May is recognized each year as National Arthritis Awareness Month. Arthritis is a disease that impacts more than 50 million Americans, making it the number one cause of disability in the country. Here are some wise words from TVD friend and colleague, Dr. Pamela Mehta, founder of Resilience Orthopedics, a very “high touch” orthopedic practice, in Los Gatos, California.
“What is arthritis? Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition. It is the erosion of cartilage in your joint – I like to think of it as the treads on your tire that have begun to wear away. What can we do to alleviate the symptoms of arthritis? A lot actually! The most important is to keep moving! Seems counter-intuitive, but a joint with arthritis will become stiffer and more painful if immobile; a supple joint in motion is less painful. Another key to reducing symptoms of arthritis is to strengthen the muscles around the joint. This will take the load off the joint and redistribute the work thereby reducing the pain of arthritis in that joint. Low impact exercises such as swimming, spinning, and barre class are perfect for protecting the joints and toning the muscles around those joints. For more information about arthritis, joint health in general, and treatments to prevent and reduce the symptoms of arthritis call my office at 408-559-3888 for an appointment with me, or email me directly at [email protected] and for a peak into my world as a female orthopedic surgeon. Follow me on Instagram at dr.pamelamehta!” (May 2018)
Dr. Eric Weiss
