Bones and joints Archive

Chronic low back pain affects as many as one-third of adults ages 65 and older and can be difficult to treat. A 2025 study found that adding 12 weeks of acupuncture to usual care resulted in greater pain relief and better function that lasted as long as a year after the treatments.

Obesity is thought to increase the risk of complications for people undergoing certain joint replacement surgeries. A 2025 study found that compared with people of a healthy weight, people with severe obesity (BMI of at least 40) were at no greater risk for serious complications following shoulder replacement surgery.

If total knee replacement is needed for both knees and symptoms in both are equally severe, bilateral knee replacement can be done, either in one surgery or in stages. Replacing both knees at once may be a good option for people under 75 with no major medical conditions and support at home.

Leg strength becomes even more vital as people age, as the legs are essential for routine movements such as going up and down stairs, sitting and rising from chairs, bending over and standing up, and protecting against falls. The main leg muscles are gluteals, quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves. Some exercises that can help strengthen these muscles are bridges, step-ups, and heel raises.

In a 2025 study, people with knee osteoarthritis reported less pain and had less knee cartilage damage after changing their walking gait to reduce pressure on the inner part of the knee.

Total knee and hip replacements are highly successful procedures that can relieve pain and restore mobility for people with severe arthritis. Occasionally, joint replacement fails, and revision surgery is needed. Reasons for revision include infection, implant loosening, dislocation, and fracture. Warning signs of a problem include persistent pain, swelling, or instability. Revision surgeries are more complex, require longer recovery, and carry higher risks than the original surgery. Experienced surgeons who perform these procedures frequently tend to have the most success.

An analysis of 217 trials found that lower-impact aerobic exercise (walking, cycling, and swimming) is most effective for easing knee osteoarthritis pain and improving function. Other exercise types, such as flexibility, mind-body, neuromotor, and strengthening, also offer benefits.

Tai chi uses a series of gentle, flowing motions and slow, deep breathing to exercise the body and calm the mind. It's good for health in many ways, especially for balance, which improves as the body becomes more attuned to changes in movement. Tai chi can be practiced outdoors as well as indoors, which is helpful during winter months. To get started in a tai chi practice, it helps to take a class with an instructor who supervises practitioners' progress. Classes can be found at wellness centers and health clubs.

Men often carry around extra belly fat and lose muscle mass as they age. An expanding waist could be sign of too much visceral fat, which is stored within the abdominal cavity and surrounds vital organs, including the pancreas, liver, and intestines. Research has shown that visceral fat can increase blood pressure, blood sugar, and total cholesterol levels, and raise the risk of fatty liver disease. Building muscle mass with resistance training and getting aerobic exercise improve muscle metabolism and help reduce visceral fat.