Feb 26 2009
A study from the University of Athens in Greece determined that adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet has a significant impact on bone mass and skeletal health in women. Features of the Mediterranean diet include high consumption of fish and olive oil, low intakes of red meat, an abundance of plant foods and olive oil, low dairy intake and moderate intake of alcohol intake. Continue Reading »
Feb 25 2009
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the National Collaborating Centre for Chronic Conditions, a specialty health authority in the UK, will issue guidelines on February 25, 2009 to help identify, manage and treat rheumatoid arthritis. Around 400,000 people in the UK and about 2.5 million Americans have rheumatoid arthritis. Continue Reading »
Feb 24 2009
Feb 23 2009
Dutch researchers studied the effects of different types of physical activity on knee osteoarthritis in older adults. Four components of physical activity were evaluated in 1678 patients over a 12 year period. Physical activity was categorized into four groups: muscle strength, intensity, mechanical strain, and turning actions. No association was found between the Continue Reading »
Feb 23 2009
Uloric (also known as febuxostat), a Takeda Pharmaceuticals gout medication, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Gout is a painful condition caused by elevated levels of uric acid that build up in the blood, soft tissue and the joints. One of the most common places for Continue Reading »
Feb 21 2009
2nd metatarsal overload is pain and inflammation at the 2nd MPJ secondary to abnormal weight transfer.
Neuroma is an inflammed nerve in the ball of the foot.
Metatarsalgia is used as a catch all term for pain in the ball of the foot.
Sesamoiditis is the pain and inflammation of two small bones under the big toe joint.
Feb 19 2009
A bunionette, also called a tailor’s bunion, is a structural change in the foot. The long bone on the outside of the foot, the 5th metatarsal, moves away from the center line of the body and the 5th toe moves towards the other toes, as seen in the image to the left. This movement results in a structural change and causes a bump to form on the outside of the foot. Continue Reading »
Feb 18 2009
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is a subset of arthritis seen in children. The arthritis may be transient and run a limited course or it may be chronic. Idiopathic means arising from an unknown cause. Symptoms of juvenile idiopathic arthritis are often general and include lethargy, fatigue and reduced desire for physical activity. The first sign of a problem in young children may be limping, but the persistent swelling of a joint (knee, ankle, wrist or small joints of the hands or feet) is the most common clinical sign. Continue Reading »
Feb 17 2009
The prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the United States increased to 17.5 million people in 2007 and continues to rise. Serious complications associated with diabetes include, but are not limited to, heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, nervous system diseases and amputations. In 2002 there were 82,000 lower extremity amputations in diabetics. The economic burden of diabetes has been estimated at $116 billion for medical expenditures. These are frightening statistics. Prevention of type 2 diabetes is of the utmost importance. Continue Reading »
Feb 16 2009
Do you have foot pain, but you are not sure exactly what might be the cause? Start by using our interactive foot pain finder tool to help locate your foot pain. The foot pain finder will give you information with images, diagrams and links to common foot problems. Interactive Foot Pain Finder Tool.
Feb 15 2009
Individuals with diabetes have a greater risk for developing open wounds (ulcers) due to reduced sensation and circulation. Diabetic ulcers can become infected and severe infection may reach the bone. The medical term for bone infection is osteomyelitis. Osteomyelitis associated with diabetic wounds worsens the chances of recovery. Treatment of bone infections involves prolonged antibiotic therapy and/or surgery and in some cases amputation. Continue Reading »
Feb 14 2009
Motek Medical has designed a digital imaging system which tracks muscle movements and displays the virtual image on a screen in front of the user. The system allow doctors and therapists to visualize which muscles are flexing as they move in real time. The system uses infrared lights, eight video cameras and a reflective suit to send information to a software program which generates a virtual body double. Continue Reading »
Feb 13 2009
A recent study in The Lancet shows that treatment of severe ankle sprains with a below the knee cast is more effective than a compression bandage. A total of 584 participants with severe ankle sprains from eight emergency departments were included in a study to evaluate different treatment methods. Patients were placed in a below-knee cast, an Aircast brace, a Bledsoe boot (walking boot) or a tubular compression bandage. Patients were evaluated at three months and nine months. Continue Reading »
Feb 12 2009
A study published online today in the journal The Lancet found a reduction in the signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis and an associated decrease in the number and size of skin lesions with the use of a drug called ustekinumab. Lead author and chairperson of the Department of Dermatology at Tufts Medical Center, Dr. Alice Gottlieb, MD said “This is a positive development for patients living with the joint pain and swelling that characterizes the disease, even as more research is needed to further test the efficacy of this treatment in psoriatic arthritis.” Continue Reading »
Feb 11 2009
British researchers analyzed 14 randomized controlled trials with 429 participants evaluating the effects of orthoses in people with stroke and other non-progressive brain lesions. They found that there was a significant and beneficial effect of lower limb orthoses on walking speed, walking step and stride length and weight distribution in standing. Continue Reading »
Feb 10 2009
One might think that bone is simply a static structure in the body, but on a microscopic level, bone is constantly being broken down and built back up again. Cells called osteoblasts build up bone and cells called osteoclasts break down bone. In diseases such as osteoporosis, bone breakdown by osteoclasts (bone resorption) outpaces build up of bone by the osteoblasts. This has generated therapies and medications directed at osteoclasts within the bone, with the hopes of slowing down bone resorption. Continue Reading »
Feb 09 2009
Atherosclerosis is a process in which fat deposits, cholesterol, calcium and other substances build up on arterial walls and penetrate into the smooth muscle of the vessels. The build-up is commonly referred to as plaque and when this occurs in the heart, it is called heart disease. Most individuals do not have isolated plaque buildup in their heart vessels. If there is plaque in the arteries of the heart, there is most likely plaque in arteries carrying oxygen and nutrients to the feet, legs or brain. Continue Reading »
Feb 08 2009
According to CDC data from 2005 about 60-70% of diabetics have some type of nerve damage and about 30% of diabetics over forty years of age have diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Diabetic neuropathy is an abnormality of the nervous system caused by diabetes. When referring to the human body and diabetic neuropathy, peripheral refers to the hands and the feet. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is described as a loss of sensation that starts in the tips of the toes and gradually works its way up the legs. Continue Reading »
Feb 06 2009
Most Americans are feeling the pinch in today’s economy. The cost of living continues to increase as wages decrease. Exercise is important for general health, yet the cost of a gym membership is too much for most people. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends moderately intense cardio 30 minutes a day, five days a week. Moderately intense physical activity means exercising hard enough to raise your heart rate and break a sweat, but moderate enough to be able to carry on a conversation. Walking is one of the best and cheapest forms of exercise. Walking at a brisk pace can elevate the heart rate enough to qualify for moderately intense cardio activity. For those who are new to walking, it’s best to start slowly and work up to a brisk pace to avoid injuries. Use the following tips to help avoid foot problems while walking: Continue Reading »
Feb 05 2009
On January 16, 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a Public Health Advisory about the potentially serious and life-threatening side effects from the improper use of skin numbing products, also known as topical anesthetics. Many topical anesthetics are now available over-the-counter at your local drug store. Continue Reading »
Feb 04 2009
A study in the February issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine analyzed the data from the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to determine the use of vitamin and mineral use among children in the U.S. There were over 10,000 children between the ages of 2 and 17 years in the study. The results showed that more than one-third of them took a vitamin and/or mineral supplement. The children who do not really need vitamin and mineral supplements were more likely to take supplements, and those who may benefit from vitamin and mineral supplements were less likely to take them. The children who were more likely to take vitamin and mineral supplements were associated with the following: Continue Reading »
Feb 03 2009
Top rated by Runner’s Magazine, Arch Molds Maximum Heat Moldable Insoles have many features:
Feb 02 2009
The main function of the toenails is to provide protection to the tips of the toes, but they can also act to enhance sensation. The nail unit is composed of the nail plate, nail fold, lunula, cuticle and hyponychium. Continue Reading »
Feb 01 2009
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a nerve disorder which occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the sheath surrounding the nerve cells. The result is a range of diverse symptoms. Lower extremity symptoms include muscle weakness, balance difficulty, tingling, burning or prickling sensations in the feet or legs and/or complete loss of sensation. Continue Reading »
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