What's So Hot About Hot Yoga Part 2: 8 Unique Benefits

Warm Words from Cool Students

You run, bike, kayak, rock climb, work out, and you age (if you're lucky)...and man, are your muscles tight. Get ready; hot yoga is going to make you flexible again, no matter how tight you are or how much you've neglected or abused your aching body.

As a practitioner and teacher, I have seen firsthand the changes in the minds and bodies of people who before had simply accepted their limitations Physical obstacles of all kinds just seem to be melted into submission by the 105-degree heat and 40 humidity.

People report relief from sore backs, tight shoulders, bad knees, bad moods, extra pounds,jangled nerves, just about every ailment is affected in some way. Appreciative students gush over their newfound health and energy levels.

From my 12+ years of personal experience, and from the experiences shared with me over the years by hundreds of my students, I offer these 8 top reasons to look into it for yourself.

1. Wake Up Your Body and Appreciate the Soreness

After their first class, new students can almost expect to feel sore - in yoga we say this is your body waking up. The more classes you attend, the more you improve...and the more that soreness subsides, For some, energy levels soar after just one class and that keeps students curious enough to come back again. For this reason, many studios offer the second class free....so you have an incentive to come back and see if what you felt was repeatable,

2. Acclimate to Extreme Weather

People who really hate the heat, hate to sweat and can't stand summer, still seem to love the extreme heat of the hot yoga room. Often, they acclimate to the heat inside the yoga room and suddenly find that they are able to withstand the heat outside...even those hot, sweat subway commutes become more manageable.

3. Run Faster and More Easily

Runners are a particular group who see immediate benefits. Many say nothing compares to their runner's high...except hot yoga. One avid marathon runner had just run the Chicago Marathon and then a week later had corrective bladder surgery, and was told she could not run for 4 weeks. Hot yoga filled that gap and " truly saved my sanity," she noted.

No matter how much they warm up, runners can be inflexible and often get sidelined with injuries. Warming and loosening those tight hamstrings not only can prevents runners' injuries, but makes running more efficient and overall more enjoyable.

4. Lose The Weight and Change Your Shape

People who lose a lot of weight - perhaps 20- pound or more - know that it's not just about losing body fat; what you really want is to reshape your body so clothes fit better. Hot yoga is filled with poses specifically designed to whittle away a waistline, shape thighs and calves, and create shapely arms. Students who come convinced it will be their first and last class are often the ones who get hooked upon seelng a change in the way their jeans fit after just one hot yoga session.

5. Rediscover Your Youth

It's never too late and you're never too old to have a new body and a new lease on life.

Many people aged 60 and 70-plus start hot yoga not knowing what to expect. Many have conditions of older age including a history of surgeries from knee replacement to rotator cuff surgery to hip replacement to digestive surgeries, Oftentimes they are on medications for high blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid conditions, acid reflux. Three months, three times a week and many report improvements in all their conditions. Some even report that they are transformed into who they used to be, and how they used to feel when they were younger. And their friends and family are quick to notice.

6. The Hot Yoga Cure?

There is some anecdotal evidence as to the healing potential of hot yoga, even for illnesses that remain a mystery to modern medicine.

One mother of four young daughters, a professional business owner and community volunteer.who leads a very active and somewhat hectic life, was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain and tenderness; even a hug proved painful. This student reported that hot yoga was the only thing that successfully controlled her pain and allowed her to function in her daily life.

Another hot yoga student who actively struggled with an eating disorder, who had been hospitalized and had seen every kind of specialist and counselor with little results, noted that her regular hot yoga practice somehow managed to keep at bay those surges of pain and anxiety which had resulted in her eating disorder and ruled her life for so many years.

How does this happen exactly? That part remains unclear; but the thousands of students who live with chronic conditions and function normally because of hot yoga, wouldn't be without their regular practice.

7. Easing the stress

Who isn't experiencing some sort of stress at work...or at the unemployment line? From interns to senior corporate executives, people everywhere need to find stress relief, both physically and mentally. Entire office staffs are starting to do hot yoga together, three times a week, as a consistent practice. Employers take note: many practitioners report increased focus and productivity; better teamwork; faster business results; and less job burnout.

8. Workaholic Attitudes Transformed

Workaholic attitudes threaten partnerships, families, and marriages. Channeling that energy into the challenge of hot yoga provides a common ground for a very special shared activity, where both partners- even complete family members of all ages - experience their own personal benefits and yet share a special common ground. The challenging sequence seems to suit the workaholic personality beautifully, turning the focus inward towards personal discovery.

Some results and experiences students have shared with me over the years are nothing short of remarkable. From 'Aha!" transformations to subtle changes that come on so quietly they are hardly noticed until the change is complete, just about everyone feels something in hot yoga. Love it or hate it, you can;t ignore it.

Welcome to the multitude of benefits of hot yoga. After your first class, you'll feel the changes in your body...after your 100th class, you'll feel the changes in your life.

Preoperative Exercise Classes Prior To Joint Replacement

In preparing for either a knee, hip, or shoulder replacement surgery, You more than likely have been scheduled by the hospital that you and your orthopedic surgeon have decided to use for a preoperative exercise class. Today more than ever orthopedic surgeons, hospital staff and rehabilitation professionals understand the importance of having you as a patient better educated on the surgical procedure itself along with, how the hospital operates in the orthopedic wing and, what you can expect after surgery.

In the preoperative classes they will be held generally by both the orthopedic charge nurse and a physical therapist. By having both of them present you get a detailed introduction to what you can expect to receive from both disciplines during your hospital stay.

These classes allow you as the patient to discuss and ask questions about topics such as you probable length of stay, how your pain medication will be disbursed, and how the rehabilitation will be conducted and how often. You also should be given a small tour of the orthopedic wing along with an introduction to the rehabilitation department.

Topics such as what you can expect after surgery will be important. For instance in today's world of orthopedic surgery you can expect to be out of bed no later than the following morning after joint replacement if not sooner. This will be of course will be dictated by the surgeons operating schedule. I can not tell you how many times I would go into see a patient after joint replacement surgery only to have them in complete shock that someone like myself would expect them to get out of bed the following day.

Your exercise program will be discussed and the frequency you can expect your physical therapy during your stay in the hospital will be covered. Generally for the most part you can expect rehabilitation twice a day.The physical therapist that is assisting in holding the classes will also discuss and give you a physical demonstration of the exercises you can expect your first couple of days in the hospital. These will consist of basic isometric exercises along with gentle range of motion for the knee, hip, or shoulder.

You will be instructed on the use of how you will be using a walker after surgery though many will find they will need a refresher course the day they start rehabilitation as there are several safety precautions that will have to be demonstrated as well.

The importance of scheduling an attending one of these preoperative classes cannot be underestimated. Becoming better informed allows you to become more proactive in both your rehabilitation after surgery and your overall recovery.

Lower Back Pain Relief - Are Shoes Important?

Proper footwear is a very important consideration when it comes to back pain relief. Not wearing the proper footwear can be a major contributing factor to ongoing lower back pain. If the correct footwear is being worn, it can help decrease pain by properly aligning the foot when it hits the ground and during takeoff. If the foot is aligned correctly when it hits the ground, the forces and weight are evenly distributed throughout the foot, ankle, knee and hip.

When the foot maintains the proper position, it enables the lower leg to perform its duties with increased efficiency. If the foot is not in the correct position, the joints above that area have to compensate for the decreased stability and poor positioning of the foot.

The following are a few descriptions of the most common walking positions and placement scenarios.

Supination - If a person tends to wear out the outside heal of their shoe, they walk in a manner that is referred to as supination. Supination forces the weight to be unevenly distributed along the arch of the foot and it can be a major cause of lower back pain. This is the most common type walking habit that leads to lower back pain.

When a person supinates their foot during the landing phase of walking, their weight is kept on the outside of the foot. This prohibits the weight to be naturally transferred through the longitudinal arch.

Without the use of the arch, the ability of the foot to spring to the next step is decreased and the joints above have to increase force to move the leg forward. While in this position the leg is now forced to swing forward with a circular motion versus a push off motion with the arch and big toes.

This "swing forward" motion causes the back to upwardly elevate the hips in order to clear the toes. In addition, repeated swinging of the leg causes the gluts to tighten and creates additional tension on the lower back. When this happens it causes the spinal system to be less efficient and more vulnerable to muscle imbalance and pain.

Pronation - another common walking style is called pronation. If a person tends to pronate, the inside part of their heel is worn out. This result is walking "knock-kneed". In addition, pronation causes a lack of stability in the knee area and makes a person shorten their stride and have less balance.

When the knees become too painful because of the poor landing position of the foot, the person will stop pushing their foot through the walk cycle and begin to swing the leg like in the last example.

This usually causes more knee and hip problems first, followed by lower back pain. The end result is increased lower back pain.

These problems can easily be adjusted by choosing the proper foot wear. Changing your shoes upon the sign of a wear pattern and working on good walking mechanics can make a real difference. Once you know how your foot tends to land, you can purchase shoes to help reduce your bad habits.

In another article, we will discuss additional important factors to consider while walking. Maintenance and strength of muscles involved in walking, flexibility and how to prevent compensatory patterns which in turn reduce lower back pain.

Using Social Security to Benefit You After Knee Surgery

Having to go through knee replacement surgery is hard enough without worrying about the expenses that you will incur and whether you'll receive any benefits from Social Security. Before you have your surgery you will need to find out whether benefits could be available. Not all states consider knee replacement surgery a disability so getting the proper information is critical beforehand. You could be a candidate for Social Security benefits to help defray the cost of the surgery as well. Learn what kind of application process is involved towards receiving benefits.

If after six months you are still unable to be mobile you could qualify for Social Security benefits for being disabled. If you have a history of knee arthritis you could receive Social Security benefits as well. You will need to consult with a lawyer specializing in disabilities to see if you can qualify and apply for these benefits. A skilled lawyer will know what you are going through and how to get the benefits you deserve, especially if you have been denied in the past. Remember, claims made by people with attorneys have an increased chance of getting the benefits they need over people who are unrepresented. A lawyer can help you file the correct papers with the proper authorities.

With arthritis, the loss of the range of motion will dictate if you may qualify for certain benefits. You may even qualify for knee arthritis surgery. The National Institutes of Health have determined that paying out for surgery could be less than the expected payout of disability benefits over the expected lifetime of the patient. Having surgery can improve the life of an individual 85% - 90% so that paying out disability benefits would not have to be an issue. Again, hiring a lawyer specializing in disability and Social Security insurance could be a great benefit to you if he finds that you are eligible. After possibly years of living with painful knees and the inability to walk, you should not have to worry about whether you will be financially compensated. Give yourself some piece of mind.

If you have become disabled due to arthritis, knee surgery or a lack of mobility, you may have a right to disability insurance from the Social Security Association. Do not let a lack of information hold you back from getting the benefits you deserve, find out all that you can about how to make your quality of life better and how to be financially secured when the need for knee replacement surgery becomes a reality. You are not alone with your suffering. Learn more at knee-replacement-video.com.

Learning the Chip Shot

One vitally overlooked part of the game of golf is the chip shot. Very few people spend any time learning how to play the chip shot and even fewer actually practice it. Strangely enough for the vast majority of golfers it is one of the most often played shots after putting. You see the average club golfer is unlikely to hit even 50% of greens in regulation and must therefore rely on his short (chipping) game to get the ball on to the green and close to the hole.

The chip shot is very different to the full golf swing and the following tips will help you gain confidence in playing it. These instructions are for a right handed player.

The Set-up. Place the ball just back of center of your feet with your feet only twelve inches apart. Set the club down behind the ball and square to the intended target line. Not the target line is not necessarily the target and will depend on whether there is any break to be allowed for. (In this position it is a good idea to swing the club, using your shoulders arms and hands as a unit, to get a feel for the distance you want the ball to travel. Do this a few times so that you are comfortable with what you will be doing on the actual stroke).

Now move your left foot back about 4 inches - thus opening your stance. Crouch slightly so that your knees are bent in an easy comfortable position.

Now push your left wrist towards the target until your left arm and the shaft of the club form a straight line.

Shift your weight so that 80% of it is on the left side. You are now correctly set up.

The Takeaway. Start your takeaway with your shoulders making sure that your hands and arms only move as a result of the shoulder shift. The angle between your right arm and shaft must remain the same as it was at address throughout the swing. The same applies to the angle of the left arm and shaft.

The takeaway should follow along your toe line. Note that this is not the same as the target line. Having moved your left foot back in the setup your toe line cuts across the ball and will feel as if you are aiming left of target line.

This is correct.

There should be no leg movement at all. Make sure you do not move the knees at all during the swing and your weight should remain on your left foot.

The Downswing and Follow Through. Distance is controlled by the length of the backswing and this should never be more than the nine o'clock position. Once you have reached the required height of the backswing simply bring the club back along your toe line, again using your shoulders to initiate it and keeping the arms locked in position.

Once you have connected with the ball be sure to keep the arms and shoulders linked. Do not break the wrists or bend the arms. With a chip shot try to keep the club as low as possible through the ball and on the follow through.

Practice this shot from various distances around the green with a number of different clubs to get a feel for flight and roll control. Remember the idea behind chipping is shortest possible time in the air and longest possible time rolling on the green. So use whatever club it takes to get you on to the putting surface as soon as possible.

Spend a bit of time learning the chip shot and you will find that this is a most enjoyable part of the game and a great challenge, not the part that you have always feared.

I hope that these simple instructions will help you with your golf game and remember there is no point in learning the chip shot if you do not spend time practicing it until you become confident enough with it to use it on the course.

How Arthritis and Sugar Consumption Can Be a Problem Combination

As a Naturopath who specializes in pain treatments and a sufferer of pain, some self imposed through years of sports and some through natural wear and tear, I am well versed in the various expressions of pain. If you are in pain then perhaps it is time to review your sugar consumption. I discovered the sugar and pain connection in the mid 80's.

Every Tuesday I would have take away chicken for lunch and a well known soda, which contained a large amount of sweetener. It took me a few weeks to connect increased knee pain on my Tuesday walk with the high sugar intake. Years later I learned of the clear biochemical connection between sugar and pain. It doesn't matter whether the sweetener is sugar or corn syrup the pain result is the same.

Sugar is a direct driver of inflammation in the body. The best way of accessing your sugar intake is to keep a food & snacks diary for at least one week. You don't need to measure the sugar, just list the sweet foods. You may be surprised at the amount of sugar consumed. Whatever amount you think you are consuming it is probably 30% higher because of hidden sugars, e.g. sauces and breads. Include all treats and processed foods consumed.

If you accept that sugar equals pain, the more sugar you eat the more pain you will experience. I know it can be hard to give up your much loved snacks, especially if they are part of your stress management. We often eat to feel happier. The first step is to reduce your sugar intake, don't try to stop everything all at once, it may be too stressful. Start to introduce more fruit and nuts. Watch out for hidden sugars in so called healthy foods.

A common problem is to swap sugar for aspartame which will only cause you more problems. There are currently multiple class actions against aspartame. Safe alternatives are Stevia or Xyotol which you can purchase at any health food shop.

An important question to ask yourself is how does this pain affect my life and what am I prepared to do to gain relief. Don't forget that by reducing your sugar or corn syrup consumption you will also reduce your likelihood of obesity diabetes and cardiovascular disease. As usual with health issues one action or one problem will often have a flow on effect.

How quickly you make changes in your life will depend on your personality. It may be a lot, all at once or baby steps, gradually introducing change. Be careful who you discuss your plans with. Some people may be supportive but others may seek to undermine your efforts because it challenges some insecurity of their own.

Arthritis Knee Brace - Is it Right For You?

One of the most common areas afflicted with arthritis are knee joints, and the use of arthritis knee braces is an age old method of controlling the debilitating pain that comes with arthritis. Arthritis knee braces help reduce the pressure from the knee and leg, ultimately aligning the leg in the correct position to lessen the impact of arthritis pain.

Arthritis knee braces come in two broad categories - custom made and off the shelf. "Off the shelf" pertains to selecting the appropriate braces from a ready-made collection, whereas "custom made" pertains to having braces designed based on distinctive specifications and addressing the patient's unique knee requirements. Obviously, custom made braces are more expensive than the off the shelf type. However, a custom made brace is considerably better, as it is designed to suit the patient's specific needs. Along with knee braces, footwear choice is also important in determining the amount of pressure on the knees. The type of shoes a patient wears may either improve or worsen the pain correspondingly.

In addition to these two broad types, arthritis knee braces may also be grouped into four classifications.

An off loader knee brace, otherwise known as an unloader, is generally used to provide knee alignment. These braces provide knee support by reducing the valgus or varus stress from the knees, or the irregular mechanical alignment on one side of the knee.

Prophylactic braces, meanwhile, are used mostly by patients who suffer from knee injuries, usually sports injuries.

On the other hand, rehabilitative braces are used to improve lateral and medial movements. These braces also help to control the extension and flexing of the knee joint following a knee injury or a related surgery.

OA knee braces, as their name suggests, are used specifically by Osteoarthritis (OA) patients. These braces reduce pain by enabling proper alignment.

In general, these braces are an affordable and effective way of controlling knee joint pain. They have been proven to work for a number of arthritis knee patients. However, there is still some debate over their effectiveness.

Some medical experts would argue that braces are merely a temporary solution to a long-term problem, and often just delay the possibility of surgical knee replacements. The support of arthritis knee braces tend to weaken the knee and leg muscles, and may ultimately lead to permanent weakness and even further deteriorate the patient's condition.

Conversely, a number of users attest that when used regularly, these braces are effective in providing proper alignment, managing body weight on the knees, and even reducing pain significantly.

Ideally, the results of the brace depend on the merits of each case and should not be generalized. The patient's body constitution, overall health, and the extent of arthritis present, among a number of other factors, may have an impact on the results of knee brace usage.

In selecting the right knee braces for you, always keep your own requirements in mind. The specific type of brace you need will depend on the extent of your pain or the severity of your condition. The more serious the injury or pain, the bigger the braces you need. Off the shelf braces are just as effective as custom made ones, unless you have a specific pain/area to target or a quite uncommon knee shape.

It is always recommended that you consult a doctor first to determine the appropriate brace applicable to your condition. Always consult a qualified doctor prior to undergoing any form of treatment, whether medication or alternative therapies or knee braces.

Knee Joint Pain - Tips and Advice on How to Manage

People who have experienced a bad knee can tell you the difficulties that it can cause. Because your knee is used in most of your daily activities, a knee injury will have a significant impact on your life. It is important that you understand the cause of your knee joint pain before you start a treatment program. If you don't know what diagnosis you have for your knee, you should seek medical advice to help you find out what your problem is before seeking treatment.

If you have a chronic condition that has affected your knee you should look into doing a treatment program. The one thing that you can do to immediately help eliminate some of the pain from your knee is to strengthen your quadriceps. By strengthening your quads, you can help stabilize your knee joints. A good exercise that you can do which will build up your quad muscles without hurting your knees is cycling. Using a stationary bike, you can have resistance to build up the strength in your legs.

Another great treatment that is used for people who have knee joint pain is heat application. By applying heat to your knee your can help the circulation of the blood. This will loosen up your knee to reduce some of the stress that you experience. It is also a good way to alleviate some of the pain in your knee joint. Finding a treatment and consistently using it will ensure that you can eliminate some of the pain in your knee.

Operation Games Online and Offline

If you are interested in finding games with a medical theme you can look into some exciting online games and some hilarious board games. There are also games for PC and console games to consider.

All of the games discussed on this page revolve around operations and surgery. Many are genuinely educational. Some are just for fun. Anyone of them could start a child on the route to being a fully fledged health professional.

Operation Board Games

Operation Game (with Cavity Sam)

The board game 'Operation' with Cavity Sam is a game that has been around since the mid-sixties.

It has delighted generations of kids (and many adults too) with its recreation of a trip to the operating theater that rarely goes according to plan.

The principle of the game is very simple. The player needs to use tweezers to remove various objects from the patient's body without triggering a negative response. The kinds of thing the player needs to remove range from water on the knee to a frog in the throat. Responses usually involve shrieks of pain, grumbles and pleas for mercy that are hilarious for kids, along with flashing lights.

It is essentially a dexterity game that is very similar to those electrical loop games that were once so popular. You might not remember electrical loop games but they involved the player working their way along a wire with a metal hoop. If the hoop touched the wire an alarm sounded and the player lost the game.

Since the objects that need to be removed from the patients body in 'Operation' are small and the cavities they are housed in are only a little larger, it takes a very skillful person to win the game.

Nowadays, versions of the game with Homer Simpson as the hapless victim of fumbled surgery can also be found. There is even a Spongebob version where you can operate on Spongebob's Barnacle Brain, Clammy Hands or Patty Pleasure Center. These games are recommended for children of 8 and older.

Operation Brain Surgery

In this game, it is the ability to recognize objects by touch alone that is developed. Instead of a flat board with the figure of a patient, the player is confronted by a large electronic, talking head. Inside the head are various shapes. The players are dealt cards with a shape on each. They need to reach into the head and fish out the shapes that match their cards.If the player is too slow or too rough the head's nose lights up, a buzzer sounds and the operation is declared a failure.

A lot of work has gone into making this simple game fun. The shapes have names like 'block head' and 'train of thought'.

A recent variation on the game is a Shrek version with a grinning, green head. Children as young as five will enjoy this game.

Operation Games for PC

Many PC games offer simulations of aspects of the medical world. '911 Paramedic' deals with the kind of emergency situations that an everyday event in a busy hospital. ER The Game takes you into the world of ER, the TV show, 'Sarah's Emergency Room' is about first responses to patients entering a hospital.

Console Games

The most successful operation games for Wii and Nintendo are from the 'Trauma Center' series and include titles like 'New Blood', 'Second Opinion' and 'Under the Knife'. The player must perform many different operations to proceed through the games.

An older game-but one that can still be found- is 'Lifesigns Surgical Unit' for Wii.

Operation Games Online

There are many games online that feature the kinds of skills required during an operation. Some are for younger children and are designed to develop manual skills, others are sophisticated introductions to real surgical techniques.

'Operation Mania', for example, is actually an online version of the classic 'Operation' board game featuring Cavity Sam. Children can remove things like butterflies in the stomach of their patient with a large net. If they catch the butterflies without touching the stomach walls they win that part of the game.

'Let's Operate' is a simple game where a player tries to follow a wandering line with a scalpel. Just as Cavity Sam screeches in anguish if you are clumsy, the patient in this game cries out if you stray from the line. There is a also a time element to add to the pressure. In this case, the passing of time is represented by the draining of a blood bag which adds a nice ghoulish touch.

Much more sophisticated games that give older children (13+) the chance to learn about operations involve such things as knee replacement surgery or heart transplants. These games often come with a strong educational element. Some are made especially for teachers to use in the classroom and have supporting notes and suggested activities. The educational tag hasn't stopped these games being popular with teenagers who seek them out to play with or without the classroom experience.

For children showing an interest in a career in medicine, any of the games mentioned here could help cement their ambition. For those children who just want to have fun, they can still offer a rich experience.

Knee Pain Exercises For Women

Since the anatomy of women differs from that of men, women are more likely to have knee pain than men. Strengthening the muscles that support the knee with knee exercises is most important for women if they want to protect their knees from injuries and knee pain.

Several muscle groups support the knee. The two main muscle group that control knee movement and stability are the quadriceps and hamstrings. Quadriceps is a four part powerful muscle that runs along the front of the thigh and attach to the front of the shinbone, just below the knee. The quadriceps controls the strengthening of the knees and movement of kneecaps. The hamstrings are the muscle that run along the back of the thigh, and attach to the back of the shinbone, just below the knee.

Here are some simple exercises for strengthening quadriceps and hamstrings muscles.

Quadriceps strengthening exercises:
Quadriceps strengthening is probably easiest, safest and most important exercise you can do to prevent knee pain and injury. To strengthen the quadriceps, simply lie down on your bed and do straight leg raises. Do not bend the knees. It is already inflamed and you do not need to make it worst. Just repeatedly raise your leg. This will strengthen the quadriceps. If you get bit tired after doing this exercise 10 times, then relax for some time and proceed further.

The next step is to do the same exercise with weights. To do this just get an old purse or bag add some weight in it and keep it on your both the legs and repeat the straight legs raises. As you get stronger gradually increase the weight in purse or a bag.

Hamstring strengthening:
Hamstring strengthening contractions: Sit in chairs, heels on floors. Do not move your heels but pull back on them. You will feel tension in your hamstrings. Hold the position till you finish counting 10 and then relax. Repeat this 10 times.

Hamstring strengthening curls: Lie on your stomach and place the left foot on the back of your right heel. Slowly pull your right heel towards your buttocks while creating resistance with your left foot. This exercise helps to contract and strengthen the hamstrings. Hold the position until you count 10. Repeat this exercise 10 times with each foot.

Walking backwards helps to develop the hamstrings: When walking backwards, your weight is distributed more evenly, resulting in less strain on your knees.

Apart from this knee balancing exercise and knee stretching exercise are also beneficial for women who suffer from knee pain. But before planning any exercise regime you must consult your doctor.

Choosing the Right Joint Supplement - Know Your Options

As a consumer, it can be hard to choose which medicinal and nutritional supplements are best for you.  Many, if not most, supplements do deliver on their promises; however, some are certainly better than others and knowing what to look for when choosing a supplement is extremely important.
 
For the purposes of this article, we will focus on one common ailment - joint pain and stiffness.  Joint pain, disability, and restricted mobility affect more than 40 million Americans.  As the U.S. population ages, it is expected that this number will more than double over the next decade.  These symptoms, once considered an unavoidable consequence of aging, are now being successfully treated by joint support products.  This is particularly true in the case of osteoarthritis. 
 
While some people are genetically predisposed to developing this most common form of arthritis, many people will develop degenerative osteoarthritis due to injury or overuse of joints.  The most commonly prescribed treatment for osteoarthritis pain is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ("NSAIDS"), which provide temporary relief from inflammation in the joints.  This common treatment generally works for a while, and many people will experience no complications from the drugs. For some, however, the side effects are significant.  Increased risk of stroke, heart attack, and digestive disorders are only a few of the serious risks associated with taking NSAIDS. 
 
Nutritional supplementation offers hope for osteoarthritis suffers, without the risk of the potentially deadly side effects of NSAIDs.  The acceptance of joint support products by consumers has been steadily increasing due to their proven effectiveness, as well as their ability to promote and maintain joint health with little or no side effects.  Millions of people have experienced some relief and pain remediation through regular supplementation with various dietary products. Glucosamine, chondroitin, and calcium have been popular choices for regular supplementation for joint problems and bone strength, but each has drawbacks with respect to effectiveness, bioavailability, and tolerability. The often overlooked mineral silica is an attractive alternative providing similar benefits but without many of the drawbacks associated with glucosamine, chondroitin, and calcium. 
 
Glucosamine:  In general, glucosamine is an amino sugar that has shown moderate ability to relieve the pain of osteoarthritis and restore partial movement to affected joints. However, taking glucosamine derived from sea creatures may cause allergic responses in individuals who are allergic to shellfish.  Individuals with diabetes may experience elevated blood sugar levels if they inject glucosamine which may even raise blood sugar for individuals who do not have diabetes.  Pregnant or breastfeeding women are also advised to avoid taking glucosamine because little is known about its effects on this patient population. 
 
During research studies, gastrointestinal complaints such as constipation, diarrhea, and nausea were attributed to taking glucosamine.  Some study participants who took glucosamine sulfate also reported drowsiness or headache. In addition, glucosamine may increase the risk of excessive bleeding when it is taken in conjunction with warfarin; other anticoagulants or anti-platelet drugs; aspirin; or herbal products that reduce the blood's ability to clot.  Finally, injecting it may increase blood sugar levels, thereby interfering with insulin and drugs or herbals that lower blood sugar.
 
Chondroitin: Chondroitin is a sulfate molecule that occurs naturally in the body and is believed to provide a different chemical from glucosamine that is important in the formation of cartilage; however, its effects are not understood as well as glucosamine's. Some people believe that it may help keep cartilage healthy by absorbing fluid into the connective tissue. However, studies have not shown conclusively that chondroitin helps repair or grow new cartilage or even helps prevent cartilage from further deterioration.
 
Many chondroitin supplements are made from cow cartilage.  If you are a vegetarian or otherwise object to the use of animal based products, look for a supplement made from algae instead.  There have been occasional reports of mild side effects which include nausea, upset stomach, diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, stomach pain, and heartburn. Chondroitin is similar in chemical composition to heparin, a drug used to thin the blood; accordingly, it is theoretically possible for chondroitin to increase the effects of blood thinners. 
 
Chondroitin is often combined with glucosamine in many popular supplement products such as Osteo Bi-Flex, Cosamin and Estroven. The Arthritis Foundation recommends exercising caution in taking glucosamine and chondroitin for the treatment of osteoarthritis. Moreover, due to the popularity of glucosamine-chondroitin supplements and the apparent lack of reliable information about their usefulness in treating osteoarthritis,the National Institutes of Health funded a study to test the effects of chondroitin and glucosamine on osteoarthritis of the knee.  This multicenter, placebo-controlled, double-blind, six month long trial found that glucosamine plus chondroitin had no statistically significant effect on symptoms of osteoarthritis in the overall group of osteoarthritis patients.
 
Calcium:  Calcium supplements are widely popular and come in several forms including calcium carbonate and calcium citrate.  The primary difference between these two types of calcium supplements is the amount of elemental (or actual) calcium they contain. Calcium carbonate contains almost twice as much as citrate, which generally makes the carbonate form less expensive.  Calcium citrate is often recommended for the elderly because it may be easier for their digestive systems to absorb.  A recent review of calcium and bone mass studies found that calcium citrate malate has high bioavailability in all age ranges including young girls as well as postmenopausal women. 
 
Side effects of calcium supplementation include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, constipation, stomach pain, thirst, dry mouth, and increased urination.  Although it is well accepted that calcium supplements reduce the risk for osteoporosis, there is concern that high calcium dosages may increase the risk for hardening of the arteries and kidney stones.  High calcium intake can result in calcium deposition into soft tissue and can also impair absorption of other minerals such as magnesium, zinc, and iron.  If taking calcium supplements, you should not eat large amounts of bran or whole grain cereals and breads because they may reduce absorption of calcium.  Similarly, consuming alcohol, large amounts of caffeine or vitamin D, or using tobacco products may also impair the absorption of calcium.
 
Silica: Silica, also called silicon, is an essential mineral and potentiator of other minerals like calcium for bones; glucosamine for joints; and antioxidants for healthier arteries and cardiovascular function.  Silica is a trace mineral required for the formation of healthy connective tissue, bone, skin, hair, and nails.  Silica is also essential for collagen formation, healthy arteries, and regulation of calcium deposition in the bones.  Absorption is critical to its effectiveness because dietary sources of silica such as those found in food, horsetail, and colloidal gel (silica) products are very poorly absorbed because of their insoluble, polymerized forms.  For optimal absorption to occur, dietary silica must first be converted to organic silicon (monomethylsilanetriol). This form of silica has excellent bioavailability and is found in premium product offerings such as Orgono Living Silica. Unlike the other nutritional supplements discussed for joints, silica has no known side effects.
 
In addition to knowing the differences between each option available, here are a few other considerations to keep in mind when selecting a nutritional supplement.
 
Quality: Is the company committed to observing Good Manufacturing Practices? Does the product contain pharmaceutical-grade ingredients?  Does it contain the recommended amount of each ingredient to be effective?
 
Delivery: Form is important. Powders, pills, tablets, and capsules all have little "extras" that can interfere with the body's ability to absorb supplements.  Liquid delivery of the supplement ensures your body can absorb the active ingredients quickly and effectively, without extra binders, fillers, and additives found in powders, pills, tablets, and capsules. 
 
Tolerability:     Is the product safe? Are there any side effects associated with the product? Have there been any drug interactions reported?
 
Reputation: Is the company reliable? Does the company feature testimonials from satisfied customers?  Does it have a negative reputation?
 
Customer care: This is particularly important in nutritional supplements, as many companies use independent sellers to distribute their product.  Is the company you purchase your supplements from an authorized distributor?  Do they stand behind their product?  Do they ship quickly? 
 
As you can see, there are many factors and options to consider when choosing a nutritional supplement for joint health. Being informed is the best way to decide which one is right for you.

McAlindon TE, et al. "Glucosamine and Chondroitin for Treatment of Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Quality Assessment and Meta-analysis". JAMA 283: 1469-1475, 2000.

Clegg DO, et al. "Glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and the two in combination for painful knee osteoarthritis". New Engl J Med 354 (8): 795-808, 2006.

Sore Knees Got You Down in the Dumps? Secrets to Dealing With the Pain Revealed!

Are your knees sore?

Did you know that you can substantially decrease the everyday soreness and pains that you have in your knees?

Sure there are many ways in which you can approach this problem, but we will discuss a way in which you can save money in treatment in the long term.

You may be amazed to discover that you can provide major relief on your sore knees without high cost medications! All of this is indeed possible through the everyday use of a simple knee brace. We will explain why they can help you...

Have you ever considered how much you use your knees in your daily routine?

Every time you stand up, sit down or walk from one point to another you are calling your knees into action. Sure you already know this, but many of us take our knees for granted. Let's be real about that...

Your knees work over time when you go on runs, compete in sports, or carry out other out of ordinary extracurricular activities. Your knees endure a lot of physical activity on a day to day basis. So there is no surprise that millions of people around the world suffer and endure sore knee pain on a regular basis.

In addition to that, many people also suffer from sore knees due to injuries that they have sustained from sports or accidents. When a knee injury occurs there is generally a long recovery process which usually results in the patient still having some type of soreness or stiffness in the knees long-term.

What Can I Do To Help Ease The Pain Or Stop These Sore Knees Of Mine?

According to your specific condition there are a wide variety of treatments and steps that you can take to lower your soreness level, and to also prevent further soreness in the future. If your knee pain is not the result of a disease for which you have been diagnosed with, there are a few things that you can begin to do to assist in easing or stopping the soreness in your knees.

See A Doctor: Let's be honest here; the best method of relief for sore knees may come from your doctor's advice or suggestions. A trained physician will examine your knee and may take x-rays or an MRI to determine the cause of your soreness. They may prescribe medication, sports therapy or may simply tell you try out one of the two proven steps below...

Get Some Rest!: The best advice may be to simply rest your knees. This is no shocker, but let's also face the problem with rest alone... Rest is nice, but do you have days and weeks to lay around and rest your knees?

Stretch them out and elevate them. Lay down without bending your knees and give them some relief. Your knees may need more rest than they get while you are sleeping. In fact, most people toss and turn in their sleep. If you are such a person then your knees are still moving around and working while you are sleeping. Simply take some time during waking hours to stretch your knees out and rest!

Strap On A Knee Brace: Knee braces have been proven to help promote healing of damaged or injured knees. Knee braces have also been proven to be a great prevention tool in avoiding future knee soreness issues. They are also very affordable and cost much less than a bunch of pain killers. In fact, most doctors will recommend the use of a knee brace the moment you complain about having sore knees. The support that they provide can really be an aid to you.

Product Review - The Breg Polar Care 500 Cold Therapy Unit Following Knee Surgery

Why do I need a cold therapy machine?

The two most common side effects of an orthopedic injury or surgery are pain and swelling. These conditions affect the healing process and can lead to longer rehabilitation times. Cold therapy is widely recognized as one of the most effective treatment methods to combat these issues.

Compared to ice and gel packs that provide intense cold over a small area & for a short period of time, requiring frequent trips to the freezer, cold therapy systems, such as the Polar Care 500 can deliver a continuous flow of cold therapy through circulation pads that are specifically designed for different body parts and applications.

The Polar Care 500 can deliver cold within a comfortable temperature range that allows for longer-term application according to your physician's prescribed treatment protocol.

The Breg Polar Care 500 unit includes a low voltage submersible pump with in-line thermometer and flow valve for temperature control from 35-70 degrees. During use, the pump is submerged in the cooler and connected to a Polar Pad with self sealing couplings. A wall transformer provides power to the pump.

Easy-to-use temperature control gauge that allows for flexibility in adjusting the temperature of the continuous Cold Therapy pad between 35° - 70°. The motor for the Polar Care 500 has an industry-wide track record for reliability. All parts of the Polar Care 500 system can be individually replaced making it more economical to replace a worn out part.

At 11 quarts, the Polar Care 500 has the largest capacity cooler of any single-patient use, continuous Cold Therapy unit on the market and can provide 8 - 11 hours of continuous cold therapy.

Several accessories are available for the Polar Care 500 which enhances its use.

A "Y" adapter can be purchased that allow two extremities to be treated simultaneously. A wide selection of sterile and non-sterile pads are available to fit most every part of your body.

Polar Wraps can be wrapped around each of the Polar Pads, allowing patients to conveniently secure the pads to the affected area without using additional wraps or bandages. The Polar Wraps also control pad condensation.

The Breg Polar Care 500 has a 180 day warranty.

It is highly recommended that you consult with your treating physician before purchasing any cold therapy unit. This unit should only be used under direct supervision of a licensed health care
practitioner.

Cryotherapy should not be used by persons with Diabetes, Raynaud's or other vasospastic disease, cold hypersensitivity, or compromised local circulation.

Gouty Arthritis Symptoms - Oh My Aching Big Toe!

Gouty Arthritis - Do You Have It?

The joints in your big toe have been hurting really bad, and you've noticed that it has turned warm, red, and seems to be swelling. For a while, you ignore the pain, and thankfully it disappears for a while, only to come back at odd times with a vengeance. If you're no longer too young, but just young at heart, then chances are, you may want to go see your doctor and ask if you might have symptoms of gouty arthritis.

This kind of arthritis is just one of the more than 100 types of diseases in this category. However, gouty arthritis is one of the most painful among these and is caused by needle-like crystals of uric acid that form in your joints (usually, in this disease, the big toe, although other joints can be affected as well, like the heel, elbow, knees, wrists, fingers, etc.). So, if you can imagine those "needle-like crystals" pricking your joints, then you can understand why there is so much pain involved in this disease.

Gouty arthritis has four stages, namely:

1.Asymptomatic - At this stage, the person may have tested to have elevated levels of uric acid, probably in a general medical screening, but is not experiencing any pain in any joints. The doctor usually will not prescribe any treatment at this stage, but may suggest some diet changes to prevent the condition from worsening.

2.Acute Gout - At this stage, the person begins to feel pain, and swelling and redness of the joints, leading to what is called as a "gouty attack". These attacks can happen intermittently. It is a good idea to visit your doctor once you feel any acute pain in the joint area to prevent the disease from progressing.

3.Interval - This is the "interval" between gouty attacks, when a person is not experiencing any pain at the moment. Many people mistakenly think that the worst is over when they are in an interval stage and refuse to visit the doctor. What they don't know is that this is exactly what it is named, an interval, and there may be an attack waiting just around the corner.

4.Chronic Gout - When there is no or very short interval between attacks, and there is already permanent damage to the joints. Constant pain medication is needed for this type of gout and it is essential that a physician oversee this disease at this stage. If proper treatment is adhered to in the Acute Gout stage, then one may never progress to this stage.

How is Gouty Arthritis diagnosed?

If you think you are already are experiencing the attacks, when you visit the doctor, then chances are, he may ask for any one or all of the following tests:

1.Synovial Fluid Analysis - Synovial (joint) fluid is extracted from your joints through a sterilized needle inserted in the space. The fluid has a straw-like color and is then analyzed in a lab. Normally, joint fluids that look cloudy or is thick may be abnormal.

2.Uric Acid Test - This is done through a simple blood test taken from a vein or capillary. The blood is then tested for levels of uric acid. If it is high then it will confirm gouty arthritis

3.Joint X-ray - An x-ray of the joint may also be needed to properly see how the arthritis has progressed in the area.

How is Gouty Arthritis treated?

Treatment of gouty arthritis is usually geared toward immediate relief and stopping the pain and inflammation that come with the attacks. Medication is also given to prevent future attacks.

One of the drugs prescribed to reduce the pain, inflammation and swelling is Colchicine and often makes the pain settle in 12 to 48 hours. This medication decreases the inflammation and therefore the pain, but it does not alter the uric acid levels in the blood, although daily use of it helps to prevent subsequent attacks.

Over-the-counter pain relievers can also be effective if it is taken at the onset of the pain.

At times, a diet low in purines is given to lessen the uric acid levels. Some foods that may have to be abstained from are beef, pork, poultry, fish, shellfish, gravy, soda pop, beer, wine, etc.

Patellar Subluxation - An Open Patella Knee Brace Can Make All the Difference - Knee Pain Relief

Patella Subluxation

There are a number of problems that can strike the knee, but few are as painful as patellar subluxation. Read on for information regarding this painful knee issue and how to help treat it.

Anatomy Note

The trochlea is a groove on the thigh bone that is essential for knee movement. The kneecap slides up and down this groove, which allows your knee to bend properly. In some cases, the kneecap does not slide properly along this groove, which can lead to problems. In some cases, the knee leaves the groove altogether, which results in knee dislocation. In others it just slides improperly, which can cause pain or discomfort for the patient.

Patellar subluxation usually strikes adolescents or young children, however it can affect anyone. There are a number of reasons why someone may get patellar subluxation, including being born with a groove that is too shallow, a wide pelvis or abnormalities in ones gait.

A doctor will typically take X-rays of the knee to assess the damage. If the kneecap has left the groove altogether, the knee will have to be put back in place. If the knee is still within the groove, there are a number of other treatment options available.

Therapy

Physical therapy is commonly used to treat patellar subluxation. Strengthening the hip abductors and hip flexors is crucial to controlling the motion of the kneecap. This is accomplished using a range of pelvic stabilization exercises, which help to strengthen the muscles and support your knee.

Your Shoes

Take a look at your footwear. Improper shoes can promote an abnormal gait. Making sure that you have decent footwear can both help control your gait, and lessen the tension on your knee.

Using A Knee Brace

Using a knee brace can help provide knee support and to lessen the pain. There are knee braces that help control the knee cap, so it does not deviate from its course along the groove in the trochlea. These knee braces can be effective in decreasing knee pain as well.

Surgery

In some cases, the above treatment options may not work in the long term, and surgery may be required. In most cases surgery is not needed, but if your knee constantly gets dislocated or you are in severe pain a lot of the time, there may be no other option.

Patellar subluxation can cause other problems with the knee to occur. For instance, osteoarthritis can be caused by patellar subluxation, which is why consulting your physician is a wise decision if you are experiencing knee pain.

Long Term Effects of General Anesthesia - Just Sharing My Thoughts!

I am writing this article simply to share my experiences with others in hopes that it might give comfort to others that are experiencing similar things that I have had after surgeries. I am the first to admit that I am not an expert on this topic, but I do have first hand experience from surgeries that I have been through. I know that anesthesia is needed for most surgical procedures, but as with any drug that is administered the risk of side effects is always there.

Possible Side Effects of Anesthesia

Most doctors seem to focus on the short term side effects like nausea, vomiting, headache, fatigue, weakness, blurred vision, sore throat, dizziness, mood swings and unusual dreams. What about long term effects? I feel that the long term damage to the brain is a real problem that few doctors care to admit. Makes sense to me that shutting the brain down for a long period of time (say 2-6 hours just for example) cannot be good for overall brain function. I believe that an adverse effect as a result can come in the form of depression, mood swings, loss of memory and overall changes in the ability to think clearly.

The Effects of Anesthesia From Multiple Surgeries

I have worked in construction all of my life, and I have had numerous injuries which have required surgery. The first major one was a knee surgery in 1986 which lasted 6 hours and I had the hick-ups for 3 days after the surgery, (which was called a side effect). I was hospitalized for those 3 days and was given what they said was anti- psychotic medications to relieve this problem! I also had memory lapses and depression issues, which I blamed on the fact that I was out of work for so long to recover.

I have had four other surgeries since then:

1.right elbow repair from an old injury. (3 hour surgery) Oct.1990
2.left arm bicep repair. (2 hour surgery) June 1991
3 Right rotator cuff repair (4 hour surgery) Oct. 2004
4. Left rotator cuff repair (4hour surgery) July 2009

I have had many questions for years about the long term side effects of general anesthesia... which are based on my own experiences. This last surgery has me feeling worse than any of the others. Maybe it is due to the fact that I have been off of work so long, but I don't think that is all of it! I think the long term effects are stacking up from all of the surgeries.

General Anesthesia... the Necessary Medicine?

I know that all of my surgeries did require anesthesia. I know I would not have been to comfortable without the help of anesthesia. I am just hoping to bring to light by sharing some of my own experiences a need to do more research on helping others cope with these after effects. I have thought of myself as just not being strong enough to cope. After reading in forums on this topic I now realize I am not alone. After my surgeries in 1990 and 1991. I sought psychiatric help for this problem, and was prescribed Zoloft to help with the depression I was feeling. The cost for this drug was $100.00 per month at that time, and it made me feel like a zombie! The extra monthly expense was depressing me also... a no win situation! You need a drug to offset the after effect of the previous drug! Craziness in my opinion!

I am Choosing to Take a Different Path this Time!

I will be 57 years old next month. This last surgery in July of 2009 has been a blessing for me. It has opened my mind to all kinds of new ways of thinking. I am learning new computer skills and starting my own online business so that I can quit working construction. I am doing quite well, but my thought processes just aren't as sharp as they need to be when I talk to people. I know what I want to say, but it just won't come out of my mouth correctly! Not a good thing when trying to make a new business contact... people seem to be waiting on me to explain my thoughts! People are to busy to wait for me to talk.

I am battling depression big time, but I don't want to lean on prescription medications to get over that. I just started a vitamin and natural supplement program which I hope will help me to win this battle! I just don't trust the drug companies any more. I think they do more damage than good for people.

I have found some natural supplements that I believe will help me. I've been on them for one month now and it may be the "placebo effect" going on, but I do feel better. My mood swings aren't as severe. My bouts with depression are less frequent. I have never been a person to take vitamins in the past, but this time I just want to feel better. What have I got to lose? I hope now that I will be able to share some positive results with you in the months to come. Thanks for reading my article! I sure hope it helps someone else feel as though they aren't alone or crazy. Blessings to you!

Joint Pain Relief - Is There Anything That Can Help Relieve the Pain?

I have suffered with pain in my knees and elbows for quite a long time. I believe that most of the pain can be attributed to all of the sports I played as a teen and young man as well as some arthritis in my later years.

I was an avid bowler, bowling in two to three leagues a week with a 200 average. As I did my approach to throwing the ball the pain in my knees was really killing me. As a result of favoring my knees I would strain my right elbow. I had to quit bowling altogether because of the pain in my knees and elbow. I tried an elastic support for both my knees and elbows and neither worked.

I had been told from a number of my friends and relatives that Glucosamine would help with the pain. I bought Glucosamine tablets from a vitamin catalog and continued to take it on a daily basis for years but it did not help at all. Glucosamine is marketed to support the structure and function of joints and the marketing is targeted to people suffering from osetoarthritis. Unfortunately I had to quit bowling.

I love playing golf and I still had pain in my knees. I did wear an elastic support for my knees and I was able to continue playing. As the day went on the strain from my swing and walking up and down hills, the pain would get worse. If I twisted my foot, even a little bit, the pain shot through my whole body. I got through all eighteen holes but my golf game, which wasn't that fantastic in the first place, just got a whole lot worse.

On a visit to my VA doctor, I mentioned the pain and he asked me if I was taking Chondrotin Sulfate. (Chondroitin sulfate is a major component of extracellular matrix, and is important in maintaining the structural integrity of the tissue).I told him I wasn't and he recommended that I start immediately.

I then ordered Glucosamine, Chondrin, MSM tablets from the same catalog company. After about two weeks of taking these tablets the pain started to ease, but not 100%.

I discovered that there was a fourth ingredient that could be taken for the relief of pain I was seeking and that was Celadrin Oil. Celadrin is made up of a combination of highly effective ingredients. The oils found in the product are similar to fish oil, are safe for those allergic to products containing fish oil. The product helps by allowing users to gain more flexibility in the joints and reduces swelling and inflammation. I now take all four of the supplements in one dose and I can now say that I am 100% pain free. I now play golf without any elastic supports and my golf game is now back to normal. I haven't tried to resume bowling but I intend to try that in the very near future.

You can find out more about how to relieve joint pain by Clicking Here

Knee Injuries in Hockey Goalies - The Meniscal Tear

Injuries are a part of sport and hockey goalies are not immune. For hockey goalies the meniscal tear can have an impact on performance and may also have an impact on your other daily activities. Let's look at the symptoms of meniscal tears, the mechanisms of meniscal tear and what you can do to prevent or recover from this injury.

The hinge joint of your knee is comprised of the femur (thigh bone) and the tibia (shin bone). The end of the femur is somewhat rounded like a knuckle, where the tibial plateau is relatively flat. The knee is not the most stable joint so the menisci (you have two - one medial and one lateral) help give a little more depth to the joint surfaces and they provide a little cushion between the femur and tibia.

The menisci are shaped a little like a hockey puck that has been squished a little in the middle. It is a cartilaginous material and the big problem with meniscal tears is the fact that the meniscus has a poor blood supply. The outer rim of the meniscus has some blood supply, so a tear in this area may actually heal. As you move toward the centre of the meniscus there is very little or no blood supply, so tears in this area will not heal.

When I worked as the exercise specialist at a sport medicine clinic, one of the physiotherapists had an awesome analogy for what meniscal tears are and what they feel like. She described a meniscal tear as a 'hang nail' in your knee. You know how you can have a hang nail and it typically feels just fine, not painful at all - until you catch that little flap of skin going against the grain. When that happens - WOW! Look out; major pain.

Hockey goalies who have a meniscal tear may be just fine to complete all activity they wish, but then they may go to walk around a corner or drop into your butterfly and - ouch! The knee may even give away from the jolt of pain. If you feel a general ache under your knee cap, this is likely something more like a patellofemoral irritation than a meniscal tear.

The tricky thing about meniscal tears is that there are numerous mechanisms. I remember one individual who spent an afternoon kneeling on their knees while refinishing a floor and when they went to stand up - yikes - meniscal tear. But for hockey goalies I think there are two common mechanisms.

1. There is a collision between a skater and a goalie in which the skater falls on the goalie's knee when it is in a flexed position or the goalie is driven backward with their foot trapped beneath them.


2. The goalie moves into a position where the knee is put under a medial/lateral (varus or valgus) stress and they put stress on the meniscus which overtime or in one instant may cause a meniscal irritation or tear. I am thinking particularly of the butterfly position for goalies.

The goalie will feel pain at the time of injury and there may be some swelling in the knee. If you think you have torn your meniscus, then start with rest, ice and elevation. It may settle down. If your knee is locked, i.e. you physically cannot strengthen it or trying to do so leads to major pain, then you should head straight to the phone and call your local sport medicine professional.

If you have torn your meniscus, you should get some physiotherapy from a good sport physiotherapist. If it is a severe tear you may need to consult an orthopedic surgeon who may either scope the knee to remove some of the rough edges and 'clean' things up a little. If it is a large tear toward the inner portion of the meniscus the surgeon may decide to stitch it back together which helps preserve the meniscus which over time will greatly reduce the wear and tear on the knee over time.

Whether you have injured your meniscus in the past or if you are a hockey goalie looking to reduce the risk of injury, the fundamentals are the same. As long as you are symptom free then you should be sure to include work on your hip internal rotation so you can get into your butterfly by getting range from the hip, not by torquing through the knee.

How to Recover Faster From an Orthopaedic Surgery

Advancement in Orthopaedic surgery over the years has led to a lower risk of infection and a faster recovery process. Although Orthopaedic surgery brings a lot of pain to the patient, there are many pain relief medications that can be consumed to counter it. Recovery is a long and slow process that requires a lot of patience from the patient. It cannot be expedited or long term complications may occur. However, there are some things you can do to help recover faster. Let's look at some of them.

Begin physical therapy before the surgery

Contrary to what many people believe, recovery actually begins months before the surgery! About 6 months before the surgery, you should start going to the gym to build up muscles around your body. For example, if you will be undergoing knee surgery, you should build up muscles around it such as your Quadriceps muscles, calf muscles and thigh muscles. By strengthening muscles around the injured region, you are helping your knee to be able to depend on the surrounding muscles to support it. Coupled with physical therapy after surgery, the recovery time will be significantly reduced.

Start physical therapy immediately after surgery

Physical therapy starts immediately after surgery, gradually increasing the intensity as days passes. Gentle rotations around the injured region should be conducted and it will be pain-free due to the anaesthesia. These will also help to reduce scarring and stiffness of the injured part. As days slowly pass, you should increase your physical therapy session duration as well as the intensity.

Opt for minimally invasive surgery

Whenever possible, always try to opt for a minimally invasive surgery or arthroscopy. Instead of cutting open the surgical site, arthroscopy makes a few small incisions to allow cameras and surgical tools to be inserted into your body. With a small incision, it reduces chances of infection as well as significantly decreasing the recovery time. It also ensures that the pain will be much less as compared to traditional open surgery. However, arthroscopy will cost more than traditional surgery.

Consume nutritious foods

Proper nutrition after surgery will help to speed up the healing process. You should consume lots of protein since protein is the building block for the body. Foods that are rich in protein include chicken, fish and red meat. You should also consume sufficient greens. Spinach, broccoli, cabbage and asparagus are good sources of nutrients for the body.

Orthopaedic surgery often requires lengthy recovery periods that requires a lot of patience, dedication and perseverance from the patient. Do not rush through the physical therapy as it may do more harm than good.

Motocross Knee and Shin Guards - Secrets to Getting the Best Guards, Gear Or Apparel For Your Legs!

Do you enjoy dirt bike riding?

If so, then it is safe to assume that you know that you have to seriously protect yourself while your ride; right?

Introduction: Dirt bike riding is absolutely exciting! We both know that, hands down. But, if you are going to help protect yourself out there, you will need to do it right! This free article will discuss the benefits of knee and shin guards to help keep you going strong. Do not risk spending your hard earned money on the wrong accessories... if you are willing to do a little homework here and read this article all the way through, you will learn something that can really help to prolong your career.

1.) Knee Braces & Knee Guards

High speeds are the name of the game in competitive motocross. That is part of the fun, but this fun also comes at a risk. The jumps and stunts of the sport are what makes it great too. However, you will need to start by protecting your knees. This comes in the form of a knee brace and an important accessory called a patella cup.

Excessive side to side movements can cause ligament or meniscus injuries, if not other ailments. Knee braces can be extremely helpful in this regard. They can help to protect your knee from damaging or excessive movements. They can do so by helping to limit side to side movements that can really send your pain and instability soaring. Patella Cups are also very helpful because they can help to shield your knee from impact due to a collision.

2.) Shin Guards

This accessory is also really important. Just imagine slamming your shin into something when you are moving at a really fast speed. The result would be awful! This is where shin guards come in. Actually the combination of shin guards and patella cups into one accessory for your knee brace can be extremely helpful.

3.) In The End

We would like to see you continue on a long and successful motocross career. However, you can not do so if your knees are ruined. Although in one sense, it would be great to ride without any protective gear, we do not recommend it at all. Protective knee braces along with a patella cup and shin guard are the way to go when it comes to motocross. All the best to you while you are out riding!

(* This is a health oriented article. However it is best to seek your doctor for medical advice.)

The Weakness of Brazilian Jujitsu and Sport Fighting for Self-Defense

Anybody who has at least any experience in martial arts or street-fighting can agree that learning how to defend oneself on the ground is ABSOLUTELY needed in order to survive on the streets or in the ring. Oftentimes we fall or can be taken to the ground. Once taken to the ground, the average street fighter will most likely start punching you in the face, or get you into a headlock. What about triangle chokes or arm bars? Not likely... Lets go over some cold hard facts that many Jujitsu and sport fighters may not like, but are the simple truth. I will try to make this short and to the point as possible.

Rape awareness, Child-abductions, and overall self-defense:

If you were teaching your wife self-defense, in order to prevent her from being abducted, which techniques would you teach her? If you were teaching your child techniques in order to keep them from being raped or abducted, which techniques would you tech them? Jujitsu? Boxing?...maybe a little, but not likely.

If someone is trying to force you into a vehicle or put you into a position to be raped or kidnapped, the last thing you want to do is try to take your opponent to the ground. You are actually helping them succeed in their conquest. Also consider that many child-abductors and rapists do not work alone. Many female joggers are often pulled into moving vehicles by 2 or 3 attackers. Even if you did bring one to the ground, the other 2 are going to make you pay.

Or here is another example using fictional characters. "Billy" is a 12 year old boy who is 5'1 and weighs 105 lbs with a Jujitsu Black belt, and expert boxer. A 30 year old man who is 6'1 and 190 pounds approaches the boy and attempts to apprehend the boy and kidnap him. The boy gets the attacker on the ground and sits on his chest and attempts to punch him in the face. The oversized attacker flips the boy over, and simply punches him once in the face. The boy is knocked out cold, and is later abused and kidnapped...

What the boy should have done was attack the kidnapper with several strikes to stun him in vulnerable areas (testicles, eye's, biting, headbutt) and ran like hell screaming to the top of his lungs! The problem with MMA, Jujitsu, western Boxing, and Kickboxing is their mentality. They teach their students to fight. Plain and simple. To fight until the very end. But, this attitude is very machismo and egotistic way of fighting. From a self-defense aspect, the goal should always be to stun the attacker, and get away. Their are only very few situations that warrant fighting until the attacker is completely knocked out.

Modern Martial arts vs Traditional...

Anytime you get a grappler against any opponent who isn't skilled in grappling, the Jujitsu man will win 99% of the time in ordinary circumstances. In a kickboxing or MMA environment any traditional martial artist will be most likely embarrassed. But, what will the jujitsu man do if the Karate man pulls out a sword, or a long stick? What will the MMA man do is he meets a knife fighter? The fact is, in traditional martial arts like Kung Fu and Karate, unarmed tactics were only secondary forms of fighting. A man would always rely on his sword or knife before his fists.

If a jujitsu black belt threatened my life and challenged me to a fight, I would not assume a boxers stance. I would simply walk away. Yet if he proceeded to walk towards me, I would simply pull out my Tactical Baton that I ALWAYS carry with me. Thats right, I carry a weapon? But, thats not fair! Why not? This isn't the UFC or a boxing match. This is my life we are talking about! If my life is on the line, I have no problem using a sword, stick, gun, bitting, heabutting, or hitting the groin of my attacker.

Preparing for an attack against a street fighting, not a MMA fighter...

The fact is, most people don't train in martial arts. Maybe 10 out of 100. And thats being liberal. Jujitsu men spend hours learning how to defend against armbars, triangles, leg locks...etc. But, these are techniques that you will almost never see from an untrained street fighter. The average street fighter is going to come at you with aggressive (and sloppy) Boxing, coupled with sloppy wrestling tactics, coupled with a box cutter, coupled with a gun, and he may have a couple of buddies, and he may hit you with a cheap shot from behind. At first, he didn't sound so dangerous huh? In a street-fighting scenario, you don't want to have a "contest" with your attacker. Screw the Knockout. And forget the submissions. You want to stun him, and get away. Simple as that.

If your fighting multiple opponents, Jujitsu will be even worse. Against multiple opponents you will want to use footwork, low kicks directly to the knee joint, pushes, trips, all while trying to run away. If three men are trying to attack you, it would be suicide to tie up with one of them and try to take them down. I once saw a video of a Russian Heavyweight boxer who actually defended himself against multiple attackers. He back peddled away, and counter punched each of them, knocking them down with a single blow.

If an attacker grabs your wrist, does it make more sense to grab his body, wrestle around for 2-3 minutes, and get him down, or just punch him in the face 1 or 2 times? You be the judge.

In the Ring, you are prepared, in the street, maybe not?

When you fight in the ring, both you and your opponent are in neutral corners. Both of you agree not to use any "foul" tactics, and the referee stands between you. You have breaks between rounds also and doctors at ring side. An MMA fight sometimes lasts for over 15 minutes. A boxing match can last more than 30. Yet, a street fight or self-defense scenario only lasts between 10 seconds to no more than 2 minutes. And its between those 10 seconds and two minutes that you can be killed. All the training in the world can't prepare you for a surprise attack. Martial arts will not make you invincible. It will only increase your chances of survival. That's it. In the streets, there are no guarantees. My training has helped me survive some fights. While other times, my training was useless.

Especially in situations where I was held up, and had to negotiate. The UFC has a famous catch phrase with their company, its "As real as it gets". Yeah...in a controlled environment, MMA is the most realistic form of televised fighting. But, its still not the street. The "Dog Brothers" hold the honor of "most realistic fighting competition" because they have no weight classes, no gender classes, and they use weapons. But, they are still not trying to "kill" each other. They still have someone to "pull" the opponent off when things go to far. There are no substitutes for the real thing. No matter how realistic...

Different goals for different people...

All martial arts are beneficial to a person in one way or another. Self-defense is only one aspect of martial arts. The sport, the self-defense, and the spiritual aspects all important. Each martial art gives you something unique. No matter what the style, any martial arts can help. This article is not intended to promote or disprove the practice of any art. They all help us achieve something special within ourselves.

Is Jujitsu any good as a martial art? Should it be trained?

Without question!!!! Jujitsu is one of the best martial arts around. Just like any single style, it has pro's and con's. When I teach women's self-defense, I do teach them how to reverse a full-mount, how to get out of headlocks, and other common grappling methods. If you are grabbed or taken to the ground, you must know how to to defend yourself. And Jujitsu will help you achieve that. Also, Jujitsu is a great restraining art for Police officers and Military personal. If you simply want to apprehend someone and not hurt them, Jujitsu is also a wonderful art. Many jujitsu tactics are practical for self-defense, especially the chokes and escapes. Chokes are much more practical and easier to achieve than many joint locks. Japanese Jujitsu and many Kung Fu systems actually promote small-joint manipulations (breaking of the fingers), which is banned in MMA. Below I will quickly discuss the differences between Japanese Jujitsu and Brazilian Jujitsu

Which styles of martial arts are best suited for the streets?

If you train ANY style of martial art, you will be better off than some couch potato that doesn't exercise. But, the best styles of martial arts are the onces that are aggressive, direct, and give you many options. Here are some good examples

1. Non-sportive Muay Thai- Knee strikes (groin), elbows, also teaches footwork and long range tactics. In traditional muay thai, you may also learn "Krabi Krabong", the weapons system.
2. Wing Chun- Very quick and progressive punching to the centerline. Attacks are aimed at the eyes, throat, chin, groin, and kicks to the knee joints. Wing chun also has knife and stick training
3. Kali- Teaches you how to fight with sticks, knives, and also some standing wrestling/clinching tactics mixed with basic yet brutal striking like headbutting.
4. Judo/Japanese Jujitsu- One solid hard throw to the concrete and you wont have to go to the ground, because your opponent will be broken. Japanese Jujitsu covers different ranges (striking, weapons, and grappling) of fighting unlike the Brazilian version that only focuses on the ground.
5. Krav Maga- gun defense, knives defense, tiger claw, eye pokes, knee strikes, you name it! A military martial art.

These are just a FEW martial arts that I enjoy for self-defense. Although with the right mind-set ANY style can be made effective. Xingyiquan, western Boxing (the footwork), and many other styles can give you attributes as well. That's why I like to learn from everyone. Fighting is very unpredictable. Each style has pro's and con's. I enjoy practicing wing chun, xingyiquan, and western boxing more than anything in my free-time. But I am not an idiot. I realize that other skills must be learned. That is why I remain humble and have spent time cross-training with Krav Maga, Kali, Jujitsu, and other martial arts. I don't care what style of martial arts you practice. If you are realistic, and have great knowledge, I want to learn from you! In this world, the only way to learn is to be humble and honest. In fact, you may not even agree with this article. And that's fine. I respect all opinions. Enough of that, let's move on...

Mindset and conclusion...

Self-defense requires an "escape" mentality. It may not win you any championship belts, but it will keep you alive. The only time you need to fight to the end, is if your opponent is extremely tough, or if you are protecting a 3rd party (wife, sibling, friend, etc). If you wish to be an MMA fighter or Boxer, you are expected to "finish" the fight. Its two different worlds, and two different mindsets.

Self-defense vs sport fighting. Consider that MMA has over 30 rules. A good analogy is...self-defense is a 50 yard dash. And being a ring fighter is like being a marathon runner. They are two different worlds. If you put one in the other, his chances will not be good. Self-defense is a deep topic. Legal issues, and many things must be considered. Love me or hate me, I love all martial arts, and I never want to see anyone be put down because of their choice of music, martial arts, or religion. Everything has value. Mindsets vs Skill-sets are basically what this article comes to.

Acupuncture And Massage Therapies For Arthritis

Affecting an approximately seventy million Americans, arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United States. Arthritis is complex disease that can hit at any virtually any age and featuring more than one hundred various conditions. Of the multitude of arthritis disorders, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the two most common. For this reason the idea of acupuncture and massage therapies for arthritis treatment has suddenly become quite popular.

Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis is the most common form of the disease in the United States. Stricking a record twenty-one million Americans, osteoarthritis is a systematic shutdown of the joint cartiledge that ultimately leads to severe pain and stiffness. The hips, knees, fingers, and spine are the most common comfort zones for osteoarthritis, with the wrists, elbows, shoulders, and ankles less commonly affected. When the disease deviates into a uncommon area of affliction it is typically due to an pre-existing injury. Work related injuries are frequent causes of the development of osteoarthritis. For example, professions where bending, kneeling, and squatting is the main attraction feature an elevated risk of osteoarthritis of the knee.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: In contrast to osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis can actually affect various joint and some patients feel the disease's effects in other parts of the body, including the blood, the lungs, the tissue of the skin, as well as the heart. Rheumatoid arthritis, which can be long-term, is characterized by an inflammation of the joints called synovium, the inflammation causes joint swelling, stiffness, warmth, and redness. The affected joints may lose their shape, thus losing the ability to move normally.

Acupuncture and Massage Therapies for Arthritis Treatment

In recent years, the use of acupuncture and massage therapies for arthritis treatment have pointed to the therapies' potential as effective alternatives to mainstream medicines. And that's not all that the use of acupuncture and massage therapies for arthritis treatments have in common, both alternative treatments have beginnings that are deeply rooted in the mystical world of ancient medicine. Just take a look at acupuncture.

Acupuncture For Arthritis Treatment: Acupuncture, and other types of oriental medicines, have been wildly successful in treating the pain and inflammation affiliated with various types of arthritis. Ancient Chinese medicine custom fits acupuncture treatment according to the individual arthritis symptoms of patients with a unique combo of acupuncture therapy, Chinese herbs, body work, and lifestyle changes. Even dietary changes and energentic exercises are a big part of treating arthritis through acupuncture.

The acupuncture points used to treat arthritis aren't just located over the throbbing area, but rather in different areas located over the entire body. You may just find those tiny acupuncture needles placed in every area from your legs to your arms right on down to your baby toe! Don't let the needles frighten you, some people take their acupuncture session as an opportunity to catch up on a few Z's. Session last between five minutes and a half an hour, but arthritis patients may require multiple trips to their acupuncturist depending on the severity of the disease.

As a follow-up to your visit, your acupuncturist may also provide you with prescribed Chinese herbal formulas specifically designed to alleviate the symptoms of arthritis. Chinese herbs used to treat arthritis as a part of acupuncture therapy are:

Juan Bi Tang

Cinnamon Twig

Peony

Anjelica Pubescens

A Scadanavian study of thirty-two hip replacement/arthritis patients found that twenty-five percent of the patients who received acupuncture therapy experienced such surges in their functionability that they decide they didn't need that hip replaced after all.

Massage Therapy for Arthritis: Both acupuncture and massage therapies for arthritis treatment are used as cutting edge alternatives to contemporary medicine, but did you know that they both got their start in the ancient world? It was the ancient Greek Hippocrates who first suggested that "rubbing" be used as a remedy for loosening a "hard joint-" that was over two thousand years ago. Massage therapy is believed to work in a few ways in combating arthritis:

Improving joint movement

Relaxing tense muscles

Stimulating blood flow to the skin

And if one form of massage therapy doesn't work for you, don't sweat it. There are several very popular massage therapy programs to choose from:

Swedish Massage

Deep Tissue Massage

Trigger Point Therapy

Acupressure

Reflexology

Arthritis Treatment: Is There Data About Effectiveness Of Stem Cells For Osteoarthritis Treatment?

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis. It is a disease that affects articular cartilage.

Cartilage is a complex tissue that consists of a matrix substance made up of water, collagen, and proteoglycans (proteins mixed with sugars). In addition, cells, called chondrocytes, sit inside the matrix and are responsible for manufacturing the matrix.

The development of OA is a complicated process that is hastened by genetic factors, trauma, and aging.

The exact sequence of events that leads to OA is still a subject of conjecture. However, because it is the most common form of arthritis and affects so many people (approximately 20 million Americans), it is the subject of intense investigation.

Unfortunately, the treatment of OA, to date, is poor. It consists primarily of symptomatic relief.

Anti-inflammatory medicines, ice, injections of cortisone and viscosupplements (lubricants), physical therapy, and eventually joint replacement are the current forms of treatment.

The ideal treatment for OA should, of course, include pain relief. But also, slowing down the rate of cartilage loss or even reversing it by building new cartilage should be a major goal. And so is avoidance of joint replacement surgery.

That is why the use of autologous stem cells (a patient's own stem cells) has garnered so much interest. Here are the results of a patient who underwent an autologous stem cell procedure for OA of the knee at our center last year...

- Started having considerable pain in my right knee in January 2010

- Diagnosed with irreversible arthritis of my right knee in October 2010 by both Rochester (Michigan) Knee and University of Michigan Orthopedists

- Knee stem cell procedure on December 10, 2010 performed at the Arthritis Treatment Center

- 3 months recovery and physical therapy

- Bay Shore Marathon May 2011

- Solstice 10 miler in June 2011

- Peterborough 70.3 July 2011

- WAM 300 mile /3 day bike tour July 2011

- Crim 10 miler August 2011

- Ironman Wisconsin Sept 2011

- Completed the Marine Corp Marathon October 2011

While these results aren't meant to show the typical outcome, many of the active "Boomers" who have undergone this procedure at our center have done well and been able to return to a high level of activity.

Our results involving the first 22 patients with OA of the knee, which is what we specialize in, are reported here.

(Wei N, Beard S, Delauter S, Bitner C, Gillis R, Rau L, Miller C, Clark T. Guided Mesenchymal Stem Cell Layering Technique for Treatment of Osteoarthritis of the Knee. J Applied Res. 2011; 11: 44-48)

Who knows...someday... joint replacement surgery may be a thing of the past.

Flying Overseas After a Knee Replacement

After you have had a knee replaced, knowing when and how to travel for the first time on either long distance domestic flights or international flights can be challenging.

There are several tips that I have learned after flying several times overseas that I found have helped me and are also recommended by orthopedic surgeons for all knee replacement patients.

1. Arrive Early At The Airport. Though this is recommended for all travelers you will find that once you arrive at the gate you will have to pass through the metal detectors which will in turn set off the alarms. You than have to allow for several minutes for a pat down. What I do is go through the airport scanner this way they see the prosthesis and do not bother with the time it takes to find someone who can do the pat down. I find that carrying a joint replacement card does not do any good, you still have to go through the same process.

2. Buy Yourself a Pair Of Compression Stockings. This is one of the best investments you can make. I travel with a pair on every flight. I find you do not need the waist-high stockings as some people use, I have found that a good pair of knee-high stockings do the job just fine. You can buy a pair from a medical supply store for instance or you may find them at your local drug store. These are important do not forget them.

I still get some minor swelling in my foot if I fly overseas and the my knee replacement is over 13 years old.

3. Take a Baby Aspirin Before Boarding The Flight. I carry with me the 81 mg baby aspirin when I travel and make sure I take one about thirty minutes before boarding the flight.

4. Take a Walk Every Hour or Two. This is important not only for those of you who have had a knee replaced but for anyone who has a circulation problem or other medical condition. I make sure I get up every couple of hours at least and go to an area of the plane that allows me to stretch and work on exercises such as heel raises for the calves and partial mini-squats along with marching in place. I find these types of movements combined with walking in the isles beneficial in keeping the swelling to a minimum after knee replacement surgery.

When I fly overseas I generally take a flight that lasts for approximately 16 hours one way, so following these tips have helped me tremendously cut down on the discomfort that can be associated with long distance travel.

If you have further concerns, be sure to talk with your orthopedic surgeon as well for some helpful advice on how to prepare to fly and, when you can actually begin to travel after joint replacement surgery.

Interview - Kyle MacLachlan

[This interview took place in 1986.]

David Lynch's Blue Velvet opened to widespread critical praise and heated public controversy. I've yet to hear a lukewarm reaction. Either you hate the film or you love it. Lynch leaves his audience no alternative. Blue Velvet polarizes audiences as few films - Last Tango in Paris, A Clockwork Orange - can.

Kyle MacLachlan, star of Blue Velvet (as well as Lynch's earlier film, Dune) offers his view on the cinematic phenomenon.

Question: Before you starred in Dune, you had pretty much grown up with the character of Paul Atreides. I mean, you'd read Dune over and over again as a teenager, so you knew what you were getting into. When you did Blue Velvet, how did you prepare for the role of Jeffrey?

Answer: Obviously, I didn't have the advantage of the book here, which I used as a lot of resource material for Dune. But I had a knowledge of the script because David (Lynch) spoke with me during the filming of Dune about it and gave me a draft of the script. So I had a year and a half with it. But I didn't really get down to working on it until about a month or two before we began shooting.

Q: Do you enjoy working with Lynch?

A: I do very much. David is a wonderful human being, a nice person, along with being a brilliant director with quite an interesting vision. Different than anything I've seen before. On the set he prepares a real nice environment for his actors to work in. He's very calm and supportive.

Q: I spoke with Lynch last week, and he told me he thought you were a bit too normal for his next film.

A: Ronnie Rocket? Yeah, we joke about that. He's going even farther out there.

Q: Have you read the script for that?

A: No, I haven't. I've read parts of it. It doesn't seem to be very linear. It wasn't a story I could follow easily. It jumped all over the place. It had some real strange places, which made it interesting. But he's done massive rewrites on it from the one I read, so it's probably changed quite a bit.

Q: Is Lynch restrictive with his actors?

A: Sometimes he can be very restrictive, and sometimes he can be very open. I pretty much tailored myself to what David wanted; I let him be the boss. I just felt that David's vision of what he wanted to make is so specific, that for me to start screwing around with that would just hurt what he wanted to say.

Q: Did the two of you ever butt heads?

A: We've always been able to resolve any major differences. But yeah, there were a couple of things in Blue Velvet - for instance, the final scene. I was arguing for a moment that was a little bit more emotional. I mean, Jeffrey's just killed a guy. There's got to be something that goes with that - whether it's weak knees or whatever. What sort of physical thing happens to him? But David was very strong in wanting that image of Laura Dern and I kissing there in the hall way so he could pan up. I wanted one thing, and he wanted another. I went with his vision, that's the way it is. I fought for it, but...

Q: Lynch made the comment that sometimes when his actors made suggestions like that, he wanted to set them on fire.

A: (Laughter)

Q: How was it working with the other actors?

A: It was a real joy. When you're working with an actor that's wonderful, you don't have to worry about trying to create things that he's not doing for you, or trying to make up for his deficiencies.

Q: How was it relating to them on the set?

A: It's like when you talk with someone and you know they're preoccupied. On one level, they're talking with you and everything's cool, but you feel that they're occupied with something else. That's sort of the way it is on the set. As you get closer to the actual take, you just sort of leave the other person alone. You just sort of hang out.

Q: How much did Dennis Hopper stay in character when we wasn't filming? Was he scary walking around the set, or did he just fall into that when the camera rolled?

A: Dennis is just terrific. I was really scared coming in. I'd heard these stories...

Q: Well he's scary on the screen.

A: In the scene it's wonderful. He gets this look in his eyes, and it's like WHOA...!

Q: It's just a film, Dennis, it's just a film...

A: But he's a consummate actor. You feel threatened as a character, but you know that the guy's not going to be out of control. That's just one of the fine lines. He's not going to do bodily damage to people. As a matter of fact, in the fight sequence - incredible control. You know, when he's punching me beating the hell out of me. Really terrific. He's just a real professional.

Q: You enjoyed getting punched...

A: From Dennis Hopper, yeah, it's okay.

Q: He sort of turns it on, then. Can you just turn it on, or do you have to stay in character?

A: It's like a gas stove and a pot of water, you know. It's on and it's hot, and you can see the bubbles around it. It's always on all day - but you can still be a nice person. And then, when you need it - five or ten minutes before a scene - you sit down in your chair and you start to let that stuff cook. You bring it up, and let it boil for awhile as you do the scene; and then you bring it back down, and let it sit there awhile.

Q: You said Lynch had a very specific idea of what he wanted to do. Were you able to pick up on that easily?

A: David doesn't always communicate with language that I can understand. But he's very specific about what he wants when he sees it, and he can identify that. Some directors will do 30 or 40 takes because they don't know what they want. We did between two and five - sometimes one.

Q: What was the most challenging aspect of the movie for you?

A: One thing was the nudity. I had never done it before, onstage or in Dune, so that was something I had to sort of sit, think about, and get comfortable with. Again, that's where David was real great, because he creates a wonderful atmosphere on the set. Isabella and I worked together and it got to a place where it was okay. You take it step-by-step in rehearsal until you're comfortable with the person and with what's going on. Then they bring in a small crew - four or five people to shoot the scene. At which point I, as an actor, am unaware of what they're doing.

Q: Did you get a lot of rehearsal time?

A: Yeah, as much time as we felt we needed. That was also a wonderful thing about Fred Caruso, who produced the picture. Producers work with time and money. But he tried to be as sympathetic as he could and give David the amount of time that he needed.

Q: What was your relationship with the production side of the film? With Caruso and (studio head) Dino DeLaurentiis and the others?

A: It all comes down to a system of buffers, you know. From Dino to Fred, from Fred to David, from David to us. The better they are at buffering and protecting the actors, the better I'm going to feel working on the picture.

Q: How did you get the role?

A: It all started with Dune. While we were shooting Dune, David had a copy of the script and he let me read it. He thought I'd be great as Jeffrey. So we sort of made a little pact that we'd work on it. Then Dune opened, and we both went into sort of a tailspin.

Q: What were your opinions of Dune?

A: I had so many feelings: part of me loved the film, and part of me hated the film. I guess because you live through all of it. It's exciting to watch it happen. These are my friends on the screen. I was watching the scenes and I knew what was going on around the scenes.

Q: You really can't divorce yourself from it.

A: It's very difficult, yeah. I also thought the film was very talky, and had too much explaining, and all those things. I sort of looked at is as a "Best Of." You take the novel, and you've got a certain number of scenes. You've gotta know the novel, I think, to get much from the scenes in the picture. The gaps are pretty wide.

Q: You shot a lot more than what ended up on the screen. Lynch said something about re-editing a longer version. Do you know anything about that?

A: Yeah, he said to me that for television - NBC, CBS, whoever's gonna take it...

Q: Do a miniseries?

A: It'll probably be a two-nighter. He wants to put about a half hour in, which would make it about a four hour picture. So we'll get more stuff on the Fremen - which will help, because they disappeared from the picture. Hopefully there'll be a little more filler, you know. So the scenes will be a little bigger, and maybe they'll be closer together so people will be able to follow the story line.

Q: So people who haven't read the novel will know what's going on?

A: Maybe. Or at least get a better idea of this world that David sort of worked in conjunction with Frank Herbert to create.

Q: Herbert really liked the movie, right?

A: Yeah, Frank was a real positive guy. [Note: Frank Herbert, the author of the novel, died before the movie opened.] It was probably similar for him to watch the movie as it was for me to watch the movie. He was down there a lot. I think he really enjoyed the whole process, and he enjoyed seeing his picture put up on film. The film wasn't terrible. It wasn't an embarrassment to watch. I mean the acting was...what it was. It was very stylized. It wasn't like you look at it and go, "Oh God, that's really bad." It just didn't click somehow. It's easy to sort of rationalize that when you're involved with it. You sort of look over that and say, "I love it."

Q: Hard to be objective.

A: It is. Very difficult.

Q: Okay, let's move on. First you played a messiah in Dune. And in Blue Velvet you're just a college kid in a small town. You've gone from one extreme to another. What do you want to do next?

A: Sometimes people ask me, "What's role do you want to do next?" On film it's so difficult because every script that comes to you has got a completely different set of circumstances. On stage, I can say, "Yeah, someday I'd like to do Cyrano," you know. Or Mercutio. There are roles that are set there that I'd really love to do. But on film it comes down to something that's a wonderful story about people. With some good writing, relationships that are multi-layered, and characters that are interesting and develop from A to Z. And that can be set anywhere. It comes down to that type of thing as opposed to a certain character that I want to step into.

Q: Is there something specific that you're developing now?

A: Nothing specific, no. I'm just reading things and trying to find something that I would really like to do. I find those, and then I go and start the battle, you know. Meet and read and fight with all the other actors that want to do it. I've come close, but so far I haven't gotten anything solid yet. I'm hoping Blue Velvet helps. It always helps when people can see that you can do something else besides fight robots and talk in deep voices. They need a little more than just Dune.

Q: Did you have to fight for Blue Velvet or was it pretty much set for you?

A: In David's mind it was set for me. I turned it down. I said, "I can't do it" at one point, because I felt it was just...too intense, somehow. So I went away for about a month, two months. During that period of time, I think, they went out and looked for other actors. And then finally I said, "Well, no, I think I really want to do it." Then they stopped the search and I stepped in. I think in David's mind he knew I was going to do it all along. It was just a matter of me coming around.

Q: You've said Lynch has a very specific vision of what he wants. During the course of production, are you more or less aware of what the final product will be?

A: Yes and no. I was there almost every day. I shot 60-plus days, which is a lot. I was there, in Dorothy's apartment, and I saw what it looked like. The first day when we all walked in we went, "Ooooo...this is wonderful." So you get a feel somehow. You also feel the style because of the dialog. David's dialog is very stylized, I think. It's very difficult to say and make real. It's one of the challenges. But I really didn't pick up on the humor of it until I saw it with an audience at Telluride. And suddenly, I heard lines like, "We don't know much but bits and pieces." People laugh, and I thought, God, that's funny. You never realize at the time the humor of the stuff. It's like a big puzzle. You take a piece - the scene you're working on today - and you look at it, and you've got no idea of what the whole is going to be. Shooting a movie is like taking a piece and putting four or five together at one time and then leaving it.

Q: You don't film it chronologically.

A: No. Usually within a scene you try and shoot it at one point. So I really didn't have a strong idea of what David was going finish. I think he does while he's doing it. When he sees what he wants, it's cut, print, onto the next one.

Q: How would you describe Blue Velvet to someone who hasn't seen it before?

A: That would be difficult. I'm not even sure what it is, you know. From my point of view, as the character, I look at it as a journey - as a young man who comes home and...goes through some experiences. That's just about it, you know. It's such a mind-boggling film for me. I've read some reviews that have come out already - John Powers in the L.A. Weekly and David Thompson in California magazine - and they've got a couple of pages, devoted to this thing. I sort of read it and go, "Yeah...that sounds pretty good." They take a stab and write all this stuff and I'm just boggled by the things they pull out of this picture. So I yield to them.

Q: When you saw Blue Velvet at the film festival, what was the audience reaction like?

A: They went crazy. I was amazed. I mean, when we made this picture, we had no idea how it was going to be responded to. I thought it was weird. I thought, who knows, either it's going to be universally panned or it's going to be looked at as this new, brilliant picture. Which is kind of fun, in a way. It's like with Dune: you do your work, you come out, and the critics - they knock it aside. So you come back and you another one, and the critics - they love it. It's a funny game...