Rib, Chest and Upper Back Pain Causes

When people feel pain in the chest area, they often fear the worst. While it is important to be aware of symptoms that may indicate serious problems like a heart attack, it is also good to know that there are many causes of chest and rib pain that do not involve the heart.

Intercostal Muscle Strain

There are muscles in between the ribs called intercostal muscles. There are two sets: the internal and external intercostals. These muscles help to stabilize the chest wall and allow movement of the upper torso. Like any other muscle, the intercostals can be strained when you perform a strenuous activity or from repeated movements like twisting or bending.

When a muscle is strained, it undergoes tearing and inflammation. Strained muscles are often tender to the touch. It is characteristic of torn rib muscles to cause sharp pain when inhaling or sneezing. Muscle strains heal with a day or two of rest usually, but since the intercostal muscles are used with every breath we take, they may take a little longer to recover.

Costovertebral Joint Dysfunction

12 pairs of ribs attach to the thoracic spine in the upper back. The joint that attaches the rib to the vertebra is called the costovertebral joint, and there is one on each side of every thoracic vertebra. When a vertebra becomes misaligned (subluxated), the costovertebral joint also becomes misaligned. This can cause inflammation and stiffness of the joints. Pain may radiate throughout the upper back and ribcage, particularly if nerves that run along the ribs are irritated by the joint.

Thoracic joint problems are relatively rare, considering that this spinal segment doesn't move very much. It is more likely a concern for someone who has suffered a blow to the upper back or who engages in regular activity that demands high levels of twisting. It is also possible that poor posture could result in strain to the thoracic joints. Chiropractic care can help realign the spine.

Costochondritis

Costochondritis is a poorly understood medical condition characterized by inflammation of the cartilage connecting the ribs to the sternum. Most of the time a cause for the condition is not found. A few known causes are infection from a surgical procedure, tumors, strain from lifting or severe cough, a hard blow to the chest and arthritis.

Pain from costochondritis generally affects people on the left side and at more than one rib level. It is worsened by coughing and deep breaths. Treating the condition depends on its cause. Antibiotics can help if an infection is the cause. Stretching and rest may be helpful in the case of strain. Anti-inflammatory medications may be prescribed. Generally the condition in itself is not dangerous, but it could point to a serious cause and requires medical attention.

Whenever you have pain in your chest, it should be taken seriously. However, it is important to be aware of all potential causes, not just the most serious ones.

Essential Steps For Relieving Joint Pain Using Joint Pain Vitamins

You've probably heard of stories of people suffering from painful joints. For some, the condition might even be a default when you're getting older. Is there really no way out of these conditions? How do joint pain vitamins help in such scenarios?

There are a lot of advertisements showing various joint pain vitamins. These products are readily available in the market nowadays. All of them, of course, promise to be the best among the best. It might be hard to discern at times. That's why it is necessary to look at both the problem and offered solution. It will definitely give a clearer picture.

Understanding joint pains

This is a common condition for those who are suffering from arthritis and other bone deficiencies. Before you decide on taking joint pain vitamins, you must first analyze the root of the problem. There are a lot of people who go into the mistake of self-medication when they do not even know the cause of their ailments.

After you address the causes, you now have to check the reasons for your condition. On a general perspective, they are caused by thinning cartilage tissues. When this happens, the joints seem to bump into each other in every movement. Such scenarios really require the intake of some form of supplements.

Vitamins over pain killers

What most doctors would recommend to alleviate the pain are anti-inflammatory medicines composed mostly of ibuprofen and aspirins. The trouble with these types of medications is that they pose serious die effects in the long run. What you would naturally want to do is to address the problem head on. Here are some types of the joint pain vitamins that you should consider taking.

• Vitamin C

Look at any brand of joint pain vitamins and you'll find that it has Vitamin C in its ingredients. Recent reports suggest that the body needs lots of Vitamin C in order to protect the joints and cartilages. If you can, opt to get vitamin c from natural sources such as fruits. You can always pop a Vitamin C pill if you find it more convenient. But, getting this basic vitamin from foods are way better.

• Folic acid and the minerals for the bones

You need to power up the health of your bones in order to avoid problems such as osteoporosis. What most joint pain vitamins contain is folic acid, calcium and magnesium. There are also other vitamins and minerals that naturally supplement the bones but these ones are the most effective.

• Vitamin A

Studies have emphasized that those who are suffering from vitamin A deficiency are more prone to have joint pains than other people. That's why it is necessary to take joint pain vitamins that contain this particular vitamin component. You can get vitamin A from yellow or orange foods such as carrots, sweet potatoes and squash. Most multi-vitamins supplements also have them in their ingredients.

• Vitamin B complex

As its name suggests, vitamin B complex are composed of other vitamin elements. This includes riboflavin, thiamine, vitamin B6, pantothenic acid, vitamin B12 and niacin. Aside from the fact that vitamin B complex aids the nervous system, these vitamins are also able to aid in reducing the discomfort you are feeling. True enough, a lot of studies and experiments report that deficiency in vitamin b results to arthritis. It is quite impossible to take one food source for all the variants of this vitamin. Although there are a few, like ginger, beans, eggs and liver that all contain vitamin B complex. When looking for that extra assistance, ensure that the joint pain vitamins you'll be taking have B complex in its list.

Other essential steps for relieving joint pains using Joint Pain Vitamins

While taking reliable joint pain vitamins, you can also look for other substances and do practices that can help alleviate your condition. Check out some of them below.

• Detoxify the body.

Letting the body release harmful toxins should be a regular practice. How does the body do it? The body naturally releases these substances in the form of urine and perspiration. However, these natural processes may not be enough triggers. As such, it is recommended that you eat vegetables that have high anti-oxidant properties. You can also look for joint pain vitamins that contain detoxifiers. It might be a more convenient option.

• Look for probiotics.

Probiotics are live microorganisms contained in food. These helpful bacteria provide the body more than enough protection from pains and diseases. There might be joint pain vitamins supplements that contain probiotics in small portions. Probiotics are commonly found in cheese and yogurt so try to have daily servings of these food choices.

• Avoid alcohol.

While you may argue that beer contains a few vitamins, this is not enough reason for you to insist on drinking. Bear in mind that most supplements do not work if you have alcohol in your body. Try to avoid going out for drinks with friends in order to effectively avoid any invitation to drink.

• Do stretching exercises on a regular basis.

Most often than not, people just jump to the use of joint pain vitamins supplements at the first stage of the condition. What most people fail to analyze is that pains in the bones are sometimes caused by lack of exercise. Look for basic stretching exercises that you can do for a few minutes before or after your day. You can't argue that you have a sedentary job nature as you can still get around it. Take the stairs instead of the elevator if you can. Walk instead of hailing a cab.

• Sleep.

You can't rely on your joint pain vitamins if you don't get enough sleep. The only time that your body is relaxed and able to repair damaged cells is during sleep. If you don't get good hours for it, expect that you would eventually have more joint pains.

There are ways by which you can handle your medical situations. While it might be easier to rely on joint pain vitamins, you should also do yourself a favor by doing what's right. The basics really matter in taking care of yourself, doing this and using Joint Pain Vitamins at the same time gives you the best chance available to have as pain a free life as possible.

Low Back Pain When Leaning Backwards

There are many, many diagnoses available for those suffering with low back pain, and they can all present with very similar signs & symptoms. One such symptom is pain when leaning backwards. Two typical examples for this type of pain, which would dictate completely different treatment procedures, would be facet joint pain and a disc bulge.

If facet joint pain is your problem, this would be due to the joints in your back being 'forced against' one another as you lean backwards. The aim of treatment here would be to elicit any muscle imbalance about your lower back and look to stretch and strengthen as appropriate. In addition to this, gently mobilising the joints will also help to take some stress from them, therefore encouraging the healing process. A simple exercise to get you started may be lying on you back and then gently hugging your knees to your chest.

Alternatively, if it is a disc bulge which is causing your pain, this is likely to be a result of the disc being 'pinched' as you lean backwards, therefore causing you pain. The irony of it is, if this is the case, some kind of extension (leaning backwards) exercise will form the basis of your treatment. This is likely to begin with you simply lying on your stomach little and often throughout the day. From here, you may well progress to gentle extension exercises while lying on your front.

The important thing to note here is, what may appear to be similar problems due to them both causing pain when leaning backwards, will actually need completely different treatment techniques to resolve the problem.

If you were to perform the exercises intended for a facet joint problem on a disc bulge, or vice versa for that matter, you will only succeed in making your pain worse.

No treatment or exercise programme should make your pain worse, if it does, something needs to be changed. It maybe you are performing the correct exercises, but are just being a bit to vigorous to begin with. However, it may also be that you are simply performing the incorrect exercises for your problem.

Either way, if things are making your pain worse, you need to change what you are doing, either by easing off or trying a different exercise altogether.

Rubbing Her the Right Way - Massage Tips For Great Lovers

One of the most sensuous ways to touch your lady is massage. I don't mean feeling her up...I mean a deep muscle massage.

Do you have a lady who comes home from work tense? Is your lady a stay-at-home mom who's exhausted when her day is through?

Massage can be a non-sexual way of giving of yourself to a lady. Massage relaxes muscles, soothes aches and pains and rejuvenates. Massage restores balance to the body.

Is your lady pregnant? Various studies have shown positive effects in pregnant women who get massages.

For those women who aren't pregnant, massage provides a boost to the immune system that can help women stay healthy and full of energy.

There are many healthy benefits to getting massages:

* Relieves Stress
* Encourages Relaxation
* Improves Posture
* Improves Circulation
* Lowers Blood Pressure
* Helps Manage Pain
* Relaxes Muscles
* Improves Flexibility and Range of Motion
* Relieves Tension-Related Headaches
* Strengthens the Immune System
* Enhances Post-Operative Rehabilitation
* Improves Rehabilitation After Injury
* Manage Fibromyalgia Pain Naturally

Research also proves that massage therapy increases immune function, decreases stress levels and reduces recovery time in many medical conditions including:

* Allergies
* Depression and Anxiety
* Arthritis
* Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
* Asthma and Bronchitis
* Circulatory Problems
* Insomnia
* Sports Injuries
* Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ)
* Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
* Musculo-Skeletal Disorders

Are you looking for a new way to connect with women when you meet them?

I recommend massage for all of those scenarios.

If your lady has the perception that you are the source of relaxation, pain relief and pleasure from massage, she will want to keep you close at hand. Remember, everyone wants to be around people that make them feel good.

If you are going to take this article seriously, you should do some research on Reflexology. Barbara and Kevin Kunz wrote a fine book called "Reflexology" that you should own.

The next three articles will deal with massage. First hand massage, then foot massage, and finally whole body massage.

Guys, you can make tremendous strides forward in your relationships if you will learn how to massage a woman. Every woman will be grateful. And you will become known as a Great Lover.

Hip Dysplasia In Shih Tzus

Shih Tzus are known as energetic, playful and has lively personality. Once you notice something strange with your Shih Tzu's behavior, you can be sure that he is feeling something different. Is he not as active as he is used to be?

Check out because he might be suffering from hip dysplasia. Hip dysplasia is a joint disease in animals, commonly found in dogs than in cats. Some says dysplasia is a genetic disease; some describes it as a developmental disease. Whether a genetic or a developmental disease, the fact remains that it is a disease thus something must be done to treat it.

But before taking steps in treating this disease, it is important to fully understand what hip dysplasia is. Hip dysplasia is a condition wherein there is abnormality in the hip joint of a dog. It could affect left, right or both legs. In a dysplastic hip, the ball and the socket do not fit together resulting to damaging and painful friction. Most dogs with dysplasia are born with normal hips but because of genetics and other factors, the soft tissues that surround the joint start to grow along with the puppy.

So how will you know that a dog has dysplasia? Some puppies, as young as five months old will may experience symptoms such as difficulty in rising, lameness in the back legs soreness after lying down and after heavy exercise and reluctance to jump or stand on hind limbs. The usual active and energetic Shih Tzu may now have less energy and movement. They oftentimes avoid activities that involve much movement and energy. This disease if left untreated can lead to arthritis. And as time goes by, the dog may even need assistance in getting up or worst, may cripple the dog for life.

It has been said that dysplasia is an inherited disease. Yes, dysplasia is passed on through genes and develops over time. It may not be evident at once but it can be triggered by obesity, improper nutrition and other factors as well. Not all dogs with hip dysplasia show no signs of disease. The risk is that, these dogs may be included in a breeding program thus prevention of the disease can be impossible.

This disease, as much as it can be prevented can also be treated in many ways. These treatments include pain medications, weight loss programs especially for obese dogs, controlled exercise, good nutrition and physical therapy. But if the prior mentioned treatments are found ineffective especially in worst cases, another option is surgical treatment.

Dysplasia is a disease of large breed of dogs however, medium and small sized dogs such as Shih Tzus, is not exempted from being affected with this disease of the joint. It can be passed on through genes so it is important take extra care in breeding programs.

CranioSacral Therapy - Helpful and Effective for Everyone From Newborns to Adults

First you may be asking what is CranioSacral Therapy?

In a nutshell CranioSacral Therapy assists the body with a non-invasive touch, using no more than five grams of pressure, roughly the wight of a nickel to evaluate and detect imbalances and restrictions in the body. It releases these restrictions deep in the central nervous system so that every other system in the body can relax and self-correct. It helps you naturally free yourself of physical and emotional pain, stress, and discomfort and strengthens your resistance to disease and enhances your health and wellbeing.

CST came about from the Osteopathic profession. The Founder of Cranial Osteopathy, William Sutherland came to the conclusion in the early 1900's that the bones of the skull had movement. He did further studies and came to prove this. Then later came along Dr. John Upledger, he coined the term CranioSacral Therapy and was a true pioneer in this field. The discovery of the Dural Pulse by Dr. John E. Upledger was the foundation for the groundbreaking work that he would later coin as CranioSacral Therapy. He was assisting in a surgery and was asked to hold the dural tube. However the dural tube was very hard to hold still and seemed as if there was a rhythm about it. From there he looked more into this. From 1975 to 1983, Dr. Upledger was a professor of biomechanics at the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Michigan State University. While he was there he led a team of anatomists, physiologists, biophysicists and bioengineers who performed and published the clinical research that formed the basis for CranioSacral Therapy.

The CranioSacral system has a pulse just like that of your circulatory system and your respiratory system. The CranioSacral Systems pulse is 6-12 beats per minute. This rhythm can be felt anywhere on the body by using a very sensitive touch.

An important function of this system is the production, circulation, and re-absorption of Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF). This fluid provides essential nourishment for the central nervous system, helping it to maintain a consistent balance even when other conditions of the body are changing. All of the critical functions that are mediated by the Central Nervous System are dependent upon supply of this fluid. The Cerebral Spinal Fluid is contained within the Dura and surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord. It nourishes the brain and spinal cord and is very information rich, it tells a lot about the health of someone.

The CranioSacral System also consists of the membrane system which is the membrane that lines the cranium and the dural tube that surrounds the spinal cord. It also consists of the sacrum and the 22 bones of the skull.

The Autonomic Nervous System is greatly influenced with CST. The ANS consists of the Parasympathetics and the Sympathetics. Especially in today's society we are always go go go and dealing with stress. So our Sympathetics are in overdrive. With CST we can calm your Sympathetics down and kick in your Parasympathetics to create a more normal internal environment so that the cells of the body will continue to live and function properly. Each cell will benefit from being in a state of homeostasis which means balance. But, if one or more functional systems lose their ability to contribute, we will see breakdown of homeostasis. Now all cells suffer, moderate dysfunction will lead to sickness, and if there is extreme dysfunction this can lead to death, if left alone.

Fascia

One of the primary tenants of the work is that everything in the body is connected to everything else. So it's not possible to influence one part of the body with out influencing all of it.

Fascia is a specialized system of the body that has an appearance similar to a spiders web or a loose knit sweater. You can also look at it as the part you need to cut through when separating the skin of a chicken from the meant. It is that saran-like covering that encases every muscle, bone, nerve, artery and vein, as well as all of our internal organs including the heart, lungs, brain and spinal cord. The fascia system is not just a system of separate coverings. It is actually one continuous structure that exists from your head to your toe without interruption.

So you can begin to see that each part of the entire body is connected to every other part by the fascia, like the yarn in a sweater. Trauma, inflammatory responses, and/or surgical procedures create Myofascial restrictions. The fascial will become tight and restricted, which will then restrict the blood, nerves or energy meridians within that muscle or organ. Long-term restrictions may result in thick fibrous areas within the fascia that will cause dysfunction and eventually dis-ease within the systems of the body. CST helps the fascia get back to its normal healthy state, and help it become relaxed and way in configuration.

Structure and function are inseparable, alterations in one, to some degree, will modify the other. CranioSacral Therapy can help optimize brain structure which often improves function.

What can CranioSacral Therapy help?

By complementing the body's natural healing processes, CST is increasingly used as a preventive health measure for its ability to bolster resistance to disease, and is effective for a wide range of medical problems associated with pain and dysfunction including:

-Migraines and headaches
-Chronic pain
-Motor-coordination impairments
-Colic
-Autism
-Central Nervous System disorders
-Orthopedic problems
-Traumatic Brain and Spinal Cord injuries
-Scoliosis
-Learning disabilities
-Chronic fatigue
-Emotional difficulties
-Stress and tension related problems
-Fibromyalgia and other connective-tissue disorders
-TMJ
-Post-traumatic stress disorder
-Post-surgical dysfunction
-Pregnancy difficulties
-And so much more

CranioSacral Therapy is great for all ages! Newborns to adults!

What is a session like?

You will then lie down comfortably-fully clothed. I will also have you take your shoes off. I do recommend that you wear loose, comfortable clothing.

The session is usually performed with you lying on a comfortable massage table, occasionally I may have you seated or standing.I will begin by using a light touch at the feet-to assess where restrictions and other related problems exist in your body. I will then continue to work through other parts of your body.

What about during the session?

Experiences during a CranioSacral session are as individual as the clients themselves. They also may differ from session to session. Sometimes, you may deeply relax or even fall asleep, at other times you may talk a great deal, recalling hidden memories or expressing emotions. You may even remain still during the entire session, hardly noticing my evaluation and treatment. While others will experience sensations within the body as the evaluation process is continued.

At various times throughout our session, I will support your limbs and spine while facilitating a release of accumulated tension. This process is called energy cyst release or Myofascial release. During this release, you may occasionally recall circumstances surrounding a past shock, trauma, or injury. Releasing and re-experiencing past hurts assists the body in reversing dysfunction and restoring the previous level of mobility. You can re-create those past hurts or dysfunction, this process has been named SomotoEmotional Release (SER)

During a CranioSacral session it could be necessary to do some related work in the mouth ( Maxilla, Vomer, Mandible...) along with some of the face muscles, because these bones are closely related with the Sphenoid bone. If not in balance they may be the root cause of the dysfunction.

What about following a session?

Just as your session can vary from another individuals session greatly, the immediate results from person to person can be just as diverse. This relaxed state may cause some people to sleep for many hours after a session, while others may experience a big increase in energy. Reduction of pain or an increase in function may occur immediately after the session, or it may develop gradually over the next few days. Because CranioSacral Therapy helps the body resume its natural healing processes, it isn't unusual for improvement to continue well after the session. Meanwhile, for some here may be a reorganization and integration phase as the body adapts to the release of previously held patterns.

Dog Joint Pain

Owning a dog is indeed a very pleasure full activity but the care that you need to undertake for your canine is really tedious and is very time consuming as well. A dog will always be your companion but it is really necessary that you take all the required care of your pet. It starts from the training of the dog and continues along with the daily nitty-gritty. You will have to bath the dog regularly followed by the careful brushing of the coat. The only way you can be the happy owner of a dog if the animal itself is happy. You will have to be its playmate so that it gets ample exercise which will prevent it from getting lazy. Professional treatment of the dog by a vet is also very important if your pet falls sick.

One of the major concerns regarding the health of the dog arise form the joint pain. Dog arthritis is something which is a common niggle for your canine. Canine hip dysplasia is another threat to the health of your dog. You need to treat these disorders with the help of a vet and they should be neglected under any circumstances. Nowadays different joint supplement for dogs are available in the market. The joint supplement for dogs is probably the best non operative option available to you which is a surefire way of treating all the joint disorders of your pet. Dog joint pain relief can also be brought about by the use of glucosamine for dogs. Glucosamines both the naturally occurring as well as the artificial ones are really helpful for the dog joint pain relief.

Most of the dogs suffer from the joint disorders at an old age because that is when the bones become weak and they are much more prone to the osteoarthritis. Dogs that are heavy have a natural tendency to suffer from these disorders. So it is essential that you take all the necessary steps to ensure that your dog does not become overweight. Keep your dog healthy and then only both the owner and the dog can live comfortable. The joint supplement for dogs is something that should be always kept handy when faced with the tricky situations of dog arthritis.

Some other things that you as the owner should always keep in mind is that an old dog should not be made to jump down from the bed or high chairs and tables. Dogs obviously are not like human beings so even if they are old they won't realize that their body is not the same as it once was. So it is at the old age that you need to take extra care of the dog like getting moveable steps for it so that the animal can climb down instead of jumping. It is also advisable to get beds for the dog instead of making it sleep on the cold hard floor.

Glucosamine treatment has proved that it can be used for treating the joint disorders. Though the results are not immediate but they really work.

So keep all these things in mind if you want to take proper care for your dog.

How Your Diet Can Affect Joint Pain

When you have joint pain, it can cause you to be unable to enjoy many areas of your life. Being in constant pain in your joints is one of the most difficult problems that many people face. Your diet plays an important part of the inflammation that is responsible for your joint pain.

Eating a diet that is rich in Omega 3 fatty acids is one of the ways that you can begin an anti inflammatory diet. Choosing to eat a diet that is designed to reduce the inflammation that is in your body is the best way to begin to minimize the joint pain that you are experiencing.

There has been a great deal of information about Omega 3 fatty acids as well as Omega 6. It is important that you understand the importance of these essential parts of your diet so that you can make wise decisions about the foods that you eat. Many products on the market claim to be rich in Omega 3 acids, but actually have more of the Omega 6 fatty acids, which will not help your inflammation problem. Be very careful when you are building your anti inflammation diet or you could end up causing more problems than you solve.

Exercise is also an important part of your joint problems. While it may seem impossible to get any exercise when you are in pain, there are some things that you can do. Look for exercise that minimizes the impact to your joints. Swimming and low impact exercises can do a great deal to help you exercise with joint problems.

Eating a good diet and getting plenty of exercise is the best way to begin to minimize the inflammation that is causing your joint pain. Anti inflammatory medications are also showing great results in patients who suffer from these problems. Ask your doctor if you should be using an anti inflammatory medication if you are suffering from arthritis or other inflammation conditions.

There is a great deal that you can do for your arthritis if you are informed on the way that inflammation affects your joints. Pay careful attention to the foods that you are eating and how they can be affecting your joint health. Many people have reported great results with the use of a diet that is designed to reduce inflammation. There is a great deal of information available to you so that you can begin to create your own diet and begin to find relief for your joint pain.

How Degenerative Arthritis Affects Your Body

Degenerative arthritis, how does it affect your body? It is a serious condition that causes the person to be in a lot of pain. This disease affects millions of people that are located all over the globe. Many people know it better as osteoarthritis and when this condition worsens it is referred to as degenerative arthritis. This condition is the most common form of arthritis and it affects different joints in the body. Most commonly it affects the spine, knees, hips, fingers and toes and it can be in more than one joint at a time. The joints have a substance made of protein between them to prevent them from rubbing together called cartilage. Degenerative arthritis breaks down causing the cartilage to deteriorate leaving the bones exposed.

Degenerative arthritis causes spurs or new bone to develop where the cartilage use to be. These spurs can be extremely painful and hard to live with. As a person gets older they are more likely to get this disease because the protein that makes up the cartilage begins to break down and the quantity of water will increase. Doctors will refer to degenerative arthritis as either primary or secondary. Primary just seems to happen with age and no one really knows why so it really isn't a lot that you can do about the condition.

Usually the cause of secondary osteoarthritis can be determined because it was due to wear and tear on the body. Most of the time, the person with this condition has used the affected area repeatedly over several years. For example, there are a lot of jobs that require a person to perform the same task over and over for many years. When this happens the cartilage between the joints they are using is being worn down and over a few years degenerative arthritis can set in. This is why it would be best if you can avoid using joints repeatedly if you can.

It is important to know as much about degenerative arthritis and your body as you can. Even though there is not a single thing you can do to prevent this getting this disease when you get older, you can reduce your risks. Being overweight can cause damage to your spine, hips and knees. Therefore, maintaining a healthy weight can help to eliminate extra strain on the body in these areas and reduce the odds of having this disease in these joints. It is important that everyone do all they can to prolong or eliminate this disease from their future to avoid a lot of unnecessary suffering.

Glucosamine Skin Products

Glucosamine is essential to maintain a healthy skin. Ample amounts of glucosamine in the blood are required for the production of hyaluronic acid, a substance necessary to heal skin injuries and surgical incisions. Studies conducted on the effectiveness of glucosamine on skin showed that patients who took glucosamine before undertaking a surgery and continued to take it till their incisions were healed showed faster rates of healing compared to patients who did not take it. Glucosamine is also being used to reduce the wrinkles and help the skin to stay more resilient.

The MSM/Glucosamine skin cream products provide support for healthy joint, cartilage, connective tissues and flexibility. The nutrients are encapsulated into liposomes for concentrated delivery to the required area. It has the sulfate form of glucosamine. It does not have any fragrance and is not tested on animals.

Some formulations help clear blemishes, uneven discoloration, age spots and melasma. It is an all- encompassing skin cream that eliminates unwanted pools of pigment in the skin. It contains beta carotene, azeleic acid, gluconic acid, licorice extract and glucosamine. This cream increases collagen synthesis and rejuvenates the skin.

Creams intended for removal of scars and wrinkles are reputed to produce an effect in less than 72 hours. The active ingredients present in such creams are glucosamine, Retinol, Beta Carotene, Vitamin E and Ascorbic acid, all of which are necessary for a healthy skin.

Glucosamine is also present in eye creams that are used to reduce under eye shadowing. Such creams provide a lift to the eye and reduce puffiness and sagging of the eye.

Apart from glucosamine hydrochloride the other important ingredients in several skin creams include water, stearic acid, grape seed oil, Vitamin E, hyaluronic acid and glyceryl stearate.

Research is now being conducted on a modified type of glucosamine called n-acetyl glucosamine to contain bleeding.

How Acupuncture Relieves Sciatica

Once we understand how sciatica happens, we begin to see why acupuncture is so effective in treating it. As you may know, sciatica is a symptom caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve, which results in pain down the side or back of the leg as far down as the calf or even ankle. This pressure usually comes from a combination of different factors:

1.) Spasms of various muscles that the sciatic nerve runs through squeeze the nerve (esp. the piriformis muscle). There are also muscles that spasm near the spine and exacerbate the pressure caused by any bulging disc.

2.) Inflammation causes more pressure and irritation to the sciatic nerve.

3.) A herniated disc, degenerative joint disease, or other problems with the structure of the spine, put pressure on the nerves that come together to form the sciatic nerve.

Acupuncture is effective in resolving the first two causes of Sciatica. However, even when a herniated disc is involved, acupuncture can relieve the secondary inflammation and muscle spasm, and the pressure can usually be reduced enough to relieve the pain entirely.
A bulging disc pressing on nerves makes the nerves more sensitive. If those same nerves receive yet more pressure from tight muscles, the pain of sciatica is created. The muscles tension is like the "straw that breaks the camel's back". So, while acupuncture cannot reverse a bulging disc, it can reduce the pain and more importantly the spasmodic muscles, which escalate pressure on the nerves and create the pain in the first place.

TMJ Exercise - Simple Ways To Alleviate Your TMJ Pain

TMJ dysfunction can be a very painful ailment that can affect not only the jaw, but the upper body as well. The arms, head, and neck can also experience pain and numbness. However, these sometimes debilitating symptoms can be alleviated with proper TMJ exercises. It just takes the right exercises and a little bit of a commitment. TMJ exercises are a much better alternative to risky TMJ surgery, which can leave one off worse, than when they began. Effective, TMJ exercises helps re-teach the jaw how to open and close correctly.

To begin, find a mirror and stand in front of it. Open and close your mouth slowly. Keep your head straight. If you suffer from TMJ dysfunction, your jaw will open to one side. Concentrate and focus on opening your mouth straight. This will be a bit difficult because muscles on one side of your mouth or jaw are weak and do not function properly. Open and close your mouth correctly 10 times, than rest. Do this TMJ exercise 3 times (3 sets). Perform 3 sets of these TMJ exercise 3-4 times a day. This exercise will help the jaw re-learn to open and close correctly.

To alleviate muscle pain due to tight jaw muscles, perform the following TMJ exercise: Slowly, open your mouth as wide as you can. Then slowly close it. Next, slowly open your mouth to the right as wide as you can, then slowly close it. Lastly, slowly open your mouth to the left as wide as you can, then slowly close it. Repeat these stretching exercises at least 3 times a day. Perform these until you begin to experience some relief.

TMJ dysfunction can be incredibly painful and frustrating. However, with proper TMJ treatment, which includes specific TMJ exercises, you can begin to experience relief without the dangerous risk of jaw surgery.

Knowing the Cause of Pain to Find the Proper Joint Pain Relief

Joint pain may be described in several ways. A lot of people who have had it would say it is a kind of pain that they would never want to experience again. It's the kind of pain that has the capacity to deplete you as a whole. Most commonly, a person who has joint pain feels some tenderness on his or her joint area. Even the skin feels sensitive that a light touch of a sheet can make you cringe. It also causes inflammation or swelling. Due to this, a person experiencing some joint pains is restricted with his or her movements. Sometimes, it totally disables a person to move.

Finding the proper joint pain relief is not very difficult provided that you know what causes it. You see, joint pain isn't only caused by the very famous arthritis. There are several reasons why a person suffers from it and unless he or she knows where it came from, the correct medication can never be given.

Here are some main triggers of joint pain:

o Arthritis - Since this is the most common cause of joint pain, it would be good to know more about it. Arthritis is the swelling of joints due to the wearing down of the cartilage. There are over a hundred types of arthritis. However, the two most widespread types are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the type generally associated with aging. It affects the weight-bearing areas like the spine, knees, hips, and feet. On the other hand, rheumatoid arthritis is the most common grave inflammatory form. It can lead to a significant loss in mobility. Although the specific reason of this arthritis is unknown, the autoimmune system of the body plays an important role when it comes to its progression.

o Injury - An injury may cause painful joints. When ligaments, cartilage, and bones within the joints are injured, they become very painful too. People who are engaged in outdoor activities like sports usually suffer from this kind of pain. The most effective joint pain relief for this is an ice pack. It numbs the area and relaxes the muscles. However, it is important that you seek medical advice when injured to make sure that you don't need anything else to relieve it. Some injuries are quite bad that the person may need to wear a cast or undergo surgery.

o Gout - Gout is an acute and recurrent disease that is characterized by painful swelling of the joints especially the ones found in the hands and feet. It also causes arthritic attacks because of the elevation of the uric acid in the blood. Obesity can cause this pain and it is alleviated by a change in diet.

Unless you know what causes discomfort in your joints, you will never be able to find the appropriate joint pain relief to it. It is not advisable to take any kind of pain reliever to treat it because doing so will not create a substantial difference in your wellness.

Osteoarthritis - The Truth of It

This is a chronic disease involving the joints, and one which is likely to affect most people if they live long enough. It is sometimes referred to as a degenerative joint disease, because as one grows older there is degeneration of the joint cartilage and some overgrowth of bone. People who are overweight are affected, particularly in the weight-bearing joints such as the knees and hips. Osteoarthritis also affects the vertebrae of the back and the joints of the fingers. Unlike other forms of arthritis which can result from infection and inflammation, this disease is primarily the result of aging, and wear and tear. It is, however, often associated with repeated joint injury.

Both men and women are affected. It occurs in women about the time of the menopause and seems to affect their hand joints much more often than the hand joints of men.

Symptoms. The condition develops slowly, with few obvious symptoms. Mainly there are joint aches and pains, and stiffness. These appear to be related to exercise of the particular joint involved. Medication generally gives relief. The stiffness is pronounced after the patient has been at rest, and tends to disappear when he is active. As the illness progresses, the osteoarthritic patient develops the characteristics such as knobby fingers, some grafting of the joints in motion, and the formation of bony spurs, which are small projections off the bones.

Complications. There are no serious complications. Sometimes there is pain, and because of this activities of the patient become limited. In severe cases joint changes may interfere with normal activity. The joints are deformed and the back is stiff. Usually this does not affect the patient's general health or curtail his normal life span.

Prevention. Patients who are overweight must take steps to lose weight in order to lessen the strain on the joints. Those who are overactive are advised to get extra rest. Mild exercise and physiotherapy tend to lessen the severity of the disease and keep the joints mobile. Poor habits of diet should be improved. Any known infection should be treated and eliminated even though there is no positive relationship between infection and osteoarthritis.

When the lower spine is involved, patients can use bed boards and corsets to make themselves more comfortable. There are no specific medicines for this disease, and simple remedies are usually suggested.

Embracing Natural Joint Pain Relief

Wouldn't it be great if there were natural and safe ways to address your joint pain issues? Fortunately, there are natural relief options that work exceedingly well and are available to you now. Some of the different ways to relieve joint pain might be surprising to you, but modern medical science has shown that they can be quite effective.

Of course every person is different and how well a given pain relief option works for you personally may differ from what others are experiencing. In this article, we will look at the different ways that people are addressing their joint pain. As you will see, many of these natural options can easily be worked into your lifestyle and your diet.

Acupuncture May Just Be Your New Best Friend

Acupuncture has existed and thrived as a pain relief option for thousands of years. Could it be that there is nothing to it? Many experts and doctors believed for generations that acupuncture was not a real way of treating pain and at best people were tricking themselves into believing that it worked. This inaccurate believe has been completely turned on its head in recent years, thanks to studies by such respected institutions as John Hopkins and others who have concluded that the ability of acupuncture to treat pain is indeed real.

Acupuncture apparently can block the pain signals from reaching the brain. This allows for pain relief to occur. Many have found that joint pain relief can take place almost instantly thanks to acupuncture. In fact, acupuncture stands as a way of treating almost any pain or injury as a result. Acupuncture is even being used to treat the pain associated with cancer treatment.

Biofeedback and Joint Pain

Biofeedback is another option that many have tried with success for joint pain and a variety of other pains as well. While biofeedback does indeed work, it can take some time to "get the hang of it." One approach is to use acupuncture and biofeedback as a combined approach.

Other Important Ways of Achieving Joint Pain Relief

1) Lose weight as this takes pressure off joints.

2) Avoid foods that cause inflammation, such as fast food and processed foods.

3) Eat an "anti-inflammation" diet rich in fruits, vegetables like beets, and omega-3 fatty acid rich foods.

4) Try anti-inflammatory spices such as turmeric and ginger.

Don't expect instant results. With that stated, however, you will no doubt be surprised at how quickly these different approaches to dealing with your joint pain can work. This is particularly true if these approaches are used in conjunction with one another.

Do You Need Hip Surgery and Knee Surgery?

For those who are struggling with pain, having hip surgery and knee surgery may be something your doctor brings up. It may seem like this is a big decision to make and one you do not want to rush into making. The good news is that most doctors will put off providing this type of procedure for as long as possible. That is the best possible way to ensure that the results you get are going to last long term and that you will not need to have a secondary procedure. Yet, when may you need this help?

Consider Your Pain

Only you know how much pain you are in and how much pain you can handle. It is a good idea to select a doctor that offers every option possible for minimizing that pain, including the use of other treatment options. However, for many, the pain is chronic, severe, and always there even when medications are taken. If this is the stage you are in, having hip and knee surgery may be necessary. At some point, the pain meds do not work as effectively as they used to, and you need more help.

Are You Unable to Do Things?

One of the hardest parts of joint pain and breakdown is that it becomes so significant that many people simply stop doing the things that they used to enjoy doing. You may feel as though you cannot get up and down as easily as you used to. You may no longer hike, go for walks or be social because the pain of being active is simply too much. When this happens, many people find themselves worried about what steps to take. Replacing the joints may be all you can do to get back the movement you need to get active again.

Are You Not Getting Relief?

You may need hip surgery and knee surgery if other treatment options are no longer working. Your doctor can only provide you with so much pain medication. Injections that are often used to treat this type of pain may only be effective for a short amount of time. If you are noticing that the medications are becoming less beneficial to you, it may be time to consider turning another option for relief.

Before you put off hip and knee surgery too long, talk to your doctor about your options. Discuss the level of damage present in these joints. Find out how much improvement you could see from having this type of treatment. If it could improve your life, it is likely worthwhile to do.

Does Provailen Really Work?

Many people are affected by joint pain caused by arthritis. However, there are many other triggers for experiencing joint pain aside from arthritis like injuries, aging and too much stress on certain joints. Through the years, the most popular treatment for joint pain has always been taking medications. The bad news is that such drugs can result to adverse effects like stomach ulcer, high blood pressure, kidney damage and heart problems.

This is exactly the reason why natural joint pain supplements are now very popular. Provailen is one of the most popular natural joint pain supplements today. Just do a simple online search on joint pain and you will likely come across this product. Let's take a closer look at this joint pain remedy and determine if Provailen really works or not.

What Makes It Work?
The most interesting thing about Provailen is its key ingredient, which is a mushroom called Reishi. This ingredient contains polysaccharide beta-1, 3-D-glucan that is supposed to boost the number of macrophages T-cells. These cells are among a group of immune cells that gets rid of bacteria, viruses and injured or dead body cells.

It is common knowledge that arthritis damage is mainly caused by problems in the body's auto immune system. The body doesn't just attack injured and dead body cells but also the joints, which may result in pain and inflammation. Basically, Reishi brings back the balance of macrophages in order to reduce the damage and effects of arthritis.

Other Ingredients
Provailen also contains pure capsaicin that helps the body improve absorption of the ingredients of the product. It is essentially a carrier and it increases blood flow to the blood vessels. Capsaicin has also been indicated in the process of alleviating inflammation and the breakup of deposits that contributes to pain from arthritis.

Studies also confirm that this ingredient can help reduce chronic nerve pain. The product also contains concentrated tongkatali that helps prevent muscle atrophy. This, in turn, prevents muscle weakness that can contribute to joint pain from arthritis.

Looking at the three key ingredients of the product, there is good reason to believe that Provailen really works.

Product Assessment
The main problem with the product is the fact that there are no clinical studies supporting its claims. So how can we be sure that it is really effective in treating joint pain? We certainly can't. Based on online reviews, many people who have tried Provailen pain relief product claim that it really works. But then again, there are also some people who say that it didn't do anything for them.

It is possible that it works for some people and it doesn't work for others. There is also the possibility that some people just experience the placebo effect when using the product.

Conclusion
It is still unclear whether Provailen really works. The only way to determine if it will work for you is by trying it. If you are suffering from joint pain from arthritis, the best way to treat it is to begin by consulting a specialist who can give you recommended treatments.

Knee Joint Pain

Joints are the places in the human body where two bones meet. When pain occurs in joints, it causes inability in carrying out normal movements, which can cause a lot of anxiety. Joint pain is a common complaint often associated with the process of aging. Unusual exertion or overuse of joints can cause body joint pain.

Of the various joint pains, pain in the knee joint is the most common. This is because of two main reasons - the design of the knee joint and the fact that it is a weight bearing joint. The knee is a joint with three bones. This joint is surrounded by a capsule with ligaments strapping the joint. Meniscus is a thickened cartilage pad that acts like cushions of the joint and Synovial fluid lubricates the joint. This complex design of the knee joint makes it quite unstable. The second factor that makes the knee joint very susceptible to injuries is that the knee bears the entire weight of the body with every step that we take. Treating knee joint pains depends on the cause of the pain.

Injuries causing knee pain

Ligament injury from a trauma or a fall can cause injury to ligaments on the inner and outer portion of the knee, and within the knee. There is immediate pain and swelling and it needs urgent medical attention

Meniscus tears - during rapid and sharp movements or rotations of knee the meniscus can be torn. This is very common with sports persons. Meniscal tears are often associated with locking of the knee joint or an unstable sensation in the joint.

Tendonitis - straining the knee with activities like jumping can cause Tendonitis. Tendonitis refers to inflammation of tendons and this can cause swelling and pain in the knee joint.

Fractures - severe knee trauma associated with vehicle accidents and impacts can cause bone breakage of any of the three bones in the knee joint.

Diseases and Conditions causing knee pain

Some of the common conditions that can cause knee pain include Arthritis, Chondromalacia or softening of cartilage, Tumors and Bursitis.

Knee Pain, Knee Injuries and Iliotibial Band Syndrome

Knee pain and knee injuries, as a result of Iliotibial Band Syndrome, can be an extremely painful and frustrating injury that puts a big strain on both the knee and hip joints.

Knee pain and knee injuries are very common among runners and cyclists. However, they don't usually occur in an instant, like a hamstring strain or groin pull, but commonly start off as a twinge or niggle, and progress quickly to a debilitating sports injury that can sideline the best of us for weeks.

For those who aren't familiar with Iliotibial Band Syndrome, let's start by having a look at the muscle responsible for the problem. The iliotibial band is actually a thick tendon-like portion of another muscle called the tensor fasciae latae. This band passes down the outside of the thigh and inserts just below the knee.

If you look at the anterior (front) view of the right thigh muscles and follow the tendon of this muscle down, you'll see that it runs all the way to the knee. This thick band of tendon is the iliotibial band. Or iliotibial tract, as it is labelled in the diagram.

The knee pain occurs when the tensor fasciae latae muscle and iliotibial band become tight. This causes the tendon to pull the knee joint out of alignment and rub against the outside of the knee, which results in inflammation and pain.

Causes

There are two main causes of knee pain associated with iliotibial band syndrome. The first is "overload" and the second is "biomechanical errors."

Overload is common with sports that require a lot of running or weight bearing activity. This is why ITB is commonly a runner's injury. When the tensor fasciae latae muscle and iliotibial band become fatigued and overloaded, they lose their ability to adequately stabilize the entire leg. This in-turn places stress on the knee joint, which results in pain and damage to the structures that make up the knee joint.

Overload on the ITB can be caused by a number of things. They include:

• Exercising on hard surfaces, like concrete;


• Exercising on uneven ground;


• Beginning an exercise program after a long lay-off period;


• Increasing exercise intensity or duration too quickly;


• Exercising in worn out or ill fitting shoes; and


• Excessive uphill or downhill running.

Biomechanical errors include:

• Leg length differences;


• Tight, stiff muscles in the leg;


• Muscle imbalances;


• Foot structure problems such as flat feet; and


• Gait, or running style problems such as pronation.

Treatment For Iliotibial Band Syndrome

Firstly, be sure to remove the cause of the problem. Whether is be an overload problem, or a biomechanical problem, make sure steps are taken to remove the cause.

The basic treatment for knee pain that results from ITB Syndrome is no different to most other soft tissue injuries. Immediately following the onset of any knee pain, the R.I.C.E.R. regime should be applied. This involves Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation, and Referral to an appropriate professional for an accurate diagnosis. It is critical that the R.I.C.E.R. regime be implemented for at least the first 48 to 72 hours. Doing this will give you the best possible chance of a complete and full recovery.

Is Hyaluronic Acid an Effective Gout Remedy?

There has been a good deal of attention given to hyaluronic acid for optimum joint health lately, with the question on many peoples lips being whether or not it is an effective gout remedy.

Hyaluronic acid is already commonly used in anti-aging and skin-care treatments, but more recently it has been applied to treating painful joint conditions such as osteoarthritis and gout.

The driver behind this new use of hyaluronic acid is because it's found naturally within the connective tissue of the joints, which is responsible for cushioning and lubricating them for better function. So by using hyaluronic acid treatments you are adding to the body's own naturally produced joint defenses.

Hyaluronic acid is a substance that occurs naturally within the glycosaminoglycan of the body (a major structural component of cartilage). It's found in ample supply in most areas where joint problems can occur such as in the knees, knuckles, shoulders, elbows, hips, and it's even found in the eyes and the heart valves.

Abnormalities in hyaluronic acid are common throughout many kinds of connective tissue disorders such as varying forms of arthritis, TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder), and gout.

Hyaluronic acid is now used as a preparation to treat the inflammation that can occur in skeletal joints. It also helps to fight the wearing out of cartilage structures as is typical in many joint diseases.

This therapy is considered more beneficial for many people than other common medication treatments, such as cortisone. Cortisone, though effective in the short-term for relieving gout pain, may accelerate the degenerative process of many joint diseases such as osteoarthritis over time, so may not be the ideal gout remedy in the long run.

As long as the preparation of hyaluronic acid is pure it's often free of negative side effects, however sufferers who have allergies should avoid this treatment. The most common side effect reported seems to be a 'chicken pox like' rash.

Hyaluronic acid works effectively to counteract the inflammation associated with gout and other inflammatory joint conditions. The preparation as a gout remedy can be applied either as an injection into the effected joint, taken as an oral supplement or in the form of a cream that is rubbed into the skin on the affected area(s).

If you choose to use hyaluronic acid in its cream form it can take anywhere from between 10 - 45 minutes to experience relief from gout pain. The cream can be applied daily as required during a gout flare. When hyaluronic acid is taken in supplement form it can be taken daily as a preventative whereas injections would usually only be administered during an actual gout flare.

If you would like to know whether hyaluronic acid will be a good gout remedy choice for you, or if you want to know if there is another form of treatment that will also be helpful, speak to your doctor to discuss your options.

Simple Things You Can Do to Reduce Arthritis Related Joint Pain

Arthritis is a very uncomfortable condition that many people both young and old suffer from. It's so common that many people try to just ignore it and go on with their day. That kind of stoic approach may be admirable, but it's completely unnecessary. There are many things that have had proven results in reducing arthritis pain with a great deal of effectiveness. Why suffer from arthritis, when you can do something about it and enjoy your day more?

Arthritis certainly slows people down and makes it harder for them to accomplish even simple things. Particularly when arthritis effects the hands it can get in the way of all kinds of important daily tasks. By understanding this condition and what you can do about it, you are well on the way to improvements that could really change your life.

There are over 100 different types of arthritis that result from damage to the joints in your body. Osteoarthritis is the most common form, which is a result of the body going through the natural again process. It can be described as a degenerative joint disease. Joint infection can cause another common form of this condition, called septic arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis, arthritic autoimmune conditions, and psoriatic arthritic are frequently diagnosed types. If you think you are having arthritis related problems, you should talk to your doctor to help discern what kind you may have and the best ways to handle the problem.

People with any of these forms of arthritis regularly complain of pain on an everyday basis, as well as joint stiffness, swelling in affected areas, soreness, and occasionally sharp pain. Most people with arthritis also feel that it is a source of fatigue.

Arthritis cannot be completely prevented, early diagnosis and treatment may help to keep the condition from becoming more severe. Physical therapy, regular reasonable physical activity and exercise, eating healthy, and losing weight are things that can help at any stage of this disease. There are also natural supplements such as glucosamine and condroiton which have been proven to be effective. As studies have progressed, different formulas for these types of natural medicines have become even more effective. Synotrex, is one good advanced formula that can help cause relief from joint pain. As a remedy it has been shown to improve mobility and the way your joints move and function. It can be used to help with arthritis related pain, as well as discomfort that is a result of other injuries.

Talk to your doctor, professional nutritionists at local stores that promote healthy living, and do some further research online to evaluate what different approaches will work best in combination for your conditions. Don't let arthritis stop you or slow you down, there's a lot you can do to improve arthritis joint pain remarkably. For more information about preventing arthritic joint pain, please visit http://www.synotrex.com

Joint Pain in Dogs - 5 Things You Can Do to Help!

To witness joint pain in dogs is never pleasant. If your dog has joint pain, I'm very sorry. The limping, whining, and licking of the affected joint are tell-tale signs that your dog may be experience symptoms of arthritis. Whether your dog is full blown arthritic or is simply experiencing joint discomfort, the following five steps are guaranteed to help...

Joint Pain In Dogs - 5 Things You Can Do To Help:

1. Massage the muscles surrounding the affected joint(s). Take a minute or two to relieve your dog's discomfort with a nice deep massage. Never actually rub on the joint itself. Simply lay your dog down and massage all the major muscles around the joint.



2. Acupressure works wonders. While your dog is still lying down, firmly squeeze his/her akeela's heel using your thumb and middle finger. Do this for about a minute and watch your dog immediately relax. This is pure bliss for your little buddy!



3. Change dog food. A high quality dog food high in natural glucosamine will work miracles for your dog. Do NOT overlook the importance of glucosamine in your dog's diet! It is critical to maintain healthy cartilage. The food you buy may be a little more expensive, but it will save you a fortune in vet bills down the road. And your dog will thank you heartily for it!



4. Keep your dog active. While this may sound counter-intuitive, it is actually extremely important. If your dog lounges around all day, a couple things will happen. First, your dog's joints will dry up, worsening the situation radically. Movement keeps the joints lubricated. Second, your dog could gain weight. It's been shown time after time that the heavier the dog, the worse the joint problem. Rigorous exercise could cause more problems, but a nice walk or jog for a few minutes each day can keep your dog healthy.



5. Avoid medications. Even if they're supposedly made for your pet, they can do way more harm than good, as toxicity can develop very easily. Instead, opt for a homeopathic supplement that specifically treats joint pain in dogs. If the supplement also reduces swelling, promotes flexibility and lubrication, and does away with joint stiffness, you and your dog are WAY ahead of the game!

Hip Flexors - The Key To Pain Free Golf

We're on hole #7 looking down at a 130 yard, tee to green shot with the pin tucked in the middle left. WE'VE made it six holes, coming off a birdie on the 407 YARD #6 with 3 holes to go, then suddenly the back tightens, tempo gets quick, turn gets short, shoulders over- compensate, and we get the pull, straight left into the water-BOGEY! It should have been another par.
Sometimes the mind is able, but the back is unable. Back pain of some sort is almost a guarantee in today's world. The major reason for back pain is tight hip flexors.

From the golfer's point of view, short tight hip flexors are a common cause for loss of distance off the tee, pulled drives, and poor posture at address. A combination of tight hamstrings and tight hip flexors, restricting your trunk rotation, account for the limitations in achieving a full backswing. Tight hip muscles will not only wreck your golf swing but, they are the most common cause of back pain. There are many reasons for weak back muscles, weak abdominals, tight hamstrings and so on. One of the biggest reasons, is a lot of people spend their days sitting. It may be sitting for long periods of time on an airplane, in a car, or at the computer. How can this hurt? Unfortunately, when we are in the seated position, the hip flexor muscles (in particular the Psoas) are contracted or shortened. When in this position for a long period of time the hip flexors want to stay this length, making it harder for them to return to their correct length. Why does this impact the lower back? Simple, even though the hip flexors attach to the front of the upper thigh bone, they run through the hip joint and attach to the lower back. When the hip flexors stay short and tight, they pull on the lower back.

Many times this can be misdiagnosed and the patient is told to stretch the low back and strengthen the abs, but the problem persists. One of the best ways to get rid of this low back pain is to simply stretch hip flexors and open up the pelvic region daily.

Try The Spider hip stretch to open up your hip area.

To start, get in a standard push-up position, with back flat, hands shoulder width apart and slightly separated. From the start position, begin by taking your left foot and placing it outside of your left hand. How far forward you go depends on your current flexibility.

After you move your left foot outside your left hand, hold it for a second or two then, slowly attempt to press your left forearm to the floor. This will create a greater stretch for the hips and hamstring, then return to the start position.

Repeat on right side. Do 10 to 15 repetitions, 3 times a side.

If lower back issues are affecting your ability to play your best golf, and you would like to play more rounds this year pain free, you owe it to yourself to seek out a professional golf fitness instructor to design a program for you. A professionally designed golf fitness program will focus on improving your flexibility along with a combination of strengthening exercises to further decrease the chance of injury to your back. It is imperative that you undergo an assessment to determine your needs, strengths and weaknesses prior to the design of your program. The great thing about an organized golf fitness program is that it can take less than 30 minutes a day to see dramatic improvements in your game. Not a bad price to pay for more consistency along with pain free golf is it?

Types Of Arthritis - Three Most Common Types And Other Types Of Arthritis

Arthritis covers a broad spectrum of disease. To many, the term arthritis means pain and inflammation of the joints - but, arthritis is a much more complex medical condition. The term arthritis comes from the Latin phrase, "arth" meaning joint and "it is" meaning inflammation. There are over 100 illnesses associated with the term arthritis. Arthritis can range from something as simple as tendonitis to something as chronic as rheumatoid arthritis.

Three Most Common Types of Arthritis

• 
  Osteoarthritis - the most common type of arthritis. This degenerative joint disease affects over 16 million Americans. This form of arthritis is caused when the cartilage surrounding the ends of the bones begins to degenerate and the joints are no longer cushioned. This caused the joints to rub together and in severe cases, you can hear the bones grating against one another. At the onset of osteoarthritis, the symptoms are usually mild and consist of pain and stiffness of the joints. As the disease progresses, inflammation and loss of motion can occur. In some severe cases, deformity can occur if the grinding joints wear one side of the joint more than the other.

• 
  Rheumatoid arthritis - This is the second most common type of arthritis and the most severe. Symptoms usually begin appearing between the ages of 25 and 50 - however, children and senior citizens can experience the onset of this disease. Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common type of inflammatory arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is considered an autoimmune disease because factors other than wear and tear of cartilage can cause the disease and the disease can affect other organs, such as the eyes, lungs, and heart.

Rheumatoid arthritis usually affects the joints on both sides of the body - for instance, both hands will be affected, both wrists will be affected, and both legs will be affected. The most common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are pain, stiffness, swelling, redness of the skin, fatigue, weight loss, and low-grade fever. Not only affecting the joints, rheumatoid arthritis can give you an overall feeling of sickness. Rheumatoid arthritis can be a debilitating disease, however patients can experience periods of remission in which the symptoms disappear and they can lead a normal life.

• 
  Fibromyalgia - This is a type of arthritis that does not directly affect the joints. Rather, the inflammation and pain affect the muscles, ligaments, tendons, and soft tissues under the skin. Many patients have tender spots under the skin that are painful when any type of pressure is applied. The symptoms for Fibromyalgia include deep muscle pain, fatigue, sleeplessness, and depression. Symptoms may come and go, but the disease is long term and chronic.

Other Types of Arthritis

• 
  Anklyosing Spondylitis - a chronic, inflammatory disease that affects the spine. The common symptoms include lower back pain and stiffness that lasts for more than a period of three months, difficulty sleeping, fatigue, weight loss, and low-grade fever.


• 
  Gout - this disease usually affects the joints of the big toe, but can extend to the ankles, heels, knees, wrists, fingers, and elbow. The common symptoms are tenderness, pain, redness, warmth, and swelling of the affected joint.


• 
  Infectious Arthritis - this type of arthritis is caused by an infection, and can be caused by both bacterial and viral infections. The onset of infectious arthritis is sudden and the symptoms include swelling of the joint, soreness, warmth, leakage of tissue fluid, fever, and chills.


• 
  Cervical arthritis - this type of arthritis affects the upper back and can cause pain in the neck and arms. Cervical arthritis is caused when the cartilage protecting the discs that support the neck deteriorate. The most common symptom of cervical arthritis is chronic neck pain, but can include loss of balance, headaches, muscle weakness, and stiffness.


• 
  Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis - this inflammatory arthritis affects children. The most common symptoms of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis are swelling, pain, and stiffness in joints. The symptoms are usually worse in children upon waking in the morning and after a nap. There is no known reason for the onset of arthritis in children and, unlike rheumatoid arthritis in adults, children sometimes outgrow the disease and the symptoms disappear.
  

These are just some of the many types of arthritis. In general terms, arthritis is any disease that involves inflammation - swelling and pain of the joints or muscles. If you suspect that you suffer from arthritis, you should consult your physician to determine the type of arthritis and learn what treatments are available.

Three Reasons Why Spinal Arthritis Is More Difficult To Treat Than Hip or Knee Arthritis

The joints of the spine are called facet joints. They are located on both sides of the spine at every level up and down the spinal column all the way from the skull down to the sacrum.

Each of these joints combines to allow humans an incredible range of motion of the spines, permitting bending and twisting to an exceptional degree. Unfortunately though, each of these joints has cartilage and it has the potential for arthritis either due to age with loss of cartilage or trauma with damage to cartilage and subsequent arthritis pain.

Spinal arthritis is more difficult to treat than that of an extremity such as the hip or the knee. Here are the three main reasons why this is the case.

1. The number of joints in the spine is much higher. When you're dealing with hip or knee arthritis, there is one on each side. When you're dealing with spinal joints, there is one on each side at every level. Each of them is prone to developing arthritis and pain. even though the joints are considerably smaller, arthritis at any one facet joint can cause just as much pain as arthritis in a knee or a hip joint.

Typically when a person develops arthritis in a facet joint, he or she has arthritis in multiple facet joints which would need to be treated. Figuring out which is causing the pain and treating appropriately is much more difficult in a spinal arthritis situation than for the hip or knee.

2. Figuring out the source of the pain is more difficult. Even the best trained spine doctors who are board-certified can only tell people 50% of the time exactly why their back hurts. This is one of the shortcomings of back pain treatment, that the world of modern medicine is simply farther along when it comes to hip or knee arthritis than for that of the spine.

What this means is that if a pain management doctor does an injection into one of the facet joints of the lumbar spine, it may relieve part of a person's back pain, but a decent amount of the time they will still have significant residual pain. Pain management doctors have developed some more specific techniques to delineate the source of a person's pain, including facet joint injections and medial branch blocks as diagnostic tools. This will continue to improve, however, currently it makes spinal arthritis more difficult to deal with than that of the hip or knee.

3. Surgical outcomes for spinal arthritis treatments are not as good as that of total joint replacement for the hip or knee. Out of all the surgeries done for quality-of-life in the world, total hip and total knee replacement are in the top five overall. They are unbelievable game changers when it comes to decreasing pain and increasing function.

The same cannot be said for surgery for spinal arthritis. Although artificial disc replacement has been in existence since 2004, it has not been shown to be as good of a procedure as extremity joint replacement. In addition, there is no FDA approved procedure for replacing the facet joints in the back of the spine. What this means is that if a person undergoes surgery for facet arthritis, it will involve a spinal fusion. Satisfactory results after these treatments are in the 50 to 75% range, whereas knee replacement surgeries are typically over 90% satisfactory with outcomes.

The hope is that with modern medical techniques advancing, diagnosing the exact areas of spinal arthritis will become more exact and the results will be better with surgery. For now, nonsurgical pain management treatment is actually very good at reducing pain. it just takes more diagnostic tools and thought-provoking maneuvers to make sure the proper levels are being treated with the appropriate procedures.

Important Things You Should Know About Hip Joint Soreness

Hip joint pain is fairly common, making even the easiest strains arduous. Comprehending the causes, symptoms and remedies helps to deal with it and to do one's best to avoid it. More frequent in elder people, hip joint soreness could be a part of life of young persons equally. Part of the nuisance is the reduced blood flow; the blood circulation can not keep up with our bodies requirement for nutrients, joints having a lot less veins than the rest of the body. Blood circulation getting even more reduced as we age and mixed with the repetitive strain, the joints become depleted of the synovial fluid, making the joints touch each other and causing soreness.

Another explanations of hip joint discomfort may be injuries with deep bruising, hairline fractures, as our bones start losing calcium, or stiffening of the joint as a result of arthritis, pinched nerves or problems with tendons. It is imperative to consult a physician specializing in hip joint pain to find the exact cause. Following the primary exam and tests to find out the free calcium in the blood and the total calcium in the bones, an X-ray followed by a MRI would plausibly be used as a part of investigation. Knowing the exact reason of hip joint tenderness will predetermine the treatment one will have to observe.

The first things doctors have an inclination to recommend are anti-inflammation medications and if the hip joint discomfort is still present a cortisone prescription is commonly the following stage in the therapy. As a worst case scenario they advise to get hip replacement surgery. Being aware that pharmaceutical medications have many bad impacts on our bodies, and getting more than one cortisone shot is undesirable, using alternative supplements in conjunction with exercise to speed up the blood circulation to the joint is a more desired approach.

Ask your medical practitioner to give you the range of motions exercises planned especially for the hip, as this will strengthen the circulation and deliver the nutrients where they are most important: your hip joint. You can find them likewise on the web. The process of taking the natural supplements is easy: A natural supplement to kill the hip joint tenderness, wait till the discomfort subsides, followed by one of the natural supplements formulas of your choice and ending with the range of motions exercises. After the exercises elevating the hip and icing it for about half an hour is a must. You can find a lot of natural supplements for joint tenderness on the market, and between the best, if not the best ones, are Eazol to alleviate the pain fast and Joint Kote or Joint Advance designed to restore the synovial fluid, stop inflammation and repair the ligaments. Many times using Joint Kote or Joint Advance for a continued amount of time helped so much that even a hip replacement surgery considered by the doctors could be avoided.

How To Deal With Tuberculosis Arthritis

Tuberculosis arthritis is a form of arthritis that usually involves only one joint at a certain period although sometimes it may involve more than one joint. This usually spreads from a primary focal infection coming from the lungs or the lymph nodes. In most cases, there is a previous history of injury to the joint that occurred a few weeks earlier. The spine, ankle, elbow, hip, knee, shoulder and wrist are the joints most commonly affected with tuberculosis arthritis. This disease however is no longer as widespread as it was some generations ago. This disease used to be commonly caused by a type of germ coming from a bovine and transmitted by raw milk. The advent of milk pasteurization and tuberculin testing of dairy cows has minimized the occurrence of this type of arthritis.

During the early stages of tuberculosis arthritis, the joint involved usually emits less pain. The only noticeable symptom is swelling of the affected area without inflammation. One of the bones near the joint is usually the starting point of the infection. If the infection is left unchecked and untreated, the joint will likely be invaded and followed by an attack in the articular cartilage and finally permanent damage to the joint. The good news is, early treatment of the active tuberculosis can arrest the development of the disease at its initial stage before damage to the articular cartilage sets in. This could also mean restoration of the joint's normal activity. However, as a rule, tuberculosis arthritis continues until there is destruction of the joint tissues. Healing only occurs when there is already a stiffened permanent joint, where the joints finally bond together. The infection usually terminates itself after the damage is done and with no fatal outcome.

Tuberculosis arthritis comes with systemic symptoms similar to any forms of tuberculosis. These include a daily rise in body temperature, anemia and loss of weight, strength and appetite. This also exhibits local symptoms like pain upon pressure or motion and thickening or swelling of the joint tissues. The joint muscles may experience spasm causing limited motions. During the course of the infection, abscesses may develop. Pus is produced by these abscesses and can drain through an opening in the skin, abdominal cavity, chest cavity or the spinal canal. Usually a surgical intervention to drain the abscess is recommended.

A person suffering from tuberculosis arthritis can do the following:

1. He should seek professional and medical care since self treatment is practically useless in this type of arthritis. However, proper treatment by a competent medical professional may result positively especially if the treatment is initiated during the early stage of the disease.

2. Orthopedic devices can help put the affected joint at rest which is essential in reducing strain on the joint.

3. Tuberculosis arthritis can benefit from sunbathing especially done at high altitudes. In some early cases, complete healing can be attained through this regimen.

4. Many cases attain recovery and improvement through surgical intervention with the addition of some chemical remedies.

5. As with any other forms of tuberculosis, tuberculosis arthritis requires the same general program of diet given to patients suffering from other forms of tuberculosis.

Controlling Joint Pain With a Healthy Diet

Yes, I know it's not what you wanted to hear but the truth is, being over-weight puts a load on our joints that they were never intended to bear. Several forms of arthritis are said to be genetically induced and are strongly correlated with the presence of a specific gene shared by 70% of arthritis sufferers: HLA-B27. Therefore, many specialists believe that arthritis is an ailment that cannot be prevented but can be treated. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis that affects the load-bearing joints of the body such as the hips, spines, and limbs. It results from the inflammation of the joint's connective tissues or cartilages. Inflammation may stem from traumatic injuries, malnutrition, dehydration, and other sources of excess pressure. A prevalent cause of osteoarthritis in Americans is obesity. Being overweight adds more pressure to these joints inducing pain and lessens mobility and flexibility.

An early treatment for osteoarthritis, which is strongly recommended by doctors, is an effective weight loss program combined with a healthy and nutritious diet. Obesity or being overweight has something to do with the presence of excess fat, cholesterol, carbohydrates, sodium, and sugar in the body and may cause a series of other diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. A healthy diet that involves food portioning allows less of the following components that add to one's weight:

Fat

We all have heard that fat keeps foods tasty and keeps us feeling full for a longer time. However, fat that is more often found in meat, cooking oils, butter, eggs, and others come with cholesterol that not only makes you heavy but burdens your heart as well.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates appear in various foods but are more often associated with bread and rice. The most effective weight loss programs and diets have to do with lessening the intake of carbohydrates by lessening the intake of rice or bread.

Sodium

Packaged preserved foods in the grocery are often high in sodium. Sodium is basically salt that is present in preserved foods to keep them fresh for a span of time and to trap in the flavor of these foods. Sodium in normal amounts is not at all bad but must be avoided especially by overweight people or those who plan on losing some pounds because sodium is known to trap in body fluids such as water which adds to a person's weight.

Sugar

Processed foods, pastries, candy, sweet foods and even fruits contain sugar. Only the latter contains minerals and vitamins that balance with sugar intake while the others are full of empty calories. Sugar not only adds significant calories but it's also a leading source of diabetes.

Regular exercise goes hand in hand with a healthy diet. It keeps your body strong and burns those calories. Exercise that involves a lot of cardio burns your body's stored fat and carbohydrates which causes weight loss and keeps your heart and joints healthy. Stretching exercises and other flexibility exercises help keep your joints in motion and will eventually make them stronger.

Alternative Treatment

Short term, NSAIDS (Celebrex), Ibuprophen etc. can provide short term arthritis pain relief but with health risks familiar to us all, through countless warnings in the news. Another alternative, much safer and made for long term use is Glucosamine supplements such as Synflex Liquid Glucosamine. Used widely in the treatment for osteoarthritis, Syn-flex combines ingredients such as shark cartilage and chondroitin that protects and strengthens your joints with an adequate amount of vitamins and minerals such as essential fatty acids and vitamins A and E to slow the progression of osteoarthritis (because osteoarthritis is not an isolated condition and may affect other joints due to further damages in the joints) and keep your immune systems healthy. Synflex glucosamine supplements are very effective because they come in liquid form which allows faster, more complete absorption (98%) and digestion of the minerals to the body's cells.

Joint Pain Remedies: Alternative Massage Therapy

We can't deny that more and more people start to accept that massage does alleviate chronic joint pains whether this is the back pain, hip joint pain or any joints of the body that required that little rubbing. Massage is mostly sorted after by patients having stiffness and pains in the neck, lower back and rheumatism. Massage treatment can be even applied to fingers joint pain. The versatility of massage as an alternative treatment to the conventional joint pain treatments has gain a foothold in today's fast paced societies.

Healthcare practitioners do recognize that effectiveness of remedial massage therapy to alleviate joint pains and it has been commonly recommended in addition to the conventional medical course of treatment. These 2 approaches can be combined for better and faster results.

A study on the effectiveness of massage on joint problems by Touch Research Institute and published through International Journal of Neuroscience suggested that massage is able to lessen lower back pain, depression, anxiety and improved sleep.

So, what are the benefits of remedial massage therapy? The following list just some of the health benefits;

1) It speeds up body's repair mechanism by improving blood circulation, which helps in recovering the soreness in the muscles through physical activities.
2) It aid in relaxing the muscles for improved mobility. This muscle relaxation has the effect of also treating insomnia. Therefore, it is common after a massage treatment, one feels sleepy.
3) It contributes to an increased level of endorphin in the body. This increase in the endorphin that the body produces make the whole body and mind feel refreshed and good.

The remedial massage therapy is a non medicinal and holistic treatment employing a variety of techniques combining stretching, acupressure, reflexology and aromatherapy to stimulate blood circulation in the body, ease and lessen muscular and joint discomforts, calming the body and mind for a total relaxation. The strength of kneading and stroking applied to the body can be varied according to each individual. Remedial massage uses natural ingredients such as essential oils and herbal spices to relieve strained muscles and rheumatism.

In Bali, the therapist uses a natural spice called "Boreh" that is traditionally used by the farmers as a natural herbal medicine which has the effect of easing their joint discomforts and stimulate blood circulation after long hours of working in the rice fields.

However, it is important to understand your joint pain condition before employing this alternative joint pain remedy; massage therapy. This alternative approach may not be suitable for one who suffers from severe pain conditions, such as cartilage damage requiring a cartilage repair treatment. It is also not a quick fix to conventional treatments, but an approach if employed consistently can have the effect of addressing chronic joint problems without the side effects of medicated treatments!

Go for Homeopathic Treatment to Treat Pseudo Gout

Pseudo gout is a medical condition which is often mistaken for gout. The very similarity in the common symptoms is reflected in the name of the disease. However, the medical name of the disease is Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease. This is a type of arthritis and it is mainly caused by the buildup of calcium pyrophosphate dihhydrate crystals in the connective tissues of the body.

The common symptoms of the disease are quite similar to the symptoms of the gout. Acute joint pain, pain in the large joint areas, redness, swollen skin, swelling, warmness and extreme pain in slightest of touch are some of the common symptoms of the pseudo gout.

Pseudo gout has been around for ages just like the gout. This is the reason why many a treatment methods are tried by different experts to help managing the painful disease. If a patient is diagnosed with the problem of pseudo gout he must be treated under the expert medical practitioner. However, alternative medication or homeopathy can be given a try. Homeopathy has a holistic approach for all the diseases and pseudo gout is no difference. The best thing about the homeopathy is that it is safe, side effects free and can be used alongside the conventional treating methods. Here are some homeopathic medicines that offer pain management options.

Colchicum or Colch

This is one of the mostly used pain management medicine in homeopathy. For treating the gout and the pseudo gout the medicine can be used. When the skin becomes red and swollen with extreme skin tenderness then this is the right medicine for the condition. The acute pain and the shifting of the pain from joint to joint can be managed with the medication. When joint areas other than the big toes start to be affected by the pseudo gout then also this is the best medicine for managing the pain.

Ledum or Led

Ledum is good for the extreme swelling, soreness and redness of the affected areas. This can be used when the pain is incessantly getting worse. Bryonia can be used in such cases too. But it differs from Bryonia in some features. This is better suited for using in the hot swelling of the hip joints or other large joint areas. Ledum can be used after the overdose of the Colchicum. This can be the first remedy when the patient is given over doses of the Colchicum. Ledum is known as a cold remedy and chillness and lack of animal heat can be felt during the use of the medicine.

Ammonium phosphoricum

This can also be a useful medicine when there is acute pain in the joint areas. This can be effectively used to prevent the deposits of urate crystals in the body.

Rhododendron chrysanthum

Rhododendron chrysanthum can be used in the joints pain in the time of pseudo gout attack. When the condition gets worse with the crystal deposits the medicine can be used to reduce the pain.

These are the different types of homeopathic medicines that are used to prevent the development of the pseudo gout and also to relieve the pain during the pseudo gout attack.

Herbal Medicines For Arthritis and Rheumatism

There are many different types of arthritis, each of which involves some disorder or inflammation of one or more joints. The two most common forms are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA)

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, affecting the middle-aged. It is a degenerative joint disease and is characterized by pain, stiffness, and swelling in spinal joints, hips, knees, and joints of the hand, with progressive loss of function. The cartilage that lines the bones degenerates, becoming inflamed, rough, and hardened, and eventually wears away. Tendons, ligaments, and muscles that are holding the joint together become weaker, causing deformity, pain, and reduced movement.

Osteoarthritis is the result of natural wear arid tear, but other causes can include

repeated strain to joints, ligaments, and muscles

joint deformation from birth or previous injury

rheumatoid arthritis

gout

nutritional and hormonal influences.

Treatment

Diet and Nutrition Correct body weight should be maintained to prevent strain from causing osteoarthritis. Tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, peppers, and simple carbohydrates, such as white flour and refined sugar, should be eaten in moderation. Avoid coffee, red meat, artificial additives, and processed foods. Increase your intake of vegetables, fruits, complex carbohydrates, wheat germ, and oily fish. A nutritionist might suggest daily supplementation with vitamins A (10,000iu), C (2g), E (600iu), and B6 (50mg).

Massage Joints can be massaged effectively with tiger balm, lavender and camomile oils, and with Ruta grav. cream.

Yoga This will help to encourage joint mobility and improved posture.

Consult a qualified practitioner/therapist for:

Acupuncture With or without using moxibustion, this will act to balance energies and reduce both inflammation and pain.

The hand is a complex arrangement of bones, joints, and tendons, which make it vulnerable to wear and tear

Ayurveda Treatment is aimed at balancing the elements of air, fire, water, and mindbody connections.

Herbal Medicine Some herbalists might recommend celery seed, yucca leava bogbean, and devil's clal taken daily. Infusions alfalfa and nettle may be suggested as nutrition supplements. Wild yam root and glucose amine (1500mg per day) are also useful.

Homeopathy Rhus tox.6c is suitable when the condition is worse with rest anij dampness, and Ruta grav. is appropriate when symptoms are relieved by warmth.

Osteopathy and Chiropractic These are useful for maintenance of efficient body mechanics and pain relief.

Rolfing Treatment will address postural integration.

The Magical Effects of Using Pilates for Chronic Pain Relief

For many us who have experienced pain in the neck and shoulders, lower back, hips, knees or ankles or suffered from a major physical injury, Pilates has been proven to work towards pain relief. Many doctors, physiotherapists, and chiropractors have high regard for Pilates and its exercises as means for pain relief. Many have recommended it to their patients as a method for the body to return to good health. It is also a great rehabilitation treatment tool.

Proper posture, good breathing mechanics, development of core strength and flexibility are just some of the examples of what we can benefit from pilates exercises. The learning of these different techniques in Pilates, which we also termed as the fundamentals and then integrating them into our daily life can aid in prevention of injuries. In fact, Pilates is also called "The Intelligent Exercise", helping us to achieve "the intelligent body."

Besides, Pilates also improves the joints range of motion, develop muscular strength and endurance. All these helped the body to achieve better limb and muscular motion which is usually lost during injuries. "The Pilates Method" is about mind and body connection. It is about making us aware of how our body works and moves. This awareness brings about a sense of total well being.

Pilates can be done both on mat and on machines like the reformer. Pilates exercises for pain relief are specific and require an experienced pilates professional who is well trained in rehabilitation. Although most people tend to think that Pilates mat exercises are great for beginners, it is very tough when the body is injured or de-conditioned; machine exercises are generally preferred. For instance, the reformer helps to support the core when it is weak but challenges it when the core muscles get stronger. Results are fast and the body can enjoy a better state of health quicker when compared against Pilates Matwork.

Here are some benefits for using Pilates for pain relief:

Improves Blood Circulation

As with injury or pain, it is normal to assume it is safer not to move the joint but to keep it still. It is however, not the case. If there is no fracture or major trauma, it is good to do gentle movement like stretching within the joint's permissible range of motion to improve blood circulation. Movement has to be controlled, slow and gentle in the beginning. As the joint's range of motion improves, it can be challenged further depending on that particular joint's state of injury.

Blood supply can flow better through the area. Toxins are also eliminated as increased circulation also makes the blood get faster to the muscles making them recover quicker and more energized as the muscle cells require oxygen from the blood to function well. This helps in relieving soreness and pain in all parts of the body.

Improves Range of Motion

When Pilates movements specific to the injured area are encouraged, it might start with small range as the ligaments and tendons of a injured joint are naturally stiff and tight. With time, specific Pilates exercises helps in improving the range of motion possible.

Our sacroiliac joint (SI), situated between the hip (pelvic) and lower back (sacrum) and vital in providing the spine some form of shock absorption, is vulnerable to a condition known as SI dysfunction. It is a common reason behind many back pain cases. Pilates has exercises specifically designed for increasing stability in the lower back area (lumbar spine) and bring instant relief for people suffering with SI joint dysfunction. A painful back is never easy and limits the range of movement a person can perform. Not only that, it inhibits one from doing a lot of simple daily activities and enjoying life.

Improves Awareness or Body and Mind Connection

Pilates pain relief exercises can help to develop your mind as much as it can for the body. The exercises are directed toward developing the body and the mind as "ONE" and achieve wellness as a whole. The exercises train you to make the mind grab absolute control of the body. With the mind controlling the muscles, it prompts you to be fully focused on the exercises. In the process, the muscles are uniformly developed and the brain cells get to work efficiently and effectively together. This balance-and-control technique improves the body as a system that works in sync in work and play.