FAQ Category: General

Albers-Schonberg disease, also known as osteopetrosis is a rare bone disease. It is inherited and can show up in early infancy or childhood. The most common problems are bone pain, bone fracture, and infection. Arthritis can become a problem later in life.

Osteopetrosis can be a serious condition with blindness and deafness occurring. This type of osteopetrosis requires a bone marrow transplant. Without the transplant, life expectancy can be cut short.

This disease has different forms with varying severities. You’ll want to find out what form your son has and seek proper medical care for him.

Jumping hurdles involves all parts of the body but especially the abdominal muscles and the legs. Hip flexion is a major movement needed to get over the hurdles. The hips, pelvis, and low back are all part of the lumbopelvic-hip complex called the core.

Before the legs can move the trunk muscles contract. This preparation stabilizes the spine so that the arms and legs can move. The deepest abdominal muscle is the first to be automatically activated. This is the transverse abdominis.

In split second timing the deep muscle of the spine (multifidus) contracts next. Working the core muscles (abdominal, hip, and back) strengthens the core so the spine is protected while the extremities move through space.

No one needs core training more than hurdlers. It not only helps them get over the hurdles, it also protects the spine and the legs from injury. Core training is better than P.F. Flyers: it helps you run faster and jump higher!

Many, many studies have been done to define the “core” and show how it can be impacted by exercise. We know for sure there are three key muscles involved. The core includes: the abdominal muscles (in particular the transverse abdominis), the deep muscles of the spine (multifidus), and the hip flexors (iliopsoas muscle).

Taking a step back and looking at the body as a whole, the core is made up of the lumbar spine, the pelvis, and the hip joints. This area is also called the lumbopelvic-hip complex. Any of the structures that cause or prevent motion in these areas is part of the “core.”

Core training makes it possible for the spine to keep or regain its normal position no matter what happens. Your core training makes it possible for you to do back bends and flips across the floor and still stand up straight at the end without injury.

You must be referring to rh-BMP-2. This is a bone graft material called INFUSE Bone Graft approved for human use by the FDA in July 2002. INFUSE can be used in place of grafted or donated human bone. Approved uses include spinal fusion at one level for the treatment of patients with degenerative disc disease.

Use of INFUSE for early stages of a spine problem called spondylolisthesis is also approved. Spondylolisthesis occurs when one bone in the spine slips forward over the bone below it. The bones are fused together to keep this from slipping further.

INFUSE must be combined with a structure to support the bones. Usually, this is a cage inserted between the two bones. The graft material is applied to a sponge and can’t resist the forces of movement. It can’t be used alone and is placed inside the cage.

Putting science and engineering together has never been a better choice than now. New ideas and advanced technology are taking us to new places.

The bioengineer has much to bring to medicine. For example, look at the intensive care unit (ICU). Patients would not get better after surgery or illness without medicine and technology together.

Likewise, new methods of imaging such as MRIs, CT scans, and PET scans have changed medicine for the better. Engineering is a major part of these machines. Tissue engineering is another area needing both areas of study. For example, doctors in Scotland used mechanical principles of soil (sand and clay) to improve the strength of bone graft.

This is only a small list of all the ways science and engineering are working together in today’s world.

There are too many differences between human and animal bone. Bone from animals is more brittle. When it’s ground up for use as graft material, the particle size isn’t the same as with human bone.

A strong bone graft must be able to resist shear forces. Compacted bone is needed to do this. Compacted bone is formed when bone particles of different size and shape shift into place and interlock more tightly.

The fat in animal bones is also different. Too much fat or fat that is too slippery weakens the bone graft. A new method of rinsing fat out of bone particles is being studied. Researchers in Scotland have shown that washing bone particles increases the graft strength.

The American Physical Therapy Association is the sponsor of Decade, an international program. The goal is to improve health-related quality of life for people with muscle and bone disorders.

You can find out more about this by going to www.apta.org. You can click on “Contact APTA” to ask more about this.

Another word for electromyogram (EMG) is electromyography. Both of these terms refer to a test of the electric activity in a muscle.

The electrical signals are measured using an electrode over the skin and recording the sound made when impulses fire. EMGs can also be done using needles inserted directly into the muscle.

Humans do have two types of muscle fibers: Type I and Type II. Most humans have about 50 percent of each kind.

Type I muscle fibers are also called slow twitch fibers. Slow twitch fibers are able to resist fatigue and work during activities that last a long time. Type I muscles are needed for endurance activities, meaning they require a big blood supply. As a result, these muscles actually look red. Type I muscles are like the dark meat on chickens.

Type II are fast twitch fibers. People who have great success in tasks that need power and high-intensity speed use Type II muscles. Type II muscles can be compared to the white meat in chickens. Having both fiber types allows the body to complete a variety of physical tasks.

There aren’t many studies to answer this question. One study from Yale University School of Medicine looked at trunk muscle patterns in normal, healthy adults compared with patients who have back pain. Health status was included as one variable. Throughout the study, there was no evidence that health status affected how the back muscles contracted.

It does make sense that a body with flu-like symptoms may be at increased risk for injury. The immune system and the nervous system are both affected by this type of illness. Aching joints and muscles may not respond to sudden movements normally. An increased risk of injury seems possible, but unproven.

A certain amount of muscle activity is required for any posture, even standing still. It is true that in a relaxed upright stance, most of the muscles are at their quietist. This has been measured by electromyographic (EMG) studies.

True stability comes from the contraction of opposing muscles. This is called cocontraction. In the upright position, muscles on both sides of the joints are working together to hold the posture steady.

Quite the opposite is true for patients with musculoskeletal problems. For example, when the normal adult is walking, the trunk muscles are silent. However, in the patient with back pain, the muscles on both sides of the trunk work together to support the body against gravity during this activity.

EMG (electromyographic) studies show that when a steady posture is needed, cocontraction of muscles on both sides of the joints takes place. When injury happens, changes occur in the way muscles contract. In the case of back pain, cocontraction may increase to increase spinal stability.

Dehydration is a loss of body fluid. The person may or may not have symptoms at first. If the dehydration gets worse, there may be dizziness, weakness, or confusion. The affected person may complain of being flushed or too warm.

A sudden drop in blood pressure is also related to dehydration. This is called orthostatic hypotension. It occurs most often when the person is changing positions. For example, moving from sitting to standing may cause sudden dizziness and even fainting. Hypotension is a common cause of falls in the older adult.

If your father experiences any of these symptoms, contact the doctor for advice. Sometimes, the dosage of the new medication is changed, or a new medication is tried.

Keeping a good balance of fluids and electrolytes is a challenge for the aging human body. There are many factors that make this a problem. Besides a natural decrease in thirst as we age, anyone with difficulty swallowing will take in fewer liquids.

Poor dental health or poorly fitting dentures make it hard to chew properly. The adult who has had a stroke may have even more problems with chewing and swallowing. A loss of taste and smell can result in reduced thirst and appetite.

Even simple things can lead to dehydration. For example, a water softener with salt can be part of the picture. Acute illness with fever, diarrhea, and vomiting can lead to fluid loss. This is even more of a problem for the adult already taking drugs for heart disease, Parkinson’s, or cancer.

As we age, urinary incontinence or dribbling of urine can become a problem. The natural response is to quit drinking fluids. This not only irritates the bladder making the incontinence worse, it adds to the chances of getting dehydrated.

A healthy lifestyle of good nutrition, getting plenty of fluids, rest, and exercise go a long way toward preventing dehydration.

Ankylosing spondylitis is an inherited form of arthritis that affects men and women between the ages of 17 and 35. It is more common than multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis, and Lou Gehrig’s disease combined.

There are three very good sites with information of different kinds. These include the Spondylitis Association of America (www.spondylitis.org), the Ankylosing Spondylitis International Foundation (ASIF) [www.asif.rheumanet.org], and www.allaboutbackandneckpain.com.

The new federal guideline for patient privacy is called the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. HIPAA gives patients a chance to read their own medical record. This is to protect the patient’s privacy and makes sure the record is correct.

A closed reduction refers to treatment for a joint dislocation. Closed means no incision was made to open the body. This procedure is done with the patient asleep (under anesthesia). When the muscles are relaxed, the doctor can slip the joint back into place easily.

If you’ve never dislocated a joint such as the hip, shoulder, or elbow, and you’ve never seen a doctor for such a problem, you should contact the clinic or hospital and discuss this. It may be a simple case of mistaken identity.

Make sure your doctor knows about this. He or she will arrange for the best alternative choice. Aspirin is used to prevent blood clots by reducing the number of platelets circulating in the blood. The platelets help the blood form clots.

This treatment is called anticoagulation therapy. There are other drugs that have the same effect. For example, enoxaparin, also known as low-molecular-weight heparin is one. Warfarin is another.

Aspirin has the best results after knee surgery because it also reduces pain and swelling and makes it easier to move the leg. Rehab under the guidance of a physical therapist can do the same thing when a patient must take a different form of anticoagulant that doesn’t have these effects.

Studies show that physical inactivity is linked to insomnia. Researchers think a lack of exercise prevents the normal ups and downs of body temperature. Regular exercise makes the body temperature rise and then fall (during cool down).

Decreased body temperature brings on sleep and helps put us into a deep sleep. New studies are trying to find the best time to exercise. There may be some gender differences. Women seem to do best with early morning exercise. Men respond better to exercise in the late afternoon or early evening.

Either way, the key to better sleep is regular exercise.

There are many possible reasons for sleep disturbance. Aging seems to be one big factor, but researchers don’t know what causes changes in sleep patterns. It may be an outward sign of changes in brain function.

Sometimes, outside factors affect our sleep habits. A partner who snores, the need to go to the bathroom, and many kinds of medications can cause a disruption in sleep. Drinking alcohol before bedtime is a common cause of sleep disorder.

There are other medical problems that can cause sleep problems. Some are more serious than others. A medical doctor can help you look for a cause and the best treatment.

Rhabdomyolysis is damage to the muscles from overuse and heatstroke. Repetitive exercises such as sit-ups, push-ups, squats, and weight lifting can lead to rhabdomyolysis.

With sudden, intense exercise, the muscles can start to break down. The contents of the muscle cell are released into the blood and travel to the kidneys. The kidneys try to filter these cells and get plugged up. Serious problems can occur without treatment.

Dysplasia means “abnormal development” and diastrophic describes bent or curved bones. The result can be deformities that affect the spine, hips, knees, feet, and hands.

This condition is inherited as an autosomal recessive pattern. Your chance of having a child with this condition depends on whether you and your husband are carriers of the trait. Genetic counseling can help answer this question. If you are already pregnant, ultrasound and molecular genetic testing can be done before birth.