|Posted on October 9, 2014 at 3:10 PM|
Bone and Joint Health National Awareness Week
(Full website HERE)
An annual global event, Bone and Joint Health National Awareness Week is held October 12-20
|Posted on October 9, 2014 at 3:10 PM|
Bone and Joint Health National Awareness Week
(Full website HERE)
An annual global event, Bone and Joint Health National Awareness Week is held October 12-20 with activities focused on disorders including arthritis, back pain, osteoporosis and trauma. The events and projects organized by individuals and organizations worldwide are designed to raise awareness of prevention, disease management and treatments as well as advances in a number of areas.
You will find activities to do and ways to become better informed below. But before that, take a look at some facts:
o Nearly half the American population over the age of 18 - about 48 percent - are affected by musculoskeletal (bone and joint) conditions, according to The Burden of Musculoskeletal Conditions in the United States. (1)
o Bone and joint conditions are the most common cause of severe long-term pain and physical disability worldwide affecting hundreds of millions of people.(2)
o Musculoskeletal conditions include back pain, arthritis, traumatic injuries, osteoporosis and childhood conditions.
o Unless actions are taken now, the global prevalence of musculoskeletal conditions is predicted to increase greatly due to increasing life expectancy, changes in risk factors and availability of appropriate prevention measures.
o Musculoskeletal conditions can lead to significant disability plus diminished productivity and quality of life. Treatment and lost wage costs associated with musculoskeletal diseases in the U.S. alone was estimated at $950 billion in 2004 to 2006 - equal to 7.4 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).
o Research funding is currently less than 2 percent of the National Institutes of Health annual budget, despite the high costs associated with these conditions.
o Since 2011, when "Baby Boomers" became beneficiaries of Medicare, the economic and societal cost of bone and joint health began to escalate and is expected to continue for decades.
Now is the time to raise awareness - and the reason for Bone and Joint Health National Awareness Week.
In addition to activities throughout the week, there are five special days during Health National Awareness Week.
October 12 - World Arthritis Day
October 16 - World Spine Day
October 17 - World Trauma Day
October 19 - World Pediatric Bone and Joint (PB&J) Day
October 20 - World Osteoporosis Day
(1) United States Bone and Joint Initiative: The Burden of Musculoskeletal Diseases in the United States. Rosemont, IL: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; 2011 (2) Burden of Major Musculoskeletal Conditions, Woolf & Pfleger, WHO Bulletin 2003; 81: 646-56
So what can you do to help?
Chiropractic is the key to helping fix bone and joint problems. It is important that you begin with addressing structural abnormalities and even more importantly, the Subluxations (nerve pinching and damage caused from misaligned vertebre). In addition to the visit to your chiropractor, there are some foods that help support joint health.
(see full article HERE)
Foods & Nutrients That Fuel Joint Health
Dr. Theodosakis, M.D.
The warmer weather is officially here, which means it`s time to get outdoors and enjoy one of your favorite activities, whether that`s taking an outdoor yoga class, jogging through your local park, walking your dogs, or engaging in morning swimming or water aerobics sessions.
During these active months, the last thing any of us want to worry about is discomfort from natural wear and tear on joints, which most adults experience. Luckily, renowned joint health expert Dr. Theodosakis, M.D., known to his patients as “Dr. Theo,” states that there is a special connection between food and joint health. “We now know that certain foods can actually help ease and promote joint comfort.”
Dr. Theo sat down with the Wellness Advisor to share these joint healthy diet essentials from his latest book, The Arthritis Cure:
Antioxidants are a major help in fighting free radicals, which may be damaging to joints and can contribute to joint discomfort. Antioxidants include vitamin A (or beta carotene and other carotenoids), vitamin C, vitamin E and selenium. An easy way to remember these is the acronym ACES. Foods that contain any of the four ACES are powerful weapons for combating free radicals. Choice foods for each include:
Vitamin C – Fruits such as grapefruit, papaya, oranges, mangoes, raspberries, pineapples and tomatoes, as well as vegetables such as asparagus, red peppers, and broccoli
Vitamin E – Avocados, whole-grain breads and cereals, sunflower seeds and peanut butter
Selenium – Salmon, Brazil nuts, oatmeal and brown rice
Certain fatty acids are protective by nature and can reduce swelling and discomfort in joints. The most common types of fatty acids are omega-3s. Excellent dietary sources include coldwater fatty fish such as salmon, sardines and herring, as well as green vegetables, nuts, seeds and whole grains.
For an extra boost in joint health, a glucosamine-based dietary supplement can help. Glucosamine is nature’s basic building block for maintaining joint cartilage and can help counteract some of the effects wear and tear has on the joints, rejuvenating comfort and mobility. In addition, glucosamine is a good choice because it’s supported by scientifi