All posts tagged: Pain

The best non-drug therapies to relieve the pain of knee osteoarthritis

The best non-drug therapies to relieve the pain of knee osteoarthritis

Published by skeptic

Knee braces really do seem to relieve symptoms of osteoarthritis that affects the joint Tom Werner/Getty Images Knee braces and water-based exercise appear to be two of the most effective ways to ease the pain and stiffness caused by knee osteoarthritis. That is according to a review of 12 non-drug therapies, but higher-quality evidence is needed before this guides clinical practice. The condition is caused by the wear and tear of cartilage that cushions the ends of bones, leading to inflammation, pain and stiffness. Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs can relieve these symptoms, but can also have side effects, so clinicians typically recommend physical therapies, such as shoe insoles to relieve knee pressure, supporting the joint with tape or using laser therapy to promote cartilage healing. However, it is unclear how these methods compare. “A lot of reviews of treatments only look at how well a single therapy works,” says Sarah Kingsbury at the University of Leeds in the UK, who wasn’t involved in the latest research. To fill this gap, Yuan Luo at the First …

Doctors dismissed my pain. I eventually discovered I had a rare tumor | Well actually

Doctors dismissed my pain. I eventually discovered I had a rare tumor | Well actually

Published by Sam

My baby nephew grabbed my arm, eager to show me his toy trucks. “Don’t ever touch me there again!” I snapped. The confusion and hurt on his face stopped me cold. He couldn’t have known that his tiny hand had caused an intense surge of pain. For years, I’d experienced a stabbing pain in my forearm when it was touched or exposed to cold. I don’t remember when it started, but even putting on a shirt made me wince if the fabric brushed against the area. A cold breeze could trigger agony that felt like needles pressing deep into muscle and bone. Snapping at my nephew made me realize I needed help. But when I reported the pain to my primary care doctor, he couldn’t see anything wrong. I could see a tiny bump underneath the skin, but instead of investigating further, he dismissed my concerns as an overreaction. My pain being dismissed was a regular experience for me as a Black woman. Studies have shown that physicians are more likely to underestimate the pain …

Emmanuel Macron se félicite pour la sauvegarde de la haute mer, mais il reste du pain sur la planche – POLITICO

Emmanuel Macron se félicite pour la sauvegarde de la haute mer, mais il reste du pain sur la planche – POLITICO

Published by Sam

Selon un rapport de l’Unesco de 2024, la teneur des océans en oxygène diminue à l’échelle planétaire et le réchauffement des océans se produit à un rythme sans précédent et de plus en plus rapide. “L’océan est notre principal allié, que l’on vive en Europe ou n’importe où dans le monde”, a déclaré Ursula von der Leyen, présidente de la Commission européenne. “Toutefois, si nous négligeons l’océan, si nous le traitons de manière irrespectueuse, l’océan se retournera contre nous”, a-t-elle ajouté, évoquant les “tempêtes toujours plus violentes [qui] ravagent nos côtes”. Emmanuel Macron et Ursula von der Leyen se sont exprimés lors de la troisième conférence des Nations unies sur les océans (Unoc) à Nice où des délégations de plus de 120 pays, dont plus de 50 chefs d’Etat et de gouvernement, sont réunies pour tenter de ressusciter les océans du monde entier, qui souffrent depuis longtemps. Le Traité sur la haute mer — ou l’Accord sur la biodiversité au-delà des juridictions nationales (BBNJ), comme il est officiellement appelé — fixe des normes pour la …

I did 10 minutes of Pilates every day for a month and I was surprised how effective it was for my back pain

I did 10 minutes of Pilates every day for a month and I was surprised how effective it was for my back pain

Published by skeptic

Pilates is a great way to improve strength and flexibility. It’s particularly useful for building core muscles and helping with posture and balance. It’s cheap, too, as you can practice it at home on a mat. I love a 30-day challenge so I decided to do 10 minutes of Pilates a day for a month to see what would happen. You may like I did a mixture of workouts, some from the Pilates Prescription app and others from YouTube. Here’s what happened. My experience doing 10 minutes of Pilates every day for 30 days My core got stronger Many people think that the core is just the abdominal muscles, but it also includes the pelvic floor and lower back muscles. They all work together to stabilize and move the spine, while helping support the body as a whole. In the first week of my daily Pilates challenge, I focused on building up my core strength with workouts like the Side Body Core Flow on the Prescription Pilates app. Start your week with achievable workout ideas, …

Runner experienced burning pain before stage three cancer diagnosis

Runner experienced burning pain before stage three cancer diagnosis

Published by skeptic

Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter A runner and former rollerblader was diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer after experiencing extreme pain in his left buttock last year. Despite the diagnosis, carpenter Andy Spary, 39, and his wife Amy, 35, from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, are focusing on the positive that his cancer is treatable. Andy is even aiming to run the London Marathon after re-learning to walk to raise money for the charity Trekstok, which supports young people with cancer. “The diagnosis was a shock and it took a few weeks to really sink in,” he said. “I had a feeling something was not right, but you’re never really prepared for news like that.” open image in gallery Andy is aiming to run the 2026 Marathon on behalf of Trekstok (Collect/PA Real Life) Andy’s symptoms began in …

A Pilates instructor says these six moves will help you walk without joint pain

A Pilates instructor says these six moves will help you walk without joint pain

Published by skeptic

Walking is one of the simplest ways to move your body and it’s very, very good for you. It can help you lose weight, de-stress and improve your bone health. But it might not feel so easy to put your trainers on and get out the house if you experience pain or discomfort while walking. There are many reasons why you might get pain in your muscles and joints while walking, but it’s often due to a lack of mobility or strength. You may like “The mechanics of walking involves primarily the joints and muscles of the hip, knee and ankle,” says Helen O’Leary, physiotherapist and founder of Complete Pilates. There’s a straightforward way to deal with this, though, and that’s to strengthen and stretch the muscles and joints that are uncomfortable while walking. Pilates is a low-impact workout that promotes strength, mobility and balance, and according to O’Leary it’s one of the best ways to improve the way you walk. “Pilates is a fantastic form of exercise to improve leg strength,” says O’Leary. “To …

A physical therapist says weakness in this one muscle could be contributing to knee and back pain and there’s a simple way to check

A physical therapist says weakness in this one muscle could be contributing to knee and back pain and there’s a simple way to check

Published by skeptic

Many people assume that knee pain is caused by weakness in the knee joint, but that’s not always the case. Often, the real culprit is a weak supporting muscle elsewhere in the body. According to physical therapist Tom Williams at Activ8rehab, the culprit could be your gluteus medius—one of the three muscles in your buttocks—located on the outside of your pelvis. It’s common for this muscle to show signs of weakness, even for active people. It could be contributing to pain in other areas of the body, including your back, or increasing your risk of injury. You may like Williams has shared a simple test to help you assess whether or not your glute medius needs attention. How to do the gluteus medius strength test The test: Side plank leg lift Lie on your side with your forearm on the floor and elbow under your shoulder. Engage your core and lift your hips so your body is in a straight line. Lift your top leg, pause, then lower with control. If your hips drop as …

Dancing the Pain Away: What Is Dance Movement Therapy?

Dancing the Pain Away: What Is Dance Movement Therapy?

Published by skeptic

Published: May 19, 2025written by Maysara Kamal, BA Philosophy & Film   You may have heard that the body keeps the score, but did you know it also keeps the secret of healing? Dance movement therapy (DMT) is a holistic therapeutic approach that honors the interconnectedness of body, mind, and spirit. Using the body as its instrument, DMT redeems the shadows of the unconscious into the light of our conscious awareness.   What Is the History of Dance Movement Therapy? A shaman holding a drum. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Dance and movement have been used as healing methods since prehistoric times, long before they were formalized into a school of therapy. Since the early upper Paleolithic era, 30, 000 BP, shamans used dancing in their healing rituals and spiritual practices. In aboriginal communities in Australia, dating back over 60, 000 years ago, dancing was a sacred practice, known as the ‘Dance of Life’, which was believed to produce healing benefits. Further, Vimbuza, a healing dance popular in Africa among the Bantu-speaking communities, was used to …

I used to struggle with knee pain when I ran until I made these four changes, says an expert running coach

I used to struggle with knee pain when I ran until I made these four changes, says an expert running coach

Published by skeptic

There are two ways to approach your first marathon: the smart way and the hard way. Six years ago, personal trainer James Stirling—better known as London Fitness Guy—chose the hard way. “When I trained—or, more accurately, didn’t train as well as I should have—for the London Marathon in 2019 that’s when I first suffered with knee pain,” he tells Fit&Well. “For me, it has always been a case of overuse and I think that is the most common cause of knee pain. It’s doing mileage your body is not adapted to or running too fast too soon.” You may like That wake-up call prompted Stirling to train as a running coach so that he, and his clients, wouldn’t repeat the same mistakes. Now, having just completed the Berlin Half Marathon—one of six races in the SuperHalfs series he plans to complete over the next two years—Stirling says he’s taking a far more patient, comprehensive and long-term approach. Here are the four changes he made to prevent knee pain and run injury-free. 1. Strength train Introducing …

I had hip and knee pain when I ran until I did these two trainer-approved things

I had hip and knee pain when I ran until I did these two trainer-approved things

Published by skeptic

I took part in a running challenge recently, and I noticed that my left knee and hip were feeling uncomfortable during every session. It’s not that surprising as I’m out of practice. Since becoming a mom, I’ve swapped out running for strength workouts at home—because there’s no need for childcare! Knee and hip issues are common complaints for runners because of the repetitive and high-impact movements, which can be exacerbated by improper form, inadequate strength, poor flexibility and not warming up enough can also be to blame. I spoke to NASM-certified personal trainer, and Peloton instructor, Jermaine Johnson to find out what I could do to reduce the stress on my knee and hip. You may like 1. Stretching (Image credit: Peloton) “We should definitely be incorporating stretching, but it needs to be specific,” Johnson tells Fit&Well. “I recommend dynamic stretches before a run. Things like leg swings, hip circles and walking lunges to get the body moving. “Then you need to do static stretches post-run. Focus on the hip flexors, quads, hamstrings, calves and …