by Gabriel Adams
How many of us give even a second thought to the mechanisms involved every time we walk, bend, stretch or turn? Doing any kind of physical activity comes so naturally to most of us that we tend to take our musculoskeletal system completely for granted. The musculoskeletal system, which includes the joints and bones along with the surrounding soft tissues, is what keep us supple, agile and moving. The problem with taking it for granted and not giving it the care and attention it deserves is that the bones, joints and tissue degenerate slowly over time and we become aware of the deterioration only when it is much too late.
Going by current statistics, it is estimated that by 2050 almost 50% of Americans over the age of 50 are likely to suffer from problems associated with the bones and joints; unless precautionary measures are taken. In fact, musculoskeletal deterioration is the most common cause of severe physical disability and long-term pain right across the world. The global ramifications are so persistent and all-encompassing, that 2002 through to 2011 has been declared 'the bone and joint decade'.
Contrary to popular misconception, bones are actually living, growing tissues and not just some dry, brittle material that belong to a skeleton. They require continuous care and nourishment to keep them in optimum working condition. Right through our lives, our bones undergo a constant remodeling process, in which new bone tissue replaces the old tissue that is broken down or lost. The rate at which this happens depends on your age. From birth till your twenties, the rate of new bone formation exceeds the rate of bone loss. Bones are at their largest and most dense by age 30, after which the rate of bone loss begins to slowly or rapidly exceed the rate of bone formation. When bone loss occurs too rapidly and far exceeds the rate of new bone formation and replacement, the bones become increasingly fragile and prone to breakage, leading to Osteoporosis, which is the most common of all bone diseases.
Taking good care of your bones and joints
Giving your bones and joints the nourishment they need in early days is vital for setting the stage for healthy bones and joints later on in life. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is vital for improving your bone density and slowing down the rate of bone loss.
Maintain a healthy diet, which includes an increased take of calcium; a major component of the bone. Dairy products; green, leafy vegetables; nuts and legumes are good sources of dietary calcium. Supplement your diet with Vitamin D, magnesium, trace minerals and phosphorous; all of which are essential for complete bone nourishment.
Exercise regularly. It strengthens the muscles and improves mobility and flexibility of the joints. Weight bearing exercises, including biking, walking, weight lifting and aerobics help build muscle and strengthen the bones.
If you are overweight, take steps to lose that excess weight. When you are overweight, there is excessive pressure on your weight-bearing joints, which include the knees, hips and back.
Quit smoking completely and reduce your consumption of caffeine and alcohol. All three work to lower the levels of calcium in the body and impede bone formation.
About the Author
Support your joints with Actiflex and Zincosamine / Glucosamine by FreeLife.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Monday, October 15, 2007
Lower Back Pain
By Kate Brothers
Almost all of us have suffered from low back pain at some time or other. Most of us have recovered from it within a month or so, but for those remaining few who just don’t seem to be able to get rid of the pain; it is indeed a difficult and depressing experience.
But before we get involved with the details, here’s a word of advice. Pain and extent of damage may have no correlation with each other. So, don’t panic if your pain is unbearable. A simple muscle pull may force you to grimace with pain and be bedridden while the extremely serious and critical state of a herniated disc can be completely painless.
There are a lot of soft tissues, bones, facet joints, discs and nerves in the lower back and a slight maladjustment can cause severe pain and sometimes the pain may shoot through the legs and reach the feet. So, the diagnosis often becomes really difficult.
But diagnostic accuracy is essential to effectively treat a back pain. So, both description of the pain (whether it is a throbbing one, or it shoots through the limbs, or it numbs the lower back etc.) and its exact location (at what point of the waist and how it spreads) are very important parameters which help a doctor to proceed in the correct direction.
If the patient has fever, or has a history of cancer, or has suffered severe trauma, or is experiencing major weakness in the legs or is facing a serious problem in holding back his urine or stool, the situation requires immediate qualified medical attention.
Generally back pains take place due to either muscle strain, or due to a herniated lumbar disc or any other form of wasting disease of the lumbar discs. Among the many complex reasons which cause back pain one of the most common is the irritation of the many large and small nerves which originate at lower back and spread right up to the feet or palms. The erector spinae may also get strained and cause severe back pain. Another more obvious cause of lower back pain is damage of the bones, joints or ligaments in that area.
It may sound strange, but there are some lower back pains which baffle the doctors. Not matter how hard they try, they are unable to pinpoint any cause and are unable to answer why the patient is suffering in agony.
But the comforting fact is that most of the lower back pains disappear after they have run their course and only a few really require surgery of any kind. Often, a good physiotherapist is also able to provide much relief. However, in severe or persistent cases, the opinion of an orthopaedic surgeon on the need for surgery could be helpful.
Some doctors are of the opinion that lower back pain occurs not only because of physical reasons but may also occur due to mental stress and tension. Stress at the workplace, an abusive or dominating boss, or, incompatibility with professional colleagues can also pressurize a person and a lower back pain may emerge as a psychosomatic disorder. So, if you experience a lower back pain try to relax and you may feel a gradual relief.
Kate Brothers is a health writer with years of experience. For more of health articles about back pain, visit: The Pain Relief Practice
This article may be freely reprinted for your website, ezine, or blog so long as it’s reproduced in full, with the links, content and author credits unchanged.
Almost all of us have suffered from low back pain at some time or other. Most of us have recovered from it within a month or so, but for those remaining few who just don’t seem to be able to get rid of the pain; it is indeed a difficult and depressing experience.
But before we get involved with the details, here’s a word of advice. Pain and extent of damage may have no correlation with each other. So, don’t panic if your pain is unbearable. A simple muscle pull may force you to grimace with pain and be bedridden while the extremely serious and critical state of a herniated disc can be completely painless.
There are a lot of soft tissues, bones, facet joints, discs and nerves in the lower back and a slight maladjustment can cause severe pain and sometimes the pain may shoot through the legs and reach the feet. So, the diagnosis often becomes really difficult.
But diagnostic accuracy is essential to effectively treat a back pain. So, both description of the pain (whether it is a throbbing one, or it shoots through the limbs, or it numbs the lower back etc.) and its exact location (at what point of the waist and how it spreads) are very important parameters which help a doctor to proceed in the correct direction.
If the patient has fever, or has a history of cancer, or has suffered severe trauma, or is experiencing major weakness in the legs or is facing a serious problem in holding back his urine or stool, the situation requires immediate qualified medical attention.
Generally back pains take place due to either muscle strain, or due to a herniated lumbar disc or any other form of wasting disease of the lumbar discs. Among the many complex reasons which cause back pain one of the most common is the irritation of the many large and small nerves which originate at lower back and spread right up to the feet or palms. The erector spinae may also get strained and cause severe back pain. Another more obvious cause of lower back pain is damage of the bones, joints or ligaments in that area.
It may sound strange, but there are some lower back pains which baffle the doctors. Not matter how hard they try, they are unable to pinpoint any cause and are unable to answer why the patient is suffering in agony.
But the comforting fact is that most of the lower back pains disappear after they have run their course and only a few really require surgery of any kind. Often, a good physiotherapist is also able to provide much relief. However, in severe or persistent cases, the opinion of an orthopaedic surgeon on the need for surgery could be helpful.
Some doctors are of the opinion that lower back pain occurs not only because of physical reasons but may also occur due to mental stress and tension. Stress at the workplace, an abusive or dominating boss, or, incompatibility with professional colleagues can also pressurize a person and a lower back pain may emerge as a psychosomatic disorder. So, if you experience a lower back pain try to relax and you may feel a gradual relief.
Kate Brothers is a health writer with years of experience. For more of health articles about back pain, visit: The Pain Relief Practice
This article may be freely reprinted for your website, ezine, or blog so long as it’s reproduced in full, with the links, content and author credits unchanged.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
The Back Pain Cure
By David Carlton
Backpain is something which can be reduced and cured. In this article I will explain one of the two ways that are the most effective to do this...
It is becoming more evident in scientific studies that many illnesses, diseases and health conditions are caused by excess inflammation. And backpain is a condition which can be relieved by reducing your inflammation. One such way to reduce inflammation is to take anti-inflammatory drugs. I recommend you avoid these as they can cause adverse side effects and negative health consequences later in life.
A natural and side effect-less way to reduce inflammation is to cut out inflammatory foods from your diet, and incorporate anti-inflammatory food and natural supplements. This natural anti-inflammatory method has proven to be much more effective than most other backpain treatments.
The inflammatory foods to avoid are omega 6 foods like nuts and vegetable oils, saturated fats found in meat, eggs and dairy, and lastly sugar!
The best anti-inflammatory foods to eat are oily fish and vegetables.
Just making these simple changes to your diet will make a huge difference to your inflammation levels, and should provide you with very noticeable positive results in reducing your backpain, within a few days of starting.
The last step I recommend in this anti-inflammatory approach to resolving backpain is taking the anti-inflammatory supplement fish oil. Fish oil has important omega 3 fats (as does oily fish) that are proven to reduce inflammation, and taking a supplement is a convenient way to get this vital fat into your body everyday.
David Carlton has a free website about curing your backpain. Check it out today at Backpain Cure.
Backpain is something which can be reduced and cured. In this article I will explain one of the two ways that are the most effective to do this...
It is becoming more evident in scientific studies that many illnesses, diseases and health conditions are caused by excess inflammation. And backpain is a condition which can be relieved by reducing your inflammation. One such way to reduce inflammation is to take anti-inflammatory drugs. I recommend you avoid these as they can cause adverse side effects and negative health consequences later in life.
A natural and side effect-less way to reduce inflammation is to cut out inflammatory foods from your diet, and incorporate anti-inflammatory food and natural supplements. This natural anti-inflammatory method has proven to be much more effective than most other backpain treatments.
The inflammatory foods to avoid are omega 6 foods like nuts and vegetable oils, saturated fats found in meat, eggs and dairy, and lastly sugar!
The best anti-inflammatory foods to eat are oily fish and vegetables.
Just making these simple changes to your diet will make a huge difference to your inflammation levels, and should provide you with very noticeable positive results in reducing your backpain, within a few days of starting.
The last step I recommend in this anti-inflammatory approach to resolving backpain is taking the anti-inflammatory supplement fish oil. Fish oil has important omega 3 fats (as does oily fish) that are proven to reduce inflammation, and taking a supplement is a convenient way to get this vital fat into your body everyday.
David Carlton has a free website about curing your backpain. Check it out today at Backpain Cure.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Laser Spine Treatments - The Benefits
by Nelson Taylor
The spinal cord is one of the most sensitive parts of the human body. This part is responsible for several activities. It helps to support the head and the body. The spinal cord is connected to the brain through nerves. The brain sends signals to this part and the spine helps to support the body. The spine is in fact also known as the back bone of our body. It supports the back as well. Without the functioning of the spinal cord, it is impossible to sit, to stand, to walk or even turn. But there are several disorders that occur in the spine. It is prone to chronic pains and injuries. However, with the new technology, the treatment of the disorders of the spine has become easy. Laser spine treatments are often performed to cure the troubles in the spine.
Laser spine treatments are very effective. They help you get rid of spine troubles and the pain. Often arthritis causes a lot of pain in the cervical spine and the thoracic spine. With the help of laser spine treatments, you can get rid of these troubles that cause restlessness in you. In laser spine treatment, a laser beam is used. The laser beam works in an efficient manner. Proper application of the laser beam on the affected area is very effective and helps to relieve the patient from pain. There are several benefits of laser treatment for spinal troubles. Usually, the intervertebral discs are treated with the help of laser spine treatment. The laser beam is very effective on these discs.
Given below are the benefits that you get from laser spine treatments:
* The laser beam helps to reduce the nucleus of the pulpous and annulus fibrosis. This is known as the 'shrinking effect'. By a reduction in the size of these tissues, a lot of improvement occurs in the condition of the patient.
* Through laser spine treatment, the painful fibers of certain nerves can be deactivated. With the help of this treatment, the pain receptors of the annulus fibrosis can be denerved. The same is possible with the ligaments of the spinal column.
* With the help of laser treatment, the nerve transmitter can be destroyed. With the help of this destruction, the pain signals to the brain can be barred. Thus, you can easily get relieved from the pain. The laser treatments also help to close the small tears in the discs. This brings the stability in the annulus fibrosis, and helps to kill the pain and the narrowed openings in the vertebrae are widened.
Laser spine treatments are apt for spinal problems. The laser beam is very effective on the tissues and if used on the affected region of the body, it helps to kill the tissues that cause pain in the spine.
About the Author
Nelson Taylor owns and operates http://www.yourspinesurgery.com Spine Surgery
The spinal cord is one of the most sensitive parts of the human body. This part is responsible for several activities. It helps to support the head and the body. The spinal cord is connected to the brain through nerves. The brain sends signals to this part and the spine helps to support the body. The spine is in fact also known as the back bone of our body. It supports the back as well. Without the functioning of the spinal cord, it is impossible to sit, to stand, to walk or even turn. But there are several disorders that occur in the spine. It is prone to chronic pains and injuries. However, with the new technology, the treatment of the disorders of the spine has become easy. Laser spine treatments are often performed to cure the troubles in the spine.
Laser spine treatments are very effective. They help you get rid of spine troubles and the pain. Often arthritis causes a lot of pain in the cervical spine and the thoracic spine. With the help of laser spine treatments, you can get rid of these troubles that cause restlessness in you. In laser spine treatment, a laser beam is used. The laser beam works in an efficient manner. Proper application of the laser beam on the affected area is very effective and helps to relieve the patient from pain. There are several benefits of laser treatment for spinal troubles. Usually, the intervertebral discs are treated with the help of laser spine treatment. The laser beam is very effective on these discs.
Given below are the benefits that you get from laser spine treatments:
* The laser beam helps to reduce the nucleus of the pulpous and annulus fibrosis. This is known as the 'shrinking effect'. By a reduction in the size of these tissues, a lot of improvement occurs in the condition of the patient.
* Through laser spine treatment, the painful fibers of certain nerves can be deactivated. With the help of this treatment, the pain receptors of the annulus fibrosis can be denerved. The same is possible with the ligaments of the spinal column.
* With the help of laser treatment, the nerve transmitter can be destroyed. With the help of this destruction, the pain signals to the brain can be barred. Thus, you can easily get relieved from the pain. The laser treatments also help to close the small tears in the discs. This brings the stability in the annulus fibrosis, and helps to kill the pain and the narrowed openings in the vertebrae are widened.
Laser spine treatments are apt for spinal problems. The laser beam is very effective on the tissues and if used on the affected region of the body, it helps to kill the tissues that cause pain in the spine.
About the Author
Nelson Taylor owns and operates http://www.yourspinesurgery.com Spine Surgery
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Back Pain
Back pain (also known as "dorsopathy") is pain felt in the back that may originate from the muscles, nerves, bones, joints or other structures in the spine.
The pain may be have a sudden onset or it can be a chronic pain, it can be felt constantly or intermittently, stay in one place or refer or radiate to other areas. It may be a dull ache, or a sharp or piercing or burning sensation. The pain may be felt in the neck (and might radiate into the arm and hand), in the upper back, or in the low back, (and might radiate into the leg or foot), and may include symptoms other than pain, such as weakness, numbness or tingling.
Back pain is one of humanity's most frequent complaints. In the U.S., acute low back pain (also called lumbago) is the fifth most common reason for all physician visits. About nine out of ten adults experience back pain at some point in their life, and five out of ten working adults have back pain every year[1].
The spine is a complex interconnecting network of nerves, joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments, and all are capable of producing pain. Large nerves that originate in the spine and go to the legs and arms can make pain radiate to the extremities.
Back pain can be a sign of a serious medical problem, although this is not most frequently the underlying cause:
Typical warning signs of a potentially life-threatening problem are bowel and/or bladder incontinence or progressive weakness in the legs. Patients with these symptoms should seek immediate medical care.
Severe back pain (such as pain that is bad enough to interrupt sleep) that occurs with other signs of severe illness (e.g. fever, unexplained weight loss) may also indicate a serious underlying medical condition, such as cancer.
Back pain that occurs after a trauma, such as a car accident or fall, should also be promptly evaluated by a medical professional to check for a fracture or other injury.
Back pain in individuals with medical conditions that put them at high risk for a spinal fracture, such as osteoporosis or multiple myeloma, also warrants prompt medical attention.
In general, however, back pain does not usually require immediate medical intervention. The vast majority of episodes of back pain are self-limiting and non-progressive. Most back pain syndromes are due to inflammation, especially in the acute phase, which typically lasts for two weeks to three months.
The pain may be have a sudden onset or it can be a chronic pain, it can be felt constantly or intermittently, stay in one place or refer or radiate to other areas. It may be a dull ache, or a sharp or piercing or burning sensation. The pain may be felt in the neck (and might radiate into the arm and hand), in the upper back, or in the low back, (and might radiate into the leg or foot), and may include symptoms other than pain, such as weakness, numbness or tingling.
Back pain is one of humanity's most frequent complaints. In the U.S., acute low back pain (also called lumbago) is the fifth most common reason for all physician visits. About nine out of ten adults experience back pain at some point in their life, and five out of ten working adults have back pain every year[1].
The spine is a complex interconnecting network of nerves, joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments, and all are capable of producing pain. Large nerves that originate in the spine and go to the legs and arms can make pain radiate to the extremities.
Back pain can be a sign of a serious medical problem, although this is not most frequently the underlying cause:
Typical warning signs of a potentially life-threatening problem are bowel and/or bladder incontinence or progressive weakness in the legs. Patients with these symptoms should seek immediate medical care.
Severe back pain (such as pain that is bad enough to interrupt sleep) that occurs with other signs of severe illness (e.g. fever, unexplained weight loss) may also indicate a serious underlying medical condition, such as cancer.
Back pain that occurs after a trauma, such as a car accident or fall, should also be promptly evaluated by a medical professional to check for a fracture or other injury.
Back pain in individuals with medical conditions that put them at high risk for a spinal fracture, such as osteoporosis or multiple myeloma, also warrants prompt medical attention.
In general, however, back pain does not usually require immediate medical intervention. The vast majority of episodes of back pain are self-limiting and non-progressive. Most back pain syndromes are due to inflammation, especially in the acute phase, which typically lasts for two weeks to three months.
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