The goal of treatment for knee arthritis was once simply to control pain and maintain mobility, and this is still true in older patients. But the number of patients between the ages of 40 and 60 suffering from arthritis is increasing, and many want to remain active in sports and other recreational activities. Since most of these cases progress slowly, there's no need to rush to surgery, according to a review of treatment options published in the July, 2010, issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Brian Feeley, M.D., lead author of the review and assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of California, San Francisco, outlined the following strategy:
- Take control of your situation - understand the disease process and learn about treatment options.
- Work with your physician to come up with short and long term plans to help manage your symptoms.
- Be flexible with your activities: try not to put the same stresses on the affected knee every day. This may mean more biking and swimming and less running.
- Find a doctor who will help you tailor treatment to your individual needs.
My take: This is good advice for any health concern. Exercise can be beneficial for arthritis patients as long as it doesn't overstress the affected joints. Strengthening surrounding muscles will support and protect the joints, and physical activity helps improve and maintain joint mobility. I would also suggest dietary changes that may help. Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids and the spices ginger and turmeric may help reduce inflammation. Foods rich in antioxidants - plentiful in most vegetables and fruit - may help reduce tissue damage from inflammation.
Exercises for Healthy Aging
Stretching exercises should be part of your everyday fitness routine no matter what your age. Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging has exclusive fitness videos, tips and exercise guides to help you get started and stick with a well-rounded fitness plan, including stretching. Start your 14-day free trial now and save 30% when you join!
Cranberry Juice and Staph Infections
Cranberry juice can help ward off urinary tract infections - it interferes with E. coli bacteria, the bug commonly responsible, by preventing it from adhering to bladder walls. Now, new research suggests that the juice can also block Staphylococcus aureus infections. These bacteria can cause everything from minor skin problems to serious bloodstream infections. One strain is responsible for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA, an infection that most antibiotics can't cure. Researchers at the Worchester Polytechnic Institute recently reported that cranberry juice reduced the ability of S. aureus to cause infections. Their study involved healthy female students who drank either a cranberry juice cocktail or a placebo beverage that tasted like cranberry juice. The participants then provided urine samples that the researchers incubated in the lab with several strains of E. coli and one strain of S. aureus. The investigators found that urine samples from the young women who had consumed cranberry juice significantly reduced the ability of both types of bacteria to adhere to cell walls and then form biofilms, a prelude to infection. This was surprising, researchers said, because staph aureus "is usually very good at forming biofilms - that's what makes it such a health problem." Now researchers have to investigate how this new knowledge can be applied.
Creating Change
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Massage Boosts Immune System
We all know that massage feels good, but new evidence suggests that it can be even better for your health than previously thought. Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles noted that while some small studies had shown the health benefits of massage, their larger investigation revealed that Swedish massage triggers measurable and beneficial changes to both endocrine and immune system responses. The researchers recruited 53 physically healthy volunteers who had no mental disorders and divided them into two groups: 29 of the volunteers received 45 minutes of Swedish massage while 24 received 45 minutes of light touch massage. Prior to massage, all the participants were fitted with intravenous catheters so that blood samples could be taken at intervals before and after massage. Results showed significant changes in lymphocytes, white blood cells that are key players in immune system responses; a large decrease in a hormone (arginine vassopressin) believed to play a role in aggressive behavior and linked to prompting increases in the stress hormone cortisol; a decrease in cortisol levels; and a decrease in inflammatory cytokines, which are immune system mediators.
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Healthy Meal Idea: White Beans and Fusilli
This makes a great lunch as well as an entrée for dinner. I make this pasta dish with beans because they provide a bit of protein. Serve with a green salad and a sliced French baguette brushed with olive oil and toasted.
View Recipe
Fitness on a Budget Part 3: Jump Rope
Courtesy of Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging
Jumping rope is an inexpensive way to get a cardiovascular workout with the added benefit of weight-bearing exercise. You can purchase a good jump rope for less than $10 at a sporting goods store, or simply make your own from extra rope you have around the home.
Featured Discussion:
"How can I get my daughter to drink more liquids?" asks justahealthymom.
I have 3 kids. (Two of them) drink plenty of water, but the youngest (doesn't)…Most days she won't even finish one (12 ounce thermos of cold water)… On some days I give her a low sugar fruit/veggie juice box … or put about 1 ounce of juice to 10 ounces of water, but (that doesn't always work)…Any suggestions?...(I would also like to know)… how much liquid…a child (should) be drinking per (pound). She is about 32 pounds (and is three and a half years old).
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