Caregiver Training Video - Touch Therapy

Can it be prevented Maintain your ideal weight: Increased weight on the load-bearing joints, like knees, ankles and hips, makes you highly susceptible to osteoarthritis. Losing weight cuts the risk of arthritis. Exercise regularly: Try to exercise at least 20 minutes for three days a week if exercise is vigorous, or 30 minutes of moderate exercise five days a week. Practice yoga or simple stretching. These exercises strengthen the muscles around joints. Quit smoking, as it weakens bone health…

What is it  The word “arthritis” means joint inflammation, and it's used to describe different diseases and conditions that affect joints, the tissues that surround joints, and other connective tissue. Arthritis is often seen as a disease that affects the elderly but it can affect people of all ages. According to the Arthritis Foundation, two-thirds of people with arthritis are under the age of 65. And more people in their late 30s and 40s are now being diagnosed with the condition. As…

What causes arthritis Although the exact causes are unknown, it is believed to include the following: Genetics Injury Infection Lifestyle related factors, primarily, smoking, diet, use of oral contraceptives and excessive coffee intake Obesity  Environmental factors, like stress Autoimmune conditions (your body's own immune system attacking the joints, causing inflammation - warmth, swelling, tenderness - within the joints) Are you at risk Are you: 65 or above in age: The risk of…

Medications: ​You may be prescribed the following medications depending on the cause of the arthritis: Topical pain-relieving creams, rubs, and sprays. These medications are applied directly to the skin over the joints to relieve pain. Pain killers (such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen) Medications that suppress the immune system such as prednisone (steroids).Biologics are lately being used to treat Rheumatoid arthritis that is not responding enough to traditional medication. These are…

Some signs and symptoms of arthritis require urgent medical care. If you have any of the following, you should seek medical care as soon as possible: One or more swollen joints Fever Weight loss Inability to function due to joint pain or swelling Overall sense of feeling ill, accompanied by fever, joint swelling and joint pain Sudden weakness of specific muscle groups Burning pain, numbness or a pins-and-needles sensation around joints. Symptoms depend on the type of arthritis you have:…

The process of diagnosing arthritis involves several steps. The doctor will record your medical history and give you a physical examination. He/she may also recommend laboratory tests, imaging tests (such as x-rays), and other tests as required. Laboratory and imaging tests are sometimes, but not always, needed to determine the cause of arthritis. These tests may include: X-rays: To see a detailed picture of the bones. However, for many types of arthritis, changes in the joint are not visible…

It’s impossible to imagine that super-tough fitness instructor Neha was once immobile with rheumatoid arthritis. She shares her story – from pain to power.  Like many of us do, I have clear, early images of myself. I was never a fat girl, but I was definitely on the plumper side, one of the reasons I took to exercising young. At 15, I began an exercise regimen. Days turned to months and months to years. Eight years later, at 23, I got married. Exercising remained an …

Crushing tiredness that doesn’t diminish with rest, CFS can wreck lives. It’s also hard to diagnose, so patients may be seen as hypochondriacs. By Dr Shital Patel.  Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a complex disorder characterised by extreme fatigue that is unexplained by any underlying medical condition. The fatigue does not improve with rest and tends to worsen with physical activity or mental exertion.  CFS affects more women than men and is seen mostly between the…

Researchers report on a revolutionary new procedure that uses 3-D printing and the body’s stem cells to regenerate knee meniscus, a tissue lining that acts as a natural cushion between the femur and tibia. People with damaged menisci develop arthritis and are forced to limit their activity. The procedure, published online Dec. 10 in the journal Science Translational Medicine, has proved successful in sheep at Cornell University six months after surgery, though the researchers will monitor the…

For 48-year-old Sachi Pathak, life was never pain-free. A sports enthusiast, Sachi was always ahead in participating in all gymnastic activities in her school. One day while forming a pyramid (a gymnastic formation) she fell on her knees. Her knees became stiff and her movement became limited. She was rushed to the nearest hospital and over a series of diagnostic tests it was found that she suffered from rheumatoid arthritis.  In Sachi’s case, RA had affected both her knees and hip joints…