Bones and joints Archive

Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel pain. It affects the band of tissue on the bottom of the foot that connects to the heel.

An estimated 32 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis, and although exercise is often difficult and painful, a regular resistance training program can help them stay active, improve their level of function, reduce pain, and perhaps avoid the condition worsening to the point where they need a joint replacement. Consulting with a physical therapist is recommended to find the right program to meet a person's needs, fitness level, and limitations.

Swimming and water aerobics are joint-friendly forms of exercise that strengthen the cardiovascular system and muscles at the same time. A full-body exercise, swimming uses nearly every muscle in the body. Water aerobics includes exercises like jogging, jumping jacks, and twists done in waist-deep or higher water. The added resistance from moving in water also burns more calories compared with similar land-based exercise.

Some types of cheese, including Swiss and Gouda, are a good source of probiotics, but eat cheese in moderation.

It's important to ask many questions before getting a knee replacement. Suggestions include asking about a surgeon's background, the type of prosthetic that will be used, the surgical approach the doctor will take, how to prepare physically before surgery, how to prepare one's home for recovery, how long the hospital stay will last, how much pain the knee replacement will cause, what rehabilitation after surgery will entail, how long recovery will last, how long it will be until one can resume activity, and how long the new knee will last.

Many older adults may not consider elbow health important. But elbow pain can keep a person from getting dressed, cooking dinner, and anything else that requires the use of the arm.

Adopting healthy self-management strategies that focus on a healthy diet, physical activity, and achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, can improve the quality of life of people with gout. Many of these same strategies can help reduce the risk of developing gout to begin with.

Most older adults can expect to walk more than 100,000 miles during their lifetime, which can take a toll on their feet. With regular foot care, people can address most everyday foot issues like calluses, blisters, and fungus infections. But older adults also need to be mindful about certain problems that can impede their foot health and make mobility difficult, such as heel pain, flat feet, and osteoarthritis.

When physical change makes once easy tasks challenging, it may be time to turn to certain therapists for help. A physical therapist can use exercises to help someone improve strength, balance, and mobility. An occupational therapist can teach someone new ways to do daily tasks by adjusting existing techniques or using adaptive equipment. A speech-language pathologist guides a person through exercises that help with difficulties speaking loudly, swallowing, or communicating.

A 2022 study found that yoga may offer some protection against frailty. Participants who practiced yoga improved two markers of frailty—walking speed and the ability to get up from a chair—compared with people who didn't practice yoga.