Arthritis

Stress fractures happen to athletes at the worst of times. Usually, it is just when they’re increasing training, starting a new sport, or landing awkwardly from a jump. The bones of the feet and the shins are most at risk, but occasionally the hip or spine is injured. The knee is also exposed to such fractures, mostly during ligament ruptures and after meniscus removals. Here is the current thinking on what to do.

The first known experiment using the CRISPR gene editing technique with live human embryos was conducted in China in November 2018. The joy of seeing babies born with potential immunity to the HIV/AIDS virus was, unfortunately, dulled by a chorus of critics. What was not said is that the potential for good is unlimited and that the first real success will launch a thousand ships carrying weapons capable of killing off the diseases of old.

I used to find a lot of time in every second. Rapid thinking, multi-tasking, and impatience all supposedly led to productivity. And stress. Now I go slow to go fast—and I am trying to go slower.

It is a heady time in the world of human empowerment. We are seeing technologies that can alter our genetic code, augment our brainpower, enhance our physique, and extend our lives.

Stem cell therapies are sprouting like weeds. This is a good thing. The medical community is rushing into the biologic sciences, opening up the field of stimulating tissues to heal—rather than suppressing them with steroids, anti-inflammatories, or joint replacement surgeries. Here is my take on where the field is now and where it is going.

Joint health and flexibility affect not only our mobility, but our quality of life.

Curvature of the leg bones don’t always need dramatic surgical operations. Replacing and repairing the missing shock absorbers makes more sense.

Hard to reach, the Posterior Cruciate Ligament was often ignored or left ruptured after injury. New techniques now permit effective reconstruction.

Live long and let your joints prosper. Well-managed exercise—even running—can have real benefits for those with arthritic knee pain or joint replacement.

Standardized care is not always the best care. What we really need is an agile medical system that values innovation.

Our ability to read the human genome quickly and cheaply is about to transform modern orthopedic surgery. Get ready for customized treatments.

Gone are the days when knee replacement surgery was almost as bad as the arthritis itself. The past year has brought vastly improved procedures, creating bionic patients in an outpatient surgery setting.

Bicycling is a terrific activity on many levels—but it’s not the perfect exercise. An obsessive focus on biking, in fact, can work against total fitness.

ACL injuries are more devastating to the knee then previously thought—and the tools for replacing the ACL produce their own problems. But there is hope. Here is an update from the leading ACL surgeons’ conference, just held in Sweden.

For Runners, a tragic side-effect of knee arthritis or injury is sometimes the end of their running career. But take heart—there are some very good alternatives.