Skip to main content

You might say that good news has popped up in recent years for people who find it soothing to crack knuckle joints.

Scientific research hasn’t come to a firm conclusion about what happens when you pop your knuckles. However, one thing that recent research indicates is that the cracking doesn’t cause arthritis.

Instead, two studies in 2015 shared the conclusion that knuckle cracking seems to improve range of motion. Also, researchers in both studies question the results of 1990 research showing that knuckle cracking may cause swelling and loss of grip.

Studies About Knuckle Cracking

PLOS-One published the University of Alberta study Real-Time Visualization of Joint Cavitation in April 2015.

Dr. Gregory N. Krawchuk of the University’s Department of Physical Therapy led the Canadian team, which used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to record what happens during knuckle cracking.

University of California (UC) Radiologist Dr. Robert Boutin and Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Robert Szabo, who teaches surgery, conducted the second study. They presented it in December 2015 at a Radiological Society of North America meeting.

The U.C. study used ultrasound imagery, which a December 2015 article in Science Alert cites as being 100 times faster than MRI at capturing images. It notes Dr. Boutin as asserting that ultrasound also captures images ten times smaller than MRIs can.

Boutin and Szabo saw bright flashes similar to fireworks in ultrasounds as study participants cracked joints. The bursts seemed to occur before a bubble developed in the protective synovial fluid.

A Mystery Remains

Science Alert reports both studies concluding that changes in synovial fluid correlate with the sound and popping feeling of cracking knuckles. But it notes a what-came-first mystery.

The publication recounts a 1947 theory that the popping sound of knuckle cracking occurs when a bubble forms in joint fluid. Decades later, other researchers said the sound likely comes from the bubble bursting.

Science Alert noted that the University of Alberta study agrees with but doesn’t prove the burst bubble theory. In contrast, it stated, the U.C. researchers support the 1947 theory.

Information to Relieve Fears

Although the bubble theories are unresolved, Science Alert reports that both the 2015 studies found “no immediate pain, swelling, or damage being done to joints as they were cracked” and that no clear difference in arthritis results exist between those who pop and those who don’t.

Whatever the cause, joint pain remains an uncomfortable reality. If it is a problem for you or for a loved one, it’s a good idea to reach out to an orthopedic hand specialist.

Please contact us at Southeast Orthopedic Specialists. We can help you feel better and share facts instead of myths.

What Happens When You Crack Your Knuckles?

Posted on by

You might say that good news has popped up in recent years for people who find it soothing to crack knuckle joints.

Scientific research hasn’t come to a firm conclusion about what happens when you pop your knuckles. However, one thing that recent research indicates is that the cracking doesn’t cause arthritis.

Instead, two studies in 2015 shared the conclusion that knuckle cracking seems to improve range of motion. Also, researchers in both studies question the results of 1990 research showing that knuckle cracking may cause swelling and loss of grip.

(more…)

How to Deal With a Traumatic Event

Posted on by

People are severely hurt each day, whether in a car accident, a sudden fall, or another unexpected source of trauma. It’s hard enough to cope with one’s injury or situation in the moment, and the long-term healing can also be very challenging. We discuss ways to deal with the after effects of a trauma, including tips on how to care for your body, and your mind, while you heal.

(more…)

Why Foot Care is Important

Posted on by

Your feet were made for walking, and it’s important not to tiptoe around the importance of foot health. Despite the distance from your heart, the health of your feet can impact your overall health. It’s important not to ignore foot pain. If your feet hurt, it’s time to see your doctor or schedule an appointment with a podiatrist. As a matter of fact, your feet should be checked regularly even before there is a problem. Comprised of over 50 bones, 200 muscles, 60 joints, tendons and ligaments, feet are really a true marvel of engineering.

(more…)

Myths and Facts: The Truth About Ortho Medicine

Posted on by

While men and women can both benefit from a visit to an orthopedic medicine specialist, orthopedic medicine is especially beneficial to women. When you discover a few of the myths and facts about orthopedic medicine, you will quickly realize exactly how important this practice can be to a woman’s health.

Myths About Ortho Medicine

  • Orthopedic Medicine is Just for Athletes – While many athletes, young and old, are patients at an orthopedic practice, these are far from the only people who can benefit. Anyone can suffer bone and joint problems. Your general practitioner can tell you if you need to see this specialist.
  • If You Can Move a Joint or Bone, You Are Okay – You can suffer a fracture or other bone injury and still be able to move the affected area with no problems. That’s why a visit to the orthopedic doctor is necessary after an injury.
  • Using Your Computer Causes Carpel Tunnel and Playing Tennis Causes Tennis Elbow – While in some cases, computer use causes carpel tunnel syndrome and playing tennis causes tennis elbow, these are far from the only causes. If you have symptoms of these ailments, it is important to visit your orthopedic doctor right away.

A Few Facts About Ortho Medicine

  • Adult Knee Surgery is the Most Popular Orthopedic Surgery – If you need surgery on your knee, you are not alone!
  • Orthopedic Surgeons Can be Generalists or Specialists – Some orthopedic doctors specialize in one area (such as spine surgery or joint rebuilding) while others are focused more on general care. Sometimes a team of doctors is employed to get you the care you need.
  • An Orthopedic Doctor Uses Several Tests to Get the Right Diagnosis – There is seldom any guessing necessary in an orthopedic practice. A doctor can use X-rays, CT Scans, MRIs, blood tests and other tests to find out exactly what is wrong. Once the doctor has a correct diagnosis, finding you the best care is even easier.

As you can see, there is a lot to think about when it comes to orthopedic medicine. If you would like to learn more or talk to a specialist today, reach out to us at Southeast Orthopedic Specialists. We would love to help you feel your best today—and tomorrow.

Does Milk Really Help With Developing Strong Bones

Posted on by

Cow’s milk and its related products are excellent sources of calcium, an element that is essential for building strong bones when it interacts with the hormone-like substance called Vitamin D.

However, milk isn’t the only calcium-rich food for bone health. This is important, because many people can’t or don’t want to consume milk.

Some people are allergic to the protein in milk. Others have to limit consumption due to its sugar, lactose, which can be tough on some diabetics as well as people who digest it poorly.

Paradoxes of Milk

The Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) notes that milk presents paradoxes. Although its consumption decreases the chance of osteoporosis and colon cancer, high consumption increases risk of prostate cancer and, perhaps, ovarian cancer.

Also, HSPH adds dairy products that can be high in saturated fat and vitamin A, both of which can weaken bones. So moderation in all things — an idea that Greek philosopher Aristotle stressed to his students — is a good rule to follow if you love dairy products.

Dietary Keys to Bone Strength

When consuming dairy products or any calcium-rich food, it’s essential to track the amount of calcium and vitamin D you are getting. Check with your general practitioner or orthopedist for a recommendation about how much to consume. A general rule of thumb is about 400 IU of vitamin D paired with 1000 mg of calcium daily.

Product labeling can help you gain an idea of the quantities of calcium in recommended servings. If you don’t drink milk, there are many substitutes — such as almond, coconut, rice or soy milks — that are enriched with calcium and vitamin D.

It’s helpful to eat a wide variety of foods rich in calcium, including cooked beans, leafy green vegetables, anchovies (bring on the Caesar salad!) and cabbage-family plants such as broccoli and kale. A varied diet of veggies will also provide vitamin K and magnesium, which help strengthen bones.

Don’t forget protein, which also helps build bones but, once again, don’t overdo it. Keep your diet balanced.

Not All About Diet

Many medical experts cite exercise as being crucial in the constant process of rebuilding strong bones. However, there is disagreement about how much and what kind of workouts are most efficient.

Keep in mind the idea of moderation, and remember to talk with a doctor before hitting the track with a new exercise regimen. Strive for activity every day and get a feel for the amounts and kinds of exercise that make your body feel good.

Things Your Orthopedic Physician Wants You to Know

Posted on by

Whether you have sustained a sports-related injury or you suffer with chronic back pain, Southeast Orthopedic Specialists can help relieve your pain. If you have been injured, we will also assist you as you move through the recovery process. Our goal is to help you return to your normal activities as quickly as possible. If you have been injured, contact one of our offices today to schedule your initial consultation.

6 Things your orthopedic physician wants you to know

1. How did you become injured?

Some people are embarrassed about how they sustained their injuries. Whether you tripped rushing to answer the phone, you fell off of a curb while taking a selfie or you slid into home base, there is no need to be embarrassed with us. To ensure you receive the highest quality of care possible, we need to know the specifics.

2. Bring a short list of questions with you to your initial consultation.

We are always happy to answer your questions. However, please refrain from creating an extensive list of questions. Instead, just write down a couple extremely important questions. After your initial consultation, please explore our website. If you still have questions, send us an email with those questions and we will do our best to answer them in a timely manner.

3. Many times, your symptoms are more important than your diagnostic imaging results.

While X-rays and MRIs are very helpful, the description of your symptoms provides your orthopedic physician with approximately 90 percent of the information he or she needs to diagnose and treat you.

4. When you visit Southeast Orthopedic Specialists, please wear clothing that allows us to examine your injury.

Your orthopedic physician will want to examine your injury. For this reason, you need to wear clothing that makes your injured area easier to access. If you injured your shoulder, wear a tank top. If it is your knee that is injured, choose a pair of loose pants, a pair of shorts or a skirt.

5. Every injury is unique.

If you know someone who received treatment for the same injury that you sustained, do not assume that your treatment plan or outcome will be identical. We know that every patient is different, which is why we create each of our patients an individualized treatment plan.

6. Stop smoking tobacco.

Smoking constricts blood vessels. These constricted blood vessels interrupt the body’s blood flow. The inability for blood to freely flow throughout the body can lead to delayed wound healing. In fact, the chance of a smoker experiencing an infection and/or a wound healing problem following surgery is more than double that of a non-smoker.

Additionally, when compared to non-smokers, individuals who smoke are more likely to tear their rotator cuffs and herniate discs in their lower backs. Furthermore, individuals who smoke usually have decreased bone mineral density (osteoporosis), which increases the likelihood of a fracture. Smokers also tend to suffer more broken bones in their spines, hips and wrists than non-smokers do.

The Future of Spine Technology

Posted on by

There have been many technology advancements for spine care. An orthopedic spinal surgeon, Anthony Yeung, weighs in on his opinions on where he sees the future of spinal care. Dr. Yeung realized the need for minimalism in spine surgery when a close family member sustained a nerve injury of the spine after partial removal of the facet joint. The initial injury was a central disc herniation. His thoughts were focused on the idea that spinal surgery should be less invasive to avoid further injury, years of pain and disability. In this case, his mother progressed to a grade 2 spondylolisthesis. He was interested in a less invasive procedure to decompress original herniation.

The Future of Spinal Surgery: Minimally Invasive

Dr. Yeung began to study the transforaminal decompression concept of Parviz Kambin. He began to see that the visual capabilities of the endoscope just may be a part of what he needed to implement his future vision of spinal surgery. In his interest to shape spinal surgery, he developed the Yeung Endoscopic Spine System in 1997. This system was designed for performing selective discectomy via an indigo dye stain for degenerative nucleus removal. Dr. Yeung took it further and combined the system with laser. Further development led to developing a multichannel irrigation endoscope that fit into a disc. The dual system lead to controlled removal of disc and the ability to see the tissue that needed to be removed.

He was able to visualize the nucleus pulposus during discectomy. The staining of the degenerative disc allowed him to be more selective in disc removal. Abnormal and normal parts of the disc were easily identified. Soon after developing the Yeung Endoscopic Spine System, he developed a bevelled cannula to facilitate view of the epidural space. Hinged discectomy instruments were also produced to assist visual inspection and discectomy to identify decompression of the existing and traversing nerve in the epidural space. These instruments also provided more flexibility in reaching the patho-anatomy.

Without a doubt, new developments and new technology over the decades has improved the techniques of spine surgery. The spine care specialists at Southeast Orthopedic offer minimally invasive spine surgery performed by board-certified orthopedic surgeons. With minimally invasive spine procedures, surgery can be performed as an outpatient or require a shorter hospital stay. If you’re considering spine surgery, turn to the experts at Southeast Orthopedic.

Close
Close

Schedule an Appointment

Get the Care You Need, When You Need It.

You now have the ability to schedule an appointment online any time with our orthopedic surgeons and specialists. Our intelligent system connects you to the right doctor in the right setting at the right time. Schedule your appointment online above!
*Providers will be recommended based on specialty and best availability. If you would prefer to schedule an appointment with a provider of your choice, please call us at 904-634-0640