Many times people ignore proper preventive action steps until the
need for hip, knee, and shoulder replacement surgery arises because the joint
in question cannot be used without causing substantial pain. It is always
optimum to keep the body in its best alignment to reduce premature wear and
tear.
For most of us, lifestyle choices could be implemented long
before such a critical stage is reached. Certain courses of action can help us
improve joint mobility and overall musculoskeletal function. Regular vigorous
exercise, for example, consistently challenges joints and muscles, helping
improve range of motion and tolerance for daily mechanical stress.
Regular chiropractic care is an important part of such lifestyle
choices. By helping reduce nerve interference, regular chiropractic care
enables your body's master system to function at peak efficiency. The result is
enhanced musculoskeletal performance and increased levels of overall health and
well-being.
If you've ever been involved in a motor vehicle collision, you're
probably familiar with the term "replacement parts" or "crash
parts". Your auto insurance company will usually offer to repair your car
using after-market bumpers, door panels, wheel assemblies, and other parts. Or,
you may prefer to have the repair done with parts from the original
manufacturer. Regardless of the source of the parts, your car will not be the
same as it was in its original condition. It's important to bear the auto
analogy in mind if a surgeon has recommended a hip, knee, or shoulder
replacement as a solution to a problem of chronic pain.
The frequency of joint replacement procedures of all types is
dramatically on the rise within the last 20 years.For example, in the United
States there has been a 58% increase in total knee replacements from 2000 to
2006. There has been a 50% increase in total hip replacements from 1990 to
2002. Unfortunately, the revision rate (repeat procedures) for total knee
replacement more than doubled and revision total hip replacements increased by
60% within the respective, above-noted intervals.
The simple fact is that although your body may appear to be a
machine, it is rather an exceedingly complex entity whose whole is much greater
than the sum of its parts. Thinking of your body as a machine may be a useful
metaphor, one that may aid considerably in medical practice. But the metaphor
is not the reality, and forgetting this crucial distinction may lead to
substantial and possibly irremediable problems for a patient. Manufactured
joints are never as good as your actual physiological structures, no matter the
quality of the replacement components.
Of course, there are many circumstances in which joint
replacement is indicated and provides great benefit for a patient. However,
such procedures should probably be a last resort and never considered standard
of care. A best practice would be to reserve joint replacement for situations
in which pain is unrelenting and the person has failed several forms of
conservative care.
Optimally, in most cases measures are available to avoid such
radical outcomes. The best steps for each of us to take is to have regular
spinal alignment checkups and begin
a ongoing program of regular vigorous exercise
Maintaining a healthy nervous system, regular exercise, a healthy
diet, and sufficient rest will assist all our physiologic systems to achieve
peak levels of performance. By making such beneficial wellness lifestyle
choices, we help diminish the likelihood of chronic, debilitating pain and loss
of function. As a result, we help ourselves avoid the need for replacement
parts.
References:
1.
Singh, JA:
Epidemiology of Knee and Hip Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review. The Open
Orthopaedics Journal 5:80-85, 2011
2.
Marley J, et al: A
systematic review of interventions aimed at increasing physical activity in
adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain--protocol. Syst Rev 2014 Sep
19;3(1):106. [Epub ahead of print]
3.
Tanaka R, et al:
Effect of the Frequency and Duration of Land-based Therapeutic Exercise on Pain
Relief for People with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and
Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. J Phys Ther Sci 2014
Jul;26(7):969-75. doi: 10.1589/jpts.26.969. Epub 2014 Jul 30
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