Orthopedics

Low Vitamin D Tied to Estrogen Decline Reported November 17, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Ill effects of vitamin D deficiency in men are amplified by lower levels of estrogen, but not by testosterone. Vitamin D is essential to good health, and can be obtained from fortified foods such as milk and cereals, and by exposure to sunlight. Previous studies … [Read more...]

Obesity Alone Doesn't Cause Knee Arthritis Reported October 05, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Obesity is considered one of the strongest risk factors for osteoarthritis, but a new study in mice suggests a hormone may play an important role. Researchers studied mice deficient in leptin -- a protein hormone that is responsible for regulating appetite and … [Read more...]

Preventing Baseball InjuriesReported July 13, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Shoulder strength and control are critical to a baseball pitcher’s ability to compete. A new study suggests that a focused strength training program to increase a pitcher's shoulder strength during the preseason may prevent serious injury during the season. "The ability to identify pitchers at risk for … [Read more...]

Rotator Cuff Repair Stands Test of Time   Reported March 06, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – People who have surgery to correct a rotator cuff injury can rest assured relief will be long-lasting. A study conducted among 11 patients 8 years following the operation found even those who continued to experience rotator cuff defects remained … [Read more...]

Special Therapy Relieves Back Pain Reported April 15, 2005 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- It's estimated that up to 80 percent of adults experience lower back pain. Now, a new study shows a special physical therapy method is a successful treatment for those with chronic back pain caused by disc disease. … [Read more...]

Testing New Hips   Reported January 30, 2009 Reported January 30TROY, Mich. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- More than 150,000 people will have a hip replacement this year. Most are living in so much pain that they have trouble walking. Current hip implants only last 20 years, leaving many people needing more surgery. Now, researchers are working to create … [Read more...]

Yoga may Help Prevent Falls Reported April 07, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Older women who want to avoid falling might want to take up the ancient art of yoga. Researchers from Temple University find women over age 65 who practiced a type of yoga called Iyengar yoga ended up with increased flexibility, improved stance, increased confidence in walking … [Read more...]

New Artificial Disc May Help Neck Pain Reported April 25, 2006   (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new artificial cervical disc may give hope to the thousands of neck pain sufferers looking for an option not including vertebrae fusion. A herniated cervical disc can cause chronic neck and arm pain. The current treatment for this condition involves surgery to fuse the affected part of … [Read more...]

Bringing Real Feeling to Artificial Limbs Reported October 28, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Plastic surgeons have discovered an electrically conducting polymer (3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene or PEDOT) that helps grow new nerve fibers in the severed nerves of amputees, which may provide neurologic control of prosthetics. Current prosthetics may look … [Read more...]

Dialysis Risks Reported August 05, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A simple bone disease test may signal an increased risk of death for people on dialysis for chronic kidney disease. That’s the key finding from UCLA researchers who looked at alkaline phosphatase levels in nearly 74,000 patients over a three-year period. After adjustment for other factors that could influence … [Read more...]

Faster Back Pain Relief Reported August 25, 2008 ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Each year, 40 to 60 percent of adults in the United States suffer from chronic back pain and more than one million of these people seek spinal surgery procedures. A new surgery is offering relief to many of these people with less pain, less rehabilitation and less anxiety. "My dogs give me … [Read more...]

GPS Knee Replacement Reported August 20, 2008 BATON ROUGE, La. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Knee replacement is the most common kind of joint replacement surgery, with about 300,000 performed in the United States every year. Now, the same kind of navigation technology that helps you find where you're going in your car could help surgeons do knee replacements with better accuracy … [Read more...]

Keep Your Back Intact Reported March 7, 2005 DURHAM, N.C. (Ivanhoe Broadcast News) -- Next to a cold, back pain is the most common complaint that sends Americans to the doctor. Back experts say preventing the pain is easier than treating it with these five steps we can all follow to keep away the ache. Former pro … [Read more...]

Making Strides Reported December 04, 2007 PHILADELPHIA, Penn. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Stiff neck? Aching back? Sore knees? Your feet may be to blame! And what you put on them may aggravate the situation. For some, relief may be just one shoebox away. From high heels to as low as they go, women have had a long love affair with shoes. But fashion -- and … [Read more...]

Obesity Increases Risk of Cartilage LossReported July 16, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- The more you weigh the higher your risk of rapid cartilage loss, according to a new study. The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases says 27 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis, a type of arthritis caused by the breakdown of cartilage. Results from … [Read more...]

Saving Kids' KneesReported July 08, 2009 CINCINNATI, Ohio (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Teen athletes don't always play for fun -- they play to win. With state titles and college scholarships on the line, more kids are pushing themselves and their bodies to the limit. But all that practice and training can take a toll on young bodies, especially knees. Doctors are trying new ways … [Read more...]

Spine Surgery: Timing Matters! Reported August 29, 2007 TORONTO, Canada (Ivanhoe Broadcast News) – About 300,000 Americans are in wheelchairs due to spinal cord injuries. Many patients will recover at least some function in their fingers, toes, hands and limbs after injury, but new research shows there may be a way for them to recover even more. … [Read more...]

The Genes Behind Bone Fractures Reported March 24, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Scientists found a modest but consistent link between a gene variant, low bone mineral density (BMD) and a high risk of fractures in the spine and hip. The authors say the evidence might have been missed in a smaller study. Researchers looked at the association between two … [Read more...]

Yoga Prevents Falls? Reported September 09, 2008 PHILADEPHIA (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- It's known for putting body, mind and spirit into balance. Now, researchers say one form of yoga may help prevent the elderly from taking a fall. Maryann Brown hoped yoga would relieve pain in her hips and back. After several months of regular classes, this senior found an added bonus -- … [Read more...]

Do Birth Control Pills Make Women Weaker?   Reported April 27, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Oral contraceptives appear to impair muscle gains in young women and are associated with lower hormone levels, according to a new study. Researchers set out to examine the effect of oral contraceptives (OC) on healthy women between the ages of 18 and … [Read more...]

Filling Out Sunken Chests Reported June 09, 2008 LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- It's a problem that affects a child's health, their energy and their confidence: a concave chest. One in 500 kids will be born with it. Now there's a medical breakthrough that's helping these kids turn things around. Just a few years ago, even playing pool was too … [Read more...]

Hip and Back Fractures Linked to Increased Risk of Death   Reported August 10, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – A new study of 7,753 people in Canada aged 50 years and older has found that vertebral and hip fractures are associated with an increased risk of death. According to the study, approximately 25 percent of people who develop a hip fracture and … [Read more...]

Keeping Hips Young Reported August 22, 2008 PHILADELPHIA (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Artificial hip replacement is a common procedure for older arthritis patients, but for those who are fifty or younger, there is one major concern; the artificial joints only last for a few years and doctors can only replace them once or twice. Now, a unique procedure can buy younger patients … [Read more...]