How Osteochondrosis (OC) Occurs in the Horse

Osteochondrosis is a joint disease that can affect all horses, but is found to be most common in Warmblood horses. It is a disease that can cause lameness and create long term problems if left untreated, but it is also expensive to get the necessary treatment. Because it is a joint disease it is not really an issue that can be ignored as joint damage can increase of fragments are left in the joint space as well as being painful for the horse. It is important to know what OC is and therefore get closer to understanding why it occurs in some horses and not others.

The joints most commonly studied in OC incidences are;

1. femoropatellar (stifle)
2. tarsocrural (hock) and
3. metatarsophalangeal (fetlock)

As the growth rate in horses is greater in the hind limb than forelimb during early stages of development. OC occurs when there is a disturbance of the physiologic process of endochondral ossification, leading to locally thickened cartilage plugs. At the same time cartilage canals disappear during chondrification. This means that the articular cartilage depends exclusively on the synovial fluid for diffusion of nutrients. Therefore, excessive thickening of cartilage can lead to certain areas lacking nutrition and hence to focal necrosis and weakening of the tissue.

Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), as well as subchondral bone cysts, are commonly considered to be a manifestation of osteochondrosis. The epiphyseal ossification centre advances out until ossification is completed, leaving a layer of cartilage. This layer of cartilage becomes the articular cartilage. If there is a disturbance in endochondral ossification, an area of retained cartilage can be formed with a consequent defect in the bone. Cracking can then proceed in this retained cartilage to give a flap or fragment of cartilage that may contain bone. These flaps and fragments on the surface of the joint result in osteochondritis dissecans. Also, because of joint incongruity, this may lead to degenerative joint disease (DJD). Unlike bone, articular cartilage shows very limited capability of remodelling and repair after maturation. This indicates that the cartilage layer needs to develop fully and correctly during this phase. Osteochondrotic lesions may disappear due to remodelling in the juvenile horse, but lesions that are still present when the cartilage is fully matured will not repair and become a serious factor form the animal welfare point of view.

Physitis of the joint also occurs and can be described as a clinical symptom especially if swelling of the growth plates is associated with lameness; radiographs are taken to ensure that there is not a significant problem within the growth plate. Clinical signs may be divided broadly into two categories; those seen in foals <6 mo old and those seen in older animals. Often the first sign noted in foals is a tendency to spend more time lying down. This is accompanied frequently by joint swelling, stiffness, and difficulty keeping up with other animals in the paddock. An accompanying sign may be the development of upright conformation of the limbs, presumably as a result of rapid growth. Fetlock osteochondrosis is particularly seen in younger foals (<6 mo old). Lameness in older horses is not always apparent, but more than likely a horse will show signs of stiffness, reduced flexion and even muscular atrophy where movement had be compromised.

Foods That Help Arthritis

We get the word arthritis from the Greek, and the literal meaning is inflammation of the joint. There are over a hundred different types of arthritis, the most common of which is osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is degeneration of the joint due to trauma, infection, especially over time, so we see this condition frequently in the elderly person. Pain and reduced mobility are common, and muscle strain from forcing stiff joints to function is possible, along with fatigue.

There are a plethora of advertised treatments available, as well as a pile of prescription medication, so to simplify things, let's look at what we eat, and our lifestyle.

There are many natural foods that are stated to improve our health, and reduce inflammation in our body.

Firstly, a diet high in protein can increase uric acid deposits, causing pain. Animal protein is particularly known for this, so consider using more vegetable proteins like potatoes and legumes. Did you ever think when enjoying some hummus dip and crackers that you were getting a nice serve of protein?

Have lots of fiber from fresh raw fruit and vegetables and whole grains as this will help to sweep away mineral and acid build up, and reduce harmful bacteria. Dark green leafy veggies contain the carotenoidslutein and zeaxanthin, and saponins and flavonoids. These wonderful foods are said to be beneficial in preventing breast cancer, skin cancer cells, and lung cancer and stomach cancer by inhibiting their cell growth. They also help to build and maintain bone cartilage. Did you know that the vegetable Kale contains more calcium than milk?

It is also more easily adsorbed than milk, so go for the veg! Sounds good to me! The silica found in alfalfa sprouts, lettuce and cabbage is also helpful. Plant based essential fatty acids are great for reducing inflammation, grind flax seeds fresh as you want them, and the oil is great in a salad dressing. Bromelain found in the core of fresh pineapples is also helpful in reducing inflammation, and cruciferous vegetables also such as cauliflower and broccoli, and foods high in sulfur help to repair bone and cartilage, so serve up some asparagus garlic and onion every day.

Water is essential, and aim for at least one glass every 2 hours you are awake. Foods to avoid? Acid forming foods as these; red meat, eggs, saturated fats, fried foods, dairy foods, refined foods, and high gluten foods such as bread, pastries and pasta. Along with these avoid caffeine and refined carbohydrates and alcohol. Sounds impossible? Have a think about this easy meal plan: Have some fresh fruit for breakfast, with some freshly ground flax seed (a coffee grinder works perfectly) on mashed banana, and a handful of pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and almonds, or some raw mixed nuts. This is very filling and well satisfying.

Lunch can be a jacket potato with a chickpea salad, adding in sprouts tomato, grated carrot, lettuce, celery, onion and fresh garlic to taste, with lemon juice and a good tablespoon of flaxseed oil, and I like a sprinkle of cayenne pepper as well. If you want a lighter lunch, swap the potato with a whole grain bread or wrap.

Dinner could be a walnut/rolled oat rissole, with fresh salad again, or some fresh steamed veg, or stir-fries veg on steamed brown rice. Rice contains an amino acid called histidine, which is helpful in removing heavy metals, as people with arthritis often have high levels of copper.

As a rough guide, you can see how easy it is to put the elements of this way of eating into practice once you give it a bit of thought. Don't make drastic changes to your diet at once, introduce new foods slowly, especially if you haven't been used to eating many legumes, and soaking legumes overnight before cooking can aid digestion.

Bruxism Treatment - Cure Brixism Naturally And Put A Stop To Teeth Grinding At Night Easily

Bruxism treatment could be a lot cheaper if a lot of people know what leads to teeth grinding. It actually starts when you start grinding your teeth either during the night while sleeping or during the day. Your dentition gradually begins to wear down once you continue to slide the lower part with the upper part. As a matter of fact, situations like these have led to a lot of problems between couples. People who grind their teeth during sleep actually make a lot of noise, which disturbs others. Besides, it also leads to a lot of health problems; jaw pain and toothache for instance.

Bruxism has a lot of side-effects, and it is actually dangerous to underrate some of its side-effects like; toothache, headache, jaw pain, permanent damage to the dentition, eating disorder, sleep disorder, clinical disorder, and a lot more. All these are just some of the health related problems that could possibly happen if you fail to stop teeth grinding. As a matter of fact, people who grind their teeth at night could disturb wake up their partners because of the noise being generated.

Bruxism can be treated through different means; some of which will be mentioned here in this article for you to read and start applying immediately for gradual results. Actually, the main focus of the treatment is to reduce or possibly eliminate pain, make you adjust to a particular clenching attitude, while also trying to put a stop to any further damage to the dentition that may latter become permanent.

Some of the common methods usually applied by people who suffer from it include; taking enough rest in order to reduce stress during the day, adopting a healthy eating habit, massaging the muscles around the face, and shoulders, using to tender muscles, and taking a lot of water. All these are some of the common natural remedies for anyone who wants to stop teeth grinding at home.

While some of these remedies have been proven by many people to be very effective, there have been some exceptional cases too that have posed some difficulties. It is recommended that people try as much as they can to manage stress, avoid eating some hard foods. Although bruxism has been described by experts as involuntary or unconscious clenching of teeth, it is important to try to avoid it in order not to make things too difficult. Even though it is sometimes difficult to control sleep-related bruxism, someone can still prevent it.

Doctors agree that bruxism cannot be traced to a particular cause; yet we all know stress is definitely a part of it. That is why any instruction or tip on bruxism treatment must start from the root; avoid being under too much stress. No matter what may have caused or led to bruxism in your own case, the truth is that you can still apply the same methods commonly used by a lot of people at home to stop teeth.

Joint Pain Relief With Yoga For Senior Citizens

For people suffering with joint pain it is often difficult to find an exercise program that is more beneficial than detrimental. Senior citizens often have an even tougher time finding a program that is a good fit for their needs. There are many Yoga instructors that are developing programs geared specifically to fit this scenario. "Why has this 5,000-year-old Eastern discipline grown so popular? The simple reason is that it 'works,'" according to American Yoga Association spokesperson Millicent Kennedy, who has been taught and practiced yoga for the last three decades.

There are many different types of yoga, as well as variations through each instructor. Many people find that they need to try several different styles before they find one that fits their ideals of activity level, instructor personality, and over all comfort.

When first beginning yoga it is normal to feel some pain; every person has their own levels of pain tolerance. It is a good idea to avoid any movement that causes more pain than might be experienced throughout a normal day. Although there can be pain associated with yoga, it generally should not last more than a couple of hours. If pain persists beyond a few hours, a modification in routine is probably a good idea.

For most people, two or more sessions a week can make a significant difference in joint pain. By choosing to attend an actual class with an instructor present, it is possible to find ways to modify postures to work for each individual. Although there are endless choices when it comes to yoga DVDs or books, nothing can replace a knowledgeable instructor in a hands-on situation. This is especially beneficial when first participating in a new exercise program.

The reason that yoga works so well is that is it basically a gentle form of exercise. The postures used may feel awkward at first but become easier as they become more familiar. Joint pain, inflammation, and even stiffness and swelling can be relieved through this form of exercise. There are several types of postures, all of them with different goals. Some of these stances focus on strength, flexibility, deep breathing, or relaxation. The postures that focus on flexibility are an excellent choice that can help to increase range of motion in painful joints. Instructors can help to modify postures so that there is not too much pressure or torque on the joint.

Supplements can be a big boost to a yoga program. Many people living with joint pain have found relief through CFAs, or cetylated fatty acids. This substance is especially beneficial in combination with yoga, as it has been shown to help relieve inflammation and increase range of motion. Celadrin is the most common CFA available on the market right now. However, keep in mind that just as it may be necessary to work at yoga to develop a comfort level, it is also necessary to take most joint supplements for at least a month before there is a noticeable improvement.

Telltale Signs of Jaw Clicking and What They Mean

Every time you open your mouth to yawn or even just to chew, do you feel and hear something move and lock on each side of your face? This may have happened to you a couple of times in the past, but you chose to ignore it and it went away. However, not all cases of jaw clicking are meant to be ignored. These may be indicative of an underlying disorder, one that needs to be checked by a doctor right away.

Your jaw functions as a hinge, allowing you to open and close your mouth without difficulty. This is of vital importance to your daily living as most of your activities (e.g. speaking, eating, etc.) require movement of your mouth. Since your jaw muscles are sometimes excessively utilized, they usually fall prey to wear and tear. Jaw clicking is usually due to the muscles of your jaw (aka muscles of mastication) providing unequal and limited force to your jaw.

Sometimes, jaw clicking manifests with other symptoms including headaches, pain in the area and even the neck, as well as difficulty and pain in opening and closing the mouth. Some dentists and doctors claim that the reason this can be so annoying for some is that it occurs close to the ear. Although this can be indicative of a more serious disorder, it doesn't always necessitate a trip to the doctor. Oftentimes, this happens when you excessively chew on something or when you stretch your jaw too much.

However, a more serious disorder associated with jaw clicking is the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorder. Your TMJ connects your mandible or jaw to the temporal bones of your skull. Usually, a TMJ Disorder involves pain in the muscles of mastication, and sometimes an inflamed TMJ. With these symptoms, you can expect impaired functioning of your jaw and related muscles.

Because bone doesn't have the ability to transmit pain, you can expect the pain to come from surrounding soft tissue, musculature and even Cranial Nerve V (Trigeminal Nerve). This nerve is responsible for supplying motor function to your jaw.

Listed below are a few known causes of TMJ Disorder. Bear in mind that these are only a few external factors that may causes TMJ Disorder, and that the causes aren't limited to the ones mentioned.

Teeth Clenching or Grinding

Some people have the habit of clenching their teeth during times of frustration or stress. Sometimes, teeth clenching happens when you're asleep so you don't even know it's there. Doing this puts an intense amount of pressure on your jaw muscles as well as other soft tissue.

Excessive Chewing

Similar to teeth grinding, this causes too much strain on the muscles of mastication and may also cause inflammation of the TMJ.

Exaggeration in Opening the Mouth

This doesn't refer to excessive opening of the mouth, but rather opening the mouth too wide as when one eats large sandwiches, yawns or sneezes.

Degeneration of the Joint

This usually occurs with conditions accompanying aging, including osteoarthritis.

Since prevention is always better than cure, here are a few things you should do to avoid becoming a victim of this condition:

Kick the Habit of Chewing Gum

Although chewing gum is a great way to keep yourself awake, excessive chewing does you more damage. You continuously strain your jaw muscles, leading to a better chance of developing jaw clicking.

Try to Avoid Hard-to-Chew Food

If you're a fan of steak and ribs, this might come as bad news to you. Just like chewing gum, chewing on hard-to-chew food constantly strains your jaw muscles. The same goes for Big Macs and double decker burgers. Although our jaw works as a hinge, there's only so much it can take.

Check for Teeth Grinding

Teeth grinding, also known as Bruxism, can make your condition worse. Bruxism usually happens when we sleep at night so we're usually unaware of its occurrence, unless someone tells us. So on your next visit to the dentist, ask him/her to look for signs of Bruxism. Although this is said to be triggered by stress, its causes remain highly debatable.

TMJ Exercises

Although this seems like a quick fix, it does help relieve the pain. Massage your jaw as well as the area surrounding it, including your neck and shoulders. It's also important to relax your face throughout the day.

Because it's better to be safe than sorry, set an appointment with your dentist once you feel pain in the area of your jaw, and when you have trouble chewing and opening your mouth.

Joint Pain - Help Yourself Prevent It

Joint pain affects hundreds of thousands of people in our country, causing everything from minor twinges and inconvenience to total, crippling disability. The causes vary between individuals, as do treatments, but one thing all sufferers share in common is that they would all feel more comfortable and mobile without it. The major causes of joint pain in our society are osteoarthritis, inflammatory types of arthritis such as rheumatoid or gout, and physical joint injury (which, in the long term often leads to arthritis in the affected joint).

Osteoarthritis is caused by the deterioration and wearing away of the protective cartilage at the bone ends, causing bone to grind against bone, causing actual bone damage, deformation and sometimes inflammation of surrounding soft tissues. This is usually the type of arthritis seen in the elderly, affecting knees, hips, spines and hands most often. It can be totally debilitating with no remissions, and is a frequent reason for hip or knee replacement surgeries.

Rheumatoid arthritis and gout are inflammatory conditions of the joints that cause severe, acute bouts of pain, redness, swelling and joint deformity. The exact causes are not definitely known, but certain bacterial or fungal pathogens and diet are thought to be connected to the conditions. These diseases alternate between flare ups and remissions, with no particular duration for each stage. It is believed that, in rheumatoid arthritis, some type of environmental factor triggers an offbeat reaction in the autoimmune system, causing the system to attack one's own body cells. Over time this type of arthritis will also cause debility and joint fixation.

Injuries result in joint pain for obvious reasons. A very common injury is is a torn meniscus or cartilage in the knee that usually requires removal of the torn piece to prevent it from interfering with movement of the joint. This also leaves a compromised area in the knee with less protection than it should have. Depending on the amount of lost cartilage, intermittent pain with certain moves can cause pain for years or become lifelong. Damaged ligaments, also very common in knees, can result in weakened structure that does not hold the joint together in a stable position. These types of problems create perfect situations for formation of arthritis as years go by.

Protecting our joints is key to preventing or relieving joint pain. The best thing to do is avoiding movements that are not in line with the natural bend of the joint. Makes sense! Antiinflammatory medications are useful in decreasing the inflammation that causes pain, but many have side effects, like causing bowel or stomach ulcerations or increased bleeding, so not everyone can take an adequate amount for very long. Eating a nourishing, well balanced diet for adequate bone, cartilage and ligament production is necessary. Particularly important for this are the nutrients calcium, magnesium, boron, vitamin D and essential fatty acids, found in substantial amounts in dairy products, fish oils, navy beans, tofu, turnip greens, bok choy, tuna and whole wheat flour. Additional supplementation of particular substances such as glucosamine and chondroitin have proven to be highly beneficial at restoration of damaged areas within the joint.

Enzymes, specifically seapeptase and bromelain are also being shown to fight inflammation either by blocking or destroying causative factors, greatly decreasing the pain and damage of arthritis.

Exercises For TMJ Disorder - How They Work

It's taken a long time, but she had finally found what she'd been wanting so desperately. Something that will actually stop her teeth grinding and TMJ symptoms. She finally got fed up with her mouth guard which didn't work and started doing exercises for TMJ disorder. But will they work?

TMJ exercises are the only proven treatment for TMJ that effectively and permanently fixes the condition. Unlike other treatments like mouth guards and splints, TMJ exercises actually treat the root causes of TMJ.

Tight and stressed muscles and tendons in the jaw cause TMJ by displacing your jaw slightly which affects your nerves. To counter this, the exercises massage and stretch surrounding muscles to release pressure on your jaw. This allows your jaw and the muscles inside it to relax and settle back into the normal position.

Something That You Can Try Now:

The exercises involve simple movement of the mouth and jaw. One exercise for example gets you to push your jaw to the right and left and back to the center, while pushing against your jaw lightly with two fingers. This builds up resistance and strengthens muscles in your jaw that hold it in place properly.

Exercises for TMJ are no miracle cure. Some people experience substantial pain relief within just a couple of days of using the exercises, it will usually take about 2 - 3 weeks to see permanent results.

The earlier you start doing the exercises the better, if you allow your symptoms to go unchecked you risk further injury, such as tendons snapping in severe cases.

Are Your Headaches and Jaw Pains Really Symptoms of a Condition Called TMJ Disorder?

An estimated 10 million Americans have what is known as a TMJ disorder. TMJ disorder is actually a term used to describe a group of conditions centered on problems with the jawbone joint or TMJ (temporomandibular joint). Sometimes it is a painful condition ranging from minor discomfort to severe pain and there are many different body parts that can potentially be affected.

There are also several other terms used for this condition. There is TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder), TMJ syndrome, simply TMJ, and other names as well.

The groups of people most at risk of having the TMJ disorder are women between the ages of 30 and 50 who clench their jaw or grind their teeth in their sleep, have a metabolic or nutrition disorder, have a high stress level and have malocclusion (bad bite). Scientists are currently doing research to discover if there is a link between female hormones and TMJ disorder since this condition afflicts twice as many women as men.

The TMJ (jawbone joint) is made up of many different components including bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, a disc between the bones much like the discs in your spine, and other connective tissues. Your TMJ is also one of the most used joints in your body since it's used to eat and talk.

Besides headaches and a sore jaw another symptom of the TMJ disorder is when your jaw makes a clicking or popping noise as it opens or closes. Many people actually have this symptom but if there isn't any pain associated with it there isn't any reason for treatment. Even if there is a little pain associated with this symptom it will only be temporary or happen in cycles.

Some doctors believe the leading cause of this disorder is stress. They think that stress causes patients to grind their teeth in their sleep. Then, by grinding their teeth, they damage the TMJ and cause the disorder. Other doctors think patients will develop the disorder and the pain and discomfort will cause the patient to develop high stress levels.

The only thing for sure right now is; there is no established test for diagnosis, there are no established treatments that are proven, and there are no specialized training courses so there are no real TMJ specialists.

What are you supposed to do? Most medical experts advise that if you have TMJ symptoms you should find a dentist with experience treating patients with TMJ symptoms and work out a therapy plan that uses only conservative and reversible treatments. If any surgery or irreversible treatment such as occlusal therapy (grinding teeth down or using crowns or bridge work to permanently change your bite) is suggested you should get more opinions and try everything else first.

4 Powerful Teeth Grinding Home Remedies You Must Know

Teeth grinding habits can produce damaging effects for other parts of the body apart from the teeth and gum. Chances are that you are not getting proper sleep that your body needs as a sufferer of this teeth clenching or it might be that your sleeping companion also suffers in the same way as you do.

With this said it is important that you treat this dental problem once you find out you have it. To ignore this problem, maybe because it does not seem to be severe, will only make it worse. Once you start noticing that you have this visit the dentist or the doctor so that your teeth and health will be analyzed. Also, you can try the 4 effective home remedies for teeth grinding or 'Bruxism' in other to get quick relief from this dental problem.

1. SLEEP ON YOUR BACK

When you lay on your back what you are doing is sleeping in the best position to keep you from teeth clenching. When you sleep on your stomach or sides of your body then your tendency to do some teeth grinding activities increases during your sleep at night or in the day time.

2. TAKE CALCIUM AND MAGNESIUM SUPPLEMENTS
If you have the medication that you use make sure you use them, especially in the night before going to bed. It might that your dentist did not prescribe any medication for you. In this latter case you can go for some magnesium and calcium supplements. These are two minerals that you should add to your daily diet because they can help prevent instances of teeth grinding.

3. TAKE HOT HERBAL TEA OR WARM MILK BEFORE GOING TO SLEEP
When you have to drink anything before going to bed at night ensure that it is either a hot tea or warm milk. Do not drink alcohol as doing so will make you grind your teeth while sleeping.

4. EAT SOME FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.
The right word to use here is to 'munch' these fruits. The fruits here can be apples, carrot or cauliflower as an example of the vegetable. Doing this before sleeping tend to calm the mouth a little. A calm mouth results in reduced occurrence of teeth grinding.

Steps to Follow to Have an Osteoarthritis Pain Relief

Osteoarthritis (OA) is also known as degenerative arthritis and degenerative joint disease. It affects several joints in the body, including the area of knees, back, hips, and fingers. When bone surfaces lose its lubrication and become less protected by cartilage, bones rub each other and damaged themselves resulting to symptoms such as pain. In reality, there is no known cure for this debilitating disease. Fortunately, osteoarthritis pain relief is available for patients to get rid of the pain. Depending on the severity of the arthritis and condition of the patient, these are some of the tips to be followed by a patient to have osteoarthritis pain relief.

First is to buy glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. Those are proven effective for osteoarthritis pain relief. These supplements can be taken separately or together. Glucosamine helps repairing damaged cartilage; cartilage act as a cushion to the joint. In addition, it keeps the cartilage flexible and nimble. On the other hand, Chondroitin Sulfate blocks enzymes that destroy cartilage. Research revealed that these two are effective for reducing stiffness, pain, and inflammation of the joints. Seconds is to try yoga as an osteoarthritis pain relief. Yoga is safe for osteoarthritis patients; it assists the body to build strength and allow flexibility making way for less stiffness and reduced pain. Third is to have acupuncture. It involves putting needles in the body, targeting vital points of the body. Vital points are to believe to connect to organs in the body, giving a boost to serotonin and endorphin levels in the body. These two are natural chemicals in the body that act as painkillers in our body. Studies showed patients who underwent acupuncture for two months, displayed improvement and lesser symptoms. Lastly, Massage therapy is an effective osteoarthritis pain relief. It improves blood circulation and reduces muscle tension that is caused by osteoarthritis.

These are just tips to osteoarthritis pain relief; it may or may not reduce or eliminate symptoms caused by osteoarthritis. It is still depending on the patient dedication and consistency to the plan. However, consultation with a physician is still recommended to avoid any complications.

Labrador Retrievers - Beautiful, Popular and Prone to Joint Problems

Intelligent. Patient. Tolerant. Mild mannered. Loyal.

With traits like these, is it any wonder the Labrador Retriever is the most popular breed of dog in the world? Since 1991, the Labrador Retriever has been the most popular registered breed in the United States, as well. They are gentle, affable and intelligent and considered by many to be the perfect family pet. They're also known for their working ability and are the most popular breed of working and guide dog in the United States, as well!

With good medical care and proper feeding, you can expect your Lab to live upwards of 13 years. It is a healthy breed with relatively few major problems... but, like other full-breed dogs, they are susceptible to certain inherited disorders, particularly those of the hip, elbow and knee. While not as common in Labs as in other breeds, dysplasia is also a concern.

Labs are somewhat prone to dysplasia of the hip and elbow, especially in larger dogs. Indeed, hip dysplasia is the most common genetic problem affecting dogs of all breeds. Canine hip dysplasia is a general term for the malformation of the hip joint that eventually leads to arthritis. This malformation occurs when the two parts of the hip joint - the ball (femoral head at the top of the upper leg bone) and socket (the "dented" area of the pelvic structure) are misaligned or misshapen. Dogs suffering from dysplasia are not as active as they could be due to significant pain. Often, the only cure for dysplasia is costly surgery to replace the dysplastic hip joint.

Labs also suffer from the risk of knee problems. A "luxating patella" is a common occurrence in the knee that results in the leg being "bow "shaped. This abnormality can cause abnormal wear and tear on the joint, resulting in the development of painful osteoarthritis for some Labs.

The only way to decrease the prevalence of these disorders is through conscientious breeding practices. However, even the most vigilant breeders cannot eliminate these genetic disorders altogether. There's no way of knowing whether an animal will develop a joint disorder later in life.

Regular trips to the veterinarian can play an important role in early detection and early treatment of problems. Unfortunately, the most commonly prescribed treatment for animals suffering from genetic disorders such as hip dysplasia is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. As in humans, these medications provide temporary relief by decreasing inflammation, but not without a host of potential side effects.

There is an alternative, however.

Supplementation with glucosamine and chondroitin - the natural building blocks of healthy cartilage - offers relief from pain with long-term healing and little risk of side effects. Like NSAIDs, glucosamine and chondroitin decrease inflammation but they also give damaged joints the raw materials needed to build new cartilage, resulting in true relief from pain.

What You Need to Know About the Different Orthodontic Treatments

Orthodontic specialists are the dental professionals you need to consult if you have problems related to misaligned teeth. The word "orthodontic" originates from the Greek terms orthos (meaning "perfect" or "straight"), and odous (meaning "tooth"). Orthodontic treatments help control the growth of teeth to make sure they do not become misaligned, or help realign crooked teeth.

Treatments for misaligned teeth often require the use of dental appliances like palate expanders, headgear, or braces. Some specialists provide jaw surgery for more extreme cases, wherein they reconstruct the jaw and teeth. Read on to know a few of the most popular orthodontic treatments.

Preventive Treatments

These treatments "prevent" the development of misalignments by improving the conditions for permanent tooth growth. An example of preventive treatment is maintaining the space for a permanent tooth to grow if a baby tooth falls out early. This leaves enough room for a permanent tooth to grow. Another example is the removal of baby teeth that do not fall out normally to allow permanent teeth to erupt and grow.

Interceptive Treatments

Orthodontic specialists apply this type of treatment when a dental problem starts to develop at an early age. These treatments are similar to preventive treatments, except they are only applicable to patients who are already showing signs of developing misalignments. The application of palatal expanders to adjust a patient's jaw to allow his teeth to fit together better is an example of interceptive treatment.

Comprehensive Treatments

These treatments focus on correcting a fully developed alignment or occlusion (bite) problem. These often require the use of dental appliances such as headgear and braces to realign teeth. In the past, many patients avoided visiting orthodontic specialists for this treatment, because dental appliances look uncomfortable and bulky. Today, there are "invisible" braces such as Invisalign and Clear Correct, which provide the benefits of normal braces without the metal components. "Fast-acting" braces are also available for adults who dislike the idea of wearing braces for several years.

Invisible and fast-acting braces are usually more costly than standard braces, but many teenagers and adults prefer these to avoid becoming the target of jokes at school or work.

Surgical Treatments

Adults may have more difficulty correcting misaligned teeth and jaws than children and teenagers. Surgical orthodontics (also known as orthognathic surgery or corrective jaw surgery), is often the last resort if no other orthodontic treatment works for you. These procedures may treat problems such as protruding or recessed jaws, jaw problems that make it difficult for patients to breathe, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder.

TMJ disorder may be a serious problem if left untreated. Everyone has two of these joints connecting both sides of the lower jaw to the skull. TMJ problems make it uncomfortable to chew, swallow, bite, or talk. Surgery is the common treatment for TMJ problems, but non-invasive treatments, like the use of occlusal splints, may also be effective.

Not all orthodontists are surgeons, so you may need to consult with a different dentist if you require surgery.

Can Bodyweight Exercises Fix Creaky Joints?

Recently, I asked a few of my past customers why they decided to start an exercise program consisting of bodyweight-only exercises.

Most of the answers I received contained the expected answers.

A person wanted to get in shape, build muscle, lose fat. Some people hate going to the gym. Others simply don't have time.

But one person told me that the reason he decided to start a bodyweight only exercise program is because his joints were hurting from weight lifting and he heard that bodyweight only exercises can help to heal joints.

That Got Me Scratching My Head...

At first, I thought the idea of body weight exercises "curing" joint pain sounded like wishful thinking.

But then I remembered that my own joints and tendons actually seemed healthier and stronger when I was doing these body weight only exercises.

Was there actually something to this?

I decided to find out.

Weight Training & Joint Pain:

Partners In Crime

First of all, let me say that I like weight training and I am not in any way saying that weight training is bad for you.

However, as any long time weight trainer will tell you... your joints start to take a beating after extended periods of weight training.

Especially if you are training with heavy weight and low reps.

Usually, this type of joint pain is not permanent and will subside once the trainer takes a short break from weight training.

How Bodyweight-Only Exercises Can Help

There is nothing magical about bodyweight exercises that will suddenly make all your aches and pains up and vanish.

However, there are a few characteristics about bodyweight exercises that can dramatically improve joint health and offer relief from the aches and pains associated with weight training.

The first characteristic of bodyweight exercises is a lighter load.

If you go from benching 400lbs and instead start doing push-ups using just your own body weight as resistance, your joints will experience a tremendous amount of relief as they are no longer subject to the heavy load of weight training.

How Acid Can Heal The Burn

The main reason that bodyweight exercises seem to help alleviate joint pain is because they are usually done with higher reps (more than 15 per set).

High rep ranges cause the body to create lactic acid. Lactic acid can cause a slight burning sensation in your muscles. For example, if you run up 100 flights of stairs, the muscles in your legs will start to burn.

This burning can be slightly uncomfortable (although experienced trainers will typically enjoy the burn to some degree)... however it serves a very important purpose.

The presence of lactic acid actually stimulates the body to repair tendons and can therefore lead to increased joint health.

For this reason, many experienced weight lifters may enjoy a bodyweight-only workout program while taking time out from the grind of heavy lifting.

A Bodyweight-Only Workout Program

Again, I'm not claiming that bodyweight-only exercises are any type of cure or magic pill. But many trainers use bodyweight-only exercises to relieve joint pain and prepare their body for the next bout of heavy iron work.

What is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and is also known as degenerative joint disease. In this form of arthritis, the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones that connect at the joint wears away, exposing the bone and causing pain. This condition may also involve a decrease in the amount of joint fluid, called synovial fluid, that cushions the joint, as well as changes in the ligaments and muscles that stabilize the joint.

Osteoarthritis, or OA, can be a condition that develops without any pre-existing factors, or can occur as a result of another condition. When OA occurs without another condition present, it is usually associated with age, although not every older person develops OA. There is a strong hereditary component to OA, as members of the same family often develop the condition. OA also develops as the result of other conditions, such as prior injuries, congenital hip deformities, diabetes, obesity, and infections.

The primary symptom of OA is pain. Swelling is usually mild. Stiffness does occur, especially as the disease advances. A joint may become painful and stiff to the point that it becomes immobile if no treatment is provided.

OA is not curable and the damage caused is permanent. The symptoms can be controlled through conservative treatment of the symptoms, including:

*getting enough rest
*regular exercise
*diet and weight control
*joint protection techniques
*anti-inflammatory pain medication
*topical pain treatments

These techniques are often enough to slow the progression of OA and preserve the joint for many years. Chiropractic or Physical Therapy may also be helpful periodically to manage periods of increased pain or instability.

When OA becomes advanced or a joint becomes too unstable to use, surgical intervention may be necessary. One form of surgery used is a joint fusion, where the joint involved is fused together to provide stability and relieve pain. The joint becomes immobile. This type of surgery is often done on the neck or back. The other type of surgery used is a joint replacement, where the worn out ends of the bone are removed and replaced with metal ends, providing a metal joint. A hip replacement is a common example of this type of surgery.

For more information about OA, please visit The Arthritis Foundation website at the http://www.arthritis.org

Natural Pain Relief For Arthritis - Massage Therapy

Unfortunately there's no cure for arthritis and the arthritic changes that arthritis brings to your joints, but you can relieve the pain that accompanies this medical condition.

Two treatments which are easy and are worth trying are massage therapy, and also massage with essential oils.

Massage Therapy: Gentle Massage Can Relieve Pain

When you massage a painful arthritic joint, you help the blood circulation to the joint, and this aids healing. Another benefit is that the muscles relax, and this relieves pain too, because tight muscles around the joint make it even more painful.

Although you can massage painful joints yourself, for best results visit a massage therapist, because the therapist will know the best way to massage your hands, or whichever joints are affected. Ask to be shown some easy massage techniques that you can perform at home.

Massage therapy can't reverse arthritis, but many people find that they can keep arthritis at bay with massage therapy.

Essential Oils For Arthritis Pain Relief

Massage therapy can help even more if you massage your joints with essential oils. Essential oils are fragrant oils which are refined from plants, roots, and trees. Pain relieving essential oils for arthritis treatment include ginger, lavandin, and eucalyptus.

For an arthritis joint massage, very small quantities of pure essential oils (about one drop per teaspoon) are added to a carrier oil like apricot or almond oil. You can make up your own massage oil from essential oils and a carrier oil, and can use it to massage painful joints twice a day.

Not only do the essential oils smell wonderful, but they're also very relaxing.

As with massage therapy, it's best to get advice and a couple of treatments from a professional aromatherapist at the beginning, and then you can continue the treatment with essential oils at home.

Although massage therapy and essential oils massage therapy are not a cure for arthritis, they do relieve the pain. These treatments can also help you to regain and maintain movement in your joints, so that you live your life.

Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease - Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment

Legg-Calve-Perthes disease is a condition occurring mostly in first-born male children in the age group of 4 to 8 years. In this condition, the ball-shaped head of the thigh bone loses its blood supply, gradually collapses, and then undergoes a process of reformation and reshaping over a period of several years. This condition presents with pain in the hip, which is aggravated by activity and alleviated by taking rest.

The Ayurvedic treatment of Legg-Calve-Perthes disease is aimed at controlling pain, restoring normal structure of the hip joint and preventing long-term deformity. Medicines like Panch-Tikta-Ghrut-Guggulu, Laxadi-Guggulu, Trayodashang-Guggulu, Shrung-Bhasma, Praval-Panchamrut, Shankh-Bhasma, Praval-Bhasma, Asthishrunkhala (Cissus quadrangularis), Laxa (Purified wax), Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Musta (Cyperus rotundus) and Gokshur (Tribulus terrestris) are used to remold the hip bone. Medicines like Triphala-Guggulu, Yograj-Guggulu, Maha-Rasnadi-Guggulu, Vat-Gajankush-Ras, Maha-Vat-Vidhwans-Ras, Tagar (Valeriana wallichii) and Nirgundi (Vitex negundo) are used to treat pain and inflammation in the hip joint.

The loss of blood supply to the head of the thigh bone is the main cause of tissue destruction in the bone. This can be corrected using medicines like Mahamanjishthadi-Ghan-Vati, Saarivasav, Tapyadi-Loh, Kaishor-Guggulu, Ekang-Veer-Ras, Patol (Tricosanthe dioica), Saariva (Hemidesmus indicus), Patha (Cissampelos pareira), Musta and Kutki (Picrorrhiza kurroa). Some patients benefit from the use of medicated enemas of Maha-Sahachar oil and Ksheer-Bala oil. Local application on the affected hip joint using medicines like Vishgarbha oil, Mahanarayan oil and Mahamash oil are also quite effective in reducing pain and stiffness. This is followed by localized steam fomentation using medicines like Dashmool-Qadha and Nirgundi-Qadha.

The affected child's age and the degree of damage to the hip joint are important factors in determining the outcome of this condition. Early diagnosis and accurate management of this condition are very important in preventing permanent damage to the joint and future disability. A judicious combination of rest, plaster-casting, physiotherapy and medications is required to prevent hip deformity. All such patients should be under the regular care and supervision of an orthopedic surgeon.

Joint Pain Stiffness and Inflammation Treatment - What Is the Best Method?

Joint pain and stiffness are usually the result of a form of arthritis. Stiffness occurs after a period of physical inactivity and it actually refers to the inability to move the joint properly. In the great majority of the cases when pain in the joint is accompanied by stiffness, it means that an inflammation is causing them both. In patients with osteoarthritis, joint stiffness occurs in the morning and usually lasts for about half an hour. In other forms of arthritis, like rheumatoid arthritis or gout, the pain and the stiffness lasts longer. Joint pain and stiffness can also be caused by injuries, tendonitis, bursitis strains and sprains and infectious diseases like mumps, rubella, measles or hepatitis.

Heat and cold treatment, gentle exercise and synthetic drugs like NSAIDs or steroids are usually prescribed for joint pain and stiffness. Patients also find relief in supplements like glucosamine or condroitine sulfate which help rebuild the affected tissue. Vitamins B and C and minerals are also important for maintaining a good health of the joints. Herbal supplements and essential oils are also recommended in case of joint pain and stiffness because some herbs have impressive anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.

Rumatone Gold oil for instance, provides quick relief from the pain, reduces stiffness and improves the sufferer's ability to move. It is absorbed fast by the body and diminishes the inflammation of the joint. Not only the oil, but also Rumatone Gold capsules are effective in joint pain and stiffness. Ginger extract, if taken daily, inhibits the release of certain substances that promote inflammation. If inflammation if kept under control, it means that the incidence of pain and stiffness will be lowered.

Clinical studies have reported that ginger extract produces no side effects, even if it is taken for years. Boswelia extract has amazing anti-inflammatory properties, reduces the pain and the swelling and it is also effective in eliminating morning stiffness in patients suffering of osteoarthritis. Besides herbal supplements, essential oils, especially those renowned for their pain killing properties, like lavender or rosemary, are doing a great job in diminishing joint pain and stiffness.

Patients suffering of conditions that lead to pain in the joint or stiffness need to have a healthy diet and to make sure that they consume an adequate quantity of minerals and nutrients. The health of the cartilages and joints directly depend on the mineral and vitamin intake. This is why Epson salt is also recommended. Taking hot baths whit Epson salt will help the body absorb the magnesium in the salt and will improve the condition of your joints. Around 2 cups of salt are needed for a bathtub.

Sarapin - A Natural Solution for Acute and Chronic Pain Without Dangerous Side Effects

Sarapin is an aqueous solution extracted from a pitcher plant (Sarracenia purpurea), which has been used successfully as a biological medicine as early as 1930s. This solution is primarily used as a treatment for muscular, neuralgic, and joint pain. It provides effective relief from pain, swelling and inflammation. The effectiveness of this pitcher plant extract has known to come from its ability to initiate the body's own natural healing. And because it is a natural solution, it does not cause serious side effects, making it an excellent alternative to cortisone.

Sarapin is used for treating muscular and nerve pain, as well as joint pain. This natural alternative can help in providing pain relief to some conditions including sciatic pain, hip pain, low back pain, mid back pain, upper back pain, pain between the ribs, neck pain, and pain down the arms. It also works for other conditions that can be treated with cortisone.

Sarapin stops the pain signals in the nerves of the spine without affecting other nerve functions or motor functions. In an earlier study, it was noted to have an effect on sensory nerves, relieving nerve pain without change in skin sensation, and having no effect upon the motor nerves. In toxicity tests, it has found to be harmless and there were no signs of tissue coagulation or sclerosis.

Is Sarapin safe to use? Absolutely, it is! Many have not yet heard of this alternative medicine due to its lack of profitability and marketing. However, it is recognized by the FDA and AMA and it requires prescription for treatments that require injections. Most of all, it has no known side effects.

Using Sarapin has more advantages over other conventional drugs. It is often compared to cortisone because there are several ailments that these two medicines can be used of as a treatment. Both of them are recognized by FDA and AMA and both require prescriptions. Cortisone, however, can only be used when other methods and less toxic medicines do not work, because it has side effects that can be dangerous to the one who is taking it.

Sarapin is safer to use than cortisone because it is a natural product. It works effectively without causing serious side effects unlike cortisone does. As a natural substance, it is non-toxic and does not accumulate in any body part such as the liver. Your body excretes it without the liver processing it. It also has no damaging effect on tissues, making it possible to administer several times within a short period to obtain maximum pain relief.

There is no need to suffer from the dangerous side effects of cortisone knowing that there is an alternative solution for it. Fortunately there are doctors who are aware of Sarapin and have been successfully using it in treating chronic pain.

TMJ Symptoms

TMJ stands for Temporomandibular Joint, which is the joint in the temple area where the lower jaw pivots against the skull. TMJ syndrome (also called TMD, for Temporomandibular Joint Disorder) is a collection of symptoms all resulting from a defect in the way the jaw joint works.

Because there are some large nerves running through the temple area, across the face and head, and down the neck to the shoulders, pain can be felt in any of these areas, all from stress in the way your jaw joint operates.

Reasons why you might develop TMJ

· A blow to the head, which knocks the joint out of position.

· An inherited flaw in the structure or positioning of the jaws.

· Many years of teeth grinding, or gum-chewing. This can generate stress in the whole joint area and can wear down the cartilage pad, which buffers the jawbones; it's supposed to protect the upper and lower jawbones from rubbing directly against each other. When it's worn, or out of position, and the bones rub on each other, pain is generated.

· Misaligned teeth, which cause the lower jaw to meet the upper jaw in a tense position. This is called dental malocclusion, or a misaligned bite.

Common symptoms

You may be suffering from TMJ if you have:

· Severe headaches

· Earaches

· Ringing in the ears

· Worn teeth

· A clicking noise when opening or closing your jaw

· The jaw getting locked or stuck

· Swelling around the jaw joint

· Tenderness or pain around the jaw joint

· Pain in your neck or shoulders

· Tingling in the fingers

· Dizziness

These symptoms can emerge in different combinations for different people. They are not all located exactly in the jaw. Why not? That's because large nerves run from the spinal column to the head area, with many branches extending into the face, neck and shoulders. When swelling and inflammation compresses any of these nerve branches, pain is felt at that location. The swelling and inflammation originates with the jaw joint and its muscles, and can spread, affecting different nerve branches in different people.

The role of neuromuscular dentistry

A neuromuscular dentist is one trained in treating not just gums and teeth, but also the jaw joint and its components: muscles, nerves, ligaments and blood vessels. Dr. Joseph Henry is a neuromuscular dentist in Los Angeles. Often, by the time people arrive at his office for help with their painful symptoms, they have visited a series of doctors in a fruitless search for pain relief.

"Too many people think their TMJ symptoms are incurable, but that's not true," says Dr. Henry. "It's possible to eliminate all TMJ symptoms with the technology now used by neuromuscular dentists. When the symptoms have a dental cause, it's a dentist who can successfully treat them and relieve the pain."

TMJ treatment

Treatment begins with neuromuscular testing. The root of the problem is misalignment in the jaw joint - a misaligned bite. So your jaw movements and positions will be tested, recorded, and measured. If the jaw is closing such that the lower teeth are colliding with parts of the upper teeth, this too will be examined. The neuromuscular dentist will focus on the relationship between jaw movement and teeth position to discover what is preventing your jaw from being relaxed.

Once the dentist finds your natural relaxed jaw position, further treatment is then planned. It will be different for each person. It might involve a special tray to be worn for a few months, to teach your jaw muscles some new movements. It might require some repositioning of teeth, or reshaping.

You don't have to live with those painful symptoms. Modern dentistry is a far cry from what our grandparents knew. Dental technology these days has made dental procedures much faster and easier, it has created more ways to treat dental problems, and made everything increasingly pain-free.

Back Pain Caused By Track And Field

As spring arrives, many people are returning to their favorite warm weather sports. For many students and adult athletes, this means a return to track and field. It is important to educate yourself about the common injuries associated with your sport in order to guard yourself against back pain and other conditions that can take you out of competition.

A number of injuries can occur during any sport. The following describes a few common injuries associated with the various activities of track and field.

Runners

Most people, whether athletes or office workers, tend to have weaker hamstrings than quadriceps. This imbalance causes the pelvis to be pulled down in front and increases the lumbar arch. As the back arches in more, the discs in between vertebrae are compressed unevenly and the spinal joints are strained. Combined with the jolting force your body experiences as your feet pound against the ground when running, joint and disc problems become likely. Weak hamstrings are also susceptible to strains. Runners should take special care to ensure their quads and hamstrings are balanced in strength and flexibility.

Another muscle group runners should be aware of is the hip flexor group, particularly the psoas. This muscle is used when bringing the thigh and upper body closer together. The psoas connects the lumbar spine to the thigh bone and is used heavily when running. Tight, inflexible psoas muscles pull down on the pelvis and create the exaggerated lumbar arch that tight quads create. Running without regaining flexibility of the psoas will likely worsen its rigidity and exacerbate pelvic misalignment, which in turn causes lower back pain.

Regular stretching and myofascial release can help achieve muscles that are balanced in strength and flexibility. The assistance of a physical therapist is beneficial to people with sports injuries.

Hurdlers

Muscle strains are common among hurdlers, especially in the groin and thigh. Groin strain is generally a sign of either bad form or overuse. If you feel groin pain on the side of your trail leg, you may be swinging your leg out too far or too late. If the pain is on the side of your lead leg, you may be doing too many drills with the hurdles close together.

Hamstring strains are a common overuse injury acquired by hurdlers. The hamstring of the lead leg undergoes an eccentric contraction during a hurdle jump, which means it contracts as it is being lengthened by the leg's straightening. This type of contraction comes with a high risk of muscle tearing. The trail leg works hard to push the body off the ground. Hamstring strain is a sign to stop, rest, and warm up sufficiently before practicing.

More troubling than a simple muscle strain, hurdlers have to watch out for sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction. The sacroiliac joints form where the hip bones meet the sacrum at the base of the spine.
Injuries to the SI joints generally occur when the muscles and ligaments that support them are weakened, torn or tightened. The tremendous forces sustained by the pelvis when pushing off the ground can, over time, destabilize the pelvis, causing significant joint pain. Proper form, adequate rest time, good conditioning and sufficient warmup time can help prevent this condition.

Throwers

Whether it's a javelin, discus or shot put, throwers are susceptible to similar injuries. Throwers in track and field use muscles throughout the whole body to build momentum; javelin throwers run, while shot putters and discus throwers spin.

The most common throwing injury occurs to the shoulder. Rotator cuff injuries affect the set of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder, giving it stability and allowing up-and-down and rotational movement of the arm. Repeated throwing can cause tears to the muscles or tendons.

Hip and lower back strains may also occur in throwers, particularly discus throwers and shot putters who twist their bodies as part of their throw. Javelin throwers may also strain muscles throughout the back when lunging forward to throw the javelin.

The best defense against throwing injuries is to avoid overworking your arm and back. Know your limits and take adequate rest periods between practices.

Many sports injuries can be prevented with warmup, conditioning, self-myofascial release and the willingness to give your body the time it needs to recover. Whatever your track and field activity, approach it in a way that will allow you to enjoy your sport for many years to come.

Arthritis Hand Pain - Top 3 Ways to Cure Arthritis Hand Pain

Hand arthritis can occur mainly in three areas, such as wrist joint, finger joints, and knuckle joints. When these joints are affected by arthritis, daily activities such as writing, threading needle or tying shoelace etc. become very difficult. Out of all forms, hand arthritis is very perilous. However it is possible to get relief from pains associated through natural remedies.

Top three ways to cure arthritis hand pains are:

-Use of Alternative Medicines: Few alternative medicines are found to be very successful in relieving pain. One of the most popular alternative medicines is the use of herbs & massages. Acupuncture and visiting a chiropractor can be equally helpful for curing hand pain.

-Non-surgical Treatment: Three most popular non-surgical treatments are medications, injections, and splinting.

Medication: Medications works as anti-inflammatory drugs. Anti-inflammatories are capable of stopping the body from producing chemical, responsible for swelling & pain. Tylenol and Advil are two most popular over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs. Celebrex is a popular prescription drug for arthritic pain relief. Though medications treat symptoms, they are unable to restore joint cartilage or joint damage.

Injections: When anti-inflammatory medications are ineffective, injections are used. These injections contain a long lasting anesthetic & steroid. These injections are capable of providing pain relief, which can varies from weeks to months depending upon the amount of doses.

Splinting: Splints have to be used when joint hurts. The splint helps to support the joints. Splinting works along with injections as supplementary.

-Surgical Treatment: If non-surgical option fails to relief the arthritis hand pains, then surgery should be preferred. Usually surgery is the best option in providing long-term pain relief. Joint replacement is one of the popular methods in the surgical treatment.

Though these are the best three ways to cure arthritis hand pain, these can have possible site effects. Possible side effects of injections are lightening of the skin, weakening of the tendons and ligaments. Infections may be one of the major side effects of these practices.

Dog Joint Pain Caused by Arthritis

Signs of pain in a canine are not always pronounced, but there are signs that will help you discover that the dog is suffering from dog joint pain, if you know what those signs are.

Certain breeds of dogs are more prone to having joint problems as they get older, and other dogs may experience joint discomfort due to an injury or arthritis.

Joint pain may not be noticed when it first starts, but after awhile, the owner notices that the dog is acting differently. At first, the dog will have a slow day, and then will be more active the following day, and then maybe a week later, slows again; the owner will once again see the dog is acting differently, this time raising a caution flag.

If a dog always lies on the couch and this is the dog's favorite spot, one may observe the dog approach the couch, and then in slow motion, get onto the couch. The dog might even try a scoot method to avoid lifting the hind legs.

They will use the front legs as leverage, literally pulling the hind legs onto the couch to avoid pain. Another sign is the hunched look. When the dog walks, it may look like the hind legs are closer together, taking baby steps, and the rear part of the dog is almost into a hunched position.

To avoid the joint pain, a smaller step will replace a full flex of the hind leg. Observe the dog when they try to make a circle or turn, one may notice that they almost hop to complete the circle, or instead of a tight turn, they will make the turn around by walking in a larger circle.

This action is from hip pain in the rear joints that the dog is avoiding by walking or turning, and meanwhile trying to keep the weight off of the hind quarters. An owner may even think that the dog is constipated, because of the stiff hind quarters and lack of movement in that area.

The best way to determine what is causing the pain is to have a veterinarian do an x-ray of the joints. It can be from the hip bone being a flatter joint bone, as opposed to having a curve to keep the joint in place. This would then allow the joint to freely move within that area.

The best way to give a good example is: cup your left hand, then make a fist with the right hand, now place your fist into the cupped hand. That resembles a joint. Now flatten or open the left hand while keeping the fist, see how with the extra room the joint floats and does not stay in one place.

There are several different causes of why the family pet is experiencing dog joint pain. Have a vet examine the dog, and do an x-ray to determine the exact cause of pain; nobody enjoys pain, including the dog.

Gout Pain - Is There One Miracle Cure for All?

As any gout sufferer will agree, gout pain is intense and agonising. Gout can come on very quickly and with little or no warning.

The body produces uric acid from the breakdown of food. A manageable level is maintained with excess being dissolved into the blood stream, filtered via the kidneys and passed via urine. If our bodies start to produce a higher level of uric acid, a build up occurs generally in the joints. the build up of uric acid leads to the formation of uric acid crystals causing inflammation and redness.

Once an attack has taken hold, gout pain can be debilitating. The pain can be so intense that the insignificant weight of a bedsheet over an effected joint can be unbearable.

Untreated, a gout attack can prevail for more than a week. If not treated attacks can become more regular and cause permanent joint damage. While most commonly occurring in the big toe joint, gout pain can also be experienced in the knee, ankle, elbow, wrist and hands, and even the hip joint.

There are many ways to treat gout pain both with prescribed medication and with natural remedies. I have, over the last 20 years, tried many.

For years I was using prescribed drugs that only seemed to work sometimes. I was prescribed drugs to prevent gout and had to take it daily. Although being diligent I still suffered regular attacks. The doctor then prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce the pain!!

It seemed that I was going round in circles and getting nowhere. The preventative medication was not working and the anti-infammatory drugs were causing kidney damage!!

I decided to look for alternatives.

There were a number of natural treatments available that I found seemed to work well. Apart from a few lifestyle changes (which certainly helped!!) I discovered there were additional things I could be doing that helped with the gout pain.

Some of these treatments worked within hours.

One thing I have learnt during my time is that not every treatment works effectively for all gout pain sufferers.

So, is there one miracle cure for all?...Probably not I'm afraid.

The good news is there is a number of treatments (both via medication and via natural remedies) so all is not lost.

I have tried many of these treatments over the years and have created Gout Relief Online, a website dedicated to finding and detailing the gout pain relief programs available.

Chiropractic Manipulation Helps Osteoarthritis of the Hip

Osteoarthritis of the hip is a common joint disorder, which can cause pain, inflammation, and stiffness. Age is a top contributing factor for the disorder. Other factors include family history, obesity, overuse, or a previous fracture or injury. Hip pain caused by osteoarthritis is often combined with stiffness, swelling, limited range of motion, and difficulty walking or sitting for extended periods of time.

Positive lifestyle changes can help reduce the symptoms associated with osteoarthritis. Maintaining a healthy diet and weight, getting ample rest, getting your alignment checked and exercising regularly can help limit your pain and stiffness. Exercise helps with strength and movement of the joints. Swimming is particularly beneficial since it can help improve strength and mobility of the joints but is non-weight bearing.

Chiropractic care for osteoarthritis of the hip has been studied and has been recommended as an effective treatment. In a major study, "Comparison of manual therapy and exercise therapy in osteoarthritis of the hip: a randomized clinical trial," researchers compared the effectiveness of chiropractic mobilizations and manipulations of the hip joint with an exercise only program (no manipulations or mobilizations).1 The study followed more than one hundred patients with osteoarthritis of the hip in a single-blind, randomized clinical trial. Half of the participants received the chiropractic manual therapy and the other half received the exercise program. Success rates for the manual therapy group were 81% compared to only 50% for the exercise group. "The manual therapy group had significantly better outcomes on pain, stiffness, hip function, and range of motion."1

The research showed that while exercise can be beneficial for patients with osteoarthritis of the hip, that manual therapy provided by a chiropractor is superior to exercise alone and can greatly improve a patient's quality of life.

Chiropractic is a natural form of healing that uses manual therapies (commonly adjustments) and other physiotherapy modalities. A chiropractic adjustment is one of the most common forms of manual therapy used by chiropractors. In this study, adjustments were made to the hip and spine (manipulation or mobilization). A manipulation is a high velocity action performed with specific, directed force, which helps to move the joint beyond the patient's passive (or resting) range of motion to achieve its full range of movement. Mobilization is a low velocity action applied within the patient's normal (active) range of motion.

Chiropractic adjustments are intended to restore proper body alignment, range, and quality of motion. The patients in this study who received the adjustments experienced a better outcome in managing their hip pain. Further, more than six months after the adjustments, the patients were still experiencing the positive benefits of the manual therapy, suggesting the long- term effects of the therapy.

Chiropractic care is a safe and cost effective alternative to surgery. While some patients with osteoarthritis of the hip will inevitably need surgery, it is well worth the effort to a visit to a chiropractor first. Hip adjustments by a chiropractor may help you avoid or at least delay the need for surgery.

References
1. Hoeksma HL, Dekker J, Ronday HK, et al. Comparison of manual therapy and exercise therapy in osteoarthritis of the hip: a randomized clinical trial. Arthritis Rheum. Oct 15 2004;51(5):722-729.

Golden Retriever Health - Useful Information on the Most Common Health Problems

As much as Golden Retrievers can bring incredible levels of joy and pride to a family, this venerable breed also comes with a few important peculiarities, most of them, sadly, pertaining to health issues. Though, Golden Retrievers have a life expectancy that can reach up to 15 years, recent studies have shown that the dogs typically die from health complications without even reaching the prime age of 10. Much like other breeds, the Golden Retriever can become subject to multiple health issues which affect not only its general health, but also its disposition and behavior.

Although not particularly a leading cause of death, a common condition afflicting Golden Retriever health is canine hip-dysplasia (CHD). This type of genetic joint disease results in the misalignment of the hip socket, a condition which in human terms can be most closely associated to arthritis. Goldens, like many other dog breeds, are quite susceptible to this degenerative disorder, causing much pain to a dog. In case the condition is more severe, hip dysplasia can result to partial lameness. As the Golden is considered one of the most active breeds of dogs, loss of motor functions is especially dangerous to its mental condition.

Less common but acutely important to Golden Retriever health are cataracts which clouds the eye and can ultimately lead to loss of vision. Largely hereditary, cataracts among canines are usually treatable, but obviously very troublesome and costly. Even an attempt to surgically treat a cataract condition likewise requires the dog in question to be in suitable health, not to mention the pain of searching for a veterinary clinic with the adequate equipment and tools necessary for the procedure. Retrievers with untreated eye problems can gradually lose the ability to see in night and low-light conditions, significantly affecting balance and temperament.

Allergies are also a constant bother to Golden Retriever health, manifesting mostly in the skin but sometimes in other body parts as well. While all dog breeds suffer from allergies, its affliction to a dog is especially noticeable as it affects the famous fur coat the breed is known for. Canine allergies typically follow flea bites although it is possible that a Golden develops an allergic reaction to food or even household items. Tests to determine allergies do exist with the most common being intradermal skin testing.

A chief and grave concern among owners is a bleeding disorder called the von Willebrand disease (vWD). Also a common occurrence among humans, the von Willebrand disease results in the inability of platelets to function properly for the process of blood clotting. The presence of this disease in a Golden typically renders the owner to be extra careful of the dog, with a typical side-effect being the avoidance of major physical activities which Golden Retrievers live for. Likewise, vWD normally inhibits the ability of a dog to undergo any kind of surgery, giving owners little to no option for treating other health conditions such as cataracts.

As major Golden Retriever health issues are hereditary in nature, new owners should take particular note of the reputation and track record of the breeders from which they plan to get a puppy from. Top-quality breeders do the legwork for diagnosing early symptoms of major diseases and health defects and will usually provide advice for treatment and consultation. If possible, asking for a health certification before taking a pup home is a very prudent option.

Unfortunately Golden Retrievers health problems are not limited to hereditary issues. Cancer is the leading cause of untimely death during last decades. Despite the fact that in some cases it can be treatable the death rate among diseased remains very high.

Otherwise, the lifespan of a Golden Retriever is highly dependent on diet options and its access to physical activities. Routine check-ups with a veterinarian are likewise advisable.

Migraine Headache and TMJ Syndrome

Headache and TMJ syndrome may go together if you have chronic recurring headaches. While wildly over diagnosed in the 1970's recently newer imaging techniques, such as MRI's, have allowed for a better look at this facial joint that causes so much pain.

TMJ or temporomandibular joint syndrome as the disorder is commonly called, is poorly understood at the present time in terms of how it is caused. While many patients have bruxism or grinding of the teeth at night, others may have had trauma, osteoarthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis. Many times the cause is unknown. For those of you with migraine, the constant clenching of the jaw causes muscle spasms in the temples. This then leads to a migraine.

The symptoms of TMJ may be any or all of the following: pain or tenderness in jaw and/or around the ear , difficulty chewing, a clicking sound when jaw is opened,spasms causing the jaw to "lock" when open or closing, uncomfortable or uneven bite, and finally, headache!

Diagnosing TMJ involves a good history of how you sleep, grinding habits during the day and general tension. An exam of the jaw should involve palpation of the joint both inside and outside of the mouth. Imaging of your jaw may be needed to find out how much damage is in the joint. X-rays, a CT of the jaw or even an MRI would assist the doctor. Once diagnosed you should be referred to a dentist who specializes in TMJ syndrome.

Treatment of TMJ may greatly reduce your headaches. But like anything else, a multi-factorial approach to the problem will yield the best results for you. Each of the following treatments may help you to reduce your pain.

Overuse of jaw muscles. This is mostly a lifestyle change. You must be willing to recognize when you are grinding your teeth during the day and learn to relax the jaw. Also, try not to eat foods that are difficult to chew until you heal a bit more.

Appliances. Depending on your particular situation, the dentist may make a bite plate or splint to help align your teeth at night. A night guard appliance could also be used to help prevent grinding.

Medications. Various medications may ease your pain and thereby reduce your headaches. A short course of steroids will reduce inflammation, or if the condition is not severe an anti-inflammatory could be used. Spasming of jaw muscles could contribute to the problem, and the ideal medication for this is Elavil.

Dental Repairs. Your dentist may recommend dental work that may not make much sense to you at first. However, correcting bite, repairing teeth and filing down tooth edges that aren't meeting correctly will all serve to decrease TMJ. Surgery.This is a final option and is reserved for cases where the above options have failed. In this case the joint is so badly damaged that joint reconstruction or replacement may be recommended. And again your headache and TMJ may be reduced!

Uncover the Facts About TMJ

Teeth grinding is a habit that can turn into a disorder when not taken care of properly. One of these complications is the temporomandibular joint or TMJ problems. It is a disorder that is involved with the inflammation of the temporomandibular joint. This joint is responsible for connecting the mandible to the skull, and is jointly responsible for the opening and closing of the jaw. Without it, speaking, eating and other activities associated with mouth movement are not possible. That is why problems with this joint can cause serious disabilities to an individual.

TMJ problems can be caused by a number of reasons. As stated above, teeth grinding can lead to temporomandibular joint disorder or TMD. In fact, TMD is one of the most serious consequences of teeth grinding. This is because teeth grinding can damage the muscles and joints surrounding the teeth and the jaw. An individual is said to be developing TMD from teeth grinding if he wakes up in the morning with an aching ear or jaw. Any damage or trauma to the jaw can also lead to the disorder. Like other bones in the body, when this joint gets damaged, it will be inflamed. Damaged bones take at least 2-4 months to heal. When the joint does not heal correctly, it can deform the temporomandibular joint, causing TMD. Activities that distort the jaw and the upper body can also lead to the condition. An example of this is frequent usage of telephones and awkward sleeping positions.

When TMD is suspected, the individual can exhibit a number of symptoms. The most common symptom of TMD is headache, accounting to 80% of the patients. This headache is accompanied by facial pain, aggravated by movement of the jaw. This can be explained by the damage sustained by the joint. When the joint is damaged, the trigeminal nerve can be compromised as well. This nerve is responsible for the movement of the jaws and the ability of the face to feel touch. Ear pain is also common to affected individuals.

The temporomandibular joint is located right in front of the ear, so pain in this area is very likely. Clicking sounds can also be heard when the mouth is being opened and closed, indicating misalignment of the joint. A grating sensation can also be felt if the temporomandibular joint is felt while moving the mouth. To confirm the diagnosis, the individual will undergo an X-ray to identify any abnormalities in the joint. The physician will also conduct a physical assessment of the teeth and jaws to gauge the extent of the disorder.

When a diagnosis has been made, the individual with a TMJ disorder will undergo treatment. Treatment modalities include physical therapy, medications to relieve pain, correction of the alignment of the joint and stress management. All of these interventions are geared toward the relief of the symptoms of TMD, correction of the factors that caused the disease and treatment of other factors that aggravate the disorder. Treatment can be long and difficult, so a lot of patience is needed from the individual.

Hip Joint Replacement - Expectation and Limitations

Hip Joint Replacement is a surgery commonly performed in Orthopedic practice, wherein the hip joint is changed to a new modular bearing providing painless articulation.

The common indications of a Hip Replacement surgery are:
1. Hip Joint Arthritis- either degenerative or inflammatory pathology.
2. Fracture Neck Femur (upper end of thigh bone)
3. Malformed hip Joint- a disease of the childhood
4. Loss of blood supply (Avascular Necrosis)

The definite indication of Hip Replacement is - Painful hip joint with radiological evidence of obliteration of joint space. Only exclusion is Fracture Neck Femur; wherein a partial change of the bearing component may be performed.

Patients usually have a number of queries regarding;
a) Will the pain go?
b) How much time do I need to stay in Hospital; and how much time off work?
c) Do I need to come back again for a possible surgery?
d) What happens to the metal inside my body?
e) What precautions I need to take, and for how long?

I will try to offer explanations to every question one by one...

The foremost concern is PAIN.
After a hip replacement, the pain due to arthritis usually subsides in 4-6 weeks. Thereafter, there may be occasional reminders of pain after unaccustomed activity. If however, the pain re-appears after a prolonged pain free period; or the pain tends to worsen progressively, there is a definite cause for concern. This requires an urgent evaluation by the Orthopedic surgeon.

As regards hospital stay, the usual duration is 1 week. The timing of going back to previous level of activity depends upon the type of Hip replacement - Cemented/ Un-cemented; and the quality of bone stock. Usually patients may resume office and sedentary work after 4-6 weeks.

The typical longevity of a Hip replacement depends upon- quality of bone/ level of physical activity/ Age/ body weight/ technique of surgery. Most hip replacements survive an average of 15-20 years. However, a large number of variables affecting longevity prevents accurate survival analysis.

The metal typically used in a Hip Replacement is non - reacting to body fluids. It may be Stainless Steel/ Titanium alloy, Cobalt - chrome alloy. The bearing surface is important factor in survival. Ceramic-on Ceramic and Metal-on Metal the the favored ones in current practice.

The most important of all, are the precautions to be taken by the patient himself. Dislocation of the new joint is a potential risk. extremes of movements should be avoided under all circumstances.

To summarize, it is important to understand the advantages/ limitations of a Hip replacement and to expect a reasonable goal before undergoing surgery. In a properly selected patient, it offers significant improvement in the quality of life and activity level.

The discussion on the relative performance of different bearing surfaces in hip replacement, will be discussed in subsequent posts.

Hip Pain - Do You Really Have Arthritis in Your Hips Or is it Muscle Pain?

"Oh, you have arthritis in your hips."

That's probably the most common diagnosis doctors give to us when we complain of hip pain.

If a doctor looked at an x-ray of any one of us, he would see changes in the bones. He would say we have arthritis. He would tell us that is the cause of our pain. Well, maybe it is and maybe it isn't.

We all have changes in the bones around our joints. Do we all have pain? The answer to that is no, we don't.

"You will just have to learn to live with it."

Maybe. Maybe not.

Doctors are great people and wonderful life savers lots of times, but as a rule, they don't know much about muscles. That's not something that is taught much in medical school. (Not in the schools you and I went to, either.)

We have large, powerful muscles that pass over our hip joints. These muscles allow us to move our legs and our body. The hip joint is where our thigh bone connects to our pelvic bone.

Those powerful, thick hip muscles can get overstretched from crossing our legs. The can be stressed from pressure like sleeping our our side or from car seats pressing on them. If you notice more pain when you cross your legs or ride in the car, take action to stop the pain.

The hip muscles can become tight from being overused or overstretched, too.

Our hip muscles can get out of balance sometimes. Our job is to keep them as balanced and in neutral as possible. When our muscles are in a neutral position, we have less hip pain. (And, "neutral" doesn't mean sitting in a chair all the time!)

"Neutral" means all of the muscles are balanced. They work together in harmony. Some are not stronger or weaker than others. They are all as strong as nature designed them to be so they can work together efficiently.

Some people do have a severe arthritic condition which causes hip pain and some have rheumatoid arthritis (which affects all of the joints in the body.) In those cases, a doctors' help may be necessary.

Some of us have a hip joint which has been worn over the years by the stress of having a short leg. A short leg causes pressure on the joint and muscles around the hip joint. Even this can often be "cured" by a knowledgeable muscle therapist and a lift for the short leg.

For the rest of us, here's the plan.

Think of your hip as having four sides. Front of your leg, back of your leg, the inside of your thigh and the outside of your thigh.

Your hip joint is most likely where you feel your pain. It seems like it's in the hip joint, but the cause could very well be the muscles on the inner side of your thigh or your back side.

You can start a movement plan to get your hip muscles back into balance. Always do your moves thoughtfully. Observe how your muscles are feeling. Pay attention to how you feel after your movements, too.

Move or lift your leg from each of the four sides. Do this while you are standing or on your side in bed.

You may discover, simply by paying attention to how your body feels, that it needs more movement in one direction than the others. Don't overdo, but do thoughtfully. Is one area tighter than the others?

If you determine that your hip muscles seem related to your hip pain (and they most likely are,) you can continue your movement therapy. Simply moving your legs in every direction, instead of always using them in only one or two directions, can help get your hips back to neutral.

You also might want to see a muscle or massage therapist. He or she will be able to loosen the muscles around your leg and hip bones. Sometimes those thick, powerful muscles need a little extra help to get back into balance. A massage therapist can be a perfect helper.

Relief From Joint Pain Is Not Difficult to Find

Joints in the body are prone to damage because they are constantly moving. As the human body advances with age the joints lose their lubricating fluids and make an individual prone to the problem of arthritis. Popular belief has it that people who suffer from this problem will have to lead a life of discomfort and suffer from pain. It is true that there is no medication, which can provide permanent relief from this problem. Fortunately, there are products, which are easily available and can deliver the relief which people affected with this problem want.

People who suffer from arthritis have a misconception that they will have to rely upon healthcare providers for the relief they want from the pain. It is true that medical practitioners have been successful in treating people who are affected with this problem. However, having mentioned that there is no cure available, it must be pointed out that people are only resorting to means that are temporary. The drugs which are prescribed only act for a short period and leave the individual dependent on the medication. Under the circumstances people will do well to consider other options, which are not at all difficult to find.

Arthritis is not a life-threatening condition and can easily be managed with a little thought from the affected individual. Minor changes to the kind of lifestyle they lead, changes to their diet and avoiding carbonated drinks, alcohol and tobacco will prove beneficial. The type of nutrition which people have plays a big role in triggering the mechanism of this condition. Therefore, it is essential for people suffering from this problem to consider having nutritional foods or supplements, which can provide them with the relief they seek.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not at all difficult to find relief from the problem of arthritis. Today, there are numerous products available in the market which is proven to be effective at this issue. People only have to visit the neighborhood supermarket or grocery to make a purchase of such products. Perhaps the only caution which people will have to exercise will pertain to the type of product they choose. They must exercise a degree of caution to ensure that they do not waste money on products, which cannot deliver on the promises they make. It is essential for them to choose products that are fresh, have been manufactured in line with prescribed guidelines and are proven to be effective against arthritis. Shopping around for such products will not be a difficult affair either because people can today use the Internet for this purpose. All that people have to do is conduct research from the comfort of their home to understand how easy it really is to find relief from joint pain.

BV Symptoms - The Tell Tale Signs and Symptoms For Bacterial Vaginosis Sufferers

Noticing that some things are off with your body, wondering what's going on, fearing the worst. There are a number of tell tale BV symptoms you can be on the look out for to see if you need to go to the doctor. Below I have listed the most common symptoms for sufferers of BV so that you can see if you may have it.

The first symptom that you will notice and quite possible the one that will make you most self conscious, will be a fishy odour from your vagina, this is pretty much a guarantee that you have BV, immediately go to the doctor and get checked out. This odour will become stronger and more noticeable directly after intercourse. A white and greyish vaginal discharge is also a very common occurrence with vaginosis and as well is more prevalent after sex. These two are the primary symptoms and are almost always present in cases of BV.

Are you noticing redness and itching of the vaginal area, these are also common secondary symptoms. Painful intercourse and painful urination can also be tips that you have BV. If you notice any of these you should consult your doctor immediately.

Once your doctor has discerned whether or not you have vaginosis they will most likely prescribe antibiotics that will clear up the issue...for now. I myself prefer to use natural methods to clear up my BV; these methods have helped me to get rid of it once and for all. Be on the lookout for these BV symptoms as 1 in 3 women will get in their lifetime.

Obesity Causes Pain in the Back

It is a well known fact that overweight is a major risk factor for a number of noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders and some cancers. The risk for these noncommunicable diseases increases, with the increase in BMI (Body Mass Index). But not many people know that overweight can also cause people pain in the back.

Recently, researchers at The University of Hong Kong found that being overweight and obese significantly contributes to the development of disc degeneration. Degeneration of the joints of the spine, known as the intervertebral discs, is one of the major causes of low back pain. Traditionally, it is believed that it occurs with only aging.

Two studies for adults, one cross-section, one time series, were conducted on this issue.

The cross-sectional one was the study of adults with age 21 or above. A total of 2,599 individuals (1,040 men and 1,559 women with mean age of 42) were assessed with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Participants were from diverse social and economic backgrounds and were recruited regardless of whether they had lower back pain or not.

After the assessment, it was found that 73 per cent of them had disc degeneration with men (76%) having a significantly higher prevalence of degeneration than women (71%). Increasing age was also found to increase its prevalence.

Of those who had disc degeneration, 7 per cent were underweight, 48 per cent in the normal weight range, 36 per cent overweight and 9 per cent were obese.

Overweight and obese individuals were found to have a greater extent and severity of disc degeneration in comparison to those individuals of normal weight or underweight.

"Our research confirms that with elevated BMI, there is a significant increase in the extent and global severity of disc degeneration. In fact, its end-stage with narrowing of the disc space was more pronounced in obese individuals," said Dr. Samartzis, one of the team leaders of this study.

In another study, 129 working middle-aged men, representing three occupations (machine drivers, construction carpenters and office workers), were recruited. The selection was based on the age (40-45) and place of residence. MRI images of the lumbar spines were obtained two times, one at baseline and another at 4 years later (follow up stage).

In this study, besides measuring their current weight, the participants' weight at age 25, their height, history of car driving, smoking, and back injuries were also obtained.

The findings of the study showed that persistent overweight (with BMI ≥25 kg/m2 at the age of 25 and at the current age) associated strongly with risk of increased number of lumbar disc degeneration.

Overweight at young age was a stronger predictor of an increase in the number of degenerated discs during follow-up than overweight in middle age.

Thus it can be concluded that overweight with BMI above 25 kg/m2 increases the risk of lumbar disc degeneration.

This is the case for adults. As more children are now becoming overweight, how detrimental would this also affect their lumbar spine?

Another cross-sectional study was on adolescents who were 13-20 years of age. The sample size was 83.

It was found that 35 per cent of them had disc degeneration. The majority (93%) of these adolescents with disc degeneration experienced low back pain and decreased physical function.

More importantly, being overweight in adolescence triples the likelihood of having disc degeneration and developing more severe forms of the condition than those with normal weight. Individuals with juvenile disc degeneration had an increased prevalence and greater intensity of low back pain and/or sciatica and hence greater physical disability.

Also, the development of disc degeneration in young age may potentially contribute to its greater severity early on in life and possibly a life-time of low back pain episodes.

Disc degeneration is irreversible and may cause a lot of long-term suffering and psychological distress for patients. Serious low back pain may prohibit the patients to maintain normal work and social life. And so it could lead to a serious need for back surgery.

Because of more weight, physical loading on the disc and/or a chronic low-grade inflammation from the fat cells may play a role in its degeneration, Dr. Samartzis explained.

Thus there is a need for the overweight people to employ successful weight loss strategies to prevent suffering from these diseases.

Arthritis Treatment: Focus On Muscular Stiffness, Joint Swelling, And Cartilage Repair

Effective arthritis treatment reduces inflammation in arthritic joints and creates an atmosphere for the body to repair its own cartilage deterioration. The best way to reduce inflammation is to lengthen all the muscles that attach to or surround the arthritic joint. Cartilage regeneration is also possible if excessive muscular tension is removed from the arthritic joint. Joints typically affected by arthritis are: knee, neck, shoulder, low back, hip, spine, hand or thumb, foot or toe. Regardless of the joint, the best way to treat arthritis is Active Isolated Stretching (AIS) therapy.

Arthritis therapy must address muscular inflexibility, because it is always a principle factor in arthritis pain. Joints are surrounded by muscles. Tightness in muscles cause joint inflammation and cartilage deterioration: two conditions that cause pain in arthritis sufferers. Joint inflammation causes swelling, which induces pain by pressing on the nerves. Furthermore, muscle strains on the arthritic joint cause a wearing down of cartilage. Cartilage is the shock absorber between joints. Both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are affected by joint inflammation and cartilage degeneration. Both rheumatoid arthritis sufferers and osteoarthritis sufferers must resolve muscular stiffness as part of their treatment plan. Optimal muscle lengthening is high value treatment for all types of arthritis.

Dr. Arthur Grayzel, former medical director of the Arthritis foundation is quoted in the book Keys to Understanding Arthritis, by Elizabeth Vierck. Dr. Grayzel states that "as people age, muscles lose their elasticity, leading to a reduced range of motion (page 11)." Limited range of motion causes cartilage deterioration. As the area of joint movement decreases, the joint begins to burrow a hole in the cartilage because it constantly treads in the same small area. Active Isolated Stretching therapy increases the range of motion in arthritic joints. As unnecessary muscular tension is taken off the joint, the joint will move in a greater surface area throughout the joint. Ceasing the process of cartilage degeneration.

Leon Sokoloff, M.D. examined cartilage regeneration. His findings are discussed in the book Healing Joint Pain Naturally by Ellen Hodgson Brown. Dr. Sokoloff states that "new cartilage could grow on bones but the real problem is the stress on the joint that keeps intervening and preventing this process (page 22)." If Dr. Sokoloff had studied Active Isolated Stretching, he would have discovered the critical link that helps arthritis sufferers naturally repair their cartilage. The stress on the joint that prevents new cartilage to grow on bones is excessive muscular tension.

In AIS treatment: circulation is refreshed into the problem area; stagnant waste products move out of the arthritic joint; fresh oxygen and nutrition move into the arthritic joint. The condition of cells surrounding the arthritic joint are improved, all of which facilitates cartilage regeneration.

The endorsement of stretching for arthritis pain is nothing new. But Active Isolated Stretching is an optimized form of stretching that is fifteen times more effective than older modalities. Conventional stretching, pnf stretching, yoga, and Thai massage have been incompetent in lengthening muscles. Optimal stretching cannot occur if the stretch hold is done for more than two seconds. Stretches done in repetition are better than one long stretch. The target muscle cannot stretch if the muscle is contracting, so stretch position must be reexamined. And target muscles cannot fully open if the lateral muscle fibers are not addressed. These points are only addressed in Active Isolated Stretching. Active Isolated Stretching reduces joint inflammation and facilitates cartilage regeneration by getting to the source of the problem.