Vienna (OTS) – Healthy joints are the prerequisite for an active life. But almost one in four adults in Austria suffers from chronic back or neck problems, and the number of osteoarthritis patients increases with age. In addition, around 290,000 people suffer from inflammatory rheumatism. When it comes to joint problems, exercise is not only the best prevention, but also the most important therapy. As part of the ORF initiative “Consciously healthy – stay active!” (details below https://presse.ORF.at) presents Dr. Christine Reiler in the ORF health magazine “Bewusst Gesundheit” on Saturday, March 30, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. on ORF 2, the following articles:
Movable – artificial intervertebral disc instead of stiffening
Depending on the definition, humans have between two and three hundred joints in their body. Some of them are highly mobile, such as the shoulder or wrist, others are largely rigid, such as those between the ribs and breastbone. A special type of joint is the intervertebral discs, which are also known as false joints. Although they do not represent bone connections, they do allow a certain mobility of the spine. The cervical spine is particularly affected by working for long periods of time on a screen, tablet or smartphone. And disc problems in the neck area are occurring in more and more – and increasingly younger – people. Surgery is often the last resort. In the past, neighboring vertebrae were usually connected to each other and thus stiffened, but today there are increasingly better ways to maintain mobility in the cervical spine. This is made possible with intervertebral disc prostheses, which are a type of artificial joint. Design: Christian Kugler
What to do if you have lower back pain?
“Sitting is the new smoking” – excessive sitting and poor posture can often lead to health problems, especially back pain in the lumbar region. Back pain is a widespread disease; around two million people in Austria are affected by it. It is often non-specific back pain that has no organic cause. Lower back pain can indicate various medical conditions such as lumbago, a herniated disc or a blockage of the sacroiliac joint. How to differentiate the symptoms in order to find the cause and the appropriate therapy is the topic of “Consciously Healthy”.
Arthroscopy – diagnosis and treatment in one
A firm push, a crash against the boards – body checks are on the agenda for Christof Kromp, professional ice hockey player for the Vienna Capitals. Last season, however, a duel on the boards resulted in severe wrist pain for the young man from Villach. X-rays and magnetic resonance were not enough to show the full extent of the damage. Only an endoscopy of the wrist brought clarity and at the same time made it possible to repair injured structures. With more than 1,100 elbow and wrist arthroscopies per year, the Herz Jesu Hospital in Vienna plays a pioneering role in the field of wrist arthroscopy. Design: Denise Kracher
“Consciously healthy” tip on the subject of bursitis
With moderate exercise, the joints remain mobile and pain-free. The situation is different with very one-sided stress, which can lead to bursitis. The affected joint suddenly swells, hurts, becomes warm and red. It can basically affect any joint, the most common being the elbows, knees and hips. Univ.-Prof. provides information about possible causes and therapies. Dr. Siegfried Meryn.
Recipe – relieve rheumatism with nutrition
Even if nutrition is not the focus of conventional medical therapy for rheumatic diseases, it still represents a type of supportive basic therapy. Because food can inhibit or promote inflammatory processes in the body. Red meat and animal fats should be avoided, while sufficient vegetables, preferably in different colors and therefore with different ingredients, can alleviate the symptoms. That’s why rheumatologist Gabriela Eichbauer-Sturm wrote a cookbook for her patients. Your recipes should not only be healthy, but also quick to prepare and inexpensive. Design: Steffi Zupan