Sedentary Lifestyle A Problem For 2 In 5 Adults With Rheumatoid Arthritis
A new study, funded by a grant from the National Institute for Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), found that two in five adults (42%) with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were inactive. Taking measures to motivate RA patients to increase their physical activity will improve public health according to the findings now available in Arthritis Care & Research, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). The ACR estimates nearly 1.
Knee Replacements Soar Among The Under-60s, Finland
A new study published online on 17 January in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism reports that rates of knee replacement surgery in Finland's 30 to 59-year-olds soared between 1980 and 2006, with women being the more common recipients throughout. Lead author Dr. Jarkko Leskinen, an orthopedic surgeon at Helsinki University Central Hospital, and colleagues also report that the greatest increase was among those aged between 50 and 59. Knee replacement surgery is the common term for partial and total knee arthroplasty, an operation where part or all of the diseased or damaged surfaces of the knee joint are replaced with metal and plastic parts shaped to allow the patient to move the knee normally.
Differences Discovered In Foot And Ankle Structure Between Sprinters And Non-Sprinters
The skeletal structure of the foot and ankle differs significantly between human sprinters and non-sprinters, according to Penn State researchers. Their findings not only help explain why some people are faster runners than others, but also may be useful in helping people who have difficulty walking, such as older adults and children with cerebral palsy. According to Stephen Piazza, associate professor of kinesiology, the research is the first to use magnetic resonance imaging to demonstrate that sprinters have significantly longer bones in their forefeet than non-sprinters and reduced leverage in their Achilles tendons than non-sprinters.