Category Archives: Health and Wellness

Baseball Finger: The Injury You Don’t Catch

You hear the crack of the bat and see the ball coming your way, but when you reach for the catch, the ball jams your outstretched middle finger. You’ve just caught baseball finger, also known as mallet finger. Mallet finger can result from any situation in which the tip of the finger is jammed by […]

Knee Osteoarthritis Supplementing Treatment for Knee Osteoarthritis

Knee osteoarthritis, common among older adults, occurs when cartilage in the knee breaks down. That allows the bones to rub against one another, causing pain, swelling, stiffness and decreased mobility. Drugstore shelves are filled with supplements containing chondroitin and glucosamine that promise healthier joints for those suffering from knee osteoarthritis. These supplements may sound like […]

Fitness: A Lifelong Commitment

First, the bad news: It doesn’t matter if you ran a marathon in your twenties or were the star quarterback of your college football team. Being physically fit at one point in your life—even on an elite level—does not mean that you will stay that way without committing time and energy to doing so. In […]

Keep Your Head: Recovering from a Concussion

With all the talk about athletes and concussions, one might ask whether everyone recovers similarly from this trauma. Many factors determine how quickly recovery occurs. Concussion is a brain injury caused by a hit to the head or an indirect body blow that leads to the brain moving within the skull, inflicting temporary neurological damage. […]

The Mythical Powers of a Copper Bracelet

The myth that copper and magnets have some kind of curative effect on arthritis has been around for ages. However, there is no scientific evidence to prove that copper bracelets—or any type of magnet—actually relieve joint pain. The belief in copper’s healing power evolved eons ago when the powerful mythical Greek goddess Aphrodite was linked […]

Are High-Intensity Exercise Programs Safe?

High-intensity home exercise programs, such as Insanity or P90x, have been touted as safe and effective. This may be true, but only under certain conditions—and even if you meet the criteria to practice these programs independently, it still might be a good idea to use caution when engaging in one. A high-intensity workout can be […]

Exercise: Solo, Duo or Group?

Some people view their workouts as a chance to grab some personal, meditative time, while others think of exercise as a social event. Some find that they adhere better to an exercise routine if they work out with a friend or family member. Does exercising alone or with others make a difference to your health? […]

“As Seen on TV” Might Not Work for You

Many of the fitness programs advertised on television can be used safely—by some people. Those people are most likely to be young, strong and relatively free of physical limitations, injuries or recurring “problem” areas such as knees or shoulders. If that doesn’t describe you, then you should probably refrain from making that toll-free call or […]

Activity Trackers: The Ideal Motivator?

Activity trackers are very popular these days. These devices can track the amount of your activity throughout the day and night. Many people wear them on their wrists or clip them to their clothing. Even many smartphones are now equipped with an activity tracker function. So will an activity tracker make you more fit? Not […]

Rewiring the Brain After a Stroke

If you or a loved one has suffered a stroke, the road to recovery can be long. While the brain injury suffered by stroke patients cannot be reversed, recent strides in understanding the brain have helped us make great progress in restoring function so that many patients can live as independently as possible with a […]