Arthritis, Osteoporosis & Rheumatic Conditions

A large new study conducted by Swedish researchers has found that older women who consumed more than 1,400 milligrams (mg) of calcium per day (from food and calcium supplements combined) were more than twice as likely to die from . . . → Read More: Risks of Calcium Supplements Highlighted by New Study & Govt Recommendation

Many doctors and physical trainers recommend strengthening all the muscles around the knee, such as quadriceps, hamstrings, and the calf, as a way of helping to prevent knee injuries. Before embarking on any exercise program, consult your doctor first. . . . → Read More: Two Exercises to Help Prevent Knee Injuries

Harvard Men’s Health Watch, a newsletter published by Harvard Medical School, has released a special January 2013 issue focusing on rub-on relief for arthritis pain. The authors advise that “Anti-inflammatory medications applied to the skin as creams, gels, sprays, . . . → Read More: Rub-On Relief for Arthritis Pain Featured in Harvard Men’s Health Watch

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are investigating a deadly multistate outbreak of fungal meningitis, which has been linked to steroid injections given for back and joint pain — . . . → Read More: Meningitis Outbreak Expands to 284 Cases; 23 Deaths

UPDATED July 23, 2012: A new Health Tip published by MedlinePlus, a service of the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health advocates that seniors “make exercise a social activity.” “Participate in a group dance class or a . . . → Read More: Experts Advocate Dancing for Health

Harvard Health Publications has published a new Special Health Report entitled, “The Joint Pain Relief Workout: Healing exercises for your shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles.” The Report provides exercises designed by doctors at Harvard Medical School, along with Master . . . → Read More: Harvard Health Publishes New Joint Pain Relief Workout

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued a draft recommendation on June 12, 2012, in which, based on its review of the scientific literature, it declined to recommend Vitamin D and Calcium supplements for prevention of cancer or bone . . . → Read More: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommends Against Vitamin D & Calcium Supplements

The National Institutes of Health last week awarded a $5.2 million grant to the University of Florida’s Institute on Aging, for continued studies of what causes age-related muscle loss (Sarcopenia) and how to prevent it. According to a recent . . . → Read More: New Studies Focus on Preventing Muscle Loss, as Key to Healthy Aging

The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) announced this month that in connection with National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month, which is observed each year in May, it is launching a new campaign, called Generations of Strength®. “NOF’s Generations of Strength . . . → Read More: National Osteoporosis Awareness & Prevention Month Spotlights Bone Health

In a news release issued May 1, the Arthritis Foundation, a non-profit organization, declared May as National Arthritis Action Month, and “challeng[ed] Americans to begin taking steps to reduce the burden of arthritis, the nation’s leading cause of disability.” . . . → Read More: National Arthritis Action Month Focuses on What You Can Do to Prevent or Manage this Common Condition

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced on Monday that it has posted a new report on Good Nutrition for Healthy Bones issued by the International Osteoporosis Foundation, on the NIH’s medical resource site. The report is posted and . . . → Read More: NIH Features New Report on Good Nutrition for Healthy Bones

Here are some tips on preventing osteoporosis by Cleveland Clinic’s Kristin Kirkpatrick, wellness manager for the Lifestyle 180 program. Watch ShareWik.com »

A new study by researchers at Keio University in Tokyo, Japan, has found that mice fed Vitamin E supplement in a quantity similar to that consumed by many people taking Vitamin E supplements lost bone mass, while those bred . . . → Read More: Vitamin E Supplements May Weaken Bones, New Mouse Study Suggests

Harvard Health Publications has issued a revised and updated version of its Special Health Report on “Low Back Pain: Healing Your Aching Back,” written by experts at Harvard Medical School. According to Harvard Health Publications, “Back pain is one . . . → Read More: Harvard Issues Updated Report on Low Back Pain: Healing Your Aching Back

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), part of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) is providing a new series of Guides for Patients and Consumers. These new Guides for Patients and Consumers include Consumer . . . → Read More: New Patient Guides & Treatment Decision Aids Provided by AHRQ

In a series of four scientific papers published today in The Lancet medical journal, noted scientists from several countries have examined in detail the worldwide obesity epidemic, its present and projected impact in the U.S. and the UK, and . . . → Read More: Obesity Alert: Scientists Warn of Alarming Health Costs, Discuss Cures

Johns Hopkins has released its 2011 Arthritis Whitepaper, with in-depth consumer information on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of various different conditions that fall under the heading of “arthritis.” The paper features several diet, exercise and other wellness strategies, . . . → Read More: 2011 Johns Hopkins Arthritis Whitepaper Released

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Drug Safety Communication today, notifying healthcare professionals and patients that the FDA is conducting “an ongoing review of data from published studies” to evaluate whether taking oral osteoporosis drugs (generically . . . → Read More: FDA Warns: Osteoporosis Drugs Under Review For Potential Increased Risk of Cancer of Esophagus

Recent reports of new statistics on osteoporosis have not been substantiated, but new concerns about safety of osteoporosis drugs and calcium supplements have recently re-focused attention on proper posture and movement techniques to avoid bone fractures, as well as . . . → Read More: Osteoporosis Concerns: What’s New? Re-focus on Proper Movement and Posture

Arthritis is a common condition that affects one in six Americans. To learn basic facts about arthritis, click the link below to take a tutorial provided by the Patient Education Institute of the U.S. Library of Medicine, National Institutes . . . → Read More: Arthritis Tutorial

As reported in the New York Times, several lawsuits are now being pursued against drug companies, alleging that continued use of bone-loss drugs, such as Fosamax and others, caused jawbone disintegration, thigh fractures, and other serious problems. An Advisory . . . → Read More: Fosamax Lawsuits Question Wide Use of Osteoporosis Drugs

New research challenges long-held ideas on calcium, fat.   American have commonly accepted as ”fundamental “truths:”  (1) that calcium builds strong bones and (2) that saturated fat clogs coronary arteries.    As a result, millions of women have been told to swallow a . . . → Read More: Research Challenges Long-Held Ideas on Calcium & Fat