Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Aging and Tips to Prevent Hip Injuries


The following information was  written specifically for this blog by the DrugWatch website and I felt it would be helpful information that would interest many Baby Boomers as well as older senior citizens and their families. 

Guest Post on the Prevention of Hip Injuries from DrugWatch

Protecting hip health becomes more important with each passing year. As we age, both muscle and bone mass tend to decline. Muscle weakness in the hips can affect balance, leading to falls. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in three adults over 65 fall each year. Weak bones can make those falls much more dangerous, increasing the risk of hip fractures. Then, there is the daily wear-and-tear, slowly thinning the cartilage that cushions the hip joints, making them more vulnerable to injury and arthritis. Taking good care of your hips can help avoid these problems.

Daily Exercise is Essential to Hip Health

Inactivity speeds age-related bone loss, which can lead to osteoporosis, that brittle bone disease that is at the root of many fractures of the hips and spine in women over 55 and men over 70. Muscles deteriorate quickly without regular exercise, losing mass and strength, affecting balance, endurance and the stability of weight-bearing joints, like the hips and knees, increasing joint wear and the risk of sprains, strains and falls.

On the other hand, making a habit of being active for at least thirty minutes a day, five days a week can keep the muscles surrounding your hip joints strong and supple, maintaining solid support for smooth joint function, balance and stability. Bone-loss can be slowed substantially with regular exercise and even reversed to some extent, since putting a bit of stress on bones each day stimulates increased production of new bone cells to repair and strengthen them. Walking, stair climbing, swimming or dancing will all enhance hip health, so find an activity that you enjoy and get active.

Balanced Nutrition Keeps Bones and Muscles Strong

Poor nutrition is a major risk factor for osteoporosis and can contribute to weak muscles, poor balance, joint deterioration and a long list of diseases and conditions that affect overall health. A balanced diet that includes whole grains, low-fat dairy products, lean proteins and lots of fresh fruits and vegetables is the way to go, and if your appetite isn't what it used to be or you have dietary restrictions, a daily multivitamin with minerals can offer additional nutritional support.

What You Should Know About Hip Replacement

While you can reduce your odds of hip problems or injury, even the most dedicated efforts at protecting hip health can't eliminate risk altogether. Should joint deterioration or injury make surgery necessary for you, there are things you should know about hip replacement to minimize risks.

Hip replacement is generally a very safe procedure and has helped many reclaim their lives after disabling hip problems. However, these procedures have been a bit more troublesome than usual recently, due to issues with faulty hip replacement systems, several of which have been recalled.

Metal-on-metal hip implants have caused most of the trouble, with high rates of implant failures and complications, such as metallosis, a serious problem related to metallic implant debris. An inflammatory condition, metallosis can cause severe pain, tissue death and bone loss at and around the implant site, often leading to implant loosening or failure and revision surgery.

Elizabeth Carrollton uses her background in journalism to write for DrugWatch.com. She is dedicated to educating the public about medical safety and important decisions that can impact a person’s health and life. Much of her work includes editorials pertaining to hip replacements and alternatives to relieve pain, as well as complications and hip recall lawsuit information.
You will find other articles about maintaining good health and personal safety throughout this blog.  Use the tabs or pull-down menu at the top of this article to find links to hundreds of additional helpful articles.
You are reading from the blog http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com
This article and the accompanying picture are courtesy of www.DrugWatch.com 

4 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing this very helpful information!

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  2. A lot of reports today mentioning the mishap of metal-on-metal hip replacement. In fact, Stryker Hip Recall Blog is one of the places to get more information about it. So, you're right that strengthening the hip bones is essential to avoid the risk.

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  3. Great info! My mom broke both sides of her hip which confined her to a wheelchair in a nursing home. I take my calcium supplement every day.

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    Replies
    1. You are so smart to take your calcium and do everything you can to protect your hips and bones. I hope you are able to maintain your health for many years to come.

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