arthritis-related stories
Arthritis - Don't Let It Slow You Down
Have Arthritis? Get Exercising
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| Photo: mikebaird, Flickr |
If your excuse for not engaging in sweat-dripping, pavement-pounding workouts is your worry about either getting or worsening your arthritis, you're in luck. A study with more than 1,200 participants found no link -- let's reiterate, that's zero, nada -- between osteoarthritis and exercise, even high-impact. And although obesity is an independent risk factor for the joint condition, physically active overweight participants fared just as well as their slim peers. The average age was in our Fit After 40 range, 53.
"What's particularly convincing about the study is they also took an MRI of each subject's knee. They discovered that those who performed the most vigorous weight-bearing exercise had the thickest, healthiest cartilage," says Dr. Harvey Simon, editor of the Harvard Men's Health Watch. What's more, these findings were consistent with another study published last year that found no connection between running and arthritis. In fact, running seemed to actually benefit joints.
In both studies, none of the members had arthritis to begin with. But other research shows that exercise at any level can even help those who already have it. "A lot of people don't exercise because they think their arthritis pain will be exacerbated but the opposite is true," says Dr. Patience White, chief public health officer for the Arthritis Foundation. So for those of you who are using your arthritis pain as an excuse not to move, listen up: "When physical activity is combined with a weight loss program, you can actually prevent arthritis pain and decrease the progression."
The Myth of Runner's Knee
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| Photo: jupiterimages |
A 2008 Stanford University study followed 500 longtime distance runners over 50 for nearly 20 years. At the study's onset, the runners ran approximately four hours per week, which declined to an average of 76 minutes per week after 21 years. Additionally, 6.7 percent of runners had mildly arthritic knees compared to none in an age-matched control group, reported The New York Times. Now, the old school of thought would lead you to believe that after 20 years, runners experienced a higher incidence of arthritic knees. In reality, the reverse happened. Only 20 percent of runners experienced arthritic knees compared to 32 percent in the control group.
Researchers think that running may be able to shield the body from arthritis because the knee develops a kind of motion groove, wherein the knee joint adapts to the action of running.
Lose Weight to be Good to Your Knees
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| Photo: j.fralin, Flickr |
In addition to heart disease, diabetes, and other conditions, obesity can put you at risk for knee injury and conditions like osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative musculoskeletal disorder that usually develops slowly, but obesity can cause rapid deterioration of the cartilage in the knee. Once you develop osteoarthritis, there's not much doctors can do; treatments revolve around managing the pain, and severe cases may require knee replacement surgery.
Over 300 patients who were at risk for osteoarthritis participated in a recent study. Weight proved to be a big factor in tissue decline; for every one unit increase in body mass index, the chance for cartilage loss jumped by 11 percent.
Love to exercise? Check your fingers
Have you heard of palm reading? Who knows if that's real or not... but researchers seem to be finding a lot of telling information from a surprising source: The length of fingers. First, Jacki told us how the length of your ring finger can affect your arthritis risk, now researchers are saying that the ratio between your digit (second) finger and ring (fourth) finger may be related to your desire to exercise.
The study, conducted by American and Canadian researchers, compared the activity levels of normal mice and selectively bred mice. The more active mice showed a difference in finger length.
Do yoga every day to keep the doctor away
Experts believe it's yoga's stress-relieving style that makes it so special. Studies show that combining regular yoga with healthy lifestyle changes can drop cholesterol points up to 23%. Women in menopause report that yoga can relieve their symptoms. And a study of women in treatment for breast cancer found that women reported feeling better after treatment when they did yoga regularly.
Want to learn more about the powerful medicinal benefits of yoga? Forbes has more in their gallery, including:
- Yoga improves balance, important for seniors who could be seriously injured in a fall.
- It relieves pain from conditions like arthritis, fibromyalgia, and carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Yoga can improve digestive and respiratory health.
- Yoga relieves stress and can improve a person's outlook.
- It can make bones stronger, important for women who are at risk for osteoporosis.
Have knee pain? Try lightening their load
There is something simple you can do to ease osteoarthritis if you already have it, and reduce your risk if you don't.A recent study shows that nearly two in three obese people will develop osteoarthritis. It's a painful, degenerative condition and can result in reduced mobility, knee replacement surgery, even disability. Losing weight can be the single most important thing you do for your knees -- every pound you lose reduces four pounds of pressure on your knees.
Exercise is also vital. If your joints are sore, try swimming or water walking. Other low impact activities such as walking may also be helpful. You can also ask your doctor for advice on appropriate physical activity.
Small salads save knees and hands
Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements
Ah, the power of food. Even small portions of food have power, like small salads.Small salads eaten just before a meal can keep your knees and hands free of arthritis. It's the vitamin K found in leafy greens like cabbage, spinach, and swiss chard that reduces the risk of joint damage.
Here's what science says about this salad scoop: Those with higher blood levels of vitamin K have significantly less chance of developing bone spurs and cartilage damage, common complaints of those with painful osteoarthritis. Hands seem to benefit the most, but knees get a dose of protection too.
Once word of caution before you mix up those greens: if you are on blood thinners, check with your doctor to determine how much vitamin K is appropriate for you.
The highest antixodant fruit ever
Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements
I always thought blueberries were tops when it comes to antioxidants. Nope. The acai berry (pronounced "ah-sigh-EE") takes tops honors and may beat out every other fruit or vegetable by a mile, says RealAge. Consider this: The freeze-dried berry has 30 times the disease-preventing anthocyanins of red grapes. Sounds pretty good to me.Acai berries are so good they can help lower cholesterol, minimize inflammation, fend off arthritis, and fight cancer -- in one study, the berry extract killed between 45 and 86% of a sample of human leukemia cells.
Antioxidants aside, acai berries are also full of B vitamins, magnesium, copper, zinc, phosphorus, and sulfur. Want to give them a try? Stop by your local health food store for juices, smoothies, and other products containing the nutritious fruit.
Daily Fit Tip: Get busy
Long ring finger ups risk of arthritis
Check out your fingers. Is your ring finger longer than your index finger? Mine is. Uh Oh. That means I have nearly double the chance of developing osteoarthritis, according to a recent study.
Size differences between ring fingers and index fingers have already been linked to sexual and physical ability and performance in university exams, but researchers have now discovered that arthritis might also be connected to the size of fingers.
Type 3 Finger Pattern is what it's called when people have the common male trait of a shorter index finger, and it's now been linked to arthritis of the hips and knees. More common in women than men, the mechanism that accounts for this finding -- and one linking this finger pattern with early onset menopause -- is unknown.
Sounds like I could be headed for future health issues. How about you?You Are What You Eat: Turmeric is terrific
Being someone who loves to travel, I'm drawn to ethnic foods, tastes from around the world. So many cultures have different forms of curry, but my favourite is a good, spicy Indian curry. Provided it's not loaded with too much cream or sodium, curry is loaded with healthy ingredients like fresh veggies and spices. One of the key ingredients, of course, is Turmeric, and it's one of the main reasons you should eat more curry.
Why? The reasons are almost endless.
The truth about cherries
Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements
The truth is: I love cherries. Some other truths: Cherries have the highest levels of disease-fighting antioxidants compared to other fruits, a growing body of evidence shows that tart cherries may help relieve arthritis, cherries are one of the few foods known to regulate natural sleep patterns, and cherries also might reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. Geez, and I just loved them for the taste.Wait. There's more: Cherry consumption help prevent colon cancer, may aid in the management of diabetes, and may be good for the brain.
Ready to love cherries, like me? If so, check out this handy tool and learn how to incorporate cherries into your routine. Take a peek at these recipes too -- this month's featured treat is Confetti Couscous Salad with Dried Cherries. Yummy. And for up-to-date cherry news, pay this location a visit every once in a while..
Can metal jewelry really ease arthritis?
Celebs & Entertainment, Reviews & Products, Alternative & Green Health
But she wasn't wearing them to complement her eclectic style. She suffered from arthritis in her hands and believed the metal jewelry eased the pain. I don't know that she ever opted for any other form of alternative therapies for pain management or popped pills for it. My Grandma Hall, as everyone referred to her, never was big on consuming much besides coffee and leftover chicken pilfered from a buffet restaurant and carried home in her Ziploc-lined purse.
Whether they really worked or generated a powerful placebo effect remains debatable. One might be better off improving nutrition and keeping up with an exercise regimen. Beyond that, there's a more modern version of the copper bangle for those whose style might be a bit more edgy. Or gender neutral.
Rheumatoid arthritis? You might ease the pain by going vegan
Vegetarian, HealthWatch, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Alternative & Green Health
However, here's some potentially hopeful news: Recent studies are showing that adopting a vegan, non-gluten diet can help ease the pain of rheumatoid arthritis. It can also help prevent heart disease and strokes in those with arthritis. According to the findings, arthritis sufferers on a vegan diet had lower levels of C reactive protein, a compound that is related to levels of inflammation in the body.
The bad news is that a vegan, non-gluten diet involved cutting out all animal products (including meat and dairy) and many common grains. What can you eat? Lots of nuts, seeds, fruits and veggies.
