain that pulsates from the sick teeth with a force that feels like your head is going to explode.

Your cheeks might also become swollen, your gums might bleed...OK, you get the point: bad teeth are no fun and should be fixed.

But if you're still not persuaded to make an appointment with your dentist, continue reading to learn about three ways bad teeth can ruin your life.

Let's talk about your social life...

Chances are, the discussion about your social life will be very short because you simply do not have one. As soon as you open your mouth to talk or make a friendly smile, people instinctively start to move away from you. While this might be a good thing on those days when you would like to be left alone, it can ruin your social life in the long run. Perhaps you should take the time to balance out the pros and cons of seeing one of your local cosmetic dentists, as this might lead to a revelation that you are long overdue for an appointment.

How about your professional life?

Bad teeth affect your whole life, not just your social interactions. Perhaps you've noticed that you're consistently being overlooked for a promotion, or that you're always assigned projects that don't require any team leading or public speaking whatsoever. Maybe these are coincidences. But all the people who do get promoted seem to have perfectly even pearly whites that make their smiles look almost irresistible. Even if you won't do it for simple aesthetic reasons, perhaps the prospect of being professionally recognized might make you get a simple teeth whitening treatment or even cover the Invisalign braces cost.

The bottom line: Your health

If you're still on the fence about seeing a dentist, how about doing it for the sake of your health? Wouldn't you like to get rid of recurring teeth and gum infections, fix bleeding gums, strengthen your teeth, stop clenching and grinding in your sleep? All of these uncomfortable symptoms might be signs of a disease that can be treated without the dreaded dental drill but with a simple orthodontic device. A case in point is temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). This condition can cause years of discomfort and pain in the jaw-neck region. However, a custom TMJ treatment, such as a nighttime teeth device, can help you get rid of your symptoms and get on with your life.

Causes of Back Pain - Osteoarthritis

Dubbed "the wear-and-tear arthritis," osteoarthritis causes the breakdown of the joint's cartilage, which is the part of the joint that cushions the ends of bones. Cartilage breakdown causes bones to rub against each other, causing pain and loss of movement. One of the most common types of arthritis, affecting one in seven Americans (mostly after age forty-five and more often women than men), OA is also called degenerative arthritis, degenerative joint disease, or hypertrophic arthritis, and it particularly affects hands and weight-bearing joints such as those found in the back, knees, hips, and feet.

Although the exact cause is not known, genetics play a role in who is more susceptible to early cartilage breakdown. Other risk factors include obesity, previous joint injuries, and jobs that put stress on joints. Although age is a risk factor, doctors now know that OA is a disease, rather than part of "natural aging." Most people over sixty reveal the disease on X-ray, but only about one-third of those with positive X-rays have actual symptoms in the form of lower back pain.

Effects range from very mild to severe joint stiffness and pain and can include limited movement and loss of dexterity, sometimes swelling of affected joints, and cracking or grating sounds with joint movement. Weather changes, especially to cold, damp weather, may increase the ache.

Back pain treatment for osteoarthritis focuses on decreasing pain and improving joint movement. Acetaminophen can help reduce mild pain without inflammation; and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including aspirin, are recommended if there is inflammation or the acetaminophen doesn't help.

Other treatments include use of heat or cold for temporary pain relief; exercises to keep joints flexible; and weight control to prevent extra stress on joints. Recently, the National Institutes of Health concluded that acupuncture can be an alternative or addition to conventional osteoarthritis care. In severe cases, surgery is another option.

Osteoarthritis should not be confused with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a disease of the autoimmune system that attacks many joints throughout the body simultaneously and often begins between the ages of twenty-five and fifty but can occur in children as early as infancy.

Developing within weeks or months, rheumatoid arthritis usually affects small joints of the hands and feet, causing redness, warmth and swelling. Symptoms can include general feelings of sickness and fatigue, as well as weight loss and fever; and prolonged morning stillness. An antibody called a rheumatoid factor may be found in the blood. For this, and all types of arthritis, a rheumatologist is the medical professional to see.

Alternative Treatment for Degenerative Disk Disease

Intervertebral discs are the cushions of cartilage in between every vertebra in the spine. If the spine experiences even the smallest amount of trauma it can then rupture, cause inflammation, or bulge the disc.

Numbness and tingling in the bilateral extremities, with radiating pain, is a common sign of someone with degenerative disc disease, even worse if the disease is irritating adjacent nerve roots. Symptoms normally appear when the disc puts pressure on the nerve root. The chiropractic approach to disc degeneration is to reduce inflammation and improve the motion in the spine. If the chiropractor sees it necessary to help with his diagnosis, he may send the patient for an MRI or CT scan for further evaluation. There are three types of spinal manipulations for disc problems:

Flexion-distraction technique: A non-thrusting technique that is normally used on herniated disks or the treatment of spinal stenosis.

Specific spinal manipulation: The restricted joints are identified and treated by the chiropractor, restoring movement back into the joints.

Instrument-assisted manipulation: This technique is performed with a handheld instrument, typically an activator.

Many chiropractors offer manual therapy to their patients in addition to the spinal adjustment. Trigger point therapy involves pressure being put on the painful spots to relieve the tension. Therapeutic exercises, such as stretching and resistance techniques, help prevent symptoms from getting worse.

Degenerative disc disease is most commonly diagnosed in people who have suffered an injury to their disc because they degenerate quicker. There are a few different types of disc injuries:

Disc tear: Located in the outer cartilage where fluid starts to leak out.

Bulging disc: The jelly substance centered in the middle of the disc is pushed to one side and begins to swell.

Herniated disc: The jelly substance ruptures through the fibers on the outside and extends past the normal position.

Prolapsed disc: A fragment of the disc breaks away becomes a free-floating piece.

Desiccated disc: The disc loses the fluid inside, degenerates, and wears down. This takes place right before the bones start to fuse together.

Optimal functioning of the musculoskeletal system is a necessity for good health. 60% of the human body consists of bones, muscles, tissue, and nerves which are all part of the musculoskeletal system. Chiropractors are experts in this area, so it's only wise to seek out and receive chiropractic treatment for degenerative disc disease. Many patients have avoided unnecessary surgery or a pill dependency because they chose the best approach to natural healing.

TMJ Cured Finally

A few years ago I didn't know what TMJ was. I had never heard of it. TMJ stands for Temporomandibular Joint disorder. So what does that mean?

Let me explain by telling you how I found out what TMJ was and how I freed myself from it.

Five years ago I was forced to take a different job where I work. I can't say I was thrilled about it. In fact, I hated my new job. As the weeks went by, the stress got worse and I was really having a hard time dragging myself to work each day.

One evening, I was sitting in my recliner rubbing my forehead. My wife asked me if I had a headache again. I realized that I had been complaining about headaches a lot lately.

No big deal, I just took a few aspirin like always. But this time I took three instead of two because they just didn't seem to be taking my headache away.

Finally I went to see my doctor. She told me I had a sinus infection and she gave me some antibiotics to clear it up. But after two weeks, the headaches were worse.

So, it was back to the doctor. This time she sent me for x rays of my head. Upon examination of the x rays, she again told me that I had a sinus infection. It was off to the drug store for stronger antibiotics.

Soon the headaches had become constant and grew continuously worse. I was having trouble concentrating on anything. I went to bed with a headache and woke up with a headache. It got to be like one of
those headaches you get when you eat ice cream to fast. Constant, terrible pain.

My wife went to the nearby health food store and they gave her some herbal something or other that would definitely clear up my sinus problem.

It didn't. I tried melting Vicks Vapo Rub in a bowl of boiling water and breathing in the fumes to open my sinuses. No luck. My Dad who was undergoing treatment for prostate cancer even gave me some of his Darvocet tablets, which is an extremely strong pain medication.

I was taking Darvocet three and four at a time, to try to relive the pain. Nothing worked. Again, I went to my doctor and guess what she said the problem was. Yep, my sinuses. By now the pain had grown so bad, that I couldn't go to work. I couldn't do much of anything and the doctor sure wasn't helping.

One night, after suffering for nine months, it got so bad that I almost past out from the pain. My wife loaded me into the car and drove me to the emergency room. I waited and waited and waited. Finally they examined me and said I needed a C.A.T Scan. I'm not sure what that is, but I sat there in pain until they got the results.

Then came the diagnosis. Sinus infection. I could have screamed! They did finally give me something for the pain. It helped a little but made me vomit.

The doctor that night in the emergency room, made an appointment for me for the following week with an ear, nose and throat specialist. Yep, I had to wait another week with the pain.

The specialist examined me and looked at my C.A.T. scan. He sat me down and asked me who told me that I had a sinus infection. I told him that everyone that had examined me said that's what it was.

Then he laid it on me that I had TMJ. He said I had the cleanest sinuses he'd ever seen. No wonder, all the sinus medication I was taking.

He began to explain to me just what TMJ was. Temporomandibular disorder. He said TMJ was an acute inflammation of my temporomandibular joint. This is the area where the jaw connects to the skull.

The specialist laid out a plan to relieve the pain which, he said, might involve snipping some of the ligaments in my jaw. By now I would have tried anything. He scheduled me for the following week and gave me some medication that took the edge off the pain. But it was still there.

That same weekend I was talking to a friend of mine and I noticed he had one of those Q-Ray bracelets on. I asked him about it and he said he got it because of his arthritis. And that it really worked. Well, like I said, I would have tried anything.

My friend gave me the website to order a bracelet which cost me $100.00. I even paid extra for fast delivery. I knew this was going to be another disappointment but I was going to try it.

I took the bracelet out of the box and put it on my wrist. That was January 22, 2004. Several hours later, the pain was still there. Just as I thought, it didn't work. But I kept the bracelet on and went to bed.
The next morning when I woke up to go to work, I realized that for the first time in nine months, I didn't have a headache. No pain, nothing. It was gone. Completely gone. I woke my wife and was so excited, she couldn't understand what was going on at first.

Not only was the pain gone, but I felt great. I wanted to jump up and down and tell everybody I saw that day that my headache was gone. I have had my Q-Ray bracelet on for over five years now. The TMJ is long gone.

Some people told me that those Q-Ray bracelets are bogus and it was all in my head. My response is always the same. I don't know if it was psychological or not, all I know is that for nine months my headaches were so severe and untreatable that I think I actually was going crazy.

Let me say one more thing. I am in no way affiliated with the Q-Ray company. They don't even know it but I'm there best salesman. When someone sees my bracelet and asks me if it really works, I tell them simply, I works for me. Thanks Q-Ray.

Why Avoid Over-the-Counter Joint Pain Remedies?

Each year, billions of dollars are spent on over-the-counter joint pain selections that offer a wide-range of brand names, methods of treatment, and varying dosages, including Bayer, Tylenol, Advil, Motrin, Nuprin, and Aleve. Although the market for over-the-counter medication is saturated with a multitude of remedies for joint pain, there are still many people who avoid this approach towards relief. While each option generally provides the capacity to sooth muscle and joint pain, there are certain risks and side effects associated with many over-the-counter selections that actually worsens a patient's overall condition.

Acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are some the most common over-the-counter remedies. In the category of NSAIDs, aspirin (Bayer), ibuprofen (Advil and Motrin), and naproxin (Aleve) create this class of drugs that aims to decrease inflammation and pain. One of the major side effects associated with NSAIDs is stomach irritation, which has the potential to cause ulcers. The gastric effects are also too much for people suffering from preexisting stomach irritation, such as heartburn, GERD, upset stomach, bleeding problems, and ulcers. Asthma patients should also consult a doctor before adding an over-the-counter joint pain product to their daily routine.

With acetaminophen, individuals receive an effective pain reliever; yet fail to take pleasure in the anti-inflammatory properties of NSAIDs. While there are few side effects associated with acetaminophen, there are extremely dangerous consequences that come when one takes excessive doses. As a result, liver damage may occur and if proper medical assistance is not obtained, the worst cases involve death. Additionally, individuals with a history of kidney disease should consult their doctor to establish a safe dosage.

Since the joint pain relievers decorating the shelves of pharmacies and drug stores may cause adverse side effects in users, more and more people are becoming increasingly interested in alternative therapies and natural health remedies. While some natural products are more acknowledged than others, there are also plenty of lesser-known selections that battle inflammation and joint pain. A few natural joint pain treatments to consider include:

1. Omega-3 Fatty Acids: The anti-inflammatory components of this supplement help decrease joint pain and swelling. Fish oils are often seen as the best source of omega-3, yet flaxseed, borage, grape seed, walnut, and primrose oils are also helpful.

2. Healthy Diet: A diet that is low in arachidonic acid, calcium-rich, and high in vitamin B complex works to significantly reduce joint pain. A few fruits and vegetables to consider include garlic, shiitake mushrooms, pineapple, strawberries, cranberries, blueberries, and dark green leafy vegetables. Whole grains are also recommended.

3. Ginger: This natural active compound is known to lessen the joint pain and inflammation in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis patients, which comes in capsules, extracts, and powders.

4. Vitamin D: Taking 400 to 600 IU of vitamin D helps boost cartilage health, which is great in preventing the development of joint pain.

5. Antioxidants and Natural Health Remedies: Joint pain responds well to anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving natural remedies, including Nettle Leaf, Cayenne, Devil's Claw, bromelain, and turmeric.

Top Causes Of Jaw Pain And Possible Treatments

The many causes of jaw pain may be identified with different medical problems. Varied as they are, they can be categorized into two: primary and secondary. The first type involves a condition affecting the jaw directly and this can be treated by a dentist or an ears, nose and throat doctor. The second type, on the other hand, involves a condition affecting other parts of the body and causing the pain to migrate towards that part of the chin. Such a situation may be more difficult to resolve and so needs the expertise of other medical specialists.

This article though would focus on the most common causes of jaw pain under the first category. They are trauma, dental problems, bone spurs, arthritis, sinus infections and necrosis.

Trauma - Trauma usually results to a broken jaw. Accidents or direct hitting on this facial bone are the common culprits to this. Moreover, excessive teeth grinding called bruxism can also trigger such trauma.

Dental Problems - Cavities, damaged teeth, teeth extractions, oral surgeries and fillings and severe gum infections can sometimes be very painful to the jaw.

Bone Spurs - These are also known as bony outgrowths that happen among adults. Projection of impacted wisdom teeth definitely cause hurting sensation to this joint.

Arthritis - The mandibular joint is the specific area that Arthritis attacks. In relation to this, Temporomandibular or TMJ jaw pain is caused by chronic inflammation of this bone.

Sinus Infections - Sinus infections as well as ear infections may lead to jaw pain. This is because of the pressure in the ears and sinus cavities which are connected to this facial joint.

Necrosis - This is characterized by swollen glands in the neck which in turn results to hurting sensations in one's facial joint.

There are times when the ache that these conditions bring are bearable. If that is the case, you can try applying gentle pressure to the tender areas of your jaw. Avoid possibility of deep massages as this facial joint is severely delicate. In between the gentle massages, you can slowly open and close your mouth to relieve the pain. Be keen to observe if the hurting sensations increase once pressure is applied. This must be a hint for you to stop with the gentle massage.

Giving your facial joint a rest is also advisable. Excessive use of it as in talking and/or chewing must be avoided. Chewing gums, for one, is not healthy because it induces constant movement of the jaw muscles making the related joint swollen and painful. Also, try to relax your neck and shoulders. Strain in these body parts due to wrong posture when working or sleeping can also result to an aching facial joint.

In conclusion, seeing medical practitioners like dentists and ENT doctors would be ideal in eradicating any of the causes of jaw pain you might have. After requiring some check-ups and X-rays, they will immediately advise you of the most appropriate measures. They could be prescription drugs, surgeries, therapies or use of dental appliances.

TMJ Exercises

TMJ exercises can be an effective way to treat Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome from home, but it is important that you are following the correct TMJ exercise program. There are many websites out there that claim to have the latest and greatest techniques, but they are not all as effective as they claim to be.

TMJ is a condition where a person experiences pain focused in the Temporomandibular Joint, which is the joint that connects your jawbone to your head. Because this joint is often used, the person will experience pain while moving through their daily life functions-- small things such as eating and talking will cause pain because they will be causing the jaw to move.

The pain from this condition can be severe, a person experiencing TMJ symptoms may experience several symptoms including: a clicking in their jaw, pain when the jaw is moved, ear pain, frequent headaches, and soreness in the jaw joint.

There are several exercises that can be done from the comforts of your own home to help relieve your TMJ symptoms. These TMJ exercises should be followed on a regular basis, it is important to keep up with your treatment plan so that your symptoms do not relapse.

The purpose of completing TMJ exercises is to relax the muscles in the jaw that are causing you pain. It is very common for a person experiencing these symptoms to have tight muscles in their jaw joint, which in turn clamps down on the nerves in that area. If you want to find relief from your pain, you should relax those muscles so that the blood can flow freely and the muscles are not strained.

Relieving Pregnancy Aches & Pains

It's not pregnancy that causes aches and pains, it's posture. Posture while you're sleeping, standing, walking and sitting can cause problems with your lower back, hips, shoulders, headaches and cramping. So before you reach for the bottle of painkillers, or spending a lot of money on seeing an osteopath, use the guidelines below and see if anything changes.

Once you reach 22 weeks of your pregnancy, it is strongly advisable to lie on your side (normally your left side) while sleeping. This is because you have a main vein running up the right side of your spine, and with the extra weight of your belly pressing against it when you're on your back, you and your baby will find you get short of breath and will be restricting the blood flow to your baby. If you find yourself on your back during the night, don't worry. Your body has woken you up so you can change position and be more comfortable.

Many doctors, midwives and physiotherapists recommend placing a pillow between your knees while you sleep on your side to help with hip and back aches. Unfortunately this is totally pointless. The first problem is that you'll be placing too much pressure on the inside of your leg with the weight of your top leg. Given that your blood is thicker and prone to clotting (very normal and healthy; any clots are usually dissolved naturally), you don't want to be putting extra weight onto your legs. You're likely to experience pins and needles and cramping by doing this.

The second problem with using a pillow between your legs is that the pillow is rarely stable enough and thick enough to keep your hip joints at the right angle. This will mean that you're back will be twisting (causing more mid and lower backache and also pressing on your belly) and your hip will be over stretching with the angle of your leg pulling down. It's really not comfortable to lie like this, and your sleep will be compromised.

For a Joyful night's sleep, I recommend getting either a sturdy bolster (that won't roll) or a firm pillow from the sofa that is at least as thick as the span of your hand; your thigh needs to be at a right angle to your hip joint and your foot supported (preventing cramps). This will allow you to have a straight spine while sleeping and also give your belly enough room to be comfortable, and thus give baby enough room to move. Your lower back ache will be eased and you'll be comfortable enough to sleep well.

If you turn over in the night, don't worry about the leg pillows... put your leg over your partner! (If he/she doesn't mind!!) They're usually just the right height!

You will also need to place a small pillow under your belly as you sleep on your side. There are some ligaments from your uterus that are attached to the base of your spine, so any pulling on those may cause lower back ache. By placing a small pillow, just big enough to stop the feeling of dragging (so not very thick) you'll find your lower back is much more comfortable, and you're baby will have more room to move.

To help with any shoulder tension, I suggest you place a pillow parallel to the pillow under your head. Allow your shoulder to drop down between the two pillows to as you don't squash it while you're asleep. Having the pillow horizontally will mean that if you roll over you'll already have the pillow in place for your other side. I also think it's a great idea to hug on to a pillow over your chest (like you would a teddy bear). This stops your exposed shoulder from over stretching as it drops down and will also protect your breasts if they're feeling tender.

Prevention is better than a cure, so even if you don't have any aches, please do lie with these pillows so as to have a comfortable pregnancy. Going into labour with a sore back to start with isn't a very good way to enjoy your child's birth to the full.

Whenever I mention posture to a client, they immediate stiffen their back and pull their shoulders back! Here are some great tips to encourage good posture, the easy way...

When you walk, stand or sit, try and remember to have your feet pointing forwards. By turning your toes out, or your ankles in, will result in hip ache as the bones and joints are rotated. When your feet are pointing forwards and the weight of your body is evenly distributed you should feel a slight pull outwards on your thighs. If you feel the weight on your feet is uneven (on the front, back or sides), rock backwards and forwards or side to side until you feel that the weight is equal.

The weight of your body, and correct posture, should be held on your bones and not your muscles. Muscles are designed for movement and if they're expected to take your body weight for prolonged periods they will start to ache. Place a finger on the ball of your hips (one on each side), and purposely push your bottom out. You should feel the ball of your hip roll down and back. Many women stand like this and think they have a big bum and belly; standing like this will feel like your growing uterus is dragging down. Tuck your bum under so as you feel the ball of your hips roll up and forwards. It's only your bottom that needs to move, not your legs and knees. You should now feel the weight being held in your hips and feel a relief from your belly and back.

If your shoulders are prone to rolling forwards you're likely to cause yourself lower and mid back aches from the muscles pulling, and also neck ache and headaches. The way you will always be able to tell if your shoulders are rolling forwards is by placing your hands by your sides. If your hands are in front of the seam of your trousers/skirt then your shoulders are rotating forwards. All you need to do to correct your posture, is to move your hands, palms flat against your leg, behind the seam of your trousers. It's really difficult to roll your shoulders forwards when you're hands are in this position. When walking remember to swing your hands behind the seam of your trousers, rather than in front of you. Keep practicing this and you'll find any shoulder and neck tension will dissolve very quickly.

Standing and walking with the weight in your hips and your shoulders back will now make you look like a gorgeous pregnant woman rather than a gorgeous over weight lady. Follow these easy steps and you'll have more space to breathe, your mood will lift, your energy will increase and your baby will have more space to wiggle!

Yoga For Joint Pain Relief

We all know that diet and exercise are the keys to good health. There are study results, articles, books, and television shows everywhere reminding us what we need to do to take good care of our bodies. There is the food guide pyramid to follow, the Play 60 campaign sponsored by the NFL, and various local diet and exercise programs that serve to educate the community, but what if you are suffering from joint pain

It is a natural reaction for us to avoid anything that we know will cause us pain. When joint pain becomes part of someone's everyday life, their activity level is likely to drop. Unfortunately, depending on which joints are hurting, this can actually cause more problems. Depending on which joints are painful and the current level of activity, beginning an exercise program can be a big challenge.

Painful joints can become harder to move when they are not moved through their range of motion often enough. This stiffness causes more pain, and a vicious circle ensues. Exercises like yoga can be extremely helpful for people with joint pain. Yoga is also great for overall fitness and peace of mind.

Yoga can be done by just about anyone. There are even classes emerging tailored to senior citizens. The slow, controlled physical movement of joints is instrumental in helping to relieve joint pain. Yoga improves the blood circulation in joints and helps the body remove unwanted toxins. One of the challenges is overcoming the initial pain and reaching a new level of fitness. A commitment to try yoga, or any exercise you choose, will be more successful if you can push through an initial adjustment period.

The type of yoga that will be best for you depends on your age, current level of fitness, and physical ability. If you are starting a fitness regimen for the first time, it has been a long time since you exercised regularly, or if you have already lost significant muscle tone and flexibility, you should start with a very gentle choice, such as hatha yoga. There are so many different types, each with their own emphasis, that there is bound to be one that will help anyone improve their flexibility and lessen their pain.

Although it is possible to learn yoga from DVDs or instruction books, the best way is through an instructor in a yoga class. Attending a class will allow you to get the most out of yoga with the least chance of having an injury. Yoga classes designed especially for seniors are becoming more and more available. If you are looking for a class, a good place to start is by checking local senior centers, retirement communities, religious organizations, and even health clubs. If you can't find a special senior class, a gentle beginners class can be a good place to get started.

When patients begin yoga they often find it helpful to try some of the supplements available on the market. Many of them, such as glucosamine, chondroitin, and Celadrin, have been found to help joints become more lubricated, less inflamed, and can increase their range of motion. By combining a good exercise, diet, and supplement regimen it may be possible to lessen the pain and get on with your life.

Don't Suffer - TMJ Home Remedies You Can Find in Your Home

If you suffer from Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, known as TMJ, you're no stranger to severe headaches and jaw pain. The condition remains a mystery to many doctors and dentists, and stress seems to be a primary factor in development of TMJ. While we don't know what exactly causes TMJ, there are many TMJ home remedies that can help.

The most important thing you can do to alleviate the discomfort of TMJ-related jaw pain is to go easy on yourself. Be kind to yourself, and find time to relax. Mediation and visualization techniques can be enormously helpful, not only with your TMJ discomfort, but with all aspects of your life.

Some foods are excellent TMJ home remedies as well. Try a little flax seed on your morning cereal. Some sufferers have relieve their TMJ pain entirely by this method. Flax seed probably works because it is high in Omega 3 fatty acids, which are known to reduce inflammation. Other foods that are high in Omega 3 fatty acids are salmon and english walnuts.

Physical therapy exercises are TMJ home remedies that you can do yourself. These exercises are designed to re-align your jaw. TMJ sufferers will find that when they open their mouths, the jaw moves to one side. Stand in front of a mirror and open your mouth. Notice the alignment of your jaw as you open, and focus on keeping your chin aligned with your nose. It may help to place the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth. Continue opening and closing your mouth ten times, being careful to align your jaw properly. Repeat this exercise three to four times a day and you will begin to feel relief as you rebuild the weak muscles.

Through these behaviors, foods and exercises, you will soon be relieved of your TMJ pain.

When Treating Arthritis, There are Definite Foods to Avoid, and Specific Arthritis Foods to Eat

Foods to Avoid

You need to make sure that the calcium to phosphorus ratio in any of the foods you eat is as low as possible - this is because excess phosphorus will increase the loss of calcium from the body and worsen the condition. The more phosphorous-containing foods you eat, the more you need to supplement with a good source of calcium.

Reduce your intake of:

o red meat, red-fleshed fish

o most grains, especially wheat.

Eliminate:

o soft drinks - high in phosphoric acid

o organ meat (liver, kidney), processed meat - especially high in phosphorus

o caffeine - increases the rate of loss of minerals and nutrients

o fried foods and vegetable oil - a high intake of fried foods and omega 6 from vegetable oil can make the inflammation worse

o sugar - results in poor absorption of nutrients

o antacids - neutralize stomach acid and result in poor absorption of calcium (heartburn and indigestion are caused by poor eating habits and NOT ENOUGH stomach acid!)

Important Note: Eliminate the bad fats such as margarine, cooking with too much vegetable oil and fried foods from your diet. A high intake of vegetable oil (a source of Omega 6) needs to be avoided as this will aggravate any inflammation.

Arthritis Foods

The best arthritis foods are diets high in calcium and magnesium and other trace minerals - this will ensure healthy bone and bone matrix structure. Specific nutrients are also required to build bone and bone structure.
Calcium: Non fat milk, yoghurt, cottage cheese, snow peas, soybeans, tofu, sardines, salmon, walnuts and almonds, sunflower seeds, kale and other green leafy vegetables, broccoli, alfalfa seeds - to name a few. Milk isn't a great source of calcium because it has a low magnesium content and you need magnesium to get the calcium into your bones.

Magnesium: Many fruits and vegetables, whole grains, leafy vegetables, nuts, beans, bananas and apricots - all these make great arthritis foods.
Vitamin D: is required to get the calcium into the bones. The best source is the sun - about 10 minutes per day is fine. Other sources include dairy products and fatty fish.

Trace minerals: Boron and Manganese are important to help the body absorb Calcium; the best sources of Boron are green leafy vegetables, apples, almonds pears and legumes. For Manganese, look for ginger and oats as your arthritis foods.

Collagen & Support Tissues: Collagen is part of our bone matrix, the cartilage in our joints and in the fluid that protects and lubricates our joints. It's also part of our skin, hair and the connective tissues of the body.

Arthritis foods containing the following nutrients will provide nutrition for bone support: zinc, copper, selenium and beta-carotene (Vitamin A). Green leafy vegetables and pumpkin seeds are good sources of zinc; selenium may be found in brazil nuts from Brazil (because of the high selenium content in the soil); while Vitamin C is found in citrus fruits, berries, red and green peppers, tomatoes, broccoli and spinach. Eggs and meat are good sources of amino acids which form part of the collagen structure.
Essential Fatty Acids - are excellent arthritis foods and are required for the body's natural pain relief and anti-inflammatory responses. They are also part of the protective joint fluid. Best sources are from fish (particularly oily fish such as salmon and mackerel), animal fat and some oils such as flaxseed (for omega 3)and borage oil (for omega 6).

Regarding essential fatty acids, ideally you should consume Omega 6 EFA & Omega 3 EFA at a ratio of 2:1. Most people find it very difficult to get this right (the average ratio in the U.S. and UK is around 10:1) so we suggest you use an EFA Supplement from a quality source.

Final Note on Arthritis Foods

While it is possible to meet some of your dietary requirements from the food you eat, if you are serious about preventing or reversing arthritis, you need to consume these arthritis foods in combination with nutrient supplements.

Also consider that the majority of the food we eat is grown in minerally-depleted soils - so an almond may not contain all the calcium and magnesium it's supposed to have, sad but true!

If you have a busy lifestyle, eat junk food and/or can't get enough fresh food in your daily life, then you should consider supplementing with all 90 essential nutrients including plant derived colloidal minerals and supplements containing vitamins, minerals, amino acids and essential fatty acids.

Calcium and magnesium are normally very difficult to absorb from our arthritis foods diet and from supplements, however, calcium liquid supplements containing Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, Vitamin D and Glucosamine are a good way to supplement your diet.

Supplements that specifically assist with maintenance and repair of the joint such as Glucosamine, are also beneficial. If you suffer pain and inflammation, then CM Cream has been scientifically and medically proven to relieve pain and improve mobility.

The use of a digestive enzyme supplement - will improve the absorption of the good arthritis foods you eat and will maximize the benefit you receive from taking supplements. As we all reach the age of 40, our stomach acid concentration begins to fall and this can lead to complications of existing chronic disease conditions, such arthritis.

Summary

1. Avoid foods high in phosphorus - particularly SOFT DRINKS, processed foods, processed meat and organ meat. No fried foods, cooking oil or margarine - use butter small amounts of extra virgin olive oil.

2. Eliminate caffeine and sugar from your diet and stop taking antacids.

3. Consume food with a wide variety of fresh fruit and vegetables and eggs. Reduce your intake of red meat and fish.

4. Consider the use of supplements to support and reverse your arthritis, and digestive enzymes to maximise the absorption of the food and of the supplements.

Everything You Need To Know About Hip Arthritis

The main type of arthritis is Osteoarthritis which most affects people who are older, typically over 50 years old. A lesser type is Rheumatoid arthritis which mainly targets middle aged - elderly women. There are other types of arthritis but they are extremely less common than these two. The rest of this article will focus on Osteoarthritis which is almost 8 times more likely than Rheumatoid arthritis.

The basic definition of hip arthritis is an aging condition brought on by the general wear and tear of the hip joint over time. The protective cartilage that separates the bones that meet at the joint is worn down which opens up the joint for bone on bone and bursa contact, which leads to significant hip joint and hip flexor pain.

Hip Arthritis Causes

There is no single cause that is attributed to Osteoarthritis, there are several factors that can contribute to your chance of having the condition; genetics for example can play a large role in this. That being said, there are some things that have been linked to developing hip arthritis:

Weight

If you are overweight everything that you do will put more stress on your hip joint, which will accelerate any development of hip arthritis.

Posture

Similar to being overweight, when you have bad posture you put more stress on certain parts of your body than you should, the hip joint included. While there may not be many short term effects of this hip arthritis can be a long term result.

Injuries

If you have had any traumatic hip injuries (like a complete hip flexor strain)in the past you are more likely to develop hip arthritis. Previous injuries can cause scar tissue to develop, move body parts slightly out of place, and change your walking and sitting posture.

Symptoms

The nature of the condition means that any hip joint pain will only get worse as the cartilage continues to degrade, which means that it is crucial to try to recognize hip arthritis early on for treatment.

If you have hip arthritis you will experience pain with common everyday activities like walking, sitting, anything with movement really. You may also feel a lot of stiffness in the hip area and have trouble walking correctly.

Treatment

There are limited options to reverse the effects of hip arthritis other than hip replacement surgery. Typically this is put off as long as possible as any surgery comes with cost and risk of complications.

If you are diagnosed with hip arthritis you will most likely be recommended to try one of the following to reduce pain and limit further cartilage deterioration.

Lose Weight: It may not always be applicable, but for the reasons explained above, if you are overweight it will take some stress off your joints if you lose a few pounds.

Walking Assistance: No one enjoys it, but using a walker or a cane can really make a big difference in managing the pain by taking stress off of your hip joint(s).

Painkillers: Usually not the first recommendation, but if there is also inflammation present in your hip (often in Rheumatoid arthritis), you may be given painkillers/anti-inflammatories

Strengthening Routine: If you follow a hip flexor strengthening routine you can also relieve some pressure that is directly on the hip joint, which will reduce pain.

Arthritis Prevention

There is no way to prevent hip arthritis for sure, but if you follow the suggestions in the treatment section of this article you can help to minimize your chances of developing the condition.

Overview of Some of the Best TMJ Treatments

What's the best TMJ treatment? Well, as with plenty of other disorders there isn't any simple answer or a miraculous solution that works for every case of TMJ disorder. The truth is that there is a different approach for different cases. However, the best way to choose the right TMJ treatment is to truly understand the nature of the disorder, to identify all the symptoms, the cause for the problem and together with a physician to choose the best treatment. The best way to understand this disorder is by understanding what TMJ and TMJ syndrome is? TMJ stands for the temporomandibular joint that connects the skull and the lower jaw. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome is a type of disorder that can happen as a result of a variety of medical problems.

Bruxism, jaw thrusting, osteoarthritis, trauma, disease, lack of overbite are just some of the possible causes of TMJ syndrome. As far as the signs and symptoms they include pain in the facial muscles, ear ringing, ear pain, sounds when the joints move, swelling on the mouth and face at the affected side, troubles swallowing caused by muscle spasms, the lower jaw deviates to one side or doesn't open widely, etc. Even though there are more signs and symptoms that might appear as a result of TMJ syndrome the ones mentioned are the most common ones. Ones the symptoms and signs are confirmed as TMJ disorder, finding the best TMJ treatment is the next logical step. Most of the TMJ treatments are conservative ones. The main recommendation by most of the doctors is to try dealing with it at home without any medical assistance. If that doesn't work the Doctors can prescribe a suitable medical TMJ therapy. The doctors first recommend home therapy because most of the TMJ syndromes disappear in a week or so. That is so because during the period when the jaw is rested it can recover and the symptoms disappear.

The best home TMJ treatment includes eating soft foods, applying warm compresses on the area where you feel the pain and massaging the area that hurts. In case the pain is too big taking anti-inflammatory pain medications can reduce the pain. Aspirin or acetaminophen are one of the best over - the - counter medications that are said to be helpful in cases of TMJ syndrome. In case the home treatment doesn't help, the doctor can offer you few other medical options as well. One of the first things that almost any doctor will recommend is using a bite plate. Bite plate is a plastic guard that looks much like mouth guards used by sportsmen. The goal of it is to ease the muscle tension and reduce the teeth grinding as well as the clenching. This TMJ treatment has proven to be one of the most successful ones.

However, even if that doesn't work the next step would be to follow a procedure at the doctor's office. It is a procedure that is done under local anesthesia that includes inserting two needles in the temporomandibular joint. It is a simple TMJ treatment that even though is bit more evasive than the ones mentioned earlier has a great success rate. The relief of the pain caused by the TMJ syndrome is almost instant. The last is the TMJ treatment that no one wants to have and it is only to be done in absolute necessity. That is to do surgery. With the help of a surgery the jaw joints can be replaced with artificial implants. Such operations are very rare and avoided most of the times when faced with TMJ syndrome. The vast majority of the people find a cure with some of the other earlier mentioned treatments.

Minor Joint Pain Relief That You Should Know

As we grow older, the saddest truth is that our bodies are changing. However these changes are invited. These changes are different for everyone. Some people experience slower changes over a long period of time. while others, the changes seems to be sudden and abrupt.

The changes are unpredictable, not every day is a good day. One day, they feel great and full of energy, while others they can't even get out of bed.

Usually the common type of problem faced is in the form of minor joint pain. Arthritis is usually the cause to the problem or due to other circumstances. Whatever the source to the problem, many people put lots of their energy to find minor joint pain relief. There are so many types of treatment available in many different forms for all these conditions . In the article we are going to look at some of the availability of options for minor joint pain relief that you should know.

Relief in the form of medication, creams and gels

One of the most noted methods for achieving minor joint pain relief is through the use of many medications. Most of the precedence cause of this type of pain is arthritis, and there are many different medications that are used to treat it. Analgesics are indeed used for the treatment of arthritis pain. Both of this types of medications are made available in both over-the-counter and prescription forms.

The most common medicines to relieve pain known to most people are aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen. For minor joint pain relief. These medicines are to some people who need minor joint pain relief, are enough in most cases. However, in more severe cases, aggressive forms of treatment should be your options. Though there are so many options for you to choose from, there are only some of these medicines treat the pain connected to arthritis. Of course there are some that will treat the inflammation which causes the pain.

Besides analgesics, there are other joint pain medications in the form of creams and gels which are applied to the skin at the affected areas, example, Ben Gay, Icy Hot, and Tiger Balm. However, these creams and gels usually will only give temporary relief to minor joint pain and they don't really solve the source of the pain.

Relief in the form of natural remedies

Since nowadays people are more cautious to take medication, they will find other ways to relieve the pain after trying with not much success. Minor joint pain relief can be accomplished through natural means. By changing your diet is one of the ways to relieve pain. Not many people know that vitamins and minerals found in a healthy diet can reduce, and even prevent, joint pain.

Commonly also, this joint pain is due to the decline of tissue and cartilage in the joint. The deterioration can be prevented by eating a diet that is rich in Vitamins A, C, and E, as well as various antioxidants, . Vitamin D not only prevent tissue loss, but can even help to repair damaged cartilage and bones. You should know if you're not getting enough of these vitamins in your diet, so taking a supplement should be considered.

Besides taking these vitamins and minerals, omega-3 fatty acids should be taken too because it can hinder some of the possible causes, and also the inflammation that comes along with joint pain. Before you look upon at any type of treatment for minor joint pain relief, consult your doctor so that he can help you derive the best course of action.

Do You Suffer From Leg and Hip Pain - Are Your Aching Joints Making Movement Difficult?

My personal experience of leg and hip pain comes as a result of the arthritis I have suffered in my hip for over four years now, and I fully sympathize with you if you have to live with pain and restricted movement in your joints. Apart from the obvious physical discomfort, I personally found that the constant aches and pains wore me down mentally, and left me feeling short-tempered and depressed.

After much trial and error, I have found that exercise and certain supplements provide the most relief from the symptoms of my arthritis.

Exercise the pain away

Many (relatively) fit and healthy people are exercise-phobic. They have become masters of procrastination, always putting off that jog or visit to the gym as they don't have time right now. Those who suffer from pain and restricted movement in their joints have a much better excuse -- it can be difficult enough just standing up to walk to the bathroom, let alone taking any real exercise. However, the benefits of motivating yourself to exercise regularly really do make the initial effort worthwhile.

There are many exercise programs specifically designed for people who suffer from arthritis or similar complaints. I would suggest you ask your doctor or physiotherapist for advice regarding the best exercise regime for your particular situation. My doctor stressed that warming up before a workout is absolutely vital, starting off slowly with some gentle stretching to help to warm up my muscles. I was advised not to bounce when stretching. Also, If it started to hurt, then I was to stop that particular motion. My favorite exercise, and one which I've heard recommended time and time again, is swimming.

I find being weightless in a pool immensly relaxing in itself and swimming is an exercise that's easily tailored to your personal level of fitness. Lots of exercises, such as running, walking and cycling essentially consist of repetitive actions with the same joint motions occurring over and over again, and a specific set of muscles repeating the same movements for the duration of the exercise. This is where swimming really comes up trumps. It's gentle on your joints, and you can exercise pretty much any muscle group at will, with one session giving your whole body a workout if desired.

Glucosamine, Chondroitin and Cetyl Myristoleate

Ok, so that's not a heading that's likely to appeal to anyone except the odd chemist among you. But these three supplements taken separately or together, are the most popular ones currently on the market. Many studies have shown their beneficial effect in reducing the symptoms of arthritis and related conditions. Personally, I take a supplement which includes both glucosamine and CM, and I highly recommend this combination.

Herbal Therapy For Degenerative Arthritis

Before we delve into an herbal therapy for degenerative arthritis, let's briefly discuss what it is. Degenerative arthritis is also known as osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease and it is caused by the breakdown and eventual loss of the cartilage of one or more joints.

Symptoms include:

• Mild aching to severe pain and loss of mobility, especially in the evening, due to joint stiffness.


• Usually affects the weight-bearing joints - the knees, hips, and facet joints (in the spine), as well as the finger joints.

Degenerative arthritis (osteoarthritis) is the most common type of arthritis and the disease is primarily associated with aging and injury. In fact, it was once called "wear-and-tear" arthritis. However, the exact cause of this condition is unknown.

Now, without further adieu, let's delve into herbal therapy for degenerative arthritis.

Introduce your joints to ginger. Historically, ginger has been used for arthritis as well as rheumatism. Ginger is said to have a powerful anti-inflammatory impact on the body. More importantly, studies have shown that patients who ate lightly cooked fresh ginger or took it in the form as a standardized ginger supplement showed improvement in swelling, morning stiffness, pain and joint mobility.

Get help from a friend in India. Boswellia comes from the boswellia serrata tree that grows in the dry hills of India. It has long been used in Ayurvedic medicine as a treatment for arthritis and inflammatory conditions. More specifically, Ayurvedic healers used the tree bark's gummy resin, called salai guggal. Nevertheless, researchers identified that the gummy resin is high in compounds known as boswellic acids, which have anti-inflammatory actions similar to NSAIDS, but boswellia doesn't seem to cause stomach irritation and bleeding problems commonly caused by these drugs. Indeed, this herb may be beneficial as an herbal therapy for degenerative arthritis (osteoarthritis).

Get help from another friend in India. Turmeric, the yellow spice from India, harbors potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It is often included in herbal formulas designed to treat the pain and stiffness associated with arthritis. More specifically, test-tube and laboratory studies have confirmed turmeric exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activity. Turmeric's chief constituent is known as curcumin. In fact, one clinical trail found that a combination of boswellia, ashwagandha, turmeric, and zinc effectively treated stiffness and pain with degenerative arthritis (osteoarthritis) and, as such, this combo as an herbal therapy for degenerative arthritis (osteoarthritis) deserves a discussion with a physician that supports alternative medicine.

Get relief from willow bark. Willow harbors anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties and it has been used in connection with degenerative arthritis (osteoarthritis). According to Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, author of the very well renowned tome "Prescription for Nutritional Healing" who states that willow bark is good for pain and inflammation.

Discover other herbal therapy for degenerative arthritis (osteoarthritis). Cayenne (capsaicin), devil's claw, and cat's claw may be helpful. Cayenne (capsaicin) is used topically to relieve pain in the joints.

Now we would be remiss if we did not share with you a few nutritional supplements that may be helpful for degenerative arthritis (osteoarthritis) sufferers.

Try this powerhouse duo, glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate. Glucosamine appears to help repair damaged cartilage caused by osteoarthritis and chondroitin sulfate is another building block of cartilage. Thousands of people claim glucosamine and chrondroitin supplements spelled RELIEF for them so we believe this duo also deserves a discussion with a physician.

Meet SAM-e. SAM-e is a substance that our bodies produce naturally by combining the amino acid methionine with adenosine triphosphate (ATP), an energy producing compound. SAM-e may help preserve the gel-like nature and shock-absorbing qualities of cartilage, which wears away in people with arthritis. In addition, there is evidence that SAM-e promotes damaged cartilage repair and regrowth. In fact, SAM-e is approved by health authorities in Germany as a first-choice prescription drug to treat osteoarthritis.

It's important that you speak with a health care professional before taking any herbal and dietary supplements.

We hope this information on herbal therapy for degenerative arthritis (osteoarthritis) was useful to you.

Gout Symptoms - Get Ankle Pain Relief Using Plain Water

Gout symptoms can appear in the ankle or any other joint, including the big toe. Gout in the ankle can be particularly painful. And because your ankle takes much of your weight when standing and walking, gout ankle symptoms can severely limit your ability to get around.

Gout symptoms in the ankle, toe, knee, etc., are things like swelling, redness, stiffness, inflammation and intense pain.

So what causes painful gout symptoms in the ankle and elsewhere? The symptoms of gout are actually the result of having needle-like crystals in your joints and surrounding tissue. These microscopic crystals form in your joints as a result of high uric acid levels in your blood. This condition occurs when your kidneys are unable to excrete excess uric acid from your body.

Uric acid is produced in your body as a result of it's normal metabolizing process. And normally your kidneys process and flush excess uric acid from your body via urine. But if your body is making too much for your kidneys to handle, or, your kidneys aren't working to their usual efficiency, then you can be left with high uric acid (hyperuricemia).

To treat the symptoms of gout your doctor will usually prescribe drugs to take care of the inflammation and pain. With particularly severe symptoms in the ankle you may get these by injection into the ankle. But although these drugs can help many people, they do have some horrible side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, stomach ulcers and bleeding, etc.

Luckily, there are many natural gout remedies, that can reduce inflammation and pain without the side effects and costs of drugs. For gout symptoms in the ankle, you can try the following home remedy...

You can relieve gout symptoms in your ankle by applying a series of hot / cold compresses. This can help to dissolve the uric acid crystals in your ankle. Apply a hot compress around your ankle for 3 minutes. Then immediately change to a cold compress for 30 seconds duration.

Repeat this for no more than 20 minutes and always end the session on a cold compress. Wait at least an hour before repeating the process.

Although this process can help to relieve the gout symptoms in your ankle, this is only good during an attack. But you need to actually prevent gout attacks from occurring in the first place, because recurring gout can leave you with permanently damaged joints and even kidney problems.

Glucosamine Hydrochloride

Glucosamine, a naturally occurring amino sugar has been available for decades and is used to treat osteoarthritis. It is used as the basis for the synthesis of all glycosylated proteins and lipids, and nitrogen-containing sugars. It is produced by the human body and is used as a forerunner in the formation of larger molecules called glycosaminoglycans that are necessary for the growth and repair of cartilage. Glycosaminoglycans are a key constituent of bones, tendons, ligaments and fluids in the joint.

Glucosamine has three chemical forms: glucosamine sulfate, glucosamine hydrochloride and n-acetyl-glucosamine. Glucosamine hydrochloride is more concentrated than the sulfate form and contains comparatively less sodium per effective dose. It carries out important functions in the human body like the detoxification of liver and kidney, and protection of the liver from inflammation.

Glucosamine hydrochloride is used in the treatment of gastric ulcers, to cure torn cartilages and to control the growth of cells. This form of Glucosamine is used extensively in the manufacture of antibiotics, anti cancer drugs and cosmetics. It is prepared synthetically or derived from the exoskeletons of marine creatures.

Glucosamine hydrochloride is preferred over Glucosamine sulfate form because it is more effective and less expensive. The reason for its effectiveness is that it is more pure. It is about 99% pure and is very stable.

Glucosamine sulfate is made from glucosamine hydrochloride by adding either sulfate or potassium. This leads to the presence of impurities. Another reason for the preference of Glucosamine hydrochloride is that its usage ensures the receipt of 83 percent of glucosamine to the problem areas that need treatment as compared to the sulfate form that delivers only 62 percent. In other words you would have to take 1995 milligrams of glucosamine sulfate to equal the effects of glucosamine hydrochloride.

The process of digestion is also one of the important reasons as to why hydrochloride is preferred over sulfate. The stomach contains hydrochloric acid that is required for the digestion of food. When glucosamine sulfate enters the stomach the sulfate molecule is cut off and the hydrochloride molecule is attached, effectively transforming it into glucosamine hydrochloride. Therefore it is advisable to take the form that is readily accepted and prevent unwanted salts in your body.

Partial Unicondylar Knee Replacement in India - Treatment For Partial Unicompartmental Knee Arthriti

Many middle aged Indian patients develop partial knee osteoarthritis. In Indians, osteoarthritis of the knee affects the inner half or medial compartment to start with and then proceeds to affect the outer half or lateral compartment.

Localized attrition occurs in the beginning as a so called "lesion". Later it gradually affects the front and inner portion of the inner half of the lower end of the thigh and leg bones (anter- medial wear) leading to partial knee arthritis. This is obvious on standing x rays as meidal or inner space joint space narrowing. Clinically these individuals may be bow legged since childhood.

In India the standard surgical treatment for OA knee is a total knee replacement. However the ideal candidate for a TKR is a person older than 65 years. Clearly someone in their fifties is not suited for a TKR as his/her life span would exceed that of the joint and he would need a revision knee replacement later on.

Indian surgeons offer osteotomy or a Uni condylar knee replacement for partial knee affliction. In an osteotomy, the thigh or leg bone is divided and re aligned so that the abnormal weight bearing axis is normalized. Pain relief is provided for a period of up to 10 years but is not total. An osteotomy is the logical operation for patients with bow legs and knock knees in the working class whose work demands would wear out an artificial joint. It is not the right procedure when there is no deformity.

A unicondylar or partial knee replacement substitutes the worn half of the joint with prosthesis. The bony resection is restricted to the affected half alone sparing the outer half and the patella unlike a total knee replacement. The operation can be done by a minimally invasive technique sparing the quadriceps muscle. The pre requisites are that the one half alone must be worn as seen on x- rays and the anterior cruciate ligament should be intact. The technique of insertion is demanding but the rewards to the patient are numerous. Shorter hospital stay, quicker recovery, small incisions, no blood transfusion, less pain, less cost (vs. TKR) and better function (squatting, kneeling, climbing stairs) are the much acclaimed benefits. The knee feels more natural as sensations carried by the ligaments are intact.

The Oxford unicompartmental knee is a representative type and is a mobile bearing uni knee. It replicates the function of the meniscus. The wear rates are low. Survivorship analysis is 98% at 15 years.

Advantages of partial knee replacements
1) minimally invasive surgery- Since the surgery involves a small exposure to see the affected half alone, surgeons can make the incision smaller, producing less post operative pain and smaller scars
2) less blood loss- Since the surgery is minimally invasive, less blood loss occurs.
3) Faster rehabilitation- Patients can stand up and walk on the same day, squat by week one and return to work earlier.

These innovative knee replacement procedures are available in India. Baby boomers and young patients with partial knee arthritis lacking Mediclaim or Medicare can now fly to India and have their surgery performed in hospitals with international standards.

Multipurpose Hip Replacement Rehab Exercises

A physical therapist working with a patient in hip replacement rehab will introduce the patient to a variety of exercises; exercises that may include both standing and lying flat.  Initially it may seem as if all the exercises introduced are only benefiting the successful movement and use of the hip. However, these exercises your physical therapists introduce are known to help a lot more areas of your body.

Gluteal sets is an exercise that requires an individual to lay flat on their back, preferably on the floor, while squeezing the buttocks for an interval of time before releasing.  The  move is to be performed several times in succession.  Whether starting out slow with just a few reps or digging in to do 10 reps in 4 sets, a person doing this move will appreciate the results. 

This exercise is designed to work 3 muscles at once: the gluteus maximus, medius muscle, and minimus muscle.  These muscles work together and help make everyday situations easier to handle, like climbing stairs and getting up from a seated position.  By mastering this routine, you're doing more than making sure life is easier, you're helping the look of a very prominent part of your body.

Arc quad sets is another exercise you may be introduced to.  You complete this exercise by lying flat on the floor while tightening your thigh muscles and straightening your knee.  This is a power move that strengthens all four muscles that run up the front of your thigh. 

If an individual is introduced to this exercise, they can rest assured that walking, running, or even jumping will be a lot easier to do.  When looking at someone standing sideways wearing a pair of shorts it's, easy to see if there's a defining line from working out; this is one of those moves that can help you achieve that look.

The standing knee raise exercise is as simple as lifting one knee at a time upward towards the chest.  This move can be done standing free or with the assistance of a chair.   The importance of this exercise during hip replacement recovery is that it works vulnerable skeletal muscles that surround the hip joint area.  These skeletal muscles are what keep your hip joints from feeling or remaining stiff. 

Everyday movement often taps into the flexibility of the hip joint and if the joint is in pain, the movement is painfully hard to achieve.  The great thing about working on this activity is that you actually begin to work stomach muscles.  While it may not be the move that can turn a stomach into an instant six-pack, it is one that well help you on your road to achieving it.

Facing your physical therapy appointment with the understanding that your whole body can benefit is one way to make sure that your hip replacement rehab visit is a productive one.

Biomechanical Causes of Running Injuries

For a Sports Physiotherapist being proficient at assessing running technique is as crucial as a Mechanic being able to change engine oil. Good running technique is important for both injury prevention, rehabilitation and performance. While there are common aspects, there are many more differences between endurance running, sprinting and running in field sports. For the purpose of this article I will be primarily discussing running technique in relation to field sports.

Many coaches continually make the mistake of trying to train field sports athletes the same way as a track sprinter in the pursuit of increased speed. While there definitely are a lot of training techniques that can be borrowed, essentially the goals for speed of a field sports athlete are very different to that of a track sprinter.

Basically a field sports athlete will generally only sprint a distance of about 5 to 20m, occasionally up to a maximum of 40m, and rarely any further, as well as needing to change direction numerous times. So a field sports athlete needs to accelerate a lot quicker and reach top speed a lot sooner, while changing direction, holding a ball or stick, fending and dodging other players and many other tasks. Compare this to a track athlete, where they will still be accelerating well beyond the 40m mark and sometimes even up to the 90m mark in the 100m and there is no changing direction.

I will also briefly talk about the Barefoot Running phenomenon, particularly in relation to foot strike. The barefoot running craze has recently highlighted the differences between rearfoot, midfoot and forefoot running styles and the ground breaking research by Dr Daniel Lieberman on the evolution of running has provided a lot of insight to theory behind this. Research in regards to injury prevention and performance enhancement is still lacking, however the biomechanical theory behind premise that midfoot and forefoot running styles being superior for injury prevention and performance is gaining momentum.

Swing Phase

Frontal View

• Viewing the athlete from the front or back you can see where the foot is in relation to femur when the knee is flexed. If the foot is excessively on the lateral side of the femur, the hip may be internally rotated. Conversely, if the foot is medial to the femur they may be externally rotated, and will also have to abduct the hip to ensure they don't trip over their own feet!


• Internally rotated hips are probably more common and is typically indicative of weak hip external rotators and abductors. Assessment of hip stability and strength is necessary. Secondly hip external rotation ROM should be tested, however this generally is not the cause.

Sagittal View

• During toe off look for increased anterior pelvic tilt, as seen by an increase in lumbar extension and lack of hip extension. This compensatory movement can be due to either shortened hip flexors, psoas, iliacus or rectus femoris, or a lumbopelvic instability or weakness, or more than likely a combination of the two. I assess this with a Thomas Test for hip flexor length and a variety of hip extension exercises, such as, a Bird Dog exercise with a flexed knee, looking for compensatory lumbar extension to achieve the necessary hip extension. Athletes with this movement pattern may present with a complaint of lower back pain, with pain on lumbar extension and if they don't have back pain they surely will do at some time in the future. Exercises to address this issue are hip flexor mobility drills and glute activation and strengthening exercises for hip extension.


• During the mid swing phase of the swing leg the amount of knee flexion will affect the moment arm for hip flexion around the hip joint. This is simple Biomechanics; the longer a moment arm the more force required to move it. Picture trying to pick up and Olympic bar with one hand in the middle of the bar, pretty easy right? Then picture trying to pick it up with one hand from the end of the bar, impossible I'd think. It's the same weight, but now the moment arm has dramatically increased. The same thing occurs around the hip joint and is affected by the amount knee flexion occurring at that time. The more the knee is flexed bringing the mass of the leg closer to the hip joint, the less force is required to swing the leg through. Therefore if an athlete is complaining of chronically tight and painful hip flexors assess the amount of knee flexion during swing phase and if they have decreased knee flexion they may be overloading their hip flexors to swing the leg through.


• Poor mechanics with arm swing generally doesn't contribute a lot to injury in field sports as often the arms are used to carry or manipulate a ball, stick or other apparatus or are being used to fend off an opponent or assist a team mate. However, a lot of energy can be "leaked" from the kinetic chain with poor arm swing mechanics. The arm swing should be generated from the shoulder and utilise the stretch shortening cycle of the shoulder flexors to drive the arm forwards. If the arm swing is generated from the elbow this may decrease performance, however in field sports I would think this would be low on the priority list.

Transverse View

• To view the athletes biomechanics in the transverse plane is difficult as you have to be looking down on top of the athlete. The easiest way to do this in the field is by viewing them from a high grandstand, where the athlete can run directly underneath. This is often somewhat impractical and for a field sports athlete probably a bit of an overkill. However, if you feel it is necessary to determine poor biomechanics that may be contributing to injury or poor performance, the primary component to assess is the rotation of the pelvis in relation to the shoulders. Excessive rotation of the pelvis may be due to poor core strength or stability, where the core musculature is unable to control the rotation of the pelvis. Alternatively it may be a compensatory movement caused by hip immobility, due to inadequate hip internal rotation of the extended hip, poor external rotation of the flexed hip, or a combination of both. Either way assess core stability and hip rotation to prescribe corrective exercises.

Stance

Frontal View

• Poor hip stability is best assessed by viewing the athlete from the front. The hip/pelvis on the stance leg, should have very minimal lateral movement; if the hip appears to shift laterally and the contralateral hip drops (trendelenburg), this is clinically a sign of poor hip control. Gluteus medius weakness is typically the cause, however gluteus medius weakness is also intimately related to the entire lumbo-pelvic stability system, so core stability is usually an issue as well. Therefore corrective exercises usually involve glute and core training.


• Medial knee collapse, is where the knee falls to the inside of the foot, which can come from the foot or more commonly the hip. The knee is essentially a slave to the hip and the ankle/foot. Poor hip control results in internal rotation and adduction of the hip, which causes the knee to fall inside the line of the foot. In combination to this, excessive pronation of the foot will cause the tibia to internally rotate, which will drag the knee inside the foot. So, why is medial knee collapse bad? Well, medial knee collapse, is a major cause of "patellofemoral pain", which is a general term for numerous causes of knee pain, and probably even more concerning is a movement that can potentially lead to an anterior cruciate (ACL) tear.


• Pronation/supination has been the focus of the majority of research in regards to running injuries and the main selling point of all shoe companies. Despite the fact that pronation/supination research is known to be very poor and very inconclusive; shoe companies have driven the "over pronation causes injury" line so hard in order to sell the anti-pronation/stability features of their shoes for the last 40 years that everyone just accepted it without questioning it.

That is until very recently when the explosion of Barefoot Running began and the whole idea of needing stability in a shoe was thrown out the window. As mentioned earlier Dr Lieberman has recently published research about the evolution of running, showing that prior to the evolution of the present day running shoe, humans ran predominately on their forefoot and midfoot, as opposed to heel striking, which I will discuss during the sagittal view stance leg section. Anyway, getting back to the supination/pronation topic, my view is unless their is an extremely obvious over-pronation or over supination, that can be seen by the naked eye, it is not the primary cause of the runner's pain. In reality the foot/ankle is a collection of joints that require more mobility then stability, so the idea of designing shoes to create external stability is counter-productive to this concept.

• When assessing the arm swing, ideally the arms should be moving in the sagittal plane; if the arms appear to moving excessively across the body, and not straight up and down, this could result in inefficient force transfer through the kinetic chain, and may increase the rotational torque through the core, potentially over stressing the lumbar spine. However, in field sports as the arms are generally pre-occupied with other tasks, this would very rarely be an issue.

Sagittal View

• As mentioned earlier the explosion of Barefoot Running has really questioned much of the research conducted over the last +40 years into running and shoe design. When looking at the stance leg at initial ground strike, what part of the foot strikes the ground first provides a lot of information.

The biomechanical theory to this in a nutshell is that when striking with the heel first there is a sharp spike in the ground reaction forces and the smaller muscles at the front of the shin, such as the tibialis anterior, eccentrically control the foot to the ground. This can cause a stress reaction in the tibia, "shin splints", from the initial impact and also the eccentric contraction can overload these smaller muscles and cause injury. By landing more on the forefoot and midfoot, forces are more gradually distributed to the tibia and fibula and the larger calf musculature (soleus and gastrocnemius) have a greater ability to lower the heel to the ground.

• Stride length is the other important factor to consider when viewing an athlete from the side on view. Over striding is commonly associated with heel striking and the combination of over striding and heel striking, places an enormous amount of stress on the kinetic chain. As mentioned above heel striking creates a larger ground reaction force causing bone stress injuries, but combine this with over striding and you also massively increase the stress on the hamstring. If you have an athlete with recurrent hamstring injuries, consider assessing his running technique for over striding and heel striking.

Ideally the athlete's foot should make contact with the ground just in front of the body on the forefoot or midfoot. If the foot lands way out in front of the body on the heel this can cause injury and is not an ideal running technique.

Flight

The flight phase is when both feet are off the ground and is what differentiates running from walking. The discussion of knee flexion of the swing leg above is applicable to this area as well.

Conclusion

Running is a complicated and technical task to assess and coach. My approach is to break it down into segments, such as I have done above, and try to keep it as simple as possible. Video is an excellent tool to assist with analysis and with today's technology this is quite achievable. My opinion with video is that if you need to slow it down or need high tech software to determine what the problem is your probably looking for something that isn't the cause of the problem. What I mean by this, is that if the problem doesn't stick out at normal speed it's probably not the cause. If an athlete is injured it is essential to consider what you find clinically and what the athlete tells you about the injury and combine this with the running assessment. Remember everyone has a unique running technique and you will always be able to pick out something wrong, but if the identified deficit is not consistent with the injury or complaint it probably isn't the cause. From a performance enhancement point of view, when dealing with field athletes, unless something is blatantly obvious that may be affecting performance, I wouldn't bother trying to correct it, unless I considered it a potential cause of injury, because they are not a track athlete and more than likely they will go back to their old style when on the field anyway. Track athletes are obviously a different story and any minor flaw in technique could potentially be the difference between 1st and last! If you have had a chronic running injury and your Physiotherapist has not assessed running technique, they are probably treating the symptoms and not the cause of your injury and until the cause is identified you will remain injured.

Joint Pain and Acid Reflux May Be Caused by Poor Digestion

How well we digest our food and absorb the life giving nutrients it contains will dictate our overall health. Many chronic illnesses manifest in the body over time due to poor digestion or an invasion of unwanted 'bugs' such as parasites, amoeba, and harmful nano-bacteria. Often the remedy for indigestion or 'acid reflux' symptoms is an acid reducer or blocker. This approach actually opens the body to these harmful 'bugs', as they are more likely to survive in an environment with low acidic levels. Once these bugs make a home in your GI tract, they can live, breed, and cause damage to the intestinal lining. This damage to the lining then allows toxins to slowly seep into the blood stream and tissues, leading to many autoimmune or degenerative type diseases.

The lack of digestive enzymes and hydrochloric acid in the stomach and GI system can also inhibit the absorption of key minerals and nutrients that the body needs to properly heal from traumas and maintain healthy organ and gland function, as well as everyday cellular regeneration. For example, someone experiencing chronic joint pain may in fact find the root cause in poor digestion. Once the proper digestive enzymes are restored, the body is able to absorb and utilize key minerals and nutrients needed for bone and joint health.

If you are experiencing chronic indigestion, bloating or acid reflux symptoms, the most likely cause is too little stomach acid and a lack of digestive enzymes. This lack can be caused by emotional or physical stress, eating too many cooked or processed foods, and over the counter or prescription medications.

As we age, we use up the valuable enzymes needed to digest our food, and our bodies begin to ration them in an act of self-preservation. By the time we reach our mid to late 20's we have already used up the bulk of our enzymes. It is important to eat more raw foods, and use digestive enzymes to assist in properly digesting cooked or processed foods. Often, just by taking steps to heal the digestive system, many health problems can be alleviated.

For more information on the steps you can take to heal your digestion please contact the office at 407-328-6711

The Wonders of Xylitol for Cavity Prevention

When picking out chewing gum at the grocery store, many people notice the latest buzz word: Xylitol. What is it? Why is it good for you?

Every day we consume foods that contain sugar in some form or another, especially in processed foods. Unfortunately, bacteria that live in our mouths thrive on the sugar to provide them with energy needed to grow and multiply. The by-product of the sugar consumption of bacteria leads to the formation of acid, which attacks the hard enamel of our teeth, and forms cavities!

Xylitol is a natural sweetener extracted from fibrous plants like birch trees. Often times it is used in sugar-free gum, but can naturally be found in plants like strawberries and plums. Xylitol is now available in toothpastes, mouthwash, gums, mints, candies and even nasal spray! In the oral cavity, this chemical prevents bacteria from sticking to our teeth and keeps the acid level low. The saliva in our mouth stays stable an a neutral pH level and prevents bacteria from clumping up as white stuff that coats our teeth- called plaque! The important point to make about Xylitol is that it cannot be digested by bacteria to make energy, therefore inhibiting their food intake and protecting our teeth!

According to research conducted on Xylitol, it also helps restore damaged enamel by increasing calcium and phosphate salts in saliva, those elements needed to harden our body's natural mineral. Some people with damaged teeth due to hereditary defects, problems or history of eating disorders can use Xylitol to strengthen and repair calcium-deficient enamel areas that are weak. Thanks to the neutral pH and buffering capacity of the saliva, our teeth can stay healthy for years to come.

In a study where over 1,200 school children were asked to chew regular gum versus xylitol-containing gum two times a day for almost three years, results showed that the xylitol group had 73% fewer cavities than the regular gum-chewing group at the end of the study. Furthermore, kids who chewed regular gum had seen a dramatic rise in cavities compared to their counterparts.

It is important to mention that it doesn't matter how much xylitol a person consumes at any one time, it is the frequency or how often they use xylitol-containing products. According to the FDA and Xylitol organization, having 4-5 exposures daily is recommended whether chewing gum, brushing with Xylitol toothpaste or sucking on candies that have the natural sweetener.

This natural sweetener is also great for patients who are diabetic.

Now that's something to smile about!

What is Your Gluteus Minimus?

"Oh!, my back is killing me and it hurts right here!!" you hear a friend say as they point along their waist line. "I think I have sciatica too because the pain runs down the side of my leg!"

Whether you have seen or heard something like this or not, it happens to probably 1000s of people everyday. People complain that it hurts them to walk or stand up straight. They even complain of hip pain that is "deep". And, even though you may not have caught it, not once did they hold their "back".

All of these are symptoms of a tight gluteus minimus muscle. As the name implies, it's a very small muscle with very large consequences. It is what is called a "prime mover" of the hip joint as well as a hip joint stabilizer. Its main function is to abduct, or move the leg away from the midline of the body. Think of doing jumping jacks. When the legs are apart that's abduction.

While jumping jacks or martial arts side kicks are extreme examples of the every day motion of abduction there are more subtle examples. Take for instance kicking a door shut because your hands are full of groceries, or, side stepping on the side walk to avoid bumping into someone. These are everyday examples of how you use your gluteus minimus to help you through your daily routine.

However, as was stated earlier, the minimus is small but very important. Like all muscles and tendons it can be strained because of repetitive use and become very tight and very painful, causing all sorts of discomfort. The most insidious example of overuse comes by way of the constant abduction of the hip joint that occurs when someone has to repeatedly get up from their office chair. This is compounded when you only have one way into your work station and thus, one way out.

While it may be a very small, even insignificant movement when done infrequently, its a whole 'nother thing when its done over and over and over again through out your day. If you are one of those unfortunates that is shackled to a desk that has a wall (or other obstruction) on one side that forces you to swivel to the other side day in and day out...watch out. You may be in for a little back and hip pain.

Typically this wouldn't be a problem if society wasn't so doggone technologically sophisticated. I mean, if you had to walk home a half a mile every day after work, your little gluteus minimus would probably just stretch itself out on the way home. But, after sitting at work for 8-10 hours, we go sit in our cars for another 1-2. Once we get home, we are too tired to do anything and so we sit down again at the dinner table or in front of the TV. And to top off the night, we go to sleep with our legs elevated on pillows or sitting in the easy chair. And with all of that, our friend the gluteus minimus doesn't get to stretch out and so gets very sore.

So, what to do, right? If you suspect a tight gluteus minimus, ask your physician for a prescription for physical therapy. Tell the therapist that you want a good stretching program (don't let them hurt you!!), and stick to it. I guarantee you that you will be amazed at how good you feel if you are able to stay on a gentle stretching program. Best of luck.

Natural Help for Arthritic Joints

Any disease or degradation of the joints causes serious pain and interference with daily activity. It can be a challenge just to get out of bed each morning when joints are inflamed and hurting. Although many prescription medicines claim to alleviate this problem, there are more natural remedies that can help those suffering from joint problems, without the many side-effects and high costs. Optimally, these options should be explored first before prescription medications are required.

Nature provides many pure and effective remedies for people suffering from joint issues, and when taken in their natural form, they are more easily and readily absorbed by the body. Most of them can be taken in tablet or liquid form or simply added to a healthy diet. Supplements can provide concentrated doses of several natural joint pain remedies in a single dosage.

Ginger and Alfalfa: Adding ginger and alfalfa to the diet can provide long-term improvements for joint problems; ginger is a natural anti-inflammatory (inhibiting prostaglandin and thromboxane production) that soothes joints. Alfalfa has a lot of calcium, potassium and magnesium to contribute to joint health. Ginger can be added to tea regularly or used in oil form and massaged directly onto the affected joints. Alfalfa sprouts or leaves are often used in salads or sandwiches and add flavor as well as color. Alfalfa tablets are also available as a quicker and sometimes more convenient way of helping the body reverse acidosis, a key component in joint erosion and pain.

Chondroitin and Glucosamine: Chondroitin capsules are a powerful weapon against joint problems, as this natural supplement actually works to rebuild damaged cartilage. Chondroitin also lubricates the delicate components of the joints, which can help to minimize pain and restore mobility. Glucosamine, a natural substance found in shellfish, plays a vital role in synthesizing valuable proteins and lipids that help support the function and structure of joints. It is also very easily absorbed by the body.

Boswellia and Vitamin E: Found in trees throughout Africa, the Middle East and Asia, Boswellia is another super-supplement that can be taken for joint and arthritis pain. By reducing inflammation, Boswellia can help improve joint mobility and range of motion. Vitamin-E can be very beneficial to people with joint conditions because it boosts the immune system, which can help increase the production of new cartilage. Vitamin-E also has the power to reduce inflammation and combat pain. In combination, Boswellia and vitamin-E have been shown to harmonize components of hormone regulatory factors that help reduce symptoms in a number of conditions. Hormone regulation is an important part of joint and bone health.

No matter which form they are in, when taken on a consistent basis, natural herbs add a healthy element to the fight against joint degradation and other arthritic conditions that plague so many people. Improving joint health, reducing inflammation and rebuilding cartilage are essential to anyone needing to regain control over movement, flexibility and their ability to enjoy life free from chronic joint pain. For more information about using natural remedies for chronic joint pain, visit http://www.synotrex.com.

Embracing Natural Joint Pain Relief

Wouldn't it be great if there were natural and safe ways to address your joint pain issues? Fortunately, there are natural relief options that work exceedingly well and are available to you now. Some of the different ways to relieve joint pain might be surprising to you, but modern medical science has shown that they can be quite effective.

Of course every person is different and how well a given pain relief option works for you personally may differ from what others are experiencing. In this article, we will look at the different ways that people are addressing their joint pain. As you will see, many of these natural options can easily be worked into your lifestyle and your diet.

Acupuncture May Just Be Your New Best Friend

Acupuncture has existed and thrived as a pain relief option for thousands of years. Could it be that there is nothing to it? Many experts and doctors believed for generations that acupuncture was not a real way of treating pain and at best people were tricking themselves into believing that it worked. This inaccurate believe has been completely turned on its head in recent years, thanks to studies by such respected institutions as John Hopkins and others who have concluded that the ability of acupuncture to treat pain is indeed real.

Acupuncture apparently can block the pain signals from reaching the brain. This allows for pain relief to occur. Many have found that joint pain relief can take place almost instantly thanks to acupuncture. In fact, acupuncture stands as a way of treating almost any pain or injury as a result. Acupuncture is even being used to treat the pain associated with cancer treatment.

Biofeedback and Joint Pain

Biofeedback is another option that many have tried with success for joint pain and a variety of other pains as well. While biofeedback does indeed work, it can take some time to "get the hang of it." One approach is to use acupuncture and biofeedback as a combined approach.

Other Important Ways of Achieving Joint Pain Relief

1) Lose weight as this takes pressure off joints.

2) Avoid foods that cause inflammation, such as fast food and processed foods.

3) Eat an "anti-inflammation" diet rich in fruits, vegetables like beets, and omega-3 fatty acid rich foods.

4) Try anti-inflammatory spices such as turmeric and ginger.

Don't expect instant results. With that stated, however, you will no doubt be surprised at how quickly these different approaches to dealing with your joint pain can work. This is particularly true if these approaches are used in conjunction with one another.