Category: pamcmurtrie
Should I be concerned about my child’s back pain?
According to Orthoinfo, Yes. Back pain in children may signal a more serious condition. This is especially true if the child is younger than four years of age.
Back pain is quite common during childhood. Up to 70% of children experience back pain by the age of 15. Some instances result from serious medical conditions. Activity or overuse injuries may contribute to others.
See a medical provider at once if your child’s back pain lasts for more than several days or gets worse. If fever, nausea, tingling, numbness, trouble sleeping or walking, accompany back pain, it may signal a more serious condition.
What causes […]
What are plantar warts?
What are plantar warts?
Contrary to childhood speculations, plantar warts have nothing to do with farmers or gardeners.
The word “plantar” refers to the bottom of the foot, rather than a person who plants seeds. People pick up warts when they step on a live virus with bare feet.
Plantar warts are hard skin lesions that grow on the bottom of the foot.
What causes plantar warts?
A strain of human papillomavirus (HPV) causes plantar warts. Like other viruses, it is contagious. But this is just one of the over 100 HPV viruses in our world today. It is not the same strain responsible for sexually transmitted diseases.
The […]
What is bursitis?
Bursitis occurs when the bursa, a synovial-fluid-filled sac is inflamed. Though slippery and tiny, the bursa has a big job. It acts as a cushion and allows the bones, tendons, ligaments, and muscles to work together without friction. When these tiny water-balloon-like sacs become inflamed and swell, movement is painful.
What causes bursitis?
Many cases of bursitis in the joints result from repeated movement of the joint. It is a type of overuse injury.
But overuse injury is only one cause of bursitis.
Age, arthritis, gout, injury, or surgery are other factors. Being overweight also applies more pressure to the bursa.
Bursitis can occur in any joint, tendon, or […]
Physical therapy can lower the risk of falling
A local news station recently highlighted a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Sadly, Wisconsin has the highest rate of fatal falls among adults aged 65 and older in the country. Fortunately, physical therapy can lower the risk of falling.
Any fall can be debilitating. And just the fear of falling can limit a person’s lifestyle.
Physical and occupational therapists can help older people improve their balance.
A physical or occupational therapist can help people become more confident as they move. As a result, older people can experience:
- Improved balance
- Increased strength
- Enhanced flexibility
- Greater endurance
During the first appointment, the physical […]
What is a meniscus tear?
The meniscus is a small horseshoe-shaped rubbery pad of fibrocartilage and collagen. These pads inside the knee absorb the impact of motion. Each knee has two of these miniature shock absorbers: the lateral and medial meniscus. Injury to these protective pads results in a meniscus tear.
How do meniscus tears happen?
Athletic training or competition can exert a tremendous force on the menisci. Running, jumping, squatting, or twisting motions can intensify this pressure. During these high-pressure or fast-paced activities, sections of the menisci can tear or move out of place.
But anyone can tear their meniscus. People who dance, play tennis, snowshoe, or ski are […]
Concerned about numbness in the fingers?
Most of us have felt the pins-and-needles feeling in our hands and fingers known as paresthesia. But it’s usually a temporary condition caused by pressure on a nerve. This “falling asleep” sensation goes away once the pressure is released. However, another type of numbness in the fingers can signal serious health problems.
What causes numbness in the fingers?
Underlying issues related to finger numbness range from dehydration and overuse to spinal conditions or chronic illnesses. Some of the more common reasons include:
- Prolonged pressure on a nerve caused by repetitive motions that require holding an object in the hands, like a mouse, pen, or power […]
How much is too much Vitamin D?
The pandemic has caused many people to look for ways to strengthen their immunity. And one of the common ways found on the Internet is to increase vitamin D levels. But in this instance, too much of a good thing can be dangerous.
Why is vitamin D important?
Besides boosting immunity, our bodies need this essential vitamin to build new bone, prevent muscle spasms and cramps, regulate thyroid function. It also allows healthy neuromuscular function and supports cardiovascular health.
How do we get vitamin D?
You can get this bone-building booster from foods containing high levels of Vitamin D, like almonds, eggs, and salmon. The body needs […]
What is frozen shoulder?
Frozen shoulder doesn’t refer to a cold shoulder, temperature, or frostbite. Instead, this term refers to pain and loss of movement in the shoulder joint. And “frozen shoulder” is easier for more people to remember than adhesive capsulitis.
Frozen shoulder describes pain and loss of movement in the shoulder.
The shoulder is a unique joint. It brings together the bones of the upper arm (humerus), shoulder blade (scapula), and the collarbone (clavicle). The shallow ball-and-socket allows the arm to rotate freely and move forward, backward, up, and down. The muscles, ligaments, tendons, and bones must move together smoothly to perform these movements.
Shoulders immobilized with a sling […]
Do knee pillows really help?
Search for knee pillows online and you’ll find knee pillows in all shapes, sizes, textures, and prices.
But do knee pillows really help?
For decades, health care providers have recommended that side sleepers put a pillow between their legs for optimum bone health and a good night’s sleep. There are some health benefits to the practice.
- Placing a pillow between the knees helps people stay in the correct sleeping posture.
- Pillows keep the knees, hips, and spine aligned, which helps reduce stress on the hips, neck, and back.
- Sleeping with a pillow between the knees can reduce cramps and morning stiffness.
- Side sleeping with […]
A mother’s bone mineral density may drop during pregnancy.
The mother’s body provides all the baby’s nutrients from conception to birth. This includes the development of the child’s bones. Her health plays a vital role in bone health during pregnancy for her bones and her baby’s bones.
A mother’s bones act as a mineral bank.
We’ve learned that a person’s bones act as a bank for calcium and minerals. When a person does not get enough of these vital nutrients through the foods they eat, their body will extract the minerals from bone tissue.
This mineral withdrawal also happens during pregnancy and breastfeeding to ensure bone growth continues in the developing child.
