Here are nine back-strengthening exercises you can do at home -- stretching and flexion exercises to increase flexibility, and extension exercises to strengthen the muscles needed to counteract the force of gravity.
Most back pain is due to muscle weakness. Therefore, increased strength is the answer to almost every back problem. If you develop a back problem, chances are good that you will wind up on a regimen of daily stretching and strengthening exercises… More...
Could the day be coming when a person who complains of back pain be given a psychological assessment in addition to a physical one? The list of potential triggers of back pain is a long one, including such factors as genetic predisposition, congenital malformations, and traumatic injuries. A growing number of studies affirm that the mind-body connection also plays a role in back pain, both in setting off an initial “back pain attack” and in contributing to ongoing chronic pain. More...
Johns Hopkins professor Michele Bellantoni, M.D discusses the importance of taking calcium supplements despite the disappointing results of the Women’s Health Initiative trial.
Health After 50 has long recommended calcium supplements with vitamin D to help prevent bone loss. Recently, the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), a group of large clinical trials sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, found little to support this recommendation—or did it? While the media was quick to report that calcium supplements don’t work, experts at Johns Hopkins caution women to talk to their doctors before they throw out their pills.
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When it comes to vitamin D, a few minutes in the sun is all you need, correct? Well, that depends. As it turns out, that is easier said than done for many of us. Draw a rough line across the country from San Francisco to Richmond, Virginia. If you live north of that line, it’s impossible to get enough sun exposure during the winter months to maintain adequate blood levels of vitamin D. And even during the summer, you may not be getting enough vitamin D. That’s especially true if you spend a great deal of time inside, out of the heat—or, ironically, if you’re particularly meticulous about using sunscreen, covering up, and seeking the shade when you’re outside. More...
Spinal injections can be an effective nonsurgical treatment for people whose back pain does not improve with medication or physical therapy. In addition, spinal injections are sometimes used in the diagnosis of low back pain. When used for diagnosis, specific areas of the back are temporarily numbed with injections of lidocaine, a local anesthetic. If the patient feels relief, the numbed area is assumed to be the source of the back pain.
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If you have persistent or serious back pain, and especially if you are a candidate for surgery, your doctor may order one or more imaging studies to pinpoint or confirm the cause of back pain. These studies, each of which has benefits and limitations, provide a view of the bones and the soft tissues (muscles, ligaments, cartilage, tendons, and blood vessels). More...
Osteoporosis occurs when old bone breaks down faster than new bone is formed. Treatments for osteoporosis—such as Fosamax (alendronate), Actonel (risedronate), Evista (raloxifene), and hormone replacement therapy—all slow bone loss by reducing the rate at which bone breaks down. But another way to treat osteoporosis is to stimulate the formation of new bone. Researchers have worked for many years on the development More...
It is often difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of back pain because so many different structures can be affected. Fortunately, most cases of back pain do not need to have the cause identified and do not require medical attention. Fewer than 5% of people with back pain have a major medical problem that requires either intensive care or surgery.
Because about 90% of back pain episodes clear up within six weeks with little or no treatment, people suffering from back pain can safely try self-treatment as long as they
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Loss of bone mineral density (BMD) that is not severe enough to be considered osteoporosis is referred to as osteopenia. The term comes from the Latin osteo (bone) and the Greek penia (poverty).
In osteopenia, as in osteoporosis, bone formation is inadequate to compensate for normal bone loss. Osteopenia is more common in women than in men, typically occurs in people age 50 and over, and osteopenia is considered a risk factor for osteoporosis as well as for fractures.
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The Johns Hopkins Arthritis Bulletin This quarterly journal is essential reading for anyone facing the challenge of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, knee replacement, hip replacement, gout, fibromyalgia, bursitis, or another rheumatic condition! In each issue you’ll read about new medications, emerging therapies, surgical options, arthritis pain relief, pain management strategies, research findings, and more. PLUS, subscribe now and you'll also get 4 FREE Johns Hopkins Arthritis Special Reports as instant downloads.Read more...
2008 Arthritis White Paper Arthritis now affects over 70 million Americans. The Johns Hopkins 2008 Arthritis White Paper provides in-depth knowledge on the most recent breakthroughs concerning the most common forms of arthritis—osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, it includes two other rheumatic diseases: fibromyalgia syndrome and bursitis, and also ankylosing spondylitis, gout, and lyme disease. PLUS, get your special discount and FREE Special Report: Active Living with Arthritis through this exclusive web-only offer. Click here to read more or order the DIGITAL DOWNLOAD Click here to read more or order the PRINT EDITION
Johns Hopkins Recipes for Arthritis Health How food affects arthritis has been a source of controversy for years and has often resulted in questionable remedies and diets. What is not controversial, however, is that those with arthritis should control their weight and maximize nutritional health by eating a variety of nutrition dense foods. The recipes in this book are not only highly nourishing, but are designed specifically for those with impaired mobility or fatigue. Read more...
The Johns Hopkins Medical Guide to Health After 50 A home medical encyclopedia designed with YOU in mind, to give you a “crash course” on more than 100 major medical concerns for people over 50, organized in an easy-to-use A to Z format. Read more...
Johns Hopkins Symptoms and Remedies Check your symptoms in PART A, then find a thorough discussion of the possible causes and your remedies in PART B, in this invaluable home health reference book for anyone over 50. Read more...
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