Arthritis in knee may cause a misstep

May 10th — admin

I have severe osteoarthritis in my left knee. I notice sometimes I misjudge how far to extend my knee when stepping off a curb. Is that caused by the arthritis?

The sense of joint position is called proprioception. Research shows that proprioception is altered with osteoarthritis. The more severe the patient’s symptoms, the longer it takes for the knee to register its position.

Scientists aren’t sure if the arthritic changes cause the change in joint position sense or the other way around. There could be other causes for your problem such as loss of joint motion and muscle weakness. It might be a good idea to have this checked out before a misstep causes a serious problem.

For more information on this subject, call The Zehr Center for Orthopaedics at 239-596-0100 or visit www.zehrcenter.com.The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic.

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Athletes’ knee injuries more likely in afternoon

April 19th — admin

Is there any truth to the idea that ski injuries are more likely in the afternoon than in the morning? I would have thought injuries occur in the morning before skiers are warmed up.

Studies do indeed show the greatest chances of injury to skiers occur in the afternoon. It’s also true that injuries to football players are higher in the third quarter of a game. Coincidence?

Researchers don’t think so. They say general fatigue in athletes may be the key factor in these injuries. Fatigue leads to a decline in knee proprioception. Proprioception is the joint’s sense of position. Fatigue and then decreased proprioception can result in ligament injuries.

Change in neuromuscular control may be a factor, too. This is the link between messages to the nerve telling the muscle what to do and when to do it. Special exercise to improve motor control may help reduce these “third quarter” injuries.

For more information on this subject, call The Zehr Center for Orthopaedics at 239-596-0100 or visit www.zehrcenter.com.The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic.

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Do injections to lubricate the knee really work?

March 11th — admin

I heard a report that knee injections to lubricate the joint are more and more popular. Do they work? And how?

Hyaluronic acid (HA) can be injected into the knee to restore the joint’s ability to move and glide easily. The knee already has some of its own HA. By injecting more, the HA already in the joint improves the flow of the synovial fluid. Injected HA also helps keep the naturally present HA from breaking down.

Overall, studies show that HA is both safe and effective. It seems to work better for younger patients (under 65 years) and for patients with only mild to moderate disease. Patients with severe osteoarthritis may not have any natural lubrication left in the joint. It seems without some HA, the injection doesn’t work as well.

For more information on this subject, call The Zehr Center for Orthopaedics at 239-596-0100 or visit www.zehrcenter.com.The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic.

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What does “advanced” osteoarthritis mean?

March 8th — admin

My doctor told me I have advanced osteoarthritis. What does this mean?

Osteoarthritis (OA) is staged according to how much damage has occurred in the joint and how much joint space is left. X-rays are used most often to stage OA. In advanced stages of OA, there is a complete loss of joint space.

The femur (thigh bone) and the tibia (lower leg bone) have no cushion between them. When you use the knee, the bones slide across each other without any protection or lubrication. We call this bone-on-bone.

For more information on this subject, call The Zehr Center for Orthopaedics at 239-596-0100 or visit www.zehrcenter.com.The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic.

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How old is too old for a total knee replacement?

February 19th — admin

My 92-year old mother has severe knee arthritis. It seems to me she could sure benefit from a knee replacement. Is she too old?

Maybe not! A recent study from Mayo Clinic reports good results for adults over age 90 getting their first total knee replacement (TKR). They also report on patients ages 90 to 102 who had a repair or replacement of a previous TKR.

Doctors are expecting to see more and more adults in their 90s (and older) outliving the TKR put in when they were in their 70s. Likewise, as more people live longer, first timers in need of a joint replacement may show up in their 90s.

For more information on this subject, call The Zehr Center for Orthopaedics at 239-596-0100 or visit www.zehrcenter.com.The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic.

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Early detection of arthritis in knees essential

February 16th — admin

I have knee arthritis on the left side. I can do everything my friends can do, it just takes me longer. Should I be concerned?

It’s natural to wonder and worry when we start to see signs of change with aging or disease. Keeping active is the key to maintaining physical function. Taking longer to complete a task may be a sign of early decline in strength, balance, and motion. These three things are very important to our independence.

There are some tests of overall function. These measure several types of activities from dressing and bathing to more active forms of exercise. The presence of pain, general health, and mental attitude are also part of the picture.

If you are noticing some changes and have some concerns, see your doctor for a check-up. Early detection and prevention of problems is essential in keeping our good health for as long as possible.

For more information on this subject, call The Zehr Center for Orthopaedics at 239-596-0100 or visit www.zehrcenter.com.The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic.

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Does arthritis in the knee always lead to arthritis in the hip?

December 1st — admin

Is it true that once I have knee arthritis, I’ll also get arthritis in my hips?

It’s not a given that if you have arthritis in the knee, you’ll get it in the hip. But there does seem to be a link between the two. Perhaps hip problems start when knee pain results in a limp or altered way of walking.

Problems above or below the impaired joint are common. Change in weight shift, weight-bearing, and balance can lead to a change in the hip or ankle joint. The hip is especially prone to end up with decreased function.

Physical therapists are actively researching ways to prevent this from happening. Finding hip problems early may be a start. If you are having pain and stiffness from knee arthritis, ask your doctor or therapist to check the hip on the same side and the knee and hip on the opposite side.

The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic. For more information on this subject, visit www.zehrcenter.com.

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Could exercising in a pool help me deal with the osteoarthritis in my knees?

September 18th — admin
Could exercising in a pool help me deal with the osteoarthritis in my knees?

 
It’s easier to move and exercise in a pool. The buoyancy of the water lends resistance, and helps you walk and move with less stress on your knees. The warmth of the water can help muscles relax, improve circulation, and ease soreness. Exercising in a pool is a great way to keep your muscles and joints strong and limber, without flaring up problems with knee osteoarthritis.

The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic. For more information on this subject, visit www.zehrcenter.com

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Can repetitive knee movements lead to knee osteoarthritis?

September 17th — admin
Can repetitive knee movements lead to knee osteoarthritis?

 
The smooth surfaces of cartilage in synovial joints like the knee allow for repeated movements with minimal wear and friction. If the joint is healthy to begin with, kept in good alignment, and free of injury, it is not likely that repeated movements would cause problems.

A recent study compared the thickness in knee cartilage between a group of triathletes and a group of people who had been inactive all their lives. There were hardly any differences at all. The knee cartilage of the triathletes did not appear to be negatively affected, despite the intense impact and repeated joint-loading commonly associated with this activity.

The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic. For more information on this subject, visit www.zehrcenter.com

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Can a partial meniscectomy be successful for seniors?

September 16th — admin
Can patients over 70 have good results from surgery to take out part of the knee meniscus?

 
They certainly can. A recent study evaluated the results of this procedure (“partial meniscectomy”) in 91 patients with an average age of 74. More than two-thirds of the patients had less pain after the procedure. Roughly four years later, these patients hadn’t had more surgery. They said they were satisfied with their results and would choose the procedure again.

Of course, these results aren’t as good as those commonly seen in younger patients. In general, researchers think that patients over 70 should proceed with caution when it comes to knee surgery. This is especially true for patients who have more knee arthritis or cartilage damage.

The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic. For more information on this subject, visit www.zehrcenter.com

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