The shoulder is one of the most flexible joints in the human body which makes so many routine upper body movements possible. Unfortunately, this wide range of motion of the shoulder joint also predisposes it to injuries such as dislocations, rotator cuff tears, and fractures. When the damage to the shoulder joint is not amenable to conservative treatment, your doctor may recommend shoulder surgery.

Due to the enormous stresses placed on the joints while running, most people assume long distance running will hasten the age-related wear and tear of your joints. However, research studies have shown that this is not necessarily true.

In a 7-year research study conducted on 14,000 runners & approximately 70,000 walkers, it was found that a higher percentage of the walkers developed osteoarthritis and required hip replacements as compared to the runners.

The holidays are a special time when families traditionally come together to enjoy each other’s company over food and drink. There are usually plenty of holiday treats that are hard to resist – candy canes, caramel apples, cheesecake, fruit cake, eggnog, wine, gingerbread, & glazed ham to name a few. By the end of the holiday season you’ve not only gained cherished memories but a few extra pounds of unwanted weight as well! Shared meals don’t have to be the only way promote family bonding. Here are some fun exercises you can enjoy as a family during the holiday season:

While on the playing field, most athletes live in “the here and now.” It is easy to get carried away by the heat of the moment and play through pain to achieve a short-term goal without thinking about the long-term consequences to your health. However, where the “no pain, no gain” philosophy fails is it often leads to overexertion to the point of seriously injuring yourself.

Here are a few tips for preventing overuse injury:

An unexpected injury can turn your life upside down. You may be forced to sit out the rest of the sports season, cancel your vacation plans, or completely change your line of work.

The uncertainty of the future and not knowing whether you will get back to normal again may bring to the surface a mix of emotions that can be difficult to control. If not handled appropriately, the consequences of emotional scarring may be worse than the physical injury itself.

Here are some coping strategies when dealing with the emotional side of injury:

Our bones and joints provide structure to our bodies, protection for internal organs and anchorage for our muscles when we move. Most people attain maximum bone mass around the age of 30 after which they begin to lose bone mineral density which can cause thinning and brittleness of bones. The key to minimizing loss of bone mass is to eat plenty of calcium-rich foods.

The recommended daily intake (RDI) of calcium for adults to help maintain bone mass is around 1000 mg. Older individuals and menopausal women may need up to 1500 mg per day.

National Physical Therapy Month is celebrated in October to spread awareness about the vital role that physical therapy plays in helping you move and feel better. Let’s look at the important benefits of physical therapy after surgery:

Falls are one of the major causes of serious injury such as hip fractures or traumatic brain injury among the elderly. According to a recent research study, fall death rates have increased by 30% in the US between the years 2007 and 2016. At this rate, there will be 7 fall deaths occurring every hour by the year 2030!

Chronic pain affects the lives of nearly 50 million people throughout the US and according to a recent study, only little over half the people suffering from chronic pain are able the successfully manage their symptoms. The rest often resign themselves to very limited lifestyle that is restricted by chronic pain.

The summer is the perfect time to improve your health and fitness levels with so many great outdoor activities to choose from. However, the increased heat and humidity that is part of the summer season should be taken into consideration when planning your workout or any physical activity. Here are a few fitness tips for the summer: