The shoulder is extremely mobile and made up of several joints that work together. The scapula, clavicle and humerus are the bones of the shoulder. The glenohumeral joint is the main joint and is more like a golf ball sitting on a tee. It works to allow a lot of range of motion in forward flexion (arms in front), abduction (arms to the sides), adduction (arms across the body) and extension (arms…, Ligaments, Ligaments are a dense connective tissue that connects bone to bone. They are fairly short in comparison to tendons, but very similar in what they are made of. Ligaments are tough and flexible and look like a white band or cable-like structure. To withstand forces that it takes from different directions a ligament is made of a weaving matrix of fibers. The ligaments in the shoulder are all named…, Muscles and Tendons, Tendons are thick bands of connective tissue that connect muscle to bone. Similar to ligaments, they are made of collagen and can withstand increased tension. Tendons are the reason a muscle can move the bones in our body when muscles contract. The tendons involved in the shoulder mainly include the long head of the biceps tendon and the tendons of the rotator cuff: supraspinatus, infraspinatus,…, Cartilage and Labrum of the Shoulder, There is cartilage at the end of all bones in the body. It serves as a gliding surface for when the shoulder joint moves into different positions. It is made of a thick, smooth tissue that acts as a protective covering over the ends of the longs bones at the joint space. Injuries to the cartilage occur either with trauma or over long periods of time where these surfaces slowly deteriorate due to…
Arthritis
The cartilage on the ends of the bones serve as the main shock absorber of the knee. Healthy cartilage is smooth and allows for bones to glide across each other without disruption. In the case of osteoarthritis the joint surface is abnormal and is not working properly. An acute injury can start this process and advance the timeline for development of osteoarthritis in a knee. Break down in…, Treatment options, Weight Loss: Weight creates the impact as a multiplier of body weight. Walking on level ground is 1.5 times your body weight on the joints, stairs is 3 times, squatting to tie shoe is 4 times. Shoes: Running shoes designed for shock absorption in heel with viscoelastic heel insert are best. Activity Modification: Avoid high impact activities; choose low impact cardio like bike or swim.…, Supplementation for Osteoarthritis, Glucosamine Chondroitin Sulfate, Inconsistent evidence hints that glucosamine can reduce symptoms of mild to moderate arthritis; a small amount of evidence indicates that regular use can slow down the gradual worsening of arthritis that normally occurs with time. It appears that most of the positive studies were funded by manufacturers of glucosamine products, and most of the studies performed by neutral researchers failed to…, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, According to the results of at least 13 double-blind, placebo-controlled studies involving a total of over 500 participants, supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids can significantly reduce the symptoms of arthritis. In addition, at least one small study suggests that it may help arthritis patients lower their dose of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication (eg, ibuprofen). It has been…, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease in the general family of lupus. For reasons that are not understood, in rheumatoid arthritis the immune system goes awry and begins attacking innocent tissues, especially cartilage in the joints. Various joints become red, hot, and swollen under the onslaught. The pattern of inflammation is usually symmetrical, occurring on both sides of the body…, Gout, Gout is an inflammatory condition that is caused by the deposit of uric acid crystals in joints (most famously the big toe), as well as other tissues like the ankle and knee. Typically, attacks of fierce pain, redness, swelling, and heat punctuate pain-free intervals. Historically, it is known as the disease of "Kings" as this most commonly was a problem in persons who loved their red meat and…, Alternative Treatments for Gout, The following herbs and supplements are widely recommended for gout, but as yet they have no reliable scientific support: Vitamin C In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 184 people without gout, use of vitamin C at a daily dose of 500 mg significantly reduced uric acid levels.7 This suggests, but falls far short of proving, that vitamin C might be helpful for preventing or treating gout…