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Carrying Extra Pounds: How Weight Affects Your Bones, Joints, and Mobility

Carrying extra body weight can have a profound impact on your orthopedic health, leading to painful conditions, reduced mobility, and an increased risk of injuries. Understanding how those additional pounds can affect your musculoskeletal system is the first step towards taking control of your long-term joint and bone health. 

The toll of excess weight on your orthopedic health  

When you’re overweight or obese, the added force and stress placed on your body’s joints, especially in high-impact areas like your knees, hips, and ankles, can quickly take a toll. In fact, research shows that for every one pound of weight gained, there is an additional four pounds of force exerted on the knee joint.¹ Over time, this excess strain accelerates the breakdown of protective cartilage, drastically increasing your risk of developing painful and debilitating conditions like osteoarthritis. 

The problems don’t end with your joints, either. Carrying extra weight also impacts your bone health, making you more prone to fractures, especially in the spine, wrists, and ankles.² According to studies, obesity is linked to a higher risk of fractures, as the additional weight makes bones more susceptible to cracking or breaking. 

The downward spiral of weight, pain, and reduced mobility 

As the orthopedic problems stemming from excess weight worsen, it can  more difficult  to stay active and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Debilitating joint pain, stiffness, and limited range of motion can make even the most basic daily activities – walking, climbing stairs, or simply getting up from a chair – incredibly challenging. 

This decreased mobility further contributes to weight gain, creating a vicious cycle that’s difficult to break without addressing the root cause. In fact, studies show that around 30% of adults with obesity also report mobility limitations.³ The more excess weight you carry, the harder it becomes to stay physically active and manage your orthopedic health. 

Taking control of your orthopedic health  through weight management 

The good news is that by taking steps to manage your weight, you can alleviate much of the strain on your bones, joints, and overall mobility. Even modest weight loss of 5-10% of your body weight has been shown to significantly reduce the load on your joints and lower your risk of orthopedic complications.⁴ 

By working with your doctor or a qualified healthcare professional, you can develop a safe and sustainable weight loss plan that combines a balanced diet and regular exercise. Activities that put less stress on your joints, such as swimming, cycling, or using an elliptical machine, can be especially beneficial during this process. 

Prioritize your orthopedic health today 

If you’re concerned about how your weight is affecting your bones, joints, and mobility, don’t wait! . Schedule an appointment with our team of experienced orthopedic specialists, who can help you develop a personalized plan to address your weight-related orthopedic concerns and get you back to living an active, pain-free life. 

 

¹ Messier, S. P. (2008). Obesity and osteoarthritis: disease genesis and nonpharmacologic weight management. Rheumatic Disease Clinics, 34(3), 713-729. 

² Nielson, C. M., Srikanth, P., & Orwoll, E. S. (2012). Obesity and fracture in men and women. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 27(2), 390-398. 

³ Alley, D. E., & Chang, V. W. (2007). The changing relationship of obesity and disability, 1988-2004. Jama, 298(17), 2020-2027. 

⁴ Christensen, R., Bartels, E. M., Astrup, A., & Bliddal, H. (2007). Effect of weight reduction in obese patients diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 66(4), 433-439. 

4 Knee Exercises for Healthy Joints

WalkingYour knees aren’t just a round bone at the front of your leg. Your knee also consists of delicate, vital connective tissues that bind your leg bones and muscles together at the knee. Healthy knee joints will give your body the power to engage in sports, run, jump, and dive. But healthy knees are also necessary in order to get in and out of bed, sit down, stand up, use the restroom, and do other important daily tasks. (more…)

Demystifying Myths about Physical Therapy

A study conducted by the American Pain Association revealed that physical therapy is safer, less costly, and more effective than prescription drugs for treating chronic pain. Another study showed that when physical therapy is used as the initial treatment for a back injury, it takes less time and costs less to mend the injury to get back into a normal routine. Despite the positive results that can be achieved through physical therapy, there are myths that may prevent people from seeking this type of treatment for injuries and rehabilitation.

Myth #1: Physical Therapy Requires a Doctor’s Order.

A physician’s referral isn’t required to set up an appointment with a physical therapist. Some states, such as Florida, are considered “direct access” states, meaning you can make an appointment and receive treatment from a physical therapist for 30 days without a referral.  Some physical therapists may be employed in an orthopedic specialist’s office, and the doctor can make a direct referral to the physical therapist if your insurance requires it.

Myth #2: Physical Therapy is Painful.

Physical therapists work within a patient’s pain threshold. The injury itself is often painful, and sometimes a patient does feel discomfort in early physical therapy sessions. However, the goal of physical therapy is to heal the injury in order to relieve the pain and improve movement so that the patient can return to normal activity as soon as possible.

Myth #3: Any Healthcare Professional Can Do Physical Therapy.

Physical therapists are licensed, trained professionals. Only those with a license can administer physical therapy services.

Southeast Orthopedic Services provides physical therapy and orthopedic evaluations and treatments to Northeast Florida as well as Southern Georgia. With more than 47 healthcare providers performing orthopedic, chiropractic, and physical therapy services in 6 different convenient locations, pain relief and improved mobility are only a short drive away. Emergency orthopedic care is available on-site, along with state-of-the-art testing and diagnostic services. Southeast Orthopedic Services also offers a physical therapy department providing a full range of orthopedic manual physical therapy for a wide range of rehabilitative treatments. Services include regenerative stem cell and bone marrow grafts to treat osteoarthritis, muscle or tendon tears, and lumbar disc disease. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please visit the Southeast Orthopedic Services website.

What is Pain Management?

Living with chronic pain doesn’t just take a toll physically; it takes a toll mentally as well. Chronic pain can disrupt work, family life, and social engagements. Many orthopedic doctors are familiar with chronic pain symptoms, since the pain often stems from issues of the musculoskeletal system. If you’ve been living with untreated chronic pain, it might be a good idea to consult an orthopedic specialist. Narrowing down the source of the pain and setting up a pain management plan is an important part of relieving symptoms and restoring a sense of normalcy in your life. Pain management can take many forms. Below are some of the most common types of pain management treatment. Talking to your doctor will be the best way to come up with a successful plan.  (more…)

Tips on Building Good Bones

Bone health is important for your body’s structural integrity, as well as a variety of internal functions. When you think of having good bones, you may immediately think of your legs and arms. While it’s very important to keep these strong, there are other bones that are equally vital for strength and vitality, including your backbone, clavicle, phalanx (the bones that make up the fingers and toes), and even your jawbones. When you have a qualified orthopedic specialist to help improve bones that need rehabilitation, that’s a boost. But in the meantime, there are many things you can do to ensure that you are building good bones.

 

Opt for Impact Exercise

Bone health can also be improved through impact activities, like jogging, riding bikes, trampoline work and jumping rope. Before embarking on an impact exercise routine, consult with your orthopedic specialist to find out your existing bone health status.

Get Plenty of Vitamin D

Vitamin D improves the body’s ability to make calcium, a building block for good bones. Unfortunately, many people don’t get adequate supplies of Vitamin D. In climates with less sun, this is an especially common phenomenon. However, even people who live in sunny climates like Florida and Georgia may not get enough Vitamin D from the sun. They may spend most of their time indoors in air conditioning to escape hot temperatures.

Have your Vitamin D levels checked by your orthopedic specialist. If necessary, you can get extra Vitamin D from supplements, which may vastly improve your overall bone health.

Eat Plenty of Foods With Calcium

The other big part of the equation for optimal bone health is calcium. Adults over 50 years of age require at least 1,000 mg. of calcium daily. If you don’t feel you are getting enough calcium, your orthopedic specialist can check your levels. Calcium supplements are available in stores, but the best source for calcium comes from natural foods like eggs, cheese and milk.

The great news is that bone health can be improved with Vitamin D, calcium and proper exercise. To receive a personalized treatment plan, contact the experts at Southeast Orthopedic Specialists today.

Orthopedic Care from Head to Toe

Caring for your body means a holistic approach from head to toe. While this is true for any of your body’s many systems, it is especially so when it comes to your bones. Good orthopedic care means treating your body as a whole rather than simply one or two areas.

Orthopedic Care for the Entire Body

  • Head: The long-term ramifications of a concussion are still being understood, but it’s clear that they’re much greater than originally believed. This complex condition requires close management to reduce risks and complications.
  • Shoulders: Sprains, strains and arthritis are just a few of the issues you might experience in your shoulders. Working closely with Southeast Orthopedic Specialists provides you with a treatment plan designed to manage your pain, protect your range of motion and get you back to your desired activity level as quickly as possible.
  • Knees: As part of your skeleton, your knees are subjected to a great deal of wear and tear. Whether you are having issues with runner’s knee or you have severe arthritis that’s compromising your quality of life, our 47 healthcare providers are here to apply their expertise and experience to ensure that you have the best possible outcome. Our surgeons and physical therapists work in partnership to provide you with a comprehensive treatment plan designed to get you up and moving as soon as possible.
  • Back: As the structure that ties all your bones together, we pay careful attention to your back and its health. In addition to our 14 board-certified orthopedic physicians, we also have a certified chiropractor.
  • Ankles: A sprained ankle is such a benign-sounding injury that many people don’t take it nearly as seriously as they should. The proper treatment plan from the start can hasten recovery and reduce long-term problems.

Reach Out To An Orthopedic

When you need head-to-toe orthopedic care in northeast Florida, call 904.634.0640 to make your first appointment. Established patients can contact Southeast Orthopedic Specialists online to request an appointment.

Flexibility and the Health of Your Joints

You may not give much thought to your joints on an everyday basis, but the health and flexibility of your joints is crucial to maintaining an active and pain-free lifestyle. While natural flexibility does vary from person to person, there are steps you can take to improve and maintain your flexibility–and the reasons it’s important to do so may surprise you.

The Negative Effects of Joint Inflexibility

Whether you used to be a gymnast or you always had trouble touching your toes, most people experience a loss in flexibility as they age. However, this isn’t something to be taken lightly, as poor flexibility can have significant repercussions on your overall health.

For starters, decreased flexibility can impact the health of the cartilage that surrounds many joints such as your knees and your hips; an inadequate range of motion in these joints can limit the blood supply and key nutrients necessary to maintain these support structures.

Lack of flexibility also affects your muscles. Inflexible muscles caused by joint tightness tend to tire much more quickly, which in turn forces the opposing muscle groups to work harder. This can increase your risk of muscular and joint injuries.

Poor flexibility can even cause abnormal stress on areas of your body that aren’t directly linked to the inflexible joint. For example, limited flexibility in your knee joint can cause calf tightness,

A Simple Stretching Routine to Improve Joint Flexibility

Now that you understand the importance of flexibility, how can you cultivate it? The best way to encourage a broad range of motion and improve joint health is through stretching. Incorporating a regular stretching routine into your daily life can help extend your joints’ range of motion and improve your flexibility–and potentially relieve joint pain.

The particular stretches that you should practice will depend on your specific areas of concern, but certain guidelines should be followed regardless. For all stretches, aim to maintain the position for one to two minutes; keep your stretches static rather than bouncing in an attempt to improve your range of motion. At the end of the stretch, gradually release the impacted joint.

By practicing your stretching routine daily, you can increase your range of motion and help maintain your orthopedic health.

The Difference Between Aerobic and Anaerobic Training for Sports

There are two different types of exercise that people can do, whether most of them realize it or not. The two different types of exercise are aerobic and anaerobic. These two types of exercise serve two different purposes and can help people achieve different goals as well.

What is Aerobic Exercise?

Aerobic exercise is what is commonly referred to as cardio. To break that down further, it is exercise that requires the body to use oxygenated blood to work the lung muscles and other muscles in the body. It is something that stimulated the breathing and heart rate. Some examples of aerobic exercises include running, hiking, dancing, kickboxing, swimming, and even using cardio machines. However, any aerobic activity can turn into an anaerobic activity if it is performed at too high of a level or intensity. Aerobic exercise is something that can improve the physical health of a person as well as emotional health. Additionally, it can help prevent or reduce the chance of getting some cancers, diabetes, and even cardiovascular disease.

What is Anaerobic Exercise?

Anaerobic exercise is characterized by exercising without oxygen. It is a type of exercise that makes a person become quickly out of breath. It is a high intensity type of workout where the result is that the body is needing more oxygen than there is available in the body. One of the major differences between this type of exercise and aerobic exercise is that this one relies on the energy sources that are stored in the muscles of the body instead of on the oxygen in the air. Some examples of this type of exercise include sprinting and even lifting heavy weights. The benefit of this type of exercise is that it can be used to increase the strength of the body.

Contact An Orthopedic Today

If you do get injured, especially with an injury to your joints, muscles, or bones, it is important to get the right help to get you back to your training regimen as soon as possible. Contact us today to make an appointment with our orthopedic.

Does Calcium Intake Help Bone Health?

You have probably heard more than once in your life that digesting calcium is good for bone health. Making sure that you have calcium in your diet is essential to keeping your bones strong and healthy. Even though you have heard it for most or all of your life, it is still true.

So What is Calcium?

Calcium is a mineral and it is the most important mineral when it comes to your bone health. In the body, it is found mostly in bones and in teeth. In fact, it is the most abundant mineral that is found in the body. It is recommended that adults consume three servings every day of calcium-rich foods. 

How Does Calcium Help Our Bones?

If calcium is already in our body, why do we need to continue to consume it? Essentially, it is what keeps our bones strong and the calcium that is currently in your body will not stay there forever. In fact, our bodies are always removing small amounts of calcium from our bones in the body. If we do not continue to consume calcium-rich foods, then that calcium cannot be replaced as part of the bone remodeling process. Your bones will become weaker and will be more prone to breaking if the calcium that is removed is not replaced.

What Are Some Calcium-Rich Foods?

If you are looking to add some calcium into your diet, you need to know what to eat. Milk is the most popular form of calcium but it is not the only food that you can consume in order to add it to your diet. Other options include kale, yogurt, broccoli, sardines, cheese, bok choy, watercress and more.

Contact Southeast Orthopedic Specialists

You should try out a few different things to find the right addition to your diet. If you need some help finding the right foods or would like to have your bones checked out, be sure to contact us today.

Orthopedic Surgeons Treat Musculoskeletal Problems

When you’re looking for an orthopedic doctor in Jacksonville, Florida, Southeast Orthopedic Specialists has you covered. With 14 board-certified orthopedic physicians on hand as well as a chiropractor, all of your musculoskeletal problems can be evaluated and treated effectively. Whether sports medicine, chiropractic, emergency orthopedic care, physical therapy as well as treatment for the spine, hand, foot, ankle and other joint replacements, our orthopedic specialists can help treat your pain and discomfort today.

Joint Replacement

Whether your arthritis is affecting your shoulder, hand, knee or hip, joint replacement surgery can help remedy your pain and help restore functionality to the joint. Total joint replacement surgery gives patients the ability to feel younger and renwed. We have highly-skilled joint replacement surgeons that use state-of-the-art procedures resulting in highly successful joint replacemnets.

Treatment for the Hand, Foot, Ankle & Spine

Thumb, finger or wrist pain can be debilitating and affect your daily life. This pain can be treated oftentimes without surgery. However, if surgery is necessary, we have expert hand surgery specialists that use the latest surgical techniques in hand care. If you’re suffering from foot pain, our feet include a network of tendons, muscles, nerves, bones and ligaments, all which function together for the foot to feel and work correctly. If disease or injury occurs here, our expert care will help you to restore your feet.

For spine care, we offer both minimally invasive and complex spinal surgery options. Some patients however can benefit from other treatments such as acupuncture for pain relief. Our orthopedic team will evaluate your condition and determine the best treatment options for your health. While using conservative methods we will try to restore your health, however if these treatment options don’t work effectively, we then consider surgery for our patients.

On-Site Rehab Services

If one of our patients must undergo surgery, we offer on-site physical therapy to help restore quality of life and function to the joints they have had worked on. Our state-of-the-art equipment and hands-on approach offers a comfortable environment that promotes healing. To learn more, call us today to schedule an appointment at 904-634-0640.

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