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All Back Pain Alerts
Research Update: Manual Mobilization Improves Kyphosis
Kyphosis is characterized by extensive flexion (bending forward) of the spine. It usually affects the upper back (the thoracic spine) but may also occur in the neck or lower back. Thoracic kyphosis is sometimes referred to as dowager's hump, humpback or hunchback. Kyphosis is particularly common in older women and can result from disk degeneration (in which the disks lose moisture and shrink), vertebral fractures due to osteoporosis or both. More...
5 Tips to Help You Maintain a Healthy Back
In addition to correct posture and exercise, many other aspects of your daily life influence the health of your back. Some people simply need to improve the techniques that they use to perform everyday activities -- lifting heavy objects, playing sports or even getting in and out of a chair, for instance. Other people will need to avoid certain activities altogether. More...
The Alexander Technique: An Alternative Therapy for Chronic Back Pain
If you have chronic back pain and you find that pain medication, physical therapy and regular exercise don't provide you with sufficient long-term relief, you may want to consider an alternative movement therapy called the Alexander technique. More...
Improving Posture to Prevent Back Pain
Contrary to popular belief, standing at attention like a military recruit -- with the head and shoulders rigidly pulled back and the lower back excessively arched -- is not correct posture and can actually be hard on the back. Good posture allows the body to follow the natural S-shaped curve of the spine. More...
Neck Strength Training: How It Can Help
The cervical spine, located in the neck, is subject to many of the same problems that plague the lower back -- muscle strains and spasms, disk degeneration and denervation, and spinal stenosis. About 10 to 15 percent of people experience neck pain at any given time. Most neck pain is short lived and gets better on its own or with simple self-care measures. But sometimes neck pain is a red flag for a more serious problem. More...
Yoga for Low Back Pain Relief: Alternative No Longer
A growing number of medical professionals are finding that yoga can provide relief for some low back pain sufferers. Within the past few years, findings from well- designed, peer-reviewed studies have begun to move the practice of yoga beyond the category of alternative therapy. More...
Adult Scoliosis: Could It Be the Cause of Your Back Pain?
Chances are you’re one of the millions of adults in America who has experienced back pain. Sprains, strains or spasms are commonly responsible for the misery, but one cause of back pain in adults that’s often overlooked is scoliosis, or lateral (side-to-side) curvature of the spine. More...
When a Herniated Disk Causes a “Back Attack”
At some point in their lives, about 10% of people will experience the painful symptoms of a herniated disk – bulging of the central part of an intervertebral disk through the fibrous layer of tissues that cover it. Here’s what happens … More...
Considering Injections for Back Pain? Here’s the Research
Does injection therapy for back pain relief really work? Johns Hopkins weighs the risks and benefits. More...
Considering Behavioral Therapy for Back Pain
A reader asks: I started having low back pain a couple of months ago, and I've had to be reassigned at my job. My doctor wants me to enroll in behavioral therapy sessions. Shouldn't I first see whether medication works? Here’s what we recommend. More...
When to See a Doctor for Neck Pain
The cervical spine, located in the neck, is subject to many of the same problems that plague the lower back -- muscle strains and spasms, disk degeneration and denervation, and spinal stenosis. About 10 to 15% of people experience neck pain at any given time. Most neck pain is short lived and gets better on its own or with simple self-care measures. But sometimes neck pain is a red flag for a more serious problem. More...
How Water Therapy Can Soothe Your Back Pain
Johns Hopkins Health Alerts; www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
The health benefits of water therapy have been acknowledged throughout history to help treat various ailments, including muscle pain. Today, we also use water therapy to manage various musculoskeletal conditions, including low back pain. More...
Injection Therapy for Persistent Low Back Pain: When, Where, Why?
Johns Hopkins Health Alerts; www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
Injection therapy is a fairly conservative alternative for the treatment of nagging low back pain. Injections may be given for low back pain that is subacute (lasting longer than one month) or chronic (lasting for three months or more). The shots typically contain a combination of an anesthetic (to numb pain) and a corticosteroid (to reduce inflammation). More...
Building Muscle Strength with Hydrotherapy
Johns Hopkins Health Alerts; www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
Many exercise programs are too strenuous for people who are recovering from a back injury -- such as a herniated disk or vertebral compression fracture -- and for those whose spine is susceptible to injury due to conditions like osteoporosis. For these people, hydrotherapy -- exercising in water -- is an excellent alternative. More...
Should You See a Doctor for Your Neck Pain?
Johns Hopkins Health Alerts; www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
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Health Topic Pages
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Arthritis
- Xarelto: A New Drug for New Joints
- Tai Chi for Fibromyalgia: Should You Try It?
- Tackling B Cells to Fight Lupus
- Does Complementary Medicine Work for Osteoarthritis? Here’s What We Know …
- Research Report: Aquatic Exercise Aids Recovery After Knee Replacement
- Advice to Help You Sleep Better with Fibromyalgia
- In the Pipeline: DMOADs for Osteoarthritis
- More Alerts...
- Arthritis in Your Ankle? You've Got Choices!
- Gentle Workouts Relieve Arthritis Pain
- What’s the Link Between Rheumatoid Arthritis and Cancer?
- Gout and Soda: What’s the Connection?
- Joint Replacement: It's Not Just Knees and Hips
- Fibromyalgia: Understanding a Mysterious Ailment
- Chronic Lyme Disease vs. Post-Lyme Disease
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Back Pain
- Research Update: Manual Mobilization Improves Kyphosis
- 5 Tips to Help You Maintain a Healthy Back
- The Alexander Technique: An Alternative Therapy for Chronic Back Pain
- Improving Posture to Prevent Back Pain
- Neck Strength Training: How It Can Help
- Yoga for Low Back Pain Relief: Alternative No Longer
- Adult Scoliosis: Could It Be the Cause of Your Back Pain?
- More Alerts...
- 9 Exercises to Strengthen Your Back
- Back Pain – Is It All in Your Head?
- Advice To Help You Get a Good Night's Sleep With an Aching Back
- A Back-Strengthening Program
- An Imaging Arsenal for Diagnosing Back Pain
- Corticosteroid Spinal Injections for Back Pain Relief
- Back Pain and Osteoporosis Glossary
- More Special Reports...
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Cancer
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Caregivers | Caregiving
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Colon Cancer
- Colonoscopy Prep Advice
- Do Colon Polyps Always Lead to Colon Cancer?
- Preventing Colorectal Cancer Recurrence with Aspirin Therapy: Yea or Nay?
- Many Reasons for Optimism in the Fight Against Colorectal Cancer
- Follow-Up After Colorectal Surgery: What to Expect
- Interpreting the Signs and Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer
- The Virtues of Virtual Colonoscopy
- More Alerts...
- The Promise of Personalized Colon Cancer Therapy
- How Old Is Too Old for Colorectal Cancer Surgery?
- In the Pipeline: Biomarkers for Detection of Colorectal Cancer
- Flat Colon Lesions: Cause for Concern?
- Making Your Colonoscopy Count
- Coping With the Mental Side Effects of Chemotherapy
- Surviving the Emotional Aftershock of Colorectal Cancer
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Complementary Medicine
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Depression and Anxiety
- Bipolar Disorder Type 1 or 2: How to Tell the Difference
- Research on Bright-Light Therapy for SAD and Bipolar Disorder
- Research on Vitamins B6 and B12 and Depression
- Weight Gain: An Unwelcomed Side Effect of Psychiatric Medications
- When Electroconvulsive Therapy Is the Right Choice
- When Anxiety Spins Out of Control
- What Causes Dysthymia?
- More Alerts...
- Treating Mood Disorders With Hallucinogenic Drugs
- Facing Your Fears With Exposure Therapy
- Why Older Women Have Eating Disorders
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- The Pain-Mood Connection
- Report on Substance Abuse and Aging
- Anxiety and Your Physical Health
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Diabetes
- Which Comes First: Diabetes or Depression?
- Sugars and Sugar Alcohols: What’s the Difference?
- Diabetes and the Glycemic Index
- Diabetes and Sex: Don’t Give Up Hope
- Carbohydrates: How Low Should You Go?
- How to Recognize the Symptoms of Hypoglycemia
- Going on the Offensive to Protect Yourself Against Heart Disease
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- Prediabetes: Meeting an Epidemic With New Treatment Goals
- Looking Out for Number One: Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease
- Traveling Safely With Diabetes
- Understanding How Insulin Regulates Blood Glucose
- The Role of Insulin in Blood Glucose Control
- Getting a Better Look at Blood Sugar Levels
- Making Sense of Type 2 Diabetes Medications
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Digestive Health
- Ask the Doctor About GERD
- Depression & Celiac Disease: A Growing Problem
- Signs and Symptoms of Gallstones
- Six Strategies to Protect Against Esophageal Cancer
- Primer on Hiatal Hernia
- What’s So Great About Fiber?
- Diagnosing Pancreatic Cancer: What to Expect
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- On the Horizon: Two New Surgical Treatments for GERD
- Focus on Peptic Ulcers
- Life Without a Gallbladder
- 7 Tips to Help You Reduce Bloating
- How Your Gut Can Affect Your Bones
- What to Expect From Your Endoscopy
- Four Relaxation Techniques to Soothe Your Digestive Discomfort
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Enlarged Prostate
- Should You Try Saw Palmetto for Your BPH Symptoms? What We Recommend
- Should You Have a PSA Screening Test? Johns Hopkins Responds to Recent USPSTF Recommendations
- How Severe Is Your BPH? Take This Prostate Symptom Questionnaire to Find Out
- Which Is It: Prostatitis or Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CPPS)?
- Keeping Enlarged Prostate in Check
- A Look at the UPOINT System
- Should You Try an ED Drug for BPH?
- More Alerts...
- Two-Drug Options for BPH
- Do You Have BPH? Take This Prostate Symptom Questionnaire to Find Out
- PVP or TURP for BPH?
- In the Pipeline: New Treatments for BPH
- BPH: New Discoveries May Lead to Better Treatment
- What Does It Mean? PSA Terminology Explained
- More Special Reports...
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Exercise and Fitness
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Healthy Living
- Research on Compression Stockings to Prevent Blood Clots
- Advice to Help You Stay Healthy When You Travel
- Guidelines on Alcohol Consumption: How Much Is Too Much?
- Male Stoicism: Bad for the Health
- Fluzone High-Dose: A Flu Vaccine for Older Adults
- Fighting Pancreatic Cancer: Treatments on the Horizon
- 9 Do’s and Don’ts for Older Drivers
- More Alerts...
- Do You Have a Thyroid Disorder?
- Impulse Control: The Link Between Parkinson's and Gambling
- The Pain-Mood Connection
- Your Cosmetic Dentisty Options
- How the FDA Approval Process Works
- Are You At Risk For Gallstones?
- Breathe Easier With An Air Purifier
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Heart Health
- 10 Steps to Lower Triglycerides
- Migraines Linked to Risk of Heart Attacks
- Grapefruit Interactions: Advice to Help You Stay Safe
- After a Heart Attack: Nine Important Steps to Follow
- Angina Basics
- Gum Disease and Heart Disease: What’s the Link?
- Heart Attacks Decreasing … Survival Increasing
- More Alerts...
- The Research on Psoriasis and Cardiovascular Disease
- Cardiac Rehab Works: Here’s How
- Protecting Your Heart With Whole Grains
- What You Should Know About C-Reactive Protein
- Zapping Abnormal Heart Rhythms
- Ways to Boost Your HDL Cholesterol
- The Best Screening Tests for People Without Symptoms of Heart Disease
- More Special Reports...
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Hypertension and Stroke
- Understanding the Two Types of Stroke
- Sleep Apnea Linked to Increased Stroke Risk
- Another Reason to Rev Up Your Exercise Regimen
- Where Do Migraines Come From?
- Research: Blood Pressure Fluctuations Linked to Stroke Signs
- How Worried Should You Be About a Stroke?
- Can Moderate Alcohol Consumption Prevent Hypertension?
- More Alerts...
- Hypertension and Your Sex Life
- Are You At Risk For Vascular Dementia?
- Can You Pass the Stroke Symptom Test?
- Controlling Difficult-to-Control Hypertension
- When Your Heart Feels Like It's Skipping a Beat
- Guidelines on Controlling Pain Without Raising Your Blood Pressure
- Get Moving To Lower Your Blood Pressure
- More Special Reports...
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Knee Replacement Surgery
- Is Age an Obstacle to Knee Replacement Surgery?
- Weighing the Pros and Cons of Knee Replacement Surgery
- Resuming Physical Activities After Your Knee Replacement
- Minimally Invasive Knee Replacement Surgery
- Female Knee Replacements
- After Knee Replacement Surgery: Rehab and Recovery
- What Happens During Knee Replacement
- More Special Reports...
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Lung Disorders
- Lung Cancer: When Nonsmokers Are Affected
- Sleep Apnea Linked to Increased Stroke Risk
- Fluzone High-Dose: A Flu Vaccine for Older Adults
- Research on Smoking and Prostate Cancer
- Asthma in Older Adults: Misdiagnosed and Undertreated
- E-cigarettes: Another Option to Help You Quit Smoking?
- COPD and Sleep Disorders: Common and Serious
- More Alerts...
- Bronchoscopy: Taking a Closer Look
- Planning Ahead: The Living Will and Durable Power of Attorney
- On the Horizon: A New Treatment for COPD
- Four Steps to Better Asthma Control
- COPD: Catching the “Silent Killer”
- Home Monitoring for Sleep Apnea
- Looking At How The Lungs Work
- More Special Reports...
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Memory
- Research Shows That Having a Purpose in Life May Lower Alzheimer's Risk
- Advice to Keep Dementia at Bay
- Mild Cognitive Impairment: Is It a Sign of Alzheimer’s?
- How Dr. Folstein Created the MMSE
- Unraveling the Mystery of Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson’s Disease Patients
- Research Update: Dementia Linked to Atrial Fibrillation
- Does Namenda Work? Dr. Rabins Addresses a Difficult Question
- More Alerts...
- Food for Thought
- Your Aging Brain: What’s Normal, What’s Not
- Does Light Therapy Help Alzheimer’s Patients Sleep?
- Habilitation: A Better Caregiving Approach
- Guarding Your Memory
- Activities to Engage the Dementia Patient
- Caregivers -- The Hidden Patients
- More Special Reports...
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Men's Health
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Nutrition and Weight Control
- BMI Isn’t the Only Way To Evaluate Your Weight: Here Are Others
- Gaining Weight? It Could Be Your Medication
- Advice to Help You Kick-Start Your Metabolism
- Research: Exercise Plus DASH Diet Lowers Blood Pressure More
- Understanding Why Metabolism Matters
- Research on Vitamins B6 and B12 and Depression
- Fight Disease With Phytochemicals
- More Alerts...
- Making Sense of Health Claims
- 7 Easy and Effective Weight-Loss Strategies
- The Wisdom of Cutting Back on Salt
- The Psychology of Mindless Eating
- 7 Strategies to Rev Up Your Aging Metabolism
- Changing Behavior to Lose Weight
- Dietary Supplements: Yea or Nay?
- More Special Reports...
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Osteoporosis
- Recovering From a Hip Fracture: What to Expect
- Personalizing Your Fracture Risk with FRAX
- The Sobering Facts About Hip Fracture
- Rethinking the Role of Protein-Rich Diets in Osteoporosis Prevention
- Osteoporosis Screening: When Should You Start?
- What Does “Osteopenia” Really Mean?
- How Long Can You Safely Take Bisphosphonate Medication for Osteoporosis?
- More Alerts...
- Talking About Hip Fractures with Dr. Bellantoni
- Osteoporosis: Not Just a Woman’s Disease
- Osteopenia: To Treat or Not to Treat?
- Osteoporosis and Digestive Disorders
- Is it Ever Okay To Discontinue Your Osteoporosis Medication?
- 6 Exercises To Help Build Bone Strength and Help Prevent Osteoporosis
- Calcium Supplements Still Count
- More Special Reports...
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Prescription Drugs
- In the Trash? Down the Drain? What’s the Safest Way to Dispose of Unused Meds?
- Straight Talk on the Health Risks of Herbal Supplements
- Why Is Prescription Medication So Costly?
- Your Pharmacist: An Underutilized Resource
- Safely Disposing of Unused Medications: Advice from the FDA
- Antibiotics: How They Can Cause Diarrhea
- How Oral Drugs Are Metabolized in the Body
- More Alerts...
- How a New Healthcare Initiative Could Lead to Better Treatment
- Drug Abuse and the Elderly
- The Wait for Generic Biologic Drugs
- How Antibiotics and Other Drugs Work
- What Is Pharmacogenics and Can It Help You?
- The Life Cycle of a Pill
- Will This Medication Work? Look to Your Genes
- More Special Reports...
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Prostate Disorders
- Urinary Incontinence: A Common Side Effect of Prostate Cancer Treatment
- Understanding the TNM Prostate Cancer Staging System
- True or False: Prostate Cancer Growth Is Faster in Black Men?
- Using Nomograms to Predict Prostate Cancer Risk
- Research on Smoking and Prostate Cancer
- "Plan B”: Cryotherapy as Salvage Therapy for Prostate Cancer
- Weighing the Risks and Benefits of Hormone Therapy Before Brachytherapy
- More Alerts...
- A New Look at Cryosurgery
- Planning Ahead: The Living Will and Durable Power of Attorney
- Should You Take Proscar to Prevent Prostate Cancer?
- Proton Beam Therapy for Prostate Cancer
- Vitamin D and Prostate Cancer
- Taxotere: Chemotherapy for Advanced Prostate Cancer
- Testosterone-Replacement Therapy: Does It Increase Prostate Cancer Risk?
- More Special Reports...
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Sexual Health
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Vision
- Drugs for Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Are They Too Expensive?
- How Diabetic Retinopathy Affects Vision
- New Technologies to Brighten Low Vision
- Lowering IOP Through Exercise
- A Look at Two Alternative Treatments for AMD
- How to Make the Most of Limited Vision and Mobility
- Staying on Track With Your Glaucoma Regimen
- More Alerts...
- Glaucoma and Your Genes
- Your Glaucoma Treatment Options
- What You Should Expect After Cataract Surgery
- 4 Promising Treatments for AMD
- Glaucoma: A Family Matter
- How the Eye Works
- Advice To Help You See Better When You Drive
- More Special Reports...
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Womens Health
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