Hip arthroscopy, which at one time was once not performed as often as shoulder or knee arthroscopy, is quickly becoming a common procedure. In the past few years, there has been a rise in professional baseball players receiving the surgery.
Alex Rodriguez, third basemen for the New York Yankees, underwent the procedure in 2013 to repair a torn labrum after years of gradual limited mobility and a few injuries to the hip. Former Colorado Rockies player, Todd Helton, suffered from a degenerative back condition and eventually had hip arthroscopy to repair a labral tear in 2012. His former teammate and current Colorado Rockies short stop, Troy Tulowitzki, who suffered from a degenerative back condition, complained of persistent groin pain. Upon examination by the Rockies head trainer, Keith Dugger, it was revealed that Troy, too, had a labral tear. After undergoing hip arthroscopy he was forced to miss the remainder of the 2014 MLB season in order to recover.
Tulowitzki is expected to need four to six months to heal completely. After extensive physical therapy, Tulowitzki is expected to make a full recovery, and will be able to play without any physical limitations moving forward.

Hip surgery is recommended after nonsurgical treatments such as rest, physical therapy, medications, or injections that reduce inflammation, are ineffective in relieving groin pain. Before undergoing arthroscopy, a physical examination, full medical history, and tests, such as an MRI, will need to be performed to further assess if there are any problems that could interfere with the surgery. If there are more health risks involved, than a more extensive evaluation may be required before surgery can be executed.
This surgery requires the leg on the side of the injured hip to be put in traction. The leg will be pulled away from the socket for enough space to allow the surgeon to insert instruments that enable full view of the entire hip joint. Once traction is set, the surgeon proceeds to make buttonhole size punctures in the hip in order to insert arthroscopic tools, which allows the surgeon to see the inside of the hip and find the damage. The surgeon will insert other instruments through each incision made if need in order to smooth torn cartilage or repair it. The orthopedist can also trim bone spurs that are caused by Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), and remove the inflamed synovial tissue.
Following the surgery, the doctor formulates a rehabilitation plan, which involves surgical recovery, then a plan for physical therapy once the limping is gone and the wound has healed. Physical therapy is needed to help achieve the best possible recovery from the surgery. This will include exercises that will help restore the strength and mobility in the hip, along with teaching the patient stretches and minor repetitive movements to do at home to continue building strength.

In most cases, a full recovery is made and the patient can resume activities… However, in some situations it may require a few lifestyle changes to ensure protection of the joint and also to prevent any further injury or reoccurrence. In a few cases, the damage can be too severe to be completely fix or reversed.
If you are suffering from groin or low back pain that has not improved despite many measures, it is possible you have unrecognized FAI. Contact the sports medicine specialists at Orthopedic Surgery San Diego today for an evaluation or second opinion to understand the treatment measures that can best alleviate your pain.

Osteoarthritis Often Gets Worse Before Knee Replacement

A study has found that many osteoarthritis patients who receive knee replacements had increasingly severe symptoms in the months leading up to their surgeries.
Knee replacement (also known as total knee arthroplasty or TKA) entails replacing the joint with metal or plastic prosthetic devices. Orthopedic surgeons sometimes recommend the operation as the best option, when the pain and stiffness of knee arthritis makes walking and other everyday activities difficult.
The multicenter study, reported by Daniel Riddle and William Jiranek of Virginia Commonwealth University in “Osteoarthritis and Cartilage,” was the subject of a recent Medpage Today article.
The research indicated that nearly a third of those who had TKA “experienced rapid disease progression and worsening of osteoarthritis symptoms” during the two years before their operations.
The patients’ Kellgren and Lawrence grade became worse in 27.4 percent of the cases. That was true for only 6.6 percent of knee osteoarthritis sufferers who did not have TKA. The grade’s four-part scale measures the extent of symptoms. Grade 1 is “doubtful narrowing of joint space.” Grade 4, identified in the most extreme cases, involves “large osteophytes (bony outgrowths), marked narrowing of joint space, severe sclerosis (abnormal hardening of body tissue) and definite deformity of bone contour.”
The researchers noted that 45.6 percent of knees with grades lower than four exhibited “radiographic progression.” The patients’ WOMAC function and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Scores (KOOS) confirmed that symptoms can intensify before TKA. Patients who did not undergo knee replacements saw their scores stay the same or improve during the two-year period. The two measurement methods assess the degree of knee pain, stiffness and function.
Medpage Today pointed out that “these findings run counter to the traditional suggestion that knee osteoarthritis is a slowly progressive disorder.”
The authors of the study wrote: “This high rate of radiographic worsening, and associated pain and functional status worsening, in our view, likely contributes to surgeons’ recommendations and patients’ decision to opt for TKA.” They called for additional research, explaining that “the path toward TKA for persons with osteoarthritis is an understudied and relatively poorly understood process.”
The researchers used data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) and the National Institute of Health to arrive at their conclusions. They examined the records of nearly 5,000 patients who were enrolled in OAI. Of those, 167 underwent TKA. X-rays and other diagnostic tests were performed for five years, before and after the patients’ surgeries.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of knee arthritis, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The organization describes the condition as “a degenerative, wear-and-tear type of arthritis that occurs most often in people 50 years of age and older, but may occur in younger people.”
Cartilage that cushions bones in the joint gradually deteriorates, becoming rough and frayed. That decreases the space between the bones, resulting in them rubbing against one another. Bone spurs sometimes develop, causing additional pain.
If you have knee pain and stiffness, the best thing to do is get a diagnosis to determine whether you have osteoarthritis. Treatments ranging from medications to knee replacement (total knee arthroplasty) are available. Schedule an evaluation by the sports medicine staff at Orthopedic Surgery San Diego to learn about your options.

ENERGY DRINKS – A DANGEROUS MIX FOR YOUNG CHILDREN.
Exposure to energy drinks is an on-going health problem.
The potential dangers of energy drinks, the caffeine-rich beverages which promise a super-human boost, are very well-known. However, recent studies have shown that even young children are now at risk.
Although the target market for energy drinks is usually teenagers and adults, the US poison control reported that over a measured time period, about 40% of emergency calls received concerned children under the age of 7. A few of the more serious cases involved seizures and abnormal heart rhythms. Of course, most of these children had no idea what they were drinking.
How do these young kids get hold of the energy drinks they consume?
Many people, including parents, are unaware of the potential for energy drinks to have serious side effects. A child cannot go into a store and purchase an energy drink. They are usually easily accessible in the home refrigerator where the drinks are kept by parents or older siblings who do not recognise the dangers posed.
Any child will be attracted by the attractive packaging and coloring of the drinks and if accessible, happily consume it. Many parents will be blissfully ignorant that this has taken place, until some unpleasant side effects occur.y
Underlying health issues.
Children with less obvious conditions such as borderline diabetes or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, will suffer a much greater negative impact from caffeinated energy drinks than that of healthy children.
Some energy drinks have up to 400mg caffeine per serving, compared to the average cup of coffee which contains about 100 to 150mg. It has been noted that caffeine poisoning can occur at a level of 400mg and up, for adults.
For a child this could have a potential deadly effect.
Is something being done to promote awareness of dangers posed to young children?
The American Beverage Association has stated that caffeinated energy drinks are not intended for consumption by the very young. In fact, leading energy drink makers voluntarily place statements on their packaging and labelling to the effect that the products are not intended for children. Although this does help, it is generally felt by concerned health professionals that more needs to be done to create awareness.

What can YOU do to help your kids?
Research has shown that children who lead an active lifestyle, exercise regularly and have a healthy, nutritious diet have absolutely no need of energy drinks. Parents, teachers and coaches need to focus on the use of water to replenish fluids after sports or exercise. Nutritious drinks such as fruit juice or low-fat milk should be encouraged at mealtimes or at group outings.
If you are a parent who consumes energy drinks, make certain that they are not stored any place where the drinks will be accessible to your kids. If they are too young to go into a store to buy the drinks, the only access will be through you if you are careless.
Continue to promote a healthy and nutritious lifestyle for your family, and lobby to reduce the marketing and availability of energy drinks to children.

Positive Meniscal Lesions: A Strong Predictor of Neuropathic Pain in Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis, with the knees, spine, hips, and hands as the usual site of affectation. OA occurs when the ligament, a structure that protects the ends of bones, wears down. This may be attributed to aging and prolonged use. There is no cure and the pain is severe it can greatly affect people’s activities of daily living. In addition to this, OA predisposes people to disabilities such as fractures, contractures, and knee injury, among others.
Basically, pain is acknowledged to be caused by damage in the structure of the joints affected. However, there is a disparity between the symptoms reported by patients and the structural picture taken by imaging studies, which is currently the mainstay diagnostic test. With the belief that other factors contribute to pain, a study entitled, “The presence of meniscal lesions is a strong predictor of neuropathic pain in symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: a cross-sectional pilot study” was conducted by a group of researchers in Canada led by Camille Roubille. The aim of the study was to explore the relationship between structural changes and presence of neuropathic pain (NP) in patients with symptomatic knee OA. The study was published online on December 2014 in BioMed Central (BMC).

Subjects involved were 40 years old and older with symptoms of OA for at least one month out of three months before the study was conducted. These patients are diagnosed with primary knee OA and with radiological grades 2 and 3 according to Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) criteria. Aside from this, subjects included had a visual analog scale (VAS) of 40 mm or greater while walking on a flat surface. Subjects who did not meet the criteria before, during, and after the study were excluded. In addition, those with other diagnosed medical conditions affecting knee function, isolated knee OA, have participated in other investigational study within 30 days prior to becoming subject, and have taken steroids were not included. Presence of NP was determined using PainDETECT questionnaire and 50 knee OA patients were divided into two groups: 1) 25, for those with unlikely NP; and 2) those with uncertain or likely NP. None of these patients received treatments for NP such as antidepressants and anticonvulsants.
Demographic data, VAS and Western Ontario and McMasters Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores, PainDETECT questionnaire results, blood tests for inflammatory markers (e.g. sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein), and knee x-rays were done.

It was found out that higher WOMAC score which reflects increasing pain, function, and stiffness is associated with higher VAS and PainDETECT score. However, biomarkers are not associated with higher PainDETECT score. With regards to structural changes, cartilage volume and synovial membrane thickness are not associated with pain. However, meniscus tear or lesions in meniscus (a C-shaped cartilage that holds both upper and lower leg), both the medial and lateral portion, was found to be significantly associated with increasing PainDETECT scores. This is also true with bone marrow lesions in the lateral portion. In summary, meniscal lesions are a ‘definite major risk factor for NP’.
Researchers recommend conducting a randomized controlled trial (RCT) version of this observational study. Also, experts in sports medicine may develop a gold standard for diagnosing NP since PainDETECT is the only available option.
If you have been told that you have a meniscal tear or are in need of an arthroscopy, schedule an appointment to undergo an evaluation with our sports medicine orthopedists.

Injections More Effective Than Pills in Reducing Knee Osteoarthritis Pain Injections of hyaluronic acid relieve the pain of knee osteoarthritis better than nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory pills, according to an analysis published by the Annals of Internal Medicine. Researchers looked at studies that measured the comparative effectiveness of acetaminophen, diclofenac, ibuprofen, naproxen and celecoxib (Celebrex) pills versus injections of corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid. Some of the clinical trials’ volunteers were given oral or injected placebos. Scientists assessed how the various treatments relieved knee pain, restored function and reduced stiffness. The findings provide important information for the millions of knee osteoarthritis patients who require orthopedists’ services every year. An increasingly popular treatment method features injections of cortisone or hyaluronic acid. In advanced cases, some patients need total knee replacement (also known as knee arthroplasty), which entails surgically replacing the joint with prosthetic devices. The scientists reviewed 137 studies involving 33,243 participants. They concluded that hyaluronic acid was “the most efficacious treatment” for pain, while acetaminophen was the least effective. There was no clear winner in terms of enhancing knee function or reducing stiffness. The researchers wrote: “Intra-articular treatments were superior to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. … All treatments except acetaminophen showed clinically significant improvement from baseline pain.”

The authors of the review, funded by the the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, were Drs. Raveendhara R. Bannuru, Christopher H. Schmid, David M. Kent, Elizaveta E. Vaysbrot, John B. Wong and Timothy E. McAlindon. Bannuru, a researcher at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, told the New York Times that the best kind of treatment depends upon the individual. He explained: “The key message is that hyaluronic acid and steroid injections are more effective than drugs. But all the harms and benefits need to be taken into account. I would advise people to talk to their physicians about the pros and cons, and choose the treatment appropriate for them.” The knee contains hyaluronan, a gel-like substance that lubricates the joint and acts like a shock absorber during exercise. Osteoarthritis patients have low levels of this material, resulting in irritation. Hyaluronic acid, which has a similar structure as the naturally occurring substance, can be injected into the knee in a procedure called viscosupplementation. Knee osteoarthritis is one of the most common types of arthritis, according to the American Academy of Orthpaedic Surgeons (AAOS). It results from the gradual wearing away of cartilage, which becomes rough and frayed. That increases the space between bones in the joint, causing the bones to rub against each other and sometimes fostering the growth of bone spurs. The condition starts slowly, with the discomfort intensifying over the years. Pain, inflammation and reduced range of motion are the primary symptoms. Knee osteoarthritis limits a person’s ability to perform simple tasks like walking and climbing stairs, and is a leading cause of disability. The condition affects primarily older people, especially those who are sedentary and overweight.

“Vigorous activity may cause pain to flare up,” the AAOS explains on its website. “Loose fragments of cartilage and other tissue can interfere with the smooth motion of joints. The knee may ‘lock’ or ‘stick’ during movement. It may creak, click, snap or make a grinding noise (crepitus). Pain may cause a feeling of weakness or buckling in the knee. Many people with arthritis note increased joint pain with rainy weather.” There is no cure for osteoarthritis. Orthopedists recommend that patients eat a nutritious diet and lose weight. It is also crucial to stop or reduce physical activities that aggravate symptoms. The AAOS advises that “switching from high-impact activities (like jogging or tennis) to lower-impact activities (like swimming or cycling) will put less stress on your knee.” Physical therapy involves individually designed exercises that improve flexibility and expand the knee’s range of motion, while strengthening muscles that support the joint. Among the assistive devices for osteoarthritis sufferers are canes, shock-absorbing shoes and inserts, knee braces and sleeves, and elastic bandages.

Other remedies, according to the AAOS, are applications of heat or ice, pain-relieving ointments or creams, acupuncture, magnetic pulse therapy, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate supplements, and pain-relief and anti-inflammatory medications. Corticosteroids, also called cortisone, are anti-inflammatory drugs that doctors inject directly into arthritic joints to provide temporary relief. When nonsurgical treatments fail to relieve the pain and restore knee function, cartilage grafting is an option. It involves extracting healthy tissue from another part of the knee and inserting it into the space that contained damaged cartilage. In a procedure known as an osteotomy, the shinbone or thighbone is cut and reshaped to reduce pressure on the knee. When knee replacement (or arthroplasty) becomes necessary, doctors make small incisions in the skin. They insert tiny medical instruments that diagnose the problem, remove damaged cartilage and bone, and implant metal or plastic prosthetics. If you are suffering from pain and reduced function in your knee, it is vital to find out whether your symptoms are caused by osteoarthritis or another condition. Schedule an evaluation by the sports medicine staff at Orthopedic Surgery San Diego to get a diagnosis and learn about the best treatment options available to you.

Concussions: Too Much Rest Can Be Detrimental
It is always troubling when our children have a fall or sports injury bad enough to receive a concussion.  Traumatic brain injuries can range from mild to severe, and can affect the way the brain works. They can cause headaches, blurred vision, nausea or vomiting, sleepiness, or even loss of consciousness. When a concussion is present, the most common advice is to rest and recuperate, but for how long?
Many physicians, along with the CDC (Center for Disease Control) recommend rest at home for one or two days or until symptoms improve before going back to school and resuming regular activities. Other physicians recommend a much longer period of inactivity after a concussion. Still other doctors recommend what is known as “cocooining” wherein the child stays in a dark room for many days to recuperate. There is limited evidence to support any of the recommendations, so a comparison trial was performed to conclude which method is more effective.
Patients that went to a pediatric ED, that were between the ages 11-22 years old, and who were seen within 24 hours of a concussion were utilized in this trial. These 99 patients underwent the same assessments in the ED and were randomly assigned to either 1-2 days of rest with gradual return to activity, or strict rest for 5 days. Each patient recorded their activity levels (mental and physical) for each day, along with energy and symptoms. At 3 and 10 days, each patient was evaluated for neurocognitive functioning and balance.

Out of the 99 patients in the trial, 88 of them completed the full study. Both groups, strict rest versus minimal rest reported about 20% less energy and activity levels following the concussion. Those on strict rest reported less attendance at school from days 2-5 (as per doctor’s orders), and both groups were about equal in terms of neurocognitive functions and balance. Interestingly, those that were on stricter bed rest reported more symptoms of concussion than those with 1-2 days of rest, and they took longer to recover than those on light rest.
This study confirms the idea that resting too long is not beneficial for children with concussions. It is theorized that keeping a child with a concussion confined for too long causes them to dwell on the injury, thus making it take longer to recover. While those that rest less time recover faster, symptoms of concussions can still last up to 10 days. Mental activity, such as going to class or watching TV, should not be overdone, as it will also take longer to recover when mentally exhausted.
Sports medicine doctors see many patients with concussions, and 70% of them are caused by a sports injury. If a concussion is suspected, a patient should see a doctor or an orthopedist immediately. Recurring concussions over time has been known to cause Alzheimer’s, and other types of brain trauma as the athlete grows older. The best way to avoid a concussion is to keep the head and body protected as much as possible when performing activities.
If you or your child would like to undergo an evaluation by our sports medicine specialists, contact us at Orthopedic Surgery San Diego today.

New Orleans Saints defensive end Junior Galette over the past two weeks has been dealing with a knee injury.The five-year veteran played just 27 snaps in Monday’s game against the Chicago Bears, which he recorded two sacks and a forced fumble. It appears that he will continue to play in a limited role for the remainder of the season due to his injury.
Galette had suffered the injury just before halftime in the Saints’ 41-10 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Dec. 7. He returned to the game briefly in the third quarter, but he had a noticeable limp when attempted to tackle Panthers running back Fozzy Whittaker on his 26-yard touchdown catch.
He has called the game plan for him to play a set number of snaps “smart” because he feels that his knee still isn’t 100 percent healed.
“Probably the same thing going into this game. Kind of ease off the knee a little bit,” Galette said. “Right now my knee’s not 100 percent. So just being smart and making sure I’m not playing 60 snaps on half a knee.”
This approach by Galette and New Orleans moving forward is one that is wisely on the side of caution, especially with a leg injury that has the potential to worsen if overused.

Knee injuries are common in the world of sports, which requires proper care and treatment to allow them to fully heal and prevent any further damage. The typical injuries that athletes usually suffer in relation to the knee are fractures, dislocations, sprains, and ligament tears.
In Galette’s case, he appears to have no structural damage to his knee, but there is still a probably chance that another injury can occur.
One type of cartilage injury that can take place is a meniscus tear, which is common in a contact sports such as football. The meniscus are the two wedge-shaped pieces of cartilage that perform as the “shock absorbers” in the location between your thighbone and shinbone.
A tear in this area usually occurs when a player may be twisting, cutting, or pivoting their knee. This can also be the case when the knee receives direct contact in situations when the player is making a tackle.
The most common type of tears include longitudinal, parrot-beak, flap, bucket handle, and mixed/complex. These injuries often occur when a player also suffers a anterior cruciate ligament tear.
However, if Galette continues to have knee pain he can also go to route of knee arthroscopy. It is a surgical procedure in which the doctor makes a small incision that allows them to use a small camera to get a clear view of the inside of the knee. This helps the doctor to correctly diagnose and treat the injured knee(s).

That said, it will be best for the 26-year-old to remain on a limited snap count until his knee is completely pain free, which will likely be the case in the offseason. Galette may be tittering with possibly suffering a worse injury, but his limited role could go a long ways in maintaining the health of his knee and keep him on the field.
Junior Galette Photo Credit: Derick E. Hingle – USA TODAY Sports
Meniscus Photo Credit: Inky Mouse Studios

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Kendall Wright played Thursday night against the Jacksonville Jaguars despite having a metacarpal fracture in his right hand.
The injury occurred two weeks ago during a drill in practice which he slipped while running a route, and when he put two fingers on the ground to gather himself he suffered the injury.
He subsequently missed the following two games, and was required to wear a splint on his right hand. After an x-ray it was assessed that the injury will not require surgery to fix the bone.
It is an injury to the bone that is located at the level of the palm of the hand, which is primarily comprised of five long bones that are known as metacarpals. The metacarpal bones are in place to support the hand, and the end of the bones form the knuckles on the backside of the hand.
This type of injury typically occurs in falls, sports, fist fights, or car accidents. It also occasionally happens when there is direct impact to the hand or in Wright’s case a fall onto the fingers or thumb.
There are a few situations where surgery would be recommended such as if there are multiple fractures, or open fractures of the hand, or if the fracture pattern is inherently unstable. If the patient has an isolated metacarpal fracture, the orthopedic sports medicine specialist will determine if surgery is required to fix the injury by looking at two factors: length and rotation.

In terms of length, if the finger is shortened due to the fracture surgery would be required to return the finger back to normal size.  With regard to rotation, this can be assessed by the patient making a fist with the fractured hand. If the finger that has the fracture crosses other fingers when a fist is made, surgery would be required to fix the deformity; this is called scissoring.
The surgery to fix the ailment entails either the doctor using wires, plates or screws. The type of method of fixation depends on the particular type of fracture.
In Wright’s case he appears to have suffered an isolated fracture that doesn’t require surgery to repair the bone. He has stated that the bone is “pretty much intact” and is something that he can play through as long as he is able to keep his fingers together.
The 25-year-old was able to participate fully in practice this week and displayed that he can still catch the ball despite the injury. This coupled with reduced swelling and pain in the injured area resulted in him suiting up for the Titans’ Week 16 game against the Jaguars.
In the game, Wright didn’t wear a splint to protect the injury, and was quite productive with four catches for a team-leading 73 receiving yards. Following Thursday’s game, Wright didn’t state that the injury had worsened or bothered him more.

So in order for the third-year wide receiver to remain on the field as desires for the team’s season regular finale against the Indianapolis Colts, it will come down to his pain tolerance and if he can keep the swelling down.

If you have injured your hand or wrist, contact our sports medicine specialists at Orthopedic Surgery San Diego to undergo an evaluation.

Kendall Wright Photo Credit: Don McPeak – USA TODAY Sports

Several studies conducted in 2014 indicated that “super-short” workouts are effective in attaining health and fitness goals, the New York Times reported. Regular exercise helps prevent obesity, heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. It also strengthens muscles and joints, resulting in less pain in their shoulders, hips and knees. People who work out and keep fit are much less likely to suffer a joint injury. One of last year’s studies revealed the benefits of a daily workout that begins with walking briskly for one minute, then strolling for a minute, and repeating the process six times. Research volunteers who did the exercise had better blood-sugar levels than others who instead took normal, 30-minute walks. The study, which a group of New Zealand researchers published in Diabetologia, featured nine men and women diagnosed with insulin resistance (which often leads to Type 2 diabetes). Each volunteer walked at a regular pace on a treadmill for one-half hour, completing the task 30 minutes before eating a meal. The scientists measured blood-sugar levels that day and the following day. Next, the participants engaged in three daily workouts that the researchers called “exercise snacks.” Alternating periods of fast and slow walking on treadmills were repeated six times. The study’s final stage entailed walking; then doing one minute of high-intensity upper-body resistance training with stretchy bands; and finishing by walking on the treadmills again. The volunteers performed this workout before each of their three daily meals. All the participants had lower blood-sugar levels immediately after they took the half-hour walks and ate dinner. However, the shorter exercises produced more long-lasting effects, as blood sugar remained healthy for 24 hours. James D. Cotter, a professor at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, was one of the study’s lead scientists. He concluded that “high-intensity exercise shows a more potent effect” on blood sugar than more moderate workouts. Treadmills are not required. Cotter told the Times: “For some people, simply walking anywhere will provide ample stimulus, whereas fitter individuals might need to go up one or even a few flights of stairs or up a slope, or jog somewhere. Jogging on the spot would be just as good.” The study confirmed the results of research conducted in 2012, in which participants were able to regulate their blood pressure better by taking three 10-minute walks per day than by walking just once for 30 minutes. Another team of scientists reported in July 2014 that running just five minutes daily can add years to a person’s life, the Times’ Gretchen Reynolds wrote.
She noted that scientists have long believed short, repetitive workouts are as worthwhile as longer, more strenuous activity. That is good news for people on tight schedules who struggle to find time to exercise. Researchers last year had those folks in mind when they developed a one-minute workout consisting of three 20-second periods of intense exercises. Study participants, who were overweight, enjoyed “robust improvements in (their) endurance and health,” according to Reynolds. She reported that, in a June 2014 clinical trial, mice that raced fast on running wheels gained more strength than a control group of mice due to “distinctly different biochemical responses within their muscle cells.

” Additional studies last year found that people who exercise regularly are less susceptible to Alzheimer’s disease and other kinds of dementia; and that working out improves a person’s mood, and may protect the brain from depression and stress (Xanax). In one trial, mice were separated into groups that either ran or remained sedentary. Neurons in the inactive rodents’ brains that are key to controlling blood pressure reportedly changed in shape and function. Reynolds wrote that “in various experiments (during 2014), physical activity was found to lessen and even reverse the effects of aging on human skin; protect against age-related vision loss; improve creativity; lower people’s risk of developing heart disease, even if they had multiple risk factors for the condition; increase the numbers of good bacteria in athletes’ guts; raise exercisers’ pain tolerance; and alter, in desirable ways, how DNA works.” She cited a study published in October that showed how people who maintain fitness are “biologically younger” (and live longer) than those who are out of shape. The study’s senior author told Reynolds: “There is a huge benefit (of exercise), larger than any known medical treatment, in improving your fitness level to what is expected for your age group.” If you are experiencing pain in a shoulder, knee or hip (or have sustained an injury in one of the joints), schedule an appointment for an evaluation by the sports medicine surgeons at Orthopedic Surgery San Diego. They can diagnose the cause of the discomfort, and recommend appropriate exercises or treatments.