Osteoarthritis, has reached epidemic proportions. One in every two seniors is now at risk of developing arthritis of their knees. Last year there were over half a million knee and hip replacements.
Since it’s generally believed that there is no known cause or cure (other than age and excessive weight), a physicians goal is to keep you pain free and active as long as they can. And while it’s wonderful that we have medications, remember that pain is something we’re designed to have as it warns us that if we keep doing the activity that caused it, not only will the pain worsen, but so will the damage.
In pharmacy school I learned one lesson above all else; the less medication you take the better! Remember that anything you put into your body that isn’t supposed to be there has risks. And even if the risks are one in a thousand, they’re 100% if they happen to you!
If prescription drugs were as safe as we’re often led to believe, we wouldn’t need a signed document (prescription) that only a licensed physician can write, to purchase them. If you read the precautionary information about these drugs you would be much more reluctant to take them. But serious complications can occur with non-prescription medications too, and this is validated by an overwhelming amount of studies.
Despite this, there are over 13 million Americans taking anti-inflammatory drugs like Advil, Motrin and Aleve, that results in 16,500 deaths each year! In some cases, drugs like Vioxx and Celebrex have also been shown to actually make your arthritis worse! And unfortunately, you can’t always depend upon the validity of research studies, many of which are sponsored by the drug companies who make and sell these drugs.
Despite the commonly accepted theories that osteoarthritis has no known cause or cure, it does. Abnormal friction and pressure wears away joints in the same way that poorly aligned tires wear abnormally and prematurely. You don’t simply get pain in your knee or hip because you reached a certain age. And the latest research now confirms this.
Sometimes drugs are needed and necessary but having yourself structurally evaluated to eliminate simple things like a longer leg or flattened foot can go a long way in saving your joints and helping you avoid drugs that can indeed have serious implications.
A former reconstructive foot and ankle surgeon and past Clinical Instructor of Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine, Dr. Pack practices at MCG Medical Associates, Lake Oconee Village in Greensboro. He specializes in biomechanical structural analysis and works with patients who have arthritis and wish to decrease joint symptoms and remain active. Dr. Pack also treats athletes at all levels. In the 2004 Olympics he had a silver and gold medalist and helps the UGA Golf Team (2005 NCCA National Champions). For further information please see his web site at www.drloupack.com or contact him directly at 706-454-0040.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Latest research on the Real Cause of Arthritis
Like most physicians I was taught that osteoarthritis was due to ageing; like gray hair and wrinkles. But the fact that it primarily occurs when we’re older doesn’t necessarily mean it’s due to age. There is a difference between a correlation and a cause. Arthritis, like heart disease, takes a long time to develop, but age is not the cause.
My work over forty years in this area has shown that contrary to what is currently believed, that abnormal structure wears out our joints in the same way that poorly aligned tires wear out sooner. Now more and more credible data is substantiating my premise.
A recently published arthritis textbook of the latest research was reviewed by Dr. Hunter, a preeminent rheumatologist. He states that arthritis should now be viewed as being “primarily due to mechanical factors” and that by physicians “focusing more on this, we have the opportunity to help millions of patients with arthritis.”
Dr. Jason Theodosakis is considered one of the foremost authorities in the world on osteoarthritis. In his book, The Arthritis Cure,” he continually emphasizes the important role that abnormal function plays in osteoarthritis. He states that, “it is critically important to control how we walk and function if we really want to treat arthritis.”
In 2001, the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association reported that “abnormal alignment of only five degrees (as measured from the ankle to the hip) increased the progression of osteoarthritis four to five times!”
Most recently the famed Mayo Clinic’s study showed that for “each degree of abnormal alignment there was a 53% increased risk of the progression of arthritis of the knee,” and that “increasing age was only weakly associated with an increase risk of osteoarthritis of the knee.” They now consider poor alignment as “one of the most important risk factors for osteoarthritis.”
We are not born perfect. Any degree of abnormality (like a flattened foot or longer leg) increases joint friction and over time causes arthritis.
The best way to prevent arthritis of the weight bearing joints of our feet, ankles, knees, hips and neck is to be structurally evaluated and fix (on a permanent basis) the problems found. Optimizing how we function, especially after knee or hip joint replacement, is critical to staying active without pain as we age.
A former reconstructive foot and ankle surgeon and past Clinical Instructor of Medicine at Emory, Dr. Pack practices at MCG in Greensboro. He specializes in biomechanical structural analysis and works with patients who have arthritis and wish to decrease joint symptoms and remain active. Dr. Pack also treats athletes at all levels. In the 2004 Olympics he had a silver and gold medalist. He also helps the UGA Golf Team (2005 NCCA National Champions). For further information please see www.drloupack.com, drloupack.blogspot.com or contact him directly at 706-454-0040.
My work over forty years in this area has shown that contrary to what is currently believed, that abnormal structure wears out our joints in the same way that poorly aligned tires wear out sooner. Now more and more credible data is substantiating my premise.
A recently published arthritis textbook of the latest research was reviewed by Dr. Hunter, a preeminent rheumatologist. He states that arthritis should now be viewed as being “primarily due to mechanical factors” and that by physicians “focusing more on this, we have the opportunity to help millions of patients with arthritis.”
Dr. Jason Theodosakis is considered one of the foremost authorities in the world on osteoarthritis. In his book, The Arthritis Cure,” he continually emphasizes the important role that abnormal function plays in osteoarthritis. He states that, “it is critically important to control how we walk and function if we really want to treat arthritis.”
In 2001, the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association reported that “abnormal alignment of only five degrees (as measured from the ankle to the hip) increased the progression of osteoarthritis four to five times!”
Most recently the famed Mayo Clinic’s study showed that for “each degree of abnormal alignment there was a 53% increased risk of the progression of arthritis of the knee,” and that “increasing age was only weakly associated with an increase risk of osteoarthritis of the knee.” They now consider poor alignment as “one of the most important risk factors for osteoarthritis.”
We are not born perfect. Any degree of abnormality (like a flattened foot or longer leg) increases joint friction and over time causes arthritis.
The best way to prevent arthritis of the weight bearing joints of our feet, ankles, knees, hips and neck is to be structurally evaluated and fix (on a permanent basis) the problems found. Optimizing how we function, especially after knee or hip joint replacement, is critical to staying active without pain as we age.
A former reconstructive foot and ankle surgeon and past Clinical Instructor of Medicine at Emory, Dr. Pack practices at MCG in Greensboro. He specializes in biomechanical structural analysis and works with patients who have arthritis and wish to decrease joint symptoms and remain active. Dr. Pack also treats athletes at all levels. In the 2004 Olympics he had a silver and gold medalist. He also helps the UGA Golf Team (2005 NCCA National Champions). For further information please see www.drloupack.com, drloupack.blogspot.com or contact him directly at 706-454-0040.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Will Technology Make the Difference In the Masters?
Certainly, technology is important in golf. Better clubs and balls have forced designers to make longer and more difficult courses. But despite the accepted thinking, technology is not as important as we are led to believe. In fact, according to the USGA the average handicap has decreased less than one half of one stroke in the last ten years!
If technology was the answer, than why do so many of the top pros (highly endorsed by the best companies with the greatest and latest equipment), choose basic irons instead of racket sized titanium heads and state of the art carbon graphite shafts, while others simply throw their balls on the grass instead of using the latest tees (that are supposed to decrease ball resistance)?
The most important thing in performing well is not technology but talent; knowing exactly how to hit the ball and how to consistently execute the ideal swing best suited to each individual.
Secondly, and critically important, yet almost always overlooked, is structure. No one is born structurally perfect and any degree of abnormality (such as a longer leg or flattened foot) decreases performance, increases the risks of injury, and can later cause arthritic changes.
For example, no one has equal leg lengths, so every golfer is playing out of balance to some degree. A right handed golfer with a long left leg will always find it more difficult to follow through on their swing because in essence they are swinging up hill.
Great athletes have learned to compensate for their structural problems. Arnold Palmer has always had great difficulty completing his swing. Sure, he was great anyway. But how much better could he have been if didn’t always have this problem?
Players like Vijay Singh, Phil Michelson, and Davis Love III, have significant structural issues that put them at a major disadvantage with each and every shot they take. And no piece of technologically advanced equipment can fully compensate for this.
There are many reasons for a sudden decrease in performance, and it’s not always because an athlete “chokes”. Some of the most common relate to structural abnormalities. These problems decrease performance from the onset but take far greater tolls with time.
A few years ago (at the Masters), Rocco Mediate played well for days before completely falling apart. I believe his tight calf muscles cost him the Masters. In 2007, Brett Wetterich played great and then he too fell apart. Brett has significant structural issues as well. You could see his foot flatten (collapse) with each step he took.
Simply watch the way these players walk and stand and compare them to the likes of Tiger Woods and Gary Player, and you will notice a remarkable difference. Tiger is as close to being structurally ideal as any golfer I have ever seen. When you see the incredible turning radius in his swing, remember that to a large extent that is based on the equalization of his leg lengths, which enable him to have a better positioned vertical axis. And I don’t believe Gary Player’s longevity and vitality would be possible without the sound footing his well aligned structure permits. The same is true of Nolan Ryan and all great athletes with long careers.
Technology can and does help. But even the best Ferrari's in the world will not run as fast without wheels and tires that aren’t ideally aligned and balanced!
A former reconstructive foot and ankle surgeon and past Clinical Instructor of Medicine at Emory, Dr. Pack practices at MCG in Greensboro. He specializes in biomechanical structural analysis and works with patients who have arthritis and wish to decrease joint symptoms and remain active. Dr. Pack also treats athletes at all levels. In the 2004 Olympics he had a silver and gold medalist. He also helps the UGA Golf Team (2005 NCCA National Champions). For further information please see www.drloupack.com, drloupack.blogspot.com or contact him directly at 706-454-0040.
If technology was the answer, than why do so many of the top pros (highly endorsed by the best companies with the greatest and latest equipment), choose basic irons instead of racket sized titanium heads and state of the art carbon graphite shafts, while others simply throw their balls on the grass instead of using the latest tees (that are supposed to decrease ball resistance)?
The most important thing in performing well is not technology but talent; knowing exactly how to hit the ball and how to consistently execute the ideal swing best suited to each individual.
Secondly, and critically important, yet almost always overlooked, is structure. No one is born structurally perfect and any degree of abnormality (such as a longer leg or flattened foot) decreases performance, increases the risks of injury, and can later cause arthritic changes.
For example, no one has equal leg lengths, so every golfer is playing out of balance to some degree. A right handed golfer with a long left leg will always find it more difficult to follow through on their swing because in essence they are swinging up hill.
Great athletes have learned to compensate for their structural problems. Arnold Palmer has always had great difficulty completing his swing. Sure, he was great anyway. But how much better could he have been if didn’t always have this problem?
Players like Vijay Singh, Phil Michelson, and Davis Love III, have significant structural issues that put them at a major disadvantage with each and every shot they take. And no piece of technologically advanced equipment can fully compensate for this.
There are many reasons for a sudden decrease in performance, and it’s not always because an athlete “chokes”. Some of the most common relate to structural abnormalities. These problems decrease performance from the onset but take far greater tolls with time.
A few years ago (at the Masters), Rocco Mediate played well for days before completely falling apart. I believe his tight calf muscles cost him the Masters. In 2007, Brett Wetterich played great and then he too fell apart. Brett has significant structural issues as well. You could see his foot flatten (collapse) with each step he took.
Simply watch the way these players walk and stand and compare them to the likes of Tiger Woods and Gary Player, and you will notice a remarkable difference. Tiger is as close to being structurally ideal as any golfer I have ever seen. When you see the incredible turning radius in his swing, remember that to a large extent that is based on the equalization of his leg lengths, which enable him to have a better positioned vertical axis. And I don’t believe Gary Player’s longevity and vitality would be possible without the sound footing his well aligned structure permits. The same is true of Nolan Ryan and all great athletes with long careers.
Technology can and does help. But even the best Ferrari's in the world will not run as fast without wheels and tires that aren’t ideally aligned and balanced!
A former reconstructive foot and ankle surgeon and past Clinical Instructor of Medicine at Emory, Dr. Pack practices at MCG in Greensboro. He specializes in biomechanical structural analysis and works with patients who have arthritis and wish to decrease joint symptoms and remain active. Dr. Pack also treats athletes at all levels. In the 2004 Olympics he had a silver and gold medalist. He also helps the UGA Golf Team (2005 NCCA National Champions). For further information please see www.drloupack.com, drloupack.blogspot.com or contact him directly at 706-454-0040.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Childfren's Foot Exam
Ask the Doc………
“Is it a good idea to have my children’s feet checked? My Pediatrician has never really looked at them.”
Absolutely! Having your children’s feet checked is one of the most important things you can do for them.
Frankly, it’s very unfortunate that so little importance is relegated to the human foot by most health care professionals. Look at how much emphasis is placed on having your child’s teeth checked and they’re replaceable!
Your child’s feet are the foundation of their entire body. Many times the problems we see in children’s knees, hips and low back can be helped with proper foot positioning.
So having them examined is critical to their skeletal development. This is important in preventing bone and joint problems such as arthritis, and can help them perform better in sports.
A structural foot evaluation can also help them avoid sports injuries. I recently saw a young girl for example, who broke her foot while playing soccer. Contrary to what she was told, this wasn’t a soccer “injury.” The tight calf muscles she had, made it impossible for her to pick her feet up properly while running and so she tripped, twisting and breaking her foot.
When you consider that in their average lifetime, your child will walk over four times around the world and carry over nine hundred thousand billion lbs of pressure on their feet (now that’s a number!), it might not be a bad idea to prepare those two “orphan structures” at the end of their bodies for the journey! You certainly would do the same for the tires on your car if you planned an extended trip.
If a foot problem is identified, parents are usually told that their children will outgrow it. The truth is you don’t outgrow most foot problems but to the contrary, you grow into them; i.e., the flexible, usually easily correctible problems seen, become fixed, rigid, often painful problems as they grown and develop. So the earlier a child’s foot problems are identified, the easier it is to correct them.
As mentioned above, the foot is the foundation of our entire skeletal system. It supports all of the weight bearing joints of our ankles, knees, hips and back. Since many problems we see are preventable, if anyone in the family has arthritic problems in any of these areas, having your child’s feet examined becomes even more important.
Arthritis is the number one cause of pain and disability today. Recent data shows that the major cause is not age as we thought, but rather structural problems (like a longer leg or flattened foot). It is these structural problems that we inherit and that can be stopped in most instances in children.
Unlike dental exams which are routinely recommended, a thorough foot evaluation can be done much less often and still have profound positive effects.
A former reconstructive foot and ankle surgeon and past Clinical Instructor of Medicine at Emory, Dr. Pack practices at MCG in Greensboro. He specializes in biomechanical structural analysis and works with patients who have arthritis and wish to decrease joint symptoms and remain active. Dr. Pack also treats athletes at all levels. In the 2004 Olympics he had a silver and gold medalist. He also helps the UGA Golf Team (2005 NCCA National Champions). For further information please see www.drloupack.com, drloupack.blogspot.com or contact him directly at 706-454-0040.
“Is it a good idea to have my children’s feet checked? My Pediatrician has never really looked at them.”
Absolutely! Having your children’s feet checked is one of the most important things you can do for them.
Frankly, it’s very unfortunate that so little importance is relegated to the human foot by most health care professionals. Look at how much emphasis is placed on having your child’s teeth checked and they’re replaceable!
Your child’s feet are the foundation of their entire body. Many times the problems we see in children’s knees, hips and low back can be helped with proper foot positioning.
So having them examined is critical to their skeletal development. This is important in preventing bone and joint problems such as arthritis, and can help them perform better in sports.
A structural foot evaluation can also help them avoid sports injuries. I recently saw a young girl for example, who broke her foot while playing soccer. Contrary to what she was told, this wasn’t a soccer “injury.” The tight calf muscles she had, made it impossible for her to pick her feet up properly while running and so she tripped, twisting and breaking her foot.
When you consider that in their average lifetime, your child will walk over four times around the world and carry over nine hundred thousand billion lbs of pressure on their feet (now that’s a number!), it might not be a bad idea to prepare those two “orphan structures” at the end of their bodies for the journey! You certainly would do the same for the tires on your car if you planned an extended trip.
If a foot problem is identified, parents are usually told that their children will outgrow it. The truth is you don’t outgrow most foot problems but to the contrary, you grow into them; i.e., the flexible, usually easily correctible problems seen, become fixed, rigid, often painful problems as they grown and develop. So the earlier a child’s foot problems are identified, the easier it is to correct them.
As mentioned above, the foot is the foundation of our entire skeletal system. It supports all of the weight bearing joints of our ankles, knees, hips and back. Since many problems we see are preventable, if anyone in the family has arthritic problems in any of these areas, having your child’s feet examined becomes even more important.
Arthritis is the number one cause of pain and disability today. Recent data shows that the major cause is not age as we thought, but rather structural problems (like a longer leg or flattened foot). It is these structural problems that we inherit and that can be stopped in most instances in children.
Unlike dental exams which are routinely recommended, a thorough foot evaluation can be done much less often and still have profound positive effects.
A former reconstructive foot and ankle surgeon and past Clinical Instructor of Medicine at Emory, Dr. Pack practices at MCG in Greensboro. He specializes in biomechanical structural analysis and works with patients who have arthritis and wish to decrease joint symptoms and remain active. Dr. Pack also treats athletes at all levels. In the 2004 Olympics he had a silver and gold medalist. He also helps the UGA Golf Team (2005 NCCA National Champions). For further information please see www.drloupack.com, drloupack.blogspot.com or contact him directly at 706-454-0040.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
How valid is our medical data?
Ask the Doc……..
“How valid is the medical data we depend so much on?”
That’s a great question and one that many people fail to think about. Medical facts are like a container of milk; they have a shelf life. Just think about how much the thought process has changed since most of us have grown up. We were taught that if we wanted to be healthy we should have a good breakfast. That of course consisted of eggs, bacon, grits (of course if you were from the south), “Wonder Bread” (since it “built bodies 12 ways”) and perhaps some Hostess Twinkies and chocolate milk. Today we’re told that very same breakfast might cause us to die of a coronary before lunch!
Red wine is good. No it’s bad. No it’s good for us. Drink a gallon of water a day. No you don’t need nearly that much. Yes you do. No you don’t. The facts change every few years.
Most recently data has shown that the prostate screenings men have been constantly told “must be done” and is “life saving” actually have not been shown to save lives. That certainly doesn’t mean they aren’t important but it does cause one to wonder.
And even if you follow the trends, you can’t always depend upon the data. That’s because of the limited government funding for research that causes many researchers to look to drug companies for needed dollars. Such companies can very much alter the “facts” in many ways. This can include changing the definition of outcomes after the tests and having their own employees ghostwrite the actual studies.
Some very impressive, valid, new data has just come out regarding osteoarthritis that will completely change the thinking and treatment of this disease. Long thought to be primarily due to age and excessive weight, the latest data actually shows that abnormal alignment (like a longer leg or flattened foot) is the major cause of arthritis of our weight bearing joints (feet, ankles, knees, hips and back).
The prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association for example, has reported that “abnormal alignment of only five degrees (as measured from the ankle to the hip) increased the progression of osteoarthritis four to five times!”
Most recently the famed Mayo Clinic’s study showed that for “each degree of abnormal alignment there was a significant increased risk of the progression of arthritis of the knee,” and that “increasing age was only weakly associated with an increase risk of osteoarthritis of the knee.” They now consider poor alignment as “one of the most important risk factors for osteoarthritis.”
So the best way to stay active without pain, medications or surgery is to have a structural
evaluation and function with as little joint stress as possible.
We need data and must depend upon the latest research for our health. But like anything else, “let the buyer beware.”
A former reconstructive foot and ankle surgeon and past Clinical Instructor of Medicine at Emory, Dr. Pack practices at MCG in Greensboro. He specializes in biomechanical structural analysis and works with patients who have arthritis and wish to decrease joint symptoms and remain active. Dr. Pack also treats athletes at all levels. In the 2004 Olympics he had a silver and gold medalist. He also helps the UGA Golf Team (2005 NCCA National Champions). For further information please see www.drloupack.com, drloupack.blogspot.com or contact him directly at 706-454-0040.
“How valid is the medical data we depend so much on?”
That’s a great question and one that many people fail to think about. Medical facts are like a container of milk; they have a shelf life. Just think about how much the thought process has changed since most of us have grown up. We were taught that if we wanted to be healthy we should have a good breakfast. That of course consisted of eggs, bacon, grits (of course if you were from the south), “Wonder Bread” (since it “built bodies 12 ways”) and perhaps some Hostess Twinkies and chocolate milk. Today we’re told that very same breakfast might cause us to die of a coronary before lunch!
Red wine is good. No it’s bad. No it’s good for us. Drink a gallon of water a day. No you don’t need nearly that much. Yes you do. No you don’t. The facts change every few years.
Most recently data has shown that the prostate screenings men have been constantly told “must be done” and is “life saving” actually have not been shown to save lives. That certainly doesn’t mean they aren’t important but it does cause one to wonder.
And even if you follow the trends, you can’t always depend upon the data. That’s because of the limited government funding for research that causes many researchers to look to drug companies for needed dollars. Such companies can very much alter the “facts” in many ways. This can include changing the definition of outcomes after the tests and having their own employees ghostwrite the actual studies.
Some very impressive, valid, new data has just come out regarding osteoarthritis that will completely change the thinking and treatment of this disease. Long thought to be primarily due to age and excessive weight, the latest data actually shows that abnormal alignment (like a longer leg or flattened foot) is the major cause of arthritis of our weight bearing joints (feet, ankles, knees, hips and back).
The prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association for example, has reported that “abnormal alignment of only five degrees (as measured from the ankle to the hip) increased the progression of osteoarthritis four to five times!”
Most recently the famed Mayo Clinic’s study showed that for “each degree of abnormal alignment there was a significant increased risk of the progression of arthritis of the knee,” and that “increasing age was only weakly associated with an increase risk of osteoarthritis of the knee.” They now consider poor alignment as “one of the most important risk factors for osteoarthritis.”
So the best way to stay active without pain, medications or surgery is to have a structural
evaluation and function with as little joint stress as possible.
We need data and must depend upon the latest research for our health. But like anything else, “let the buyer beware.”
A former reconstructive foot and ankle surgeon and past Clinical Instructor of Medicine at Emory, Dr. Pack practices at MCG in Greensboro. He specializes in biomechanical structural analysis and works with patients who have arthritis and wish to decrease joint symptoms and remain active. Dr. Pack also treats athletes at all levels. In the 2004 Olympics he had a silver and gold medalist. He also helps the UGA Golf Team (2005 NCCA National Champions). For further information please see www.drloupack.com, drloupack.blogspot.com or contact him directly at 706-454-0040.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Tripping
Ask the Doc…………..
“I’m 73 years old and just started tripping. Is this just part of aging?”
We’ve all tripped. But frequently doing this indicates a problem rather than a hap occurrence.
Less common, more serious causes involve problems like Parkinson’s disease, and strokes. Arthritis causes tripping by making it more difficult to lift your feet when walking. Heavy shoes with thick, ridged rubber soles can also be a cause, especially on carpet.
We assume we trip due to our age. But tripping is usually due to tight calf muscles that can cause you to fall or appear clumsy at any age; like children, whose parents tell them to “pick their feet up” when they walk.
Almost everyone will develop tight calf muscles. Simply walking causes these muscles to tighten and functionally shorten and it’s worse if we’re very active.
Picture a rubber band from the tips of your toes, going down the bottom of your foot, running up the back of your leg and attaching behind your knee. If that band is tight it will have a tendency to pull your foot downward and make it harder to pick your feet up when you walk. And that’s why most people trip!
Tight calf muscles can also cause pain in the fronts of the legs (shin splints) or stress fractures, bone spurs in the back of the heels, and ruptures of the Achilles tendon.
Take a look at the soles of your shoes, at the very ends where your toes would be. Wearing your shoes out in this area is a good clue that you have this problem.
Tight calves also affect sports. Tennis players will have a harder time on clay and runners will be slower on grass. Golfers will fatigue easier. Coaches and trainers often miss this condition as a major factor in decreased performance. Football players often suffer from this undetected problem than from dehydration.
Treatment consists of proper stretching exercises. Remember, the more active you are, the more you have to stretch. In severe cases a special trigger point injection can be given which is painless (really), often long lasting, and produces dramatic results. This can be quite affective even in elderly people.
So you may not be as clumsy as you think! And this may have nothing to do with your age. But if you continue to trip or have symptoms of a neurological disease, see your physician.
A former reconstructive foot and ankle surgeon and past Clinical Instructor of Medicine at Emory, Dr. Pack practices at MCG in Greensboro. He specializes in biomechanical structural analysis and works with patients who have arthritis and wish to decrease joint symptoms and remain active. Dr. Pack also treats athletes at all levels. In the 2004 Olympics he had a silver and gold medalist. He also helps the UGA Golf Team (2005 NCCA National Champions). For further information please see www.drloupack.com, drloupack.blogspot.com or contact him directly at 706-454-0040.
“I’m 73 years old and just started tripping. Is this just part of aging?”
We’ve all tripped. But frequently doing this indicates a problem rather than a hap occurrence.
Less common, more serious causes involve problems like Parkinson’s disease, and strokes. Arthritis causes tripping by making it more difficult to lift your feet when walking. Heavy shoes with thick, ridged rubber soles can also be a cause, especially on carpet.
We assume we trip due to our age. But tripping is usually due to tight calf muscles that can cause you to fall or appear clumsy at any age; like children, whose parents tell them to “pick their feet up” when they walk.
Almost everyone will develop tight calf muscles. Simply walking causes these muscles to tighten and functionally shorten and it’s worse if we’re very active.
Picture a rubber band from the tips of your toes, going down the bottom of your foot, running up the back of your leg and attaching behind your knee. If that band is tight it will have a tendency to pull your foot downward and make it harder to pick your feet up when you walk. And that’s why most people trip!
Tight calf muscles can also cause pain in the fronts of the legs (shin splints) or stress fractures, bone spurs in the back of the heels, and ruptures of the Achilles tendon.
Take a look at the soles of your shoes, at the very ends where your toes would be. Wearing your shoes out in this area is a good clue that you have this problem.
Tight calves also affect sports. Tennis players will have a harder time on clay and runners will be slower on grass. Golfers will fatigue easier. Coaches and trainers often miss this condition as a major factor in decreased performance. Football players often suffer from this undetected problem than from dehydration.
Treatment consists of proper stretching exercises. Remember, the more active you are, the more you have to stretch. In severe cases a special trigger point injection can be given which is painless (really), often long lasting, and produces dramatic results. This can be quite affective even in elderly people.
So you may not be as clumsy as you think! And this may have nothing to do with your age. But if you continue to trip or have symptoms of a neurological disease, see your physician.
A former reconstructive foot and ankle surgeon and past Clinical Instructor of Medicine at Emory, Dr. Pack practices at MCG in Greensboro. He specializes in biomechanical structural analysis and works with patients who have arthritis and wish to decrease joint symptoms and remain active. Dr. Pack also treats athletes at all levels. In the 2004 Olympics he had a silver and gold medalist. He also helps the UGA Golf Team (2005 NCCA National Champions). For further information please see www.drloupack.com, drloupack.blogspot.com or contact him directly at 706-454-0040.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Choosing a Doctor
Choosing a Doctor
Ask the Doc……..
“What kind of doctor should I see for the pain in my right knee?”
If you had a problem with an old, valuable piece of furniture you would do well to take it to an antique furniture refinisher and not someone inexperienced. But we often don’t treat ourselves that way; and insurance companies love that. They often mandate that you to go to your general practitioner to keep their costs down.
Now don’t get me wrong, we need general practitioners, and more of them! And seeing these wonderful physicians first is often best. But when indicated, you should see a specialist simply because they will know more about your problem since that’s all they do.
That said, be careful. Think of today’s specialist as someone who knows more and more about less and less. They are often brilliant in their very narrow scope of expertise, but often know little outside of that particular area. So choosing the right doctor is important or you may end up being one of the “wandering wounded,” going from doctor to doctor seeking relief.
If your knee pain is due to an injury or overuse, see a good orthopedic surgeon; if possible, one that just does knees. But remember, orthopedists are surgeons. So if your knee pain is due to arthritis, a far better choice might be a rheumatologist.
Rheumatologists are board certified internists who have sub specialized in arthritic problems of the joints. So they are like “super” internists, not surgeons, and are experts on the best medications to take for arthritic problems. Physical therapists can also be helpful, but it’s best to find out what you’re treating first.
And if your knees hurt for any reason, see someone who specializes in structural analysis, because other specialists usually don’t evaluate or treat the abnormal structural components we all have, that can either cause or make your knee pain worse. And without fixing your “bent frame,” only part of the problem is being addressed.
Remember that none of us are built perfectly, and structural problems increase the wear and tear on our joints, in the same way that poor wheel alignment causes abnormal wear on our tires. For example, if you have a tendency to roll your foot in and flatten your arch (pronation), this will cause your knee to rotate inward, causing a great deal of stress on it. If you have a longer leg (and we all do to some extent), the stress on one of your knees is greatly increased.
Recent studies at the famed Mayo Clinic showed that even the smallest alignment problems can increase the stress on your knees significantly. As a matter of fact, structural problems are the major cause of arthritis in our weight bearing joints (feet, ankles, knees, hips and back). So by correcting these problems patients can often get significant relief.
A former reconstructive foot and ankle surgeon and past Clinical Instructor of Medicine at Emory, Dr. Pack practices at MCG in Greensboro. He specializes in biomechanical structural analysis and works with patients who have arthritis and wish to decrease joint symptoms and remain active. Dr. Pack also treats athletes at all levels. In the 2004 Olympics he had a silver and gold medalist. He also helps the UGA Golf Team (2005 NCCA National Champions). For further information please see www.drloupack.com, drloupack.blogspot.com or contact him directly at 706-454-0040.
Ask the Doc……..
“What kind of doctor should I see for the pain in my right knee?”
If you had a problem with an old, valuable piece of furniture you would do well to take it to an antique furniture refinisher and not someone inexperienced. But we often don’t treat ourselves that way; and insurance companies love that. They often mandate that you to go to your general practitioner to keep their costs down.
Now don’t get me wrong, we need general practitioners, and more of them! And seeing these wonderful physicians first is often best. But when indicated, you should see a specialist simply because they will know more about your problem since that’s all they do.
That said, be careful. Think of today’s specialist as someone who knows more and more about less and less. They are often brilliant in their very narrow scope of expertise, but often know little outside of that particular area. So choosing the right doctor is important or you may end up being one of the “wandering wounded,” going from doctor to doctor seeking relief.
If your knee pain is due to an injury or overuse, see a good orthopedic surgeon; if possible, one that just does knees. But remember, orthopedists are surgeons. So if your knee pain is due to arthritis, a far better choice might be a rheumatologist.
Rheumatologists are board certified internists who have sub specialized in arthritic problems of the joints. So they are like “super” internists, not surgeons, and are experts on the best medications to take for arthritic problems. Physical therapists can also be helpful, but it’s best to find out what you’re treating first.
And if your knees hurt for any reason, see someone who specializes in structural analysis, because other specialists usually don’t evaluate or treat the abnormal structural components we all have, that can either cause or make your knee pain worse. And without fixing your “bent frame,” only part of the problem is being addressed.
Remember that none of us are built perfectly, and structural problems increase the wear and tear on our joints, in the same way that poor wheel alignment causes abnormal wear on our tires. For example, if you have a tendency to roll your foot in and flatten your arch (pronation), this will cause your knee to rotate inward, causing a great deal of stress on it. If you have a longer leg (and we all do to some extent), the stress on one of your knees is greatly increased.
Recent studies at the famed Mayo Clinic showed that even the smallest alignment problems can increase the stress on your knees significantly. As a matter of fact, structural problems are the major cause of arthritis in our weight bearing joints (feet, ankles, knees, hips and back). So by correcting these problems patients can often get significant relief.
A former reconstructive foot and ankle surgeon and past Clinical Instructor of Medicine at Emory, Dr. Pack practices at MCG in Greensboro. He specializes in biomechanical structural analysis and works with patients who have arthritis and wish to decrease joint symptoms and remain active. Dr. Pack also treats athletes at all levels. In the 2004 Olympics he had a silver and gold medalist. He also helps the UGA Golf Team (2005 NCCA National Champions). For further information please see www.drloupack.com, drloupack.blogspot.com or contact him directly at 706-454-0040.
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