Arthritis may be a joint disease, but strengthening the muscles is an important component in its treatment. That is because a leading cause of limited movement in people with arthritis—especially, for instance, knee arthritis—is the weakening of surrounding muscles, rather than pain, dysfunction or abnormalities in the joint itself. This raises an important question: IsContinue Reading »
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Tag: Osteoarthritis
Synvisc Injections for Osteoarthritis- Why do they work?
For over 10 years patients with osteoarthritis of the knee and shoulder have had an alternative to oral medication for controlling knee or shoulder pain. The advent of the use of an intra-articular injections of mostly known as there brand name Synvisc or Hyaluranon that serve to lubricate the joint surfaces can provide significant painContinue Reading »
Climbing Stairs—One Step at a Time
Although going up the stairs may feel challenging, some people experience more pain going down. This is because your muscles have to work hard to control your weight as you descend. If you have suffered from knee problems in the past or continue to have problems, it is probably time to look at increasing strengthContinue Reading »
Does knee bracing make your muscles weak?
In the case of osteoarthritis in appears it does not weaken the muscles surrounding the knee complex. Details of recent study: Used custom fitted valgus knee unloader brace No loss of strength in six months of use Average time doning wear 5hours/day Small subgroup had negative effect in first two weeks Most effective for mildContinue Reading »
Bracing Yourself Against Arthritic Knee Pain
Here’s the catch-22 of physical therapy: Reducing pain requires physical work, but physical work can cause pain that makes it extremely difficult to do that work. Patients with arthritis of the knee joint often find that using a brace allows them to perform strengthening exercises more easily. But some people wrongly believe that aContinue Reading »
Restoring Range of Motion After Elbow Replacement
Total elbow replacement refers to a surgery that creates an artificial joint. Damage to your elbow can initially occur from badly broken bones, severely torn tissues, a tumor in or around the elbow, or osteoarthritis, or unsuccessful previous surgery. Your normal elbow joint is comprised of two bones—the humerus in the upper arm and theContinue Reading »
Knee Replacement Surgery: Before and After
Many patients believe that a physical therapy regimen follows joint replacement surgery, but exercise before surgery can reap many benefits afterward. Think about it: The pain in your knee has probably rendered you less active. Less activity causes the muscles—in this case, those in the thighs and hips that directly and indirectly support your badContinue Reading »
Weightbearing Following Total Knee Replacement
How much weight will you be allowed to place on your leg after total knee replacement surgery? This is a very important question, the answer to which depends on a number of factors. Weight-bearing following the surgery may be partial or full, depending on the surgeon’s approach. A critical part of the question is whetherContinue Reading »
Bracing for a New Arthritis Treatment
Knee pain from osteoarthritis is no walk in the park. In fact, the pain probably keeps you from walks in the park. Could wearing a knee brace help you overcome this discomfort? Often, arthritis affects only one compartment of the knee. This can result in your lower leg angling awkwardly and appearing “bow legged” (varus)Continue Reading »