Dr. Brad’s Weekly Health Update: Is your knee in pain? Exercise may help (+ more daily health updates!)
Manage Knee Pain with Exercise
People who have knee pain are often tempted to rest instead of exercise; however, regular exercise can help strengthen the knees and ease pain. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons recommends: start exercising slowly and increase repetitions or weights as you get stronger; some discomfort is normal, pain isn’t, so stop if you feel pain; don’t push yourself so hard that you’re in pain the next day; and consult with a therapist or doctor about how often to exercise and the types of exercise you should perform. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, July 2017
Fruit and Veggie Intake Reduces Knee Pain
Among a group of 6,588 older adults, those who consumed the most daily servings of fruits and vegetables were 59% less likely to have severe knee pain than those who ate the fewest servings of produce each day. The research team concludes, “Our findings suggest that intake of whole fruits and vegetables may help improve knee pain in older adults.” Journal of Nutrition, Health, & Aging, July 2017
Balance Training Is Good for the Brain
In this study, forty healthy adults participated in a twelve-week balance training program. A comparison of pre- and post-training assessments indicates that balance training can result in improvements in both memory and spatial cognition. Science Reports, July 2017
As Weight Goes Up, so Does Risk of Heart Failure
Gaining a little weight can increase your chance of experiencing heart failure. Researchers followed more than 1,200 men and women in their 40s for seven years and found that those whose weight increased by as little as 5% during that time were more likely to have thickening of the left side of their heart—a well-established indicator of heart failure. Journal of the American Heart Association, July 2017
Sleep Apnea May Boost Risk for Alzheimer’s
The results of three new studies suggest that individuals with problems breathing during sleep may have an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. According to the studies, sleep problems accelerate the development of both amyloid plaque and tau proteins in the brain, both of which are associated with the progression of the neurodegenerative condition. Alzheimer’s Association, July 2017
Yours in health,
Dr. Brad Butler, DC
