Hatha Yoga – Steer Your Mind and Body to the Ultimate Fitness
When it comes to a yoga style of fitness, Hatha Yoga is one of the most commonly practiced forms. Regardless you are a sports person, a couch potato or a teen, this ancient yoga form helps you establish the right chord between mind and body. The more you search about Hatha yoga, the more you will learn about its fitness benefits.
History
As said by yoga gurus, Hatha yoga was introduced in the 15th century in India. In its early days, it was recognized as a yoga activity that prepares the body for long time meditation. Basically, it involves various physical postures, called ‘asanas’.
The Meaning of the Word ‘Hatha’
The word ‘Hatha’ indicates a duality between the sun (“ha”) and the moon (“tha”). As it combines these opposite stars together, it is sometimes known as ‘Yoking yoga’ too. Through various body postures (asanas) and pranayama, Hatha Yoga results in the ideal harmony of body and mind.
Concept
Hatha Yoga is structured on the concept of multiple ‘limbs’. While yoga styles like Ashtanga is practiced on eight limbs, Hatha Yoga is practiced on six limbs.
Derivative Yoga Styles
As one of the most ancient style of yoga, Hatha Yoga at times serves as a base to many other modern yoga styles. For instance, Ansura yoga uses Hatha yoga as the foundation of many of its activities or poses. Beginners are more likely to find the substrate of Hatha Yoga in their schedule.
One of the latest buzz in the yoga community, hot yoga is also structured on the traditional Hatha Yoga. In Hot Yoga, one needs to practice 26 poses of Hatha Yoga over a period of 90 minutes in a heated room. Also special Yoga poses have become very popular as post natal exercises in Zurich (“rückbildungsgymnastik in zürich” in German language).
Health Benefits
As said earlier, Hatha Yoga comprises of two elements – Asanas and Pranayama. Asians are various postures of the body that are developed to improve the fitness of the body and take out diseases like diabetes, arthritis and hypertension from subtle and normal bodies. The regular practice of asanas will help you obtain increased strength, stamina, endurance, flexibility and mobility in your body.
Pranayama mainly involves breathing techniques. It is also called meditation. This is the most important part of ancient Hatha Yoga, where one can gain complete control over its mind and breathe. It can make you feel good and relaxed. It also boosts your self-confidence and improves your concentration skills. Daily practicing pranayama will help you realize the source of energy within your body. Pranayama can also help one recover from the breathing disorders like asthma and bronchitis.
Is Practicing Hatha Yoga good for me?
From the complete physical fitness, toning of internal organs and development of the anti-stress mechanism to the spiritual wellness, Yoga is a great way to enrich your life. So, what are you waiting for? Find a good yoga studio in your city and choose the right style of yoga for you.
All You Need to Know About Knee Arthroscopy
Arthroscopy
Arthroscopy is a surgical procedure in which the structure of the knee joints is diagnosed and operated using a tube-shaped device, which is known as ‘arthroscope’. This surgical procedure became very popular in 1960 and it is practiced worldwide today. The surgery is performed by orthopedic doctors in an outpatient location. So, patients can immediately go home once the surgery is finished.
During the arthroscopic surgery, an arthroscopic instrument is inserted by making small cuts in the patient’s skin and then an examination is started by the surgeon. The arthroscopic is connected with a video camera, so the internal structure of the knee joints can be viewed on a large size television or monitor screen. Arthroscopic is available in a range of sizes, from as small as 0.5 mm to 5 mm. The arthroscopic device’s size is chosen based on the size of the knee joint.
If any procedure is done apart from joint examination using the arthroscope, it is known as arthroscopic surgery. If a surgery is done using arthroscopic technique instead of the traditional techniques, it causes small incision, less pain and quicker recovery.
When Arthroscopy Surgery is performed?
Arthroscopy is performed in the treatment of a number of inflammatory, non-inflammatory and contagious types of arthritis, and also in the diagnosis of joints after an accidental injury. It is also performed before total knee arthroplasty surgery. Arthroscopy can turn out to be a very useful surgery when the diagnosis by simply aspirating and analyzing the joint fluid isn’t giving essential information.
There are several common joint injuries such as cartilage tears, ligament strains and tears, and cartilage weakening beneath the kneecap for which Arthroscopy is performed. It is frequently used in the examination of the knee and shoulder joints, as well as to heal the wrist, ankles, and elbows. Slack tissues or foreign objects too can be removed using this surgical technique.
Pre-Surgery Preparation
The orthopedic surgeons first determine if the patient is a candidate for Arthroscopy or not. Fundamentally, it is a bloodless surgical procedure which has minimum complications. The patient should be capable of enduring the anesthetic which is given during the process. The patient should not be suffering from any lung and heart problems.
The issues like heart failure or emphysema should be addressed before undergoing Arthroscopy surgery. Patients who are taking blood thinners ought to take their medicines for the same before the surgery. Other medical complications such as high blood pressure and diabetes should be handled before and during the surgery.
Pre-operation steps include a physical check-up, blood test and urine analysis. Patients who have a track record of heart and lung problems are asked for electrocardiogram (EKG) and a chest X-ray, which is quite common in the case of all patients who are above 50 years of age. If any infection is found in the body, it may delay the Arthroscopy surgery.
How it is performed?
Anesthesia is given before surgery and then a tiny incision is made on the side of the joint under treatment. An arthroscope is slowly inserted through the small cut and, sometimes, another cut is made to place other instruments in order to get a perfect view of the inner structure of the joint. The additional instruments can also be operated to cut, sew or remove the damaged tissues. Once the surgery is completed, the arthroscope is taken out and the incisions are sewn expertly. A germfree bandage is placed over the cut and an ACE wrap may be positioned in the region of the joint.
Arthroscopic surgery recovery
Medicines are prescribed immediately after the surgery to control the pain, if required. However, if local anesthesia is given, there won’t be any pain experienced after the surgery. The incisions are tiny in size and bandaged after surgery. Don’t remove this bandage without a guideline of your surgeon or nurse. If you experience disabling joint pain, redness or swelling, you must contact your surgeon immediately. Follow an exercise schedule instructed by a physiotherapist recommended by your surgeon. This will help your muscles recover and regain their strength quickly. A rehabilitation program is a must in arthroscopic knee surgery recovery too.
The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only. It is not to be construed as medical care or medical advice and is not a replacement for medical care given by your physicians or trained medical personnel.
Valuable Strategies for Choosing an Orthopedic Center of Excellence
Are you planning to go for hip surgery? Or may be you want to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery recovery? Whatever your plans are, you need to choose a good orthopedic center of excellence. This is because only a good center can help you to solve your problems and allow you to cope up with the demands of daily life again. Here are some tips you can consider for picking out a renowned orthopedic center of excellence.
Pick Out a Center that Offers Expert Care
Your main purpose of visiting a medical center is to get rid of the complications that you are facing. For this reason, it is essential to choose a medical center that is associated with experienced doctors, surgeons, and medical professionals.
For the best results, make sure that all these people possess relevant degrees and experience. For avoiding any negative situation, hire a surgeon who possesses expertise in the particular surgery you are considering, whether it is hip replacement or arthroscopic knee surgery.
Check the Medical Facilities Offered
Ideally, a medical center should be well-equipped with world-class medical facilities and equipment. Also, the equipment should conform to the latest industry standards. Since you will be staying at the medical center for few days, make sure that the rooms are spacious and comfortable. Additionally, look at the hygiene factor. Make sure that the rooms (along with the washrooms) are clean and hygienic.
In general, choose a center that offers you excellent services, apart from paying individual attention.
Evaluate the Attitude of the Staff
Before going for any medical center, evaluating the attitude of the staff is critical. This way, you can ensure that you would have a positive experience at the center. More specifically, make sure that people associated with the orthopedic center of excellence are courteous, polite and willing to help.
Check Testimonials
To further ensure quality of the center, check testimonials that have been provided. Ideally, a medical center should incorporate some of the client testimonials in its website. Before opting for the center, read the testimonials carefully so that you get to know about past experiences of other patients.
When choosing a medical center, you need to invest sufficient time and energy. If you currently lead a busy lifestyle, you may feel tempted to avoid this step. However, consider the fact that avoiding such a step can lead to unwanted results. Therefore, invest time and pick out the perfect center carefully.
The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only. It is not to be construed as medical care or medical advice and is not a replacement for medical care given by your physicians or trained medical personnel.
Things to be Aware of with Shoulder Replacement Surgery
The glenohumeral joint, also known as shoulder joint, is the most portable joint in the human body. Total or partial joint replacement has become a more common treatment along with the total hip or knee replacement surgeries. The shoulder joint is a ball-and- socket joint that allows you to raise, twist and bend your arm. The bones in the joint are covered with a tough, lubricating tissue known as cartilage to provide a smooth, pain-free movement to the joint.
The primary aim of shoulder replacement surgery is to reduce pain, while the secondary benefit is restoring motion, function and strength. People suffering from arthritis may develop pain in their shoulders. A shoulder joint replacement surgery is the best solution to reduce the pain and improve the function of arthritic or a damaged shoulder. Below is the information that one should be aware of for shoulder replacement surgery.
Symptoms of shoulder arthritis:
– Partial motion of shoulder
– Swelling of the joint
– Pain during activities
– A feeling of pulverizing within the joint
– Rigidity of the shoulder
– Creaking noise
– Tenderness of the joint
– Weakness of the muscle
– Redness of the joint
If you and your family have decided to opt for a total shoulder replacement, then be sure to select the best orthopedic surgeons. During your visit to the hospital, your orthopedic surgeon will take you through the evaluation procedure to determine whether you would benefit from this surgery.
Evaluation consists of the following components:
– A medical history to gather information about your general health.
– A physical examination to access your shoulder motion, stability and strength.
– X-rays to determine the extent of shoulder damage
– Other tests, such as blood tests, MRI scan may be required.
As doctors confirm that you are a candidate for shoulder replacement surgery, they will explain how to get ready for the surgery.
Surgical Procedure:
– You may be provided a general anesthesia, a regional or a combination of the both.
– The surgery will take around 2 hours.
– After the operation, you will be shifted to the recovery room. Here, you will remain for several hours where your recovery from anesthesia will be monitored.
Generally after three months of surgery patients feel reasonably comfortable and are able to have motion about half-normal but with slight weakness. At around 6 months, most patients are pain-free and have motion and strength about two-thirds normal. At one year, approximately 95% of patients enjoy pain free function, which facilitates them to exercise the shoulder area sufficiently to promote restoration of strength. Thus the procedure is a highly valued alternative for a wide range of patients suffering from shoulder pain.
The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only. It is not to be construed as medical care or medical advice and is not a replacement for medical care given by your physicians or trained medical personnel.
What is Rotator Cuff Repair?
The rotator cuff is a group of ligaments that form a cover over the shoulder joint to support the pivoting motion of your arm at the shoulder. These muscles hold the arm in its ball and socket joint which helps the shoulder to rotate and move. The tendons get ragged due to overuse or injury. Rotator cuff repair is a type of surgery to repair worn-out tendons in the shoulder. Simply, rotator cuff surgery is the repair of inflammation or tears of the rotator cuff muscles in the shoulder.
There are four tendons in the rotator cuff which are individually attached to the following muscles: teres minor, subscapularis, infraspinatus and supraspinatus. There are three main rotator cuff repair techniques:
– Open repair
– Mini open repair
– Arthroscopic repair
If the rotator cuff tears fully, then it is impossible to let it repair naturally, and in that case surgery becomes necessary. The improvement after surgery is better than not having surgery since there will no power or movement in the shoulder otherwise. The improvement depends upon the post-surgery condition. The surgery for rotator cuff is performed as a last resort. If the tear is partial, then surgery may not be the right option. In such cases, the rotator cuff repair gets better with the help of physical therapy.
The surgical procedure can be done with a large incision or with shoulder arthroscopy which uses small button-hole sized incisions. Nowadays, the incisions have become smaller and a technique named mini-open rotator cuff repair in Naples has become more common. In this technique, an arthroscopy is performed on the shoulder. A small camera is used to look into the joint and visualize on a television monitor. Much of the work is carried out with the arthroscope and small instruments while the actual work is done through a small incision of about 3-4 centimeters.
Surgery to rotator cuff repair is very successful to relieve pain in the shoulder. If the tear is large, the rotator cuff repair may require a long recovery period. Recovery rate varies from 3-6 months depending upon the size of tear and other physiological factors. Physical therapy may help you regain motion and strength in your shoulder. Again, the length of therapy also depends upon the type of repair performed.
The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only. It is not to be construed as medical care or medical advice and is not a replacement for medical care given by your physicians or trained medical personnel
A Guide to Total Hip Replacement Recovery Exercises
A Guide to Total Hip Replacement Recovery Exercises
The rehabilitation process after hip replacement surgery occurs early in the post operative period. The recovery process is long and tedious, and lasts from three to six months. Early therapeutic exercises help you regain and improve strength around the operative hip. Every patient undergoing hip replacement surgery wants to know when they will be able to return to normal life. Recovery time is a common question posed to specialists and non-specialists alike.
Physical therapy is very important, and most of the exercises can be done at home. Therapy will also help you learn to walk on your new joint. You should consult your physical therapist as soon as possible after the hip replacement surgery to develop an individualized exercise program to help you recover faster.
A physical therapist may recommend you to exercise 20 to 30 minutes, 2 to 3 times a day for your early recovery. Some of the suggested exercises are listed below:
- Ankle Pumps: Gradually push your foot up and down. Repeat this every 5-10 minutes. This exercise can be started immediately after surgery and continue until you are fully recovered.
- Bed-Supported Knee Bends: Slide your heel toward your buttocks, bending your knee and keeping your heel on the bed. Repeat 10 times, 3 to 4 times a day.
- Straight Leg Raises: These help strengthen the hip joint. Laying on your back on a flat surface, bend the knee of the uninvolved leg to a 90-degree angle and keep your foot flat on the surface. Keep your involved leg straight without the knee bent. Slowly lift the involved leg six inches off the surface & hold for five seconds. Slowly lower your leg to the floor. Repeat this 10 more times.
- Standing Hip Abduction: Be sure that your hip, knee and foot are pointing straight forward, and keep your body straight. With your knee straight, lift your leg out to the slide. Slowly lower your leg so your foot is back on the floor. Repeat 10 times, 3 to 4 times a day.
- Abduction Exercise: Slide your leg out to the side as far as you can and then back. Repeat 10 times, 3 to 4 times a day.
- Walking and Early Activity: Soon after the surgery you will be able to walk short distances and perform light daily activities. This early activity started in the hospital will help your hip muscles regain strength and movement.
- Walking with a Walker, Cane or Crutch: A walker is often used for the first several weeks to help your balance and to avoid falls. You can use a cane or single crutch when you become capable enough to balance and stand properly without your walker.
There are more exercises for total hip replacement recovery including ankle rotations, buttock contractions, standing exercises, standing hip extensions and stair climbing and descending to help you increase your hip mobility.
Such regular exercises to restore your normal hip motion and a gradual return to daily activities are very important to your recovery & well being.
The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only. It is not to be construed as medical care or medical advice and is not a replacement for medical care given by your physicians or trained medical personnel.
Initial Things to know about Hip Osteoarthritis
What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease, is an inflammation of the joint that results from cartilage degeneration. It is due to both mechanical and biological processes. Simply, it occurs when inflammation and injury to a joint causes a break down in cartilage tissue. Such breakdown results in pain, swelling and deformity. Cartilage is the firm, whitish and flexible connective tissue of rubbery material which covers the ends of bones in normal joints.
What is Hip Osteoarthritis?
Hip osteoarthritis is a common type of osteoarthritis. With the hip being a weight bearing joint, osteoarthritis can cause significant problems. Hip osteoarthritis is caused due to deterioration (wear and tear) of articular cartilage of the hip joint. Osteoarthritis of the hip is a major contributor to pain, decreased physical function and decline in a healthy life. Patients having osteoarthritis of the hip may have walking problems. Diagnosis can be difficult at the first as pain can appear in different locations, including the groin, thigh or knee. Osteoarthritis hip treatment is directed by controlling the inflammatory response and maximizing the body’s ability to compensate for the damaged joint.
Causes of Hip Osteoarthritis
The risk factors that most people exhibit are listed below:
– Advanced age
– Heredity and congenital defects and disease
– Joint trauma or injury
– Gender
– Excessive weight
Symptoms of Hip Osteoarthritis
Patients having osteoarthritis of the hip joint experience pain localized to groin area and front or side of the knee. Morning stiffness is also one of the characteristics of hip osteoarthritis. The most common symptoms are hip pain and decreased range of motion. Other signs are:
– Chronic hip swelling
– Limping or Lurching
– Hip crunching
– Loss of hip joint function
– Inactivity makes these things worse
Hip joint osteoarthritis pain usually develops gradually and many sufferers try to ignore its signs until daily activities are affected. It progresses over months or years. Sudden hip pain occurs due to trauma or other conditions, not osteoarthritis.
Diagnosis of Osteoarthritis Hip Joint
A doctor must have a comprehensive approach to diagnose the cause of the disease as there is no specific lab test to identify the presence of hip osteoarthritis. The process for examining whether the hip pain is due to osteoarthritis or not is listed below:
– Patient Interview
– Physical Exam
– Testing
- X-rays
- MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
- Lab Tests
An accurate diagnosis and early treatment helps decrease pain and improve function for the arthritic patient. Depending upon the condition, the treatment varies.
The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only. It is not to be construed as medical care or medical advice and is not a replacement for medical care given by your physicians or trained medical personnel.
Unicompartmental Knee Replacement for Damaged Knee Joints
The human body is a machine that is very fragile and complicated. Even a minor disorder in any part of the body can lead to a major problem causing trouble in the physical functionality of the body. It is very important to stay healthy and take good care of our body in order to live happily. At the same time, one cannot stop the aging process, and with age certain problems do exist. Arthritis is one of them!
There may be two reasons of having joint pain, either severe injury or any disease. Arthritis is a disease that leads to immense joint pain which can be unbearable. To get rid of such severe pain and to restore function, one should consider knee replacement surgery. There are two types of knee replacements, unicompartmental (partial) knee replacement, and total knee replacement surgery.
Unicompartmental knee replacement is an option for those patients having osteoarthritis limited to just one part of the knee. Partial knee replacement only helps to cure the knee diseases at earlier stages. In this technique, only the damaged section is replaced with metal and plastic, thereby leaving the rest of the knee parts as is. Surgeons make an incision over the knee so that the damaged cartilage is visible to them. Then, the femur and tibia are cut flat, and the edges are cleaned properly. After this, a unicompartmental device is fitted into its exact place. This surgery lasts about one and a half hours.
Uni knee replacement surgery is also suitable for patients who have severe knee arthritis and no other treatment is an option. However, this surgery is not advisable for those patients who have arthritis that has spread to a wider area, such as beyond the inner and outer parts of the knee. Generally, patients above 55 years of age can go for Uni knee replacement surgery depending upon their physical strength.
It is said that partial or uni knee replacement surgery is more beneficial than total knee replacement. The reason behind this is that it involves a less invasive incision and faster recovery. Other reasons are:
– Hospitalization time is shorter
– Rehabilitation and return to normal activities is faster
– Less post-operative pain
– Less swelling
– Patients can go home within 1-3 days after the operation
After getting discharged from a hospital, the patient needs to undertake physical therapy and a rehabilitation program to recover quickly. The most important thing in a speedy recovery is positive thinking. This can make a great difference to the final outcome, while being positive may help you recover from the post-operative blues.
The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only. It is not to be construed as medical care or medical advice and is not a replacement for medical care given by your physicians or trained medical personnel.
Advances in Total Knee Replacement Surgery
These days, technology has been improved and most of the work is done with the help of the latest technology. The latest surgeries are also been performed with the help of the latest technology. The total knee replacement is one of those latest surgeries. It is also known as total knee arthroplasty. People often feel some problems in their knee joints and they find it very painful due to unknown reasons. They are unable to move effectively and it becomes difficult to move around due to the particular pain. Some doctors prefer to prescribe pain medicine while others prefer injections. If the problem persists then the knee replacement surgery may be the best option.
Total knee replacement surgery is a complete replacement of knee joint parts with artificial components. Most of the smaller parts in the knee joint, which are causing pain, can be changed with the artificial knee joint parts. They are made in such a way to fit according to the requirements of the individual’s knee. Total knee replacement is a very effective surgery and it can provide relief from the pain in knee joints that you experience. Total knee arthroplasty may be the best solution for you.
With advancements in technology come advances in knee replacement surgery. Minimally invasive surgery has revolutionized total knee replacement surgery as well as many fields of medicine. The main characteristic of this surgery is that it uses specialized techniques and instrumentation to enable the surgeon to perform major surgery without a large incision.
Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) knee joint replacement requires a much smaller incision, three to five inches, versus the standard approach and incision, which is typically eight to twelve inches. The smaller less invasive approach results in minimum tissue trauma by allowing the surgeon to work between the fibers of the quadriceps muscles instead of requiring an incision through the tendon. It may lead to less pain, decreased recovery time and better motion due to less scar tissue formation.
Currently, this less invasive procedure is performed only by a small percentage of orthopedic surgeons in North America. Improvements in surgical materials and techniques have greatly increased total knee surgery effectiveness.
The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only. It is not to be construed as medical care or medical advice and is not a replacement for medical care given by your physicians or trained medical personnel.
What is Total Shoulder Replacement Surgery?
Shoulder pain is an extremely common complaint, and there are many common causes associated with this problem. It is important to make an accurate diagnosis of the cause of your symptoms so that the appropriate shoulder pain treatment can be directed at the cause.
Arthritis is a condition that affects the cartilage of the joints. Shoulder arthritis causes the cartilage of the joint to wear thin and may expose open bone. As the cartilage lining wears away, the protective lining between the bones is lost. When this happens, painful bone-on-bone arthritis develops. Intense shoulder arthritis is very painful, and can result in the restriction of normal activities. With the use of some medications, this pain may be tolerated, but there may come a time when shoulder replacement surgery is necessary. Total shoulder replacement surgery is the best option for the treatment of severe arthritis of the shoulder joint.
Total shoulder replacement surgery relieves a patient from severe pain by replacing the damaged bone and cartilage with a plastic and metal implant. The shoulder joint is a ball-and-socket joint, much like the hip joint. The ball is the top of the arm bone and the socket is within the shoulder blade. This joint allows people an enormous range of motion at the shoulder.
When shoulder replacement surgery is performed, the ball is removed from the top of the humerus and replaced with a metal implant. This is shaped like a half-moon and attached to a stem inserted down the center of the arm bone. The socket portion of the joint is shaved clean and replaced with a plastic socket that is cemented into the scapula.
Just like any joint replacement the success of the surgery depends on many factors including the advanced state of the arthritic joint at the time of surgery, the overall health of the patient and most importantly the dedication to the physical therapy required after the surgery.
Patients who have tried the usual treatments for shoulder arthritis, but have not been able to find adequate relief, may consider undergoing shoulder replacement surgery. Patients generally find improved motion after surgery and there is consistent improvement as there is relief from pain.
Health Organization 