More on Walking and the Knees

I think I mentioned I have osteoarthritis in my knees. I call them one-way knees. I can bend down just fine but getting back up is another thing. What I have found is that when I walk, my gait is all over the place. What I’m trying to say is that I don’t walk straight. I think my ankles, feet and hips also contribute to that. Now I’m only 48, so I really do not want to walk with a cane. Although I did prefer it to a crutch when my motorcycle sprained my ankle and foot real bad. So I’ve chosen a walking stick instead. It is actually more stable when I pull myself up with it and it helps me straighten out my gait when I go for a walk. Now all I have to do is train the dog to walk straight and I won’t wind up in the gutter so often. So below is a small article I found on canes and arthritis on a health website. Don’t forget to visit our online store for your supplements and medications at www.FamilyLifePharmacy.com

Cane may ease the load on arthritic knees

Last Updated: 2008-05-12 13:00:19 -0400 (Reuters Health)

By Amy Norton

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Older adults with knee arthritis may be able to reduce some of the load on their knee joint by walking with a cane, a new study suggests.

Australian researchers found that when they had 20 knee arthritis patients walk with a cane, it lessened the force on the inner side of the knee joint with each step.

All of the study participants were older than 50 and suffering from medial knee osteoarthritis — a common form of arthritis that affects the side of the joint closer to the midline of the body.

The findings suggest that the majority of people with this type of knee arthritis can reduce the “load” on the inner knee by using a cane, senior researcher Dr. Rana S. Hinman told Reuters Health.

In theory, this could slow the progression of the arthritis, though that is not yet proven, said Hinman, a senior lecturer at the University of Melbourne School of Physiotherapy.

“This may have implications for a reduced risk of disease progression over time,” she said, “but research is needed to determine whether this really is the case.”

Hinman and her colleagues report the findings in the journal Arthritis Care & Research.

The study included 40 men and women with painful medial knee arthritis. The researchers used a six-camera motion analysis system to closely study each patient’s gait as he or she walked — both barefoot and while wearing comfortable shoes.

Half of the study participants also had their gait analyzed while using a cane on the side opposite of the painful knee.

In general, Hinman’s team found, the cane reduced the force on the inner knee.

On the other hand, walking while wearing shoes put more stress on the joint than walking barefoot did.

It’s not clear why shoes had this effect, according to the researchers. And since walking around barefoot is not practical, at least outside of home, no one is recommending that knee arthritis sufferers try it.

Instead, more studies are needed to see what types of shoes are best for people with medial knee arthritis, Hinman and her colleagues say.

In the meantime, it is a good idea for women with the condition to avoid high heels, Hinman noted, since they are likely to increase the force on the inner knee. She added that shoe inserts called laterally- wedged insoles — which are angled to be higher on the outer edge of the foot — can also reduce the force on the inner side of the knee.

However, Hinman said, studies have not yet conclusively shown that the insoles actually improve knee arthritis symptoms.

Cola – Bad to the Bones

I found this article in a Women’s Health site and found it interesting enough to share with you all. I know many of us are cola addicts; whether its sugared or diet (aspartame) variety, its really not very good for us. So this article seemed important and worth sitting up and taking noticed. When finished, please be sure to visit our store for the Vitamin A, D and Calcium supplements at www.familylifepharmacy.com

Take care!!

Cola May Be Bad To The Bones

SATURDAY, April 26 (HealthDay News) — While enjoying a cola or two every day might seem harmless enough, recent research suggests that those tasty drinks could be compromising your bone health.

“There is enough evidence that high consumption of soda and carbonated beverages is associated with somewhat lower bone mass in children, and that’s a real concern and people should be aware of it,” said Dr. Lawrence Raisz, director of the University of Connecticut Center for Osteoporosis.

The exact mechanism behind the problem isn’t clear, but experts believe that drinking soda — particularly colas — affects bone density in several ways. One reason may be that people who drink colas are simply less likely to get enough calcium and vitamin D in their diets, because the soda is replacing more nutritious beverages, such as milk or calcium-fortified juice.

Or, it could be related to the caffeine in colas, because caffeine has been linked to a higher risk of osteoporosis.

The third possible explanation focuses on one of the ingredients found in colas: phosphoric acid. Phosphoric acid can cause an imbalance in the body as the body seeks to neutralize the acid with calcium. If there isn’t enough calcium in the diet, the body will take calcium from the bones.

“Phosphate is in milk, but milk also contains calcium and vitamin D. In soft drinks, there is just phosphoric acid and no calcium. Extra overzealous drinking may lead to a phosphoric acid imbalance, and if there’s not enough calcium, the body goes to the bones to restore the balance,” explained Dr. Primal Kaur, director of the Osteoporosis Center at Temple University Health Sciences Center in Philadelphia.

Low levels of calcium are associated with the development of osteoporosis, a disease that thins the bones so much that they’re at risk of fracture. More than half of Americans, especially postmenopausal women, have an increased risk of developing osteoporosis, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation.

In a study that included more than 2,500 people with an average age of about 60, researchers from Tufts University found that cola consumption by women was associated with lower bone mineral density at three hip sites, regardless of age, menopause, total calcium and vitamin D intake. The women reported drinking an average of five carbonated drinks a week, four of which were colas.

There was less of a problem with decaffeinated cola, but the findings were similar for diet soft drinks. The researchers didn’t find an association between cola drinking and lower bone mass in men.

Results of the study were published recently in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

“Moderation is really important. If you really like soft drinks, you don’t need to take them out of your diet completely, but limit yourself to one or two glasses” a week, Kaur said.

And, she added, make sure you’re getting enough calcium and vitamin D to protect your bone health. Vitamin D needs vary by age, and where you live, so check with your doctor to find out how much vitamin D you should be consuming each day. Kaur said that if you’re not getting at least 1,000 to 1,200 milligrams of calcium daily from your diet, you should take a calcium supplement to ensure you’re getting adequate amounts of the mineral.

Another important way to prevent osteoporosis, according to Raisz, is to exercise.

“The standard recommendation is a half an hour a day for adults and an hour a day for kids, but anything is better than nothing,” he said. “Try to walk at least a half a mile a day, and engage in a weight-bearing exercise of some sort.”

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Welcome to Family Life Pharmacy

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Family Life Pharmacy

First off, what is the Family Life Pharmacy. It is an online pharmacy first; designed primarily for people without prescription medication coverage. We have prescription medications at a discount of up to 70% percent. Go ahead, give us a try. I think you will be presently surprised at your shopping cart.

Second, we have a vitamin store for all those important vitamins and healthy supplements we all need to be taking for our health. You know the ones, the multivitamins of course; and the extra ones our doctors recommend and then all those additional supplements like fish oils and glucosamine. Go visit our vitamin store and you will find them all right there for you to just click and order. They’ll be delivered right to your door.

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