Missteps are not a vision problem

September 1st — admin

I notice as I get older that I seem to misstep when climbing unfamiliar steps or stepping down off curbs. My vision is perfectly fine. The problem seems to be my knees. What could be causing this?

As we all know, there are many changes that occur with aging. Overall posture starts to change. We aren’t as stable in the upright position as we once were. Around the knee the quadriceps muscle strength is less. Aging often brings arthritic changes that affect the knee.

At the same time there is a reduced amount of joint position sense. Position sense (knowing where the joint is in space) is called proprioception. Scientists aren’t sure what comes first, the arthritis or the decreased proprioception.

It’s even possible that arthritic and disc changes in the neck can lead to changes in knee proprioception. One study has shown that patients with pressure on the spinal cord in the neck have altered knee proprioception. Another study confirms that patients with arthritis in one knee have decreased joint position sense in the other knee.

More study is needed to sort these factors out. In the meantime, make an appointment with your family doctor. It might be a good idea to rule out anything more serious going on and get a baseline. You may just need a conditioning or strengthening program.

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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NASA pressure chamber could help speed rehab

August 24th — admin

I’ve heard there’s a pressure chamber designed for NASA that might be used in the future for rehab after knee and hip injuries. What can you tell me about this?

Astronauts are subject to many possible problems due to travel in a gravity free environment. Muscles start to waste away. Bones get brittle and the heart and lungs start to get deconditioned.

Exercise in space has not been able to help staff keep muscle strength and mass. Treadmills with bungee cords have been tried but the harness is uncomfortable. A lower body negative pressure chamber has been devised to help with this problem.

The chamber is a rectangle-shaped box that forms a vacuum around the lower body. It’s sealed at the waist. A special saddle helps the legs stay relaxed while supported. Pressure can be lowered to reduce the force on the joints equal to 20 percent of the person’s body weight.

Using this idea might be helpful with patients who need to get up and moving but can’t put weight on their leg. This could apply to patients with hip and knee surgeries, amputations, and even strokes. It’s not available for commercial use yet. It’s still being tested for patient use.

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.

Posted in Hips, Knees. Tags: , , , . No Comments »

KT-1000 an accurate test for torn ACL

March 19th — admin

I’m scheduled to have a special test for my knee. It’s called a KT-1000. What is this exactly?

The KT-1000 arthrometer is a small device that’s strapped to the leg during knee examination. It’s used when the doctor thinks there may be a tear in the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

The examiner pulls on the uninjured knee and the gauge on the KT-1000 shows how many millimeters of motion occur between the lower leg bone (tibia) and the upper leg (femur). This motion is called a drawer sign. The reading is compared between the injured knee and the normal knee.

If there’s more than three millimeters difference between the knees, the ACL is torn. It’s considered more accurate than an MRI.

If you’d like to see a photo of this tool go to:
http://www.medmetric.com/kt1.htm or

http://www.ismoc.net/procedures/kt1000.html.

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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Is arthroscopy the best way to diagnose source of knee pain?

October 8th — admin

My doctor is trying to find the cause of the pain in my knee. What’s the benefit of doing knee arthroscopy instead of MRI?

Knee arthroscopy may be the most common orthopedic procedure done today. It is a highly safe and reliable way to locate the source of knee pain. Researchers estimate that it is accurate over 90 percent of the time. Also, arthroscopy is more readily available to most patients than some other diagnostic procedures, such as MRI. While MRI may be less invasive, it’s also more costly and, in some cases, harder to get. Some doctors worry that MRI may be less accurate than arthroscopy. If both kinds of procedures are available to you, you may want to ask your doctor whether he or she prefers one method over the other. It may be that, in your case, one of the procedures would do a better job of finding the source of your knee pain.

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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A "loose body" in my knee joint? What is that?

October 7th — admin

Upon seeing my doctor for the popping, clicking, and swelling in my knee, I was told I have a “loose body” in my knee joint. What is a loose body, and where could it have come from?

A loose body is a piece of tissue from within a joint that has somehow become dislodged and floats freely in the joint. It can get caught between the joint when it moves, causing the joint to pop, click, catch, or even lock up. There are several conditions in the knee that can be sources of a loose body. A loose body can form if a section of the meniscus has torn loose, either from trauma or degeneration. A bone chip from a fracture can also become a loose body.

Another possible source for a loose body is osteochondritis dessicans (OCD), a condition in which a piece of cartilage and the underlying bone have been damaged. In some cases, the damaged fragment separates from the bone and floats freely within the joint. 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 http://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 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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Where exactly is the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)?

September 15th — admin
Where exactly is the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)? Why don’t I hear about it as much as the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)?

 
The cruciate ligaments are two ligaments that cross inside the knee joint. (“Cruciate” means cross). By connecting the thighbone (femur) with the shinbone (tibia), they help stabilize the knee. The ACL is in front. It protects the tibia from going too far forward in relation to the femur. The PCL crosses behind the ACL. It’s made up of two bands that work together to stabilize the knee when the lower leg is moving backward or rotating outward.

You hear more about the ACL because ACL injuries are more common. They also tend to result in more pain and symptoms than PCL injuries. However, recent studies suggest that PCL injuries may be more common than previously thought, accounting for roughly 20 percent of all knee injuries. Researchers have recently turned more of their attention to PCL injuries, to develop more effective treatments.

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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What is ACL Reconstruction Surgery?

September 14th — admin
What is ACL reconstruction surgery? Where does the “reconstruction” come from?

 
The anterior cruciate ligament–or ACL–is a major stabilizer of the knee joint. When this ligament is torn, the original, damaged tendon is removed, and the knee is reconstructed with new tissue. Typically, surgeons cut a strip from the patellar tendon (below the knee) to replace the ACL. Or they may use tissue from one of the hamstring tendons along the inside of the thigh. Screws are used to attach the new tissue in the exact location of the original tendon. This procedure is typically successful. In a recent study of 200 patients, no significant medical complications developed from ACL reconstructions using the patellar tendon. In fact, 96 to 98 percent of patients said they would choose this surgery if they had to go back and do it again.

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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Will sprained knee lead to arthritis?

September 4th — admin

I twisted and sprained my knee badly back in high school. I read once that having a bad knee injury can cause knee arthritis later in life. If so, I’m wondering if there is anything I can do now so I don’t end up with knee arthritis.

People who have had a significant injury of the knee joint may have a greater risk for knee arthritis in later years. Prevention includes safe exercises that focus on improving and maintaining joint movement and muscle strength. Stay active in a low-impact conditioning program, such as walking. To help reduce shock with day-to-day activities, wear supportive shoes, and consider the addition of an insole to help absorb shock. Walk on soft surfaces when possible, and avoid standing and walking for long periods on hard surfaces, such as cement. You might also consider choosing sport and recreational activities that don’t require cutting, jumping, and quick starts and stops. The time and effort you invest now to improve the health of your knee and avoid future problems are worth it.

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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