- ALLERGY, RESPIRATORY
- New Spray Could Benefit Cystic Fibrosis Patients
- Using Music and Sports to Improve Kids' Asthma
- 'Safe' Ozone Levels May Not Be for Some
- ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
- Relaxation Tapes or Mozart Lower Blood Pressure
- Eight Spiritual Universal Principles in the Art of Practice
- Birds Don't Miss a Beat
- ANIMAL CARE
- 'Comfort Dogs' Come to Emotional Rescue
- Rest Easy. When It Comes to Swine Flu, Your Pet Is Safe
- Safe Toys for Dogs
- BONES & JOINTS
- Stem Cells Might Treat Tough Fractures
- Chronic Low Back Pain Is on the Rise
- Frankincense Provides Relief for Osteoarthritis
- CANCER
- Well Water Might Raise Bladder Cancer Risk
- Many Cancer Survivors Don't Adopt Healthy Lifestyle
- Women Smokers Lose 14.5 Years Off Life Span
- CAREGIVING
- Medication Errors Could Be Cut: Experts
- Simpler Sleep Apnea Treatment Seems Effective, Affordable
- Diabetes Epidemic Now Poses Challenges for Nursing Homes
- CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
- Migraines in Pregnancy Boost Vascular Risks
- Walk 100 Steps a Minute for 'Moderate' Exercise
- Mercury in Fish Linked to High Blood Pressure
- COSMETIC
- With Psoriasis, the Internet May Offer Hope
- Mouse Study Finds Molecule That Tells Hair to Grow
- What to Do If You Have Unsightly Veins
- DENTAL, ORAL
- Good Oral Hygiene May Protect Against Heart Infections
- Scientists Find Gene for Tooth Enamel
- Health Tip: At Risk for Gingivitis
- DIABETES
- Coffee, Tea Might Stave Off Diabetes
- Older Diabetics With Depression Face Higher Death Rate
- Exercise Protects Black Women From Type 2 Diabetes
- DIET, NUTRITION
- Added Sugars in Diet Threaten Heart Health
- Mediterranean Diet Enriched With Nuts Cuts Heart Risks
- Eating Lots Of Vegetables, Olive Oil May Extend Life
- DISABILITIES
- Review Finds Marijuana May Help MS Patients
- Could Your Cell Phone Help Shield You From Alzheimer's?
- ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
- Gas Stove Emissions Boost Asthma in Inner-City Kids
- Air Pollution Raises Risk of Heart Disease, Death
- Fish in U.S. Rivers Tainted With Common Medications
- EYE CARE, VISION
- Eye Disease, Cognitive Decline Linked in Study
- Poor Night Vision May Predict Age-Related Eye Disease
- Nutrient-Rich Diet Lowers Risk of Age-Related Eye Disease
- FITNESS
- Have Fun This Summer, But DO Be Careful
- Exercise Keeps the Brain Young
- Good Warm-Ups Could Halve Sports Injuries
- GASTROINTESTINAL PROBLEMS
- Traditional Nonsurgical GERD Treatments Not Impressive
- HRT Use Raises Risk of Stomach Trouble
- New Guidelines Issued for Management of IBS
- GENERAL HEALTH
- Swine Flu May Have Infected More Than 100,000 Americans
- Bacterial Infections May Succumb to Honey
- Uncover Why Turmeric Helps You Heal
- HEAD & NECK
- Ski Helmets Encouraged for All
- Many Children Will Outgrow Headaches
- Zen May Thicken Brain, Thwart Pain
- HEALTH & TECHNOLOGY
- Save Your Aging Brain, Try Surfing The Web
- Subway Defibrillators Save Lives
- Magnet Therapy May Ease Hard-to-Treat Depression
- HEART & CARDIOVASCULAR
- Boosting Vitamin D Can Do a Heart Good
- Shedding Light on Why Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Help the Heart
- Implanted Defibrillators Boost Long-Term Survival
- INFECTIOUS DISEASE
- Bacterial Infections May Succumb to Honey
- Grapefruit Compound Inhibits Hepatitis C Virus
- Poor Restroom Cleaning Causes Cruise-Ship Sickness
- KID'S HEALTH
- Obesity May Raise Kids' Allergy Risk
- Older People at Greater Risk of Swine Flu Death
- Stomach Germ May Protect Against Asthma
- MEN'S HEALTH
- The Dark Side of Vegetarianism
- Eating Fast Until Full Triples Overweight Risk
- More Vitamin C May Mean Less Chance of Gout
- MENTAL HEALTH
- Man's Best Friend Helps Mend Broken Hearts
- Brain Scans Show How Humans 'Hear' Emotion
- Vitamin C Protects Some Elderly Men From Bone Loss
- PAIN
- Are We Exercising Pain Away? Not So Much.
- Alleviating Rheumatoid Arthritis
- 'Cell Phone Elbow' -- A New Ill for the Wired Age
- PREGNANCY
- Placebo Acupuncture Tied to Higher IVF Pregnancies
- Woman in America Are Delaying Motherhood, Study Says
- Sugary Colas Tied to Gestational Diabetes
- SENIORS
- Friends, Not Grandkids, Key to Happy Retirement
- Life Expectancy in U.S. Hits New High
- Video Gaming Just Might Fight Aging
Exercise Key Player in Knee Replacement Recovery
By eHolistic.com Published: 02/04/2009
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Exercise may play a key role in helping people recover from total knee replacement and knee osteoarthritis (OA), two new studies show.
After receiving a total knee replacement, patients following a six-week progressive strengthening program showed much improvement in strength, function and pain when compared to those following the conventional care of inpatient rehabilitation and home physical therapy, according to a University of Delaware study published in the February issue of Arthritis Care & Research.
Those in the exercise program -- which consisted of sessions focused on knee extension, range of motion, kneecap mobility, quadriceps strength, pain control and gait two to three times a week -- also showed much greater strength in their quadriceps and functional performance than the other group a year after the program.
Half of those in the exercise group also received neuromuscular electrical stimulation, but the additional treatment didn't seem to have any further effect on the results.
"Our data suggest that individuals who do not undertake an intensive rehabilitation program following [total knee replacement] are clearly at a disadvantage," the authors concluded. "Failing to obtain adequate functional recovery may accelerate functional decline and predispose these individuals to an early loss of functional independence as they age."
The other study, published in the same issue of Arthritis Care & Research, found that people who engaged in activities with low muscle strength (such as light household work) or high mechanical strain (such as dancing or tennis) had a greater risk of developing knee osteoarthritis.
VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam based its findings on physical activity questionnaires filled out by almost 1,700 seniors throughout a 12-year period. The activities were scored for intensity, mechanical strain, turning action and muscle strength, then evaluated. The findings also took into account demographics, health and physical activity from earlier in life.
The authors noted a particular lack of a link between being overweight and mechanical strain to knee osteoarthritis.
"This finding could indicate that the higher risk of knee OA in obese persons may be explained by factors other than increased mechanical strain, and higher levels of physical activity may not negatively affect knee health in heavier respondents," the authors wrote.
The authors called for more research to determine the optimal amount of daily activity needed for healthy joints for each activity before using their findings to advise exercise routines for older adults.
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about osteoarthritis.
-- Kevin McKeever
SOURCE: Wiley-Blackwell, news release, Jan. 29, 2009
Last Updated: Feb. 04, 2009
Copyright © 2009 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.
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