If you want to get your knees stronger, with or without upcoming surgery, these are the exercises to do!
Strengthening your knees can make your movement much easier and help if you have painful knees
Training balance is a great way to achieve your health and fitness goals, to prevent falls and keep you getting the most out of life. In this article you'll LEARN what is necessary to improve your balance (PART 1), How to test your balance in your own home (PART 2) and everything you need to improve your balance (PART 3) all in the comfort of your home.
Healthy lungs are essential for optimal functioning through all stages of life, but, just like all areas of the body, our lungs are not immune to changes as we get older.
However, when we get a better understanding of our lungs and our respiratory system and what can happen through the years, we can take charge of our health and do what’s necessary to improve the health of our lungs.
There are many things that you can be doing right now to improve your lung health.
So today, we will do exactly that! We are going to go through everything you need to improve the health of your lungs!
Peripheral neuropathy is a condition that affects and damages the nerves of the peripheral nervous system, causing them to malfunction.
Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy may range from mild to severe, depending on the type of the affected nerves, as well as the gravity of the damage.
Sometimes, the symptoms occur suddenly, but in most cases, the symptoms develop gradually over a longer period.
Disorders of the pelvic floor, for both women and men, can range from pain, to more embarrassing issues such as inability to control the bladder and/or the bowel (known as incontinence).
Pelvic floor problems do become more common with ageing, however, just like many other problems (such as loss of balance, loss of strength, or falls) pelvic floor issues are also NOT a normal part of ageing.
There are many simple things that can be done to avoid any issues and keep your pelvic floor functioning at its best.
High blood pressure (aka hypertension) is highly prevalent in today’s society.
According to the WHO, it is estimated 1.13 billion people worldwide are affected by this condition. More specifically, during 2015 – 2016, the prevalence of hypertension was 29%, with this number increasing to 63.1% in those 60 and over.
Fortunately, this condition CAN be successfully treated and also prevented.
In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about blood pressure and what you can do about it, including - what blood pressure is and the dangers and risk factors associated with it.
We will also look at some simple ways to check your blood pressure (and how to), we’ll cover the medical treatments available and go into depth on the natural ways to not only help bring your blood pressure down to healthy levels but will also help improve your overall health!
So you’re booked in for an upcoming knee replacement surgery.
You most probably have been given a list of exercises to do before this surgery (and other pre-operative instructions) by your surgeon. This will ensure your legs are strong as possible before your surgery, which will help with the recovery.
As a Physiotherapist who has helped many people in your exact situation, I want to help you by going through the exercises in a video so you can follow along to them.
Before we get into this, however, let’s go through a few other things you can do to allow for better recovery following surgery.
MENTAL PREPARATION
Undergoing any kind of surgery can be daunting, but it's important to remember that knee replacement surgery is very common and typically has a successful outcome. Still, it's normal to feel some anxiety about the procedure. Here are a few tips to help you mentally prepare for your surgery:
Talk to your surgeon: If you have any questions or concerns about the surgery, be sure to voice them to your surgeon ahead of time. This will help put your mind at ease and ensure that you understand everything that will happen during the procedure.
Educate yourself: Learning as much as you can about knee replacement surgery will also help reduce your anxiety. Talk to your surgeon, read books or articles, and watch videos about the surgery so that you know what to expect.
Find a support system: Whether it's friends, family, or a support group for people who are undergoing knee surgery, having a supportive network will help you feel more comfortable going into the procedure.
You will find many people who have undergone this surgery in the MORE LIFE HEALTH SUPPORT GROUP - which you can join HERE
PHYSICAL PREPARATION
In addition to preparing mentally for your surgery, it's also important to take some steps to prepare physically. This will help ensure a smooth recovery and decrease your risk of complications. Here are some things you can do:
Lose weight: Carrying extra weight puts more strain on your knees. Not only will losing weight help with the pain prior to surgery, it will also allow for a smoother recovery. Speak to your doctor about weight loss techniques.
Quit smoking: If you smoke, it's important to quit at least six weeks before your surgery. Smoking can delay healing and increase the risk of complications. Speak to your doctor about weight loss techniques.
Get healthier - Start introducing healthier habits into your life - eating a healthier diet, getting optimal sleep and reducing stress are some great ways to improve your health.
Exercise: Strong muscles help support your joints, so it's important to exercise regularly prior to your surgery. This will help you stay strong and improve your overall health. We will cover exercise in the next section.
Get your home ready: Before your surgery, you'll need to make some changes to your home to accommodate your recovery. This may include: making sure you have someone to help, setting up a comfortable place to sleep, removing any rugs or other trip hazards, and stocking up on easy-to-prepare meals.
Knee replacement surgery is a major procedure, but if you take the time to prepare both mentally and physically, you can help ensure a successful outcome. Talk to your surgeon about any questions or concerns you have, and be sure to follow their instructions for a safe and smooth recovery.
I also cover more on what you can do (plus exercises), in the video below.
This Article is the second article of the Pain Series which leads on from Part 1: Pain is More Than Meets The Eye
In this article (Part 2) we'll uncover more about pain, why medical imaging findings (Eg osteoarthritis) are not the cause of chronic pain and I’ll then explain why we actually get pain in certain areas of our body.
With stronger legs comes many benefits; we move well and effortlessly, we can decrease or prevent pain in our knees and our hips and we can help prevent falls.
In this article, we will cover why it's possible to increase leg strength regardless of age, how all of us should be moving to keep our knees healthy and how you can strengthen your legs to keep yourself moving as you should and by doing this decreasing or preventing knee pain!