Visual Exploration: Cartilage Disorders
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Protect Your Joints
Arthritis can render your joints very painful, especially in your hands. You can protect your hands from further damage by avoiding pushing, pulling, or twisting movements. There are additional things you can do to avoid further joint damage, such as increasing the size of toothbrush handles with foam. This slide show from the Mayo Clinic will guide you through more tips.
Hand Exercises for Arthritis
Do you have arthritis pain in your hands? This slide show from the Mayo Clinic will guide you through exercises which can be done daily, or several times a day, that will help to alleviate the pain of arthritis. Performing these movements with your hands submerged in warm water may provide even more relief.
Basic Stretches Slide Show
Stretching is an essential part of exercise; learn the basics with this helpful slide show.
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Arthritis Quiz
How high is your arthritis intelligence? Put it to the test.
' Rooster Comb ' Shots FDA-approved
Q: What is this I hear about using some type of "rooster comb" to inject into the knee joints for arthritis?
A: Osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease) - also "wear and tear" arthritis - is common in the knees of the middle-aged and older, perhaps to millions of people worldwide. The normally smooth, shiny cartilage surfaces of the joint start to wear and there is a compromise of lubricating joint fluid. The process you are referring to is called viscosupplementation, and involves injecting hyaluronic acid to act as a joint lubricant. This is a natural-occurring substance found in normal joint fluid. The early form of the drug was actually manufactured from rooster combs - hence, the layman's term. Much of it now is synthetically manufactured.