Bones and joints Archive

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.

Complete recovery from total knee replacement surgery can take six to 12 months. Working with a physical therapist to regain strength and mobility, most people can return to normal daily function within three months. It's important to remain active once physical therapy concludes. Lower-impact activities, such as walking, hiking, biking, swimming, golfing, strength training, and aerobic activities, are recommended. High-impact activities, such as running, may shorten the life span of the implant.

Among 12 physical therapy approaches for knee osteoarthritis compared in a 2025 study, three stood out. Knee braces, followed by hydrotherapy (exercise in water) and exercise (strength training and aerobics), were best for reducing pain and stiffness and improving physical function.

An exercise routine that targets muscles in the legs and buttocks can help build the strength and stability that are essential for daily functioning. Lunges are an excellent exercise for this. Older adults can do them safely if they have sufficient leg strength to do the exercise correctly. For those who lack the necessary strength, modified versions can be done until it's possible to gradually work up to doing the full lunge. Once that is mastered, more advanced versions include the side lunge and walking lunge. Holding weights can increase the challenge.

Arthritis in the joint at the base of thumb (the carpometacarpal joint) can cause pain, weakness, and instability. It can seriously impair the ability to function. Thumb arthritis is diagnosed with a physical examination and x-rays. It can be managed with occupational therapy, which includes learning optimal hand positions and exercises and wearing a hand splint. Pain relief options include heat, pain medications, and cortisone injections. If these are inadequate or the condition is severe, surgery is an option.

Women live longer than men. However, that longevity gap in the United States has increased to 5.8 years, the largest gap since 1996, according to a 2024 study. Why the widening gap? Researchers believe that in many cases, women are better than men at addressing certain health needs that contribute to longer lives, such as losing excess weight, quitting smoking, getting regular skin check-ups, and not ignoring mental health issues.

The sitting-rising test gauges how easily people can rise to their feet from sitting on the floor, using as little support as possible. A 2025 study suggested the test may help predict someone's longevity. People who scored the lowest were nearly four times more likely to die of natural causes and six times more likely to die of cardiovascular causes than participants who scored a perfect 10 on the test. The movement requires strength, coordination, balance, and flexibility. These components of fitness tend to drop off more precipitously in women as we age.

Chronic back pain (pain that lasts more than 12 weeks) can be more challenging to diagnose and treat compared to short-term pain from an injury. The first-line approach is conservative treatment, such as over-the-counter pain medication, physical therapy, and lifestyle changes. However, sometimes these are not enough, and advanced methods are needed. Depending on the source of chronic back pain, these can include stronger prescription medication, corticosteroid injections, and surgery.

There are many normal reasons people's joints make clicking, popping, cracking, or other noises. Joints are also more likely to make noise when people stay still for long periods. Pain or swelling with joint noise should prompt people to see a doctor.

A 2025 randomized trial of people with carpal tunnel syndrome found that 57% of those who had surgery as a first-line treatment recovered within 18 months, without additional treatments, compared with 13% of people who received steroid injections instead.