Health care has been a huge topic in the news lately. The potential cost for health care in the future looks like it could bankrupt our economy. There have been many articles in the Huffington Post that have mentioned that the old system of medical care must change. Our health care system is based on trying to control the problem once it presents itself. Initially this was acceptable, but not any more that is why there is more and more research going on to finding out what causes these diseases.
In my earlier blog I wrote that eventually arthritis is going to affect most people and will likely cause some limitation to their lifestyle. An example of this is the rise in hip and knee replacement. It has been estimated that in the next 20 years that hip replacement surgeries will increase 174% and knee replacement 673% . These staggering numbers were presented at the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons annual meeting in 2006. One of the concerns in this article on Web MD was that there will not be enough surgeons to keep up with the demand in the future.
Hip and knee replacement surgery are very effective, and significantly increase people's quality of life. But if the projected rise in hip and knee replacements comes to pass what will the fiscal impact be on the health care system especially if the medicare system goes bankrupt? Could something be done 10 to 15 years earlier to prevent significant arthritic changes that lead to hip and knee replacements?
In an article in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases May 2006 it was shown that patients who have degenerative changes in the low back, a decrease in the joint space between the vertebrae (bones in the back), had a four fold increase in knee degeneration. Low back degeneration was also associated with a two fold increase in hip degeneration. The literature has shown that if one area of the body becomes arthritic it will have a negative effect on other areas leading to more degenerative changes. The longer we just ignore and accept some arthritis here or there the bigger the problem becomes, much like we have learned with most diseases, example of cholesterol on heart disease.
A study in Arthritis Research and Therapy 2007 the authors were able to create arthritic joints in just 1 month. What they found was if you created an unstable joint, with regular use it produced arthritis. They showed that if you altered the way a joint moves and add repetitive normal motion, such as walking, it will create changes in the cartilage over time (1 month) which will lead to arthritis. The purpose behind this study was so that better medications could be produced for arthritis sufferers. The medical community and the pharmaceutical companies are preparing for future generations need for controlling the pain associated with arthritis.
Medical science has been able to recreate arthritic joints in the lab. If we can create arthritis then we should be able to stop it from occurring in the first place. We can, you do not have to be doomed to suffering like many before you. It is not just another part of getting old!
It has been proven in the literature that if your joints don't move normally either from some old injury, or from surgery, or from sitting all day at your computer they will deteriorate and become arthritic. If a lack or abnormal joint motion changes them for the worse re-establishment of movement corrects them. Controlled exercise will help maintain normal joint motion.
So how do you correct the abnormal joint movement? If you have had some type of injury or surgery then you probably have been doing rehabilitation so continue and make sure that you restore normal movement and strength.
As I stated earlier joint changes in one area does affect the areas above or below. If you haven't had any injuries but you know your joints are restricted have then evaluated and re-establish there motion. An example of abnormal motion is can you move your joints equally in all directions? In the hip does it flex forward as much as it goes back, does it turn in as much as it turns out. Most people can turn their leg more in one direction that the other. The larger the discrepancy the more likely the joint is restricted and could become problematic. Can you turn your head equally side to side, forward and backward? Are they the same or is it more difficult or even slightly painful in certain directions. For most people they can notice some difference but they won't pay attention to it until it becomes painful.
What I usually hear in a patient's history is I have the normal tightness and stiffness. That is a signal the body is giving you try to stretch or get up and move around. If you find that no matter what you do it stays stiff or restricted have it evaluated by a physical therapist, chiropractor, or your M.D... The goal is to get and keep your joints moving. Part of your doctor or therapist job is to teach you how to keep everything moving the way it is designed not just treat you and send you on your way.
This may mean working with a trainer, your yoga, or a pilates instructor. If you are not much of a work out person your doctor or physical therapist should be able to teach you simple exercises which re-teach you how to control the joints that need help. You will be required to do a little work but the amount of time and money it will save you in the future is significant. If you can do a few simple exercises in the day and it will save your hip or knee in the future isn't it worth it?
Imagine if 50 to 60 % of the people who would have had a joint replacement don't need them. That is a significant savings to the medical system and these people won't have to go through the pain and suffering that lead to the joint replacement.
This is just one example of diseases that significantly impact many people's lives today that can be avoided or have minimal impact. Our battle cry going forward should be: "What can I do to maintain my health?" Let's not be reactionary and hope you can fix your health later. The cost to maintain good health is much cheaper than trying to regain it.