7 Stretches to Counteract Sitting All Day

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Article featured on Optimal Sports Physical Therapy

Simple stretching exercises to do while sitting at your desk

Pause for a moment and notice how you are sitting. Yes, you! Humor us for a moment. How are you sitting right now? Have you slid way down in your chair? Or, have you slumped forward toward your computer screen? What about your feet? Do you have one foot tucked under you or your legs crossed?

If you said yes to any of these positions, you aren’t alone! Poor posture after sitting at your desk for even a short time is common for many people.

With a growing rate of sedentary jobs, many Americans are finding themselves spending eight or more hours without regular physical activity. Long periods of time without regular activity can be very hard on the body. Research is indicating that those who sit for long stretches have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and shortened life expectancies.

Breaking up your sedentary periods can help to lower your cardiovascular risk and improve your life expectancy. Incorporating simple stretching exercises at your desk can help to get your blood pumping and improve your posture.

Don’t worry, we aren’t suggesting you roll out your yoga mat in your cubicle. You can do these seven, easy to do, stretches while sitting in your chair. Learn more about other helpful ways to get and stay active during your workday.

Stretching Exercises While Sitting at your Desk

If you’re like most people who sit for long periods of time, your posture has likely slid off course. Don’t worry! Before you begin any stretches take a few moments to adjust your posture. Begin by following these easy tips:

  • Slide all the way back in your seat. Your lower back should be supported by the chair’s backrest.
  • Rest both feet flat on the floor with your knees directly above your ankles.
  • Raise your chair so that your hips are slightly higher than your knees.
  • Elbows should be resting comfortably on the chair’s armrest at 90 degrees.
  • Computer screen should be at eye height (neither looking down nor up).

Comfortable? Sitting this way may feel strange at first. With a little practice, you’ll find that sitting this way begins to feel more normal.

Now that you have adjusted your posture, you’re ready to try these seven easy stretching activities while sitting at your desk.

Chest and Shoulder Stretch

Stretching out the chest and shoulders may be one of the best stretches if you find yourself slumping forward while you work. This stretch targets the pectoral muscles and helps to open the chest.

How to: Take the arms behind you and interlace the fingers together. Begin to lift the arms up until you feel a stretch across your chest. Hold this stretch for 15 to 30 seconds and release.

Neck Stretch

Many people lean their head forward toward their computers when working at a desk. This puts extra tension on the neck. If you experience frequent headaches or upper back tension, stretching your neck can help.

How to: Reach your right arm down and grip the side of your chair. Tilt your head to the left feeling a gentle stretch down the side of your neck. Hold this stretch for 15 to 30 seconds and then repeat on the other side.

Spinal Twist

Sliding your hips forward in your chair or sitting in a slumped position can put a lot of strain on your back. A spinal twist can help to relieve tension across the entire back and reset your posture.

How to: With your feet flat on the floor, contract your abs and begin to rotate your upper body toward the right. Place your left hand on the outside of your right knee. Place the right hand on either the armrest or seatback to help deepen the stretch. Only twist as far as you feel comfortable. Even a small rotation can make a big difference. Hold this stretch for 15 to 30 seconds and then repeat on the other side.

Back Extension

Your back can take a beating when sitting slumped forward or when reclining backward. A seated back extension can help to ease tension while opening your chest and shoulders.

How to: Scoot back in your chair with your back resting comfortably against the backrest. Place the palms of your hands at the back of your neck. Lean back over your backrest keeping your elbows wide until you feel a gentle stretch across the back and chest. Hold this stretch for 10 to 15 seconds.

Hip Stretch

The lower body can get very tight after sitting for long periods. The hip flexors shorten and tighten and the glutes stretch while sitting. This easy to do stretch targets all areas of the hips and glutes in one stretch.

How to: While seated, cross your right ankle over your left knee. Sitting tall, begin to fold forward at the hips until you feel a stretch across your right glute. You can press down on your right knee to help deepen the stretch. Hold this stretch for 15 to 30 seconds and then repeat on the other side.

Hamstring Stretch

Without regular activity, your hamstrings can tighten quickly. This simple stretch helps to relieve leg discomfort and keep your hamstrings loose.

How to: Extend your right leg forward keeping your left foot flat on the floor. Sitting tall with your head in line with your spine, begin to fold forward reaching for your right toes. If your chair rolls, lock the wheels to avoid rolling backward. Hold this stretch for 15 to 30 seconds and then repeat on the other side.

Wrist Stretch

Resting your wrists flat on your keyboard or typing for long periods of time can cause tightness in your wrists. These two simple wrist stretches will target both the wrist flexor and wis extensor.

How to: Extend your right arm straight out in front of you with your palm up. Flex your wrist pointing your finger tips toward the floor. Using your left hand, pull back on your fingers to deepen the stretch until you feel a stretch up your arm. Hold this stretch for 15 to 30 seconds then repeat on the other side. Repeat this stretch with your palm facing down and flexing the fingers upward.

Tips for staying active while working from home

With the coffee pot only steps from your seat, you may find that you move less when working from home. Incorporating the seven easy seated stretches once an hour is a great start. But, consider some of our other favorite tips to get active and stay active during your day.

Get Moving

Getting moving may look different for everyone. This may mean doing your workout mid-day instead of in the morning. Or try blocking your calendar for a short walk around your house or outside every couple of hours. 15 minutes of light exercise can make a big difference in heart health, posture, fatigue, mood, and brain function.

Change Your View

Having something else to look at while you work can make a world of difference. Try working at your table for an hour instead of your desk. Or, pause and check out what the weather is like on the way to refill your water bottle.

Try a Virtual Walking Club

Do you struggle with accountability? Try setting up a virtual walking club with your teammates. Help hold each other accountable for taking short walking breaks. Set up a weekly competition or accountability partners. Whatever you do, make it fun and motivating.

Stand, Strengthen, Balance

On calls all day? Use that time to get moving. Standing can help to relieve tension from your back and get your blood pumping. Keep a set of weights or bands close to your desk and get in a few bicep curls or squats. Work on balance challenges like tree pose or wall sits to help improve posture and stability. No matter what you choose, we recommend you turn off your video for these activities.

No matter how you move your body during the day, the key is to do something regularly. Incorporating these sevensix simple stretches while seated at your desk can go a long way in reducing the effects of sitting on the body.

The Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center of Oregon is an award-winning, board-certified orthopedic group located in downtown Portland Oregon. We utilize both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal trauma, spine diseases, foot and ankle conditions, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumors and congenital disorders.

Our mission is to return our patients back to pain-free mobility and full strength as quickly and painlessly as possible using both surgical and non-surgical orthopedic procedures.

Our expert physicians provide leading-edge, comprehensive care in the diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic conditions, including total joint replacement and sports medicine. We apply the latest state-of-the-art techniques in order to return our patients to their active lifestyle.

If you’re looking for compassionate, expert orthopedic and podiatric surgeons in Portland Oregon, contact OSM today.

Phone:
503-224-8399

Address
17355 Lower Boones Ferry Rd Suite 100A
Lake Oswego, OR 97035

Hours
Monday–Friday
8:00am – 4:30pm

What is a Healthy Spine?

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Article featured on National Spine Health Foundation

What exactly is a healthy spine? How does spine anatomy play into it? The first step in maintaining a healthy spine is understanding what a healthy spine is. Some of the qualities of a healthy, youthful spine are that it:

  • Is pain-free
  • Moves well
  • Is supple
  • Is strong
  • Allows us to do the things we want to do

A back or spine that is damaged, injured, arthritic, or just wearing out loses these qualities. A back may become painful, stiff, and the bones may become weak and have osteoporosis. Muscles and ligaments may not support strength, therefore not allowing motion.

Treatments & Interventions for a Healthy Spine

The goals of treatment, including non-operative treatments of exercise, therapy, medicines and nutritional supplementation, as well as interventions, including injections, stem cells, platelet-rich plasma, or even surgery, are designed to restore the spine’s function more closely to that of a healthy spine. Minimally invasive surgical techniques, as well as motion sparing techniques, can help maintain or restore some of the qualities of a youthful spine.

Someone who has an intervertebral disc that is wearing out and is painful, degenerated, or otherwise no longer functioning well may be a candidate for an artificial disc. The goal of an artificial disc is to maintain and potentially restore some motion in the spine and is often used in order to avoid fusing that portion of the spine. Maintaining motion is good, as long as the motion is within the normal range and is overall stable. This motion may help prevent adjacent discs from wearing out faster than they normally would.

Many people are not candidates for artificial discs, though. What else can be done to avoid further degeneration?

The ability to use smaller incisions for surgery, or placing these incisions in a way that muscles or ligaments are not cut, but rather are lifted or separated along their normal tissue plains, can often help make the healing process faster, and without disrupting the normal alignment of the muscles and ligaments, the spine structures are kept in more of a normal alignment. This can also help improve the rate of healing and maintain the spine.

Examples of some minimally invasive surgeries include, MIS TLIF (minimally invasive surgical transoframinal lumbar interbody fusion), direct lateral interbody fusions, anterior lumbar interbody fusions, anterior cervical surgery, artificial discs in the cervical spine and lumbar spine, and using tubular retractors for muscle-splitting approaches.

Spine Anatomy: Five Components of a Healthy Spine

A healthy spine is a critical element in order to sustain a jubilant and satisfying lifestyle. Elements that categorize a healthy spine are strong vertebrae, flexible spinal ligaments, cushiony discs, strong back muscles, and healthy, moveable facet joints. The question is, how do we maintain these elements? To start, here are the five components in detail.

1. The bones of the spine are strong.

It is important to maintain good bone density to keep our bones strong and avoid osteopenia or osteoporosis. Bone density is maintained by diet and strength training combined, which in turn provides the robust vertebrae for the human body. Multiple studies have shown that people who lift weights and participate in resistance training have overall stronger bones. For example, tennis players often have stronger bones in their racquet arm compared to their non-racquet arm. Additionally, nutrition plays a big role in maintaining bone health.

Maintaining a good diet helps supply minerals (calcium, magnesium, etc.) as building blocks for our bones. Vitamins are also essential to bone health, particularly Vitamin D, which aids in the absorption of calcium. Lastly, avoiding excess carbonated beverages is also important to maintain bone health. The acid of carbonated beverages often needs to be buffered by the bicarbonate in bone, and bones can be sacrificed in order to help digest and maintain our body’s acid-based balance. Maintaining an overall active lifestyle and having good nutrition helps maintain bone strength.

2. The ligaments are strong and flexible.

Being physically active, including stretching and strengthening exercises, helps maintain ligament strength. A healthy dose of proteins, which are the building blocks for ligaments, need to be included in your diet. Isometric stretching, meaning holding a stretch for a period of time, is one of the best types of stretching techniques one could utilize. We need to move and have good nutrition to maintain ligament, as well as bone, health.

3. Discs are healthy, are cushiony, and support motion of the spine.

A unique feature of our intravertebral discs is that there is not a good blood supply to the disc. Most of the nutrition comes to the disc through diffusion, meaning that as we move our back and spine, the discs act like little pumps; as the discs move up and down, nutrition diffuses into the disc spaces. Activity is important to maintain disc health and since discs are made out of collagen, similar to the structures that ligaments are made out of, the same nutritional requirements are needed for discs as for ligaments.

4. Muscles are strong and they support the back.

Not only are muscles required to lift and move things, but having a strong core of muscles allows our weight to be shared with the spine to take pressure off of the spine. Just imagine sitting on a beach ball, bouncing on the beach ball, and the ball supports you because there is air inside of the ball. The outer portion of the ball holds in that air and supports you. The muscles of the core act like the outer part of the beach ball and can help support your body, taking some pressure off of the spine. It is important to maintain good core strength to help support the spine.

5. Facet joints are smooth, free of arthritis, and can support the spine.

The best thing we can do to help protect the facet joints is to maintain our motion and flexibility. We can also help protect the joints by maintaining strong muscles and a strong core.

Maintaining a Healthy Spine

Now that we have an understanding of characteristics of a healthy spine and back, here are five action items we can do to help maintain a youthful, flexible, and healthy spine. These include maintaining an active lifestyle, eating correctly, and avoiding things that can injure or hurt our spine.

Do your best to incorporate some of these ideas to maintain a pain-free and active lifestyle.

1. Be active.

Moving our body energizes many muscles and the movement supports a good blood supply to our ligaments, muscles, and discs. This blood supply is crucial because it carries the nutrients that our back needs. Movement also puts some stress on our bones to help protect the bones from osteoporosis. One of the worst things for your spine is sit for a long period of time. Sitting often puts your back in a bad posture, putting three to four times the normal pressure on the facet joints and the discs, causing them to wear out.

When you sit, there is not much motion to the discs; therefore, they have a poor blood supply. Sitting can lead to muscles losing their tone and strength, therefore becoming weaker and no longer being able to support the spine. To avoid this, I recommend standing up, changing posture, and doing a few deep knee bends every thirty minutes or so. This not only invigorates the body, but can help keep your spine mobile and youthful.

2. Lose excess weight.

The more you weigh, the more strain is on your spine. The muscles need to work harder to lift this weight. There is excess strain on the spine when the weight is poorly distributed and can put you into a bad posture. Additionally, when one weighs more, there is a tendency to be less active. When you are less active, you are not in as good of shape and there is less blood supply to the muscles, ligaments, bones, and discs. With time, the spine becomes less healthy overall. Lose weight and not only will you feel better, you will also take pressure off of your spine, helping maintain a youthful, strong back. Lastly, adipose tissue, or excess fat, is shown to secrete harmful inflammatory effects and chemical stressors that potentially aid in joint damage.

3. Eat well and consider taking supplements.

It is important to have an adequate amount of protein in your diet, but not excessive. Approximately 1 gram of protein for each kilogram of lean body weight is a good start for determining how much protein is appropriate. A rough guide for determining the correct amount of protein would be using the size of the palm of your hand to portion one serving of protein per meal. Some supplements that can be useful include omega-3 fatty acids, which many of us eating a western diet do not get enough of. One resource for this would be ocean-raised fish or fish oil supplements. Vitamin D and magnesium are also supplements to consider. The actual amount of supplements can be based upon lab tests that are obtained from your personal physician.

4. Do not smoke.

Smoking causes hosts of problems. You may notice that most smokers age more rapidly than their peers. This is because smoking affects the healing of collagen, which is found all over our bodies, including the part of the skin that causes wrinkles. The damage not only occurs within the skin, but also affects the ligaments and intervertebral discs, often causing premature aging. Smoking is also associated with osteoporosis, and, of course, increased risk of lung and heart disease. In general, the general recommendation is to not smoke.

5. Be careful when bending and reaching.

Learn to lift correctly. Squat down and lift with your legs. Do not bend forward and lift with your back. Particularly, do not twist to the side and lift, as this can significantly increase the pressure on your back. Store heavier objects at waist height so that you do not have to bend and twist to lift them. Do not put the heavy things on the ground, as you will have to bend forward and get into awkward positions to lift these objects.

The Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center of Oregon is an award-winning, board-certified orthopedic group located in downtown Portland Oregon. We utilize both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal trauma, spine diseases, foot and ankle conditions, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumors and congenital disorders.

Our mission is to return our patients back to pain-free mobility and full strength as quickly and painlessly as possible using both surgical and non-surgical orthopedic procedures.

Our expert physicians provide leading-edge, comprehensive care in the diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic conditions, including total joint replacement and sports medicine. We apply the latest state-of-the-art techniques in order to return our patients to their active lifestyle.

If you’re looking for compassionate, expert orthopedic and podiatric surgeons in Portland Oregon, contact OSM today.

Phone:
503-224-8399

Address
17355 Lower Boones Ferry Rd Suite 100A
Lake Oswego, OR 97035

Hours
Monday–Friday
8:00am – 4:30pm

Relationship Between Poor Posture and Spinal Degeneration

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Article featured on McNulty Spine

Poor posture not only looks sloppy, but it can also significantly impact your spinal health, leading to a degeneration of your intervertebral discs.

Why do discs degenerate?

Intervertebral discs are the shock-absorbing pads that sit between the vertebrae in our spine. They help distribute the forces on our spine during movement, such as walking or running. Over time, these disks can begin to degenerate, which can cause pain and discomfort.

Disc degeneration is a natural part of aging, but certain lifestyle factors can accelerate the process.

How poor posture leads to disc degeneration

One of the biggest factors that contribute to disc degeneration is poor posture. When you slouch or hunch over, you put more pressure on your lumbar spine, which can cause your discs to wear down more quickly. And when your discs lose their cushioning ability, your vertebrae lose their protection and rub against each other, leading to further damage and pain.

Sitting for long periods, especially if you slouch, exacerbates the problem. Plus, when you sit, you put more pressure on your discs than when you stand or walk, causing the discs to compress.

The bottom line is that poor posture can accelerate natural disc degeneration.

The link between sitting and disc degeneration

Unfortunately, most folks spend most of their day sitting at a desk or on the couch. If you sit a lot, it affects your spine in two ways.

Sitting reduces the amount of muscle activity in your lower back, which can cause the discs to bear more weight.

Sitting also places more pressure on your lower back than standing or walking, further contributing to disc degeneration.

How we treat posture-related disc degeneration

There’s no cure for disc degeneration — posture-related or otherwise — but Dr. McNulty can relieve your pain and other symptoms and slow the disease’s progression. You can do your part by adopting proper posture. As for our part, here are a few of the treatments Dr. McNulty uses, depending on your unique condition and symptoms.

  • Anti-inflammatory medications
  • Physical therapy
  • Joint injections
  • Radiofrequency ablation
  • Nerve blocks
  • Surgical spinal reconstruction

Poor posture can significantly impact our spinal health, but you can avoid the problems by keeping your spine straight and neutral and taking breaks from prolonged sitting.

The Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center of Oregon is an award-winning, board-certified orthopedic group located in downtown Portland Oregon. We utilize both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal trauma, spine diseases, foot and ankle conditions, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumors and congenital disorders.

Our mission is to return our patients back to pain-free mobility and full strength as quickly and painlessly as possible using both surgical and non-surgical orthopedic procedures.

Our expert physicians provide leading-edge, comprehensive care in the diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic conditions, including total joint replacement and sports medicine. We apply the latest state-of-the-art techniques in order to return our patients to their active lifestyle.

If you’re looking for compassionate, expert orthopedic and podiatric surgeons in Portland Oregon, contact OSM today.

Phone:

503-224-8399

Address
17355 Lower Boones Ferry Rd Suite 100A
Lake Oswego, OR 97035

Hours
Monday–Friday
8:00am – 4:30pm

What Does Lumbar Facet Arthritis Pain Feel Like?

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Lumbar facet arthritis (lumbar spondylosis) refers to degenerative issues that impact the small facet joints of the lumbar spine. These joints are located on either side of the vertebrae and help with movement and stability. When the joints become inflamed or damaged, it leads to constant pain in the lower back.

The symptoms of lumbar facet arthritis vary, but you may experience intense back pain that worsens with certain movements or positions. The pain may also radiate to other areas of the body. Call Ospina Medical to learn more about this form of arthritis and what advanced treatment options are available. In New York City, NY, Dr. Matthew Kohler may recommend regenerative medicine like PRP and platelet lysate for low back pain.

What causes lumbar facet arthritis?

As we age, our bodies naturally start to experience wear and tear. The same is true for the facet joints in the lumbar spine. Over time, the cartilage that protects these joints can break down, leading to bone-on-bone contact and inflammation.

In addition, certain lifestyle factors increase your risk of developing lumbar facet arthritis. These include obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, poor posture, and repetitive movements or activities that put a strain on the lower back.

The symptoms of lumbar facet arthritis

The most common symptom of lumbar facet arthritis is persistent low back pain. The pain is usually described as deep, achy, and dull, but if the disease is severe enough, it can also cause sharp and shooting pains that travel from the back down the leg.

The pain from lumbar facet arthritis can be worse in the morning or after long periods of sitting or standing. It may be aggravated by certain movements, such as bending backward. Some people also experience stiffness and limited range of motion.

If you have back pain that does not improve with rest or over-the-counter medications, seek medical attention at Ospina Medical in New York City, NY. Dr. Kohler can provide a proper diagnosis before making recommendations moving forward.

How we diagnose lumbar facet arthritis

Diagnosing lumbar facet arthritis involves a combination of physical exams and a medical history review. During the exam, Dr. Kohler will ask about your symptoms and perform a series of tests to assess your range of motion and level of pain. Once we confirm the diagnosis, we can then create an individualized treatment plan.

What are my options for lumbar facet arthritis?

At Ospina Medical, our team may recommend PRP and platelet lysate for low back pain. Platelet-rich plasma involves using your own platelets to encourage natural tissue healing and reduce inflammation. Platelet lysate is another form of regenerative medicine that uses growth factors from platelets to improve joint function.

When combined with physical therapy and lifestyle modifications, these treatments can alleviate pain, improve mobility, and prevent further damage to the lumbar facet joints. Dr. Kohler may also recommend anti-inflammatory medications or steroid injections for temporary relief.

The Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center of Oregon is an award-winning, board-certified orthopedic group located in downtown Portland Oregon. We utilize both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal trauma, spine diseases, foot and ankle conditions, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumors and congenital disorders.

Our mission is to return our patients back to pain-free mobility and full strength as quickly and painlessly as possible using both surgical and non-surgical orthopedic procedures.

Our expert physicians provide leading-edge, comprehensive care in the diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic conditions, including total joint replacement and sports medicine. We apply the latest state-of-the-art techniques in order to return our patients to their active lifestyle.

If you’re looking for compassionate, expert orthopedic and podiatric surgeons in Portland Oregon, contact OSM today.

Phone:

503-224-8399

Address
17355 Lower Boones Ferry Rd Suite 100A
Lake Oswego, OR 97035

Hours
Monday–Friday
8:00am – 4:30pm

Scoliosis in Children

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The Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center of Oregon is an award-winning, board-certified orthopedic group located in downtown Portland Oregon. We utilize both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal trauma, spine diseases, foot and ankle conditions, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumors and congenital disorders.

Our mission is to return our patients back to pain-free mobility and full strength as quickly and painlessly as possible using both surgical and non-surgical orthopedic procedures.

Our expert physicians provide leading-edge, comprehensive care in the diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic conditions, including total joint replacement and sports medicine. We apply the latest state-of-the-art techniques in order to return our patients to their active lifestyle.

If you’re looking for compassionate, expert orthopedic and podiatric surgeons in Portland Oregon, contact OSM today.

Phone:

503-224-8399

Address
17355 Lower Boones Ferry Rd Suite 100A
Lake Oswego, OR 97035

Hours
Monday–Friday
8:00am – 4:30pm

What is Spondylosis?

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The Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center of Oregon is an award-winning, board-certified orthopedic group located in downtown Portland Oregon. We utilize both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal trauma, spine diseases, foot and ankle conditions, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumors and congenital disorders.

Our mission is to return our patients back to pain-free mobility and full strength as quickly and painlessly as possible using both surgical and non-surgical orthopedic procedures.

Our expert physicians provide leading-edge, comprehensive care in the diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic conditions, including total joint replacement and sports medicine. We apply the latest state-of-the-art techniques in order to return our patients to their active lifestyle.

If you’re looking for compassionate, expert orthopedic and podiatric surgeons in Portland Oregon, contact OSM today.

Phone:

503-224-8399

Address
17355 Lower Boones Ferry Rd Suite 100A
Lake Oswego, OR 97035

Hours
Monday–Friday
8:00am – 4:30pm

Joints That Are Most Commonly Affected by Arthritis

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Article featured on Healthgrades

Arthritis is a long-term (chronic) condition that causes joint inflammation. When you’re living with arthritis, a simple task, such as tying your shoe or buttoning your shirt can become a challenging one. Not only does the swelling and aching interfere with work and daily living activities, it can also be painful and sometimes debilitating.

There are more than 100 different types of arthritis, but the most common include rheumatoid arthritis (an autoimmune disease) and osteoarthritis (a “wear-and-tear” condition related to aging, injury or obesity). Both cause joint stiffness, pain and decreased range of motion, and can affect many different joints throughout the body.

1. Knee

The knee is one of the most common joints affected by osteoarthritis. This happens when there’s a breakdown of cartilage, which cushions the ends of the bones where they meet the joints. Symptoms of knee arthritis include stiffness, swelling, and pain, which can make it hard to walk and get in and out of chairs and bed. In severe cases, osteoarthritis in the knees can lead to disability.

2. Hand

When you have arthritis in your hands, it usually includes aching, stiffness or numbness in the fingers or at the base of the thumb joint, making it difficult to pinch or grip items. Small, bony knobs may appear on the middle or end joints (those closest to the fingernails) of the fingers, which can become enlarged and gnarled. This type of arthritis in the hands seems to run in families.

3. Hip

The hip is also a common arthritis site. You may have pain and stiffness in your hip joint, but some people also notice pain in the groin, buttocks, lower back, or front or inner thigh. Or they may have pain in only one of these areas. This type of hip arthritis can affect your ability to move or bend, and make daily activities a challenge.

4. Spine, Neck and Back

Arthritis in the spine usually results in stiffness and pain in the neck or lower back, but in some cases, it may not lead to any pain at all. Arthritis changes can also cause pressure on the nerves where they exit the spinal column, leading to weakness, tingling or numbness of the arms and legs. Since these symptoms can often seem like other health conditions, always check with your doctor for a diagnosis.

5. Foot and Ankle

Arthritis can also cause swelling and pain in the foot and ankle. It most often affects the joint at the base of the big toe, which can make walking difficult. The swelling can also lead to bunions on the toes, which can sometimes make the pain and deformity of the foot worse. With rheumatoid arthritis, the same joints on both sides of the body (such as both feet or both ankles) are usually affected.

6. Elbow

Joint inflammation can also be to blame for elbow pain or loss of function. Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common type of arthritis in the elbow, and if one elbow is affected, the other likely will be, too. While elbow osteoarthritis is more common in weight-bearing joints, such as the knee and hip, it can also occur in the elbow, and is often the result of overuse or an injury, such as in the case of a tennis or baseball player.

The Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center of Oregon is an award-winning, board-certified orthopedic group located in downtown Portland Oregon. We utilize both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal trauma, spine diseases, foot and ankle conditions, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumors and congenital disorders.

Our mission is to return our patients back to pain-free mobility and full strength as quickly and painlessly as possible using both surgical and non-surgical orthopedic procedures.

Our expert physicians provide leading-edge, comprehensive care in the diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic conditions, including total joint replacement and sports medicine. We apply the latest state-of-the-art techniques in order to return our patients to their active lifestyle.

If you’re looking for compassionate, expert orthopedic and podiatric surgeons in Portland Oregon, contact OSM today.

Phone:

503-224-8399

Address
17355 Lower Boones Ferry Rd Suite 100A
Lake Oswego, OR 97035

Hours
Monday–Friday
8:00am – 4:30pm

What SI Joint Pain is and How to Treat It

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The Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center of Oregon is an award-winning, board-certified orthopedic group located in downtown Portland Oregon. We utilize both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal trauma, spine diseases, foot and ankle conditions, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumors and congenital disorders.

Our mission is to return our patients back to pain-free mobility and full strength as quickly and painlessly as possible using both surgical and non-surgical orthopedic procedures.

Our expert physicians provide leading-edge, comprehensive care in the diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic conditions, including total joint replacement and sports medicine. We apply the latest state-of-the-art techniques in order to return our patients to their active lifestyle.

If you’re looking for compassionate, expert orthopedic and podiatric surgeons in Portland Oregon, contact OSM today.

Phone:

503-224-8399

Address
17355 Lower Boones Ferry Rd Suite 100A
Lake Oswego, OR 97035

Hours
Monday–Friday
8:00am – 4:30pm

How to Prevent Lower Back Pain During Pregnancy

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Article featured on Atlanta Spine Institute

How to Prevent Lower Back Pain During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is an exciting time. However, it also comes with a great deal of uncomfortable physical changes including lower back pain. Believe it or not, approximately 80% of women experience back pain at some point during their pregnancies. Weight gain paired with changes in hormones and posture can all lead to lower back pain.

Lower back pain can take a serious toll on a woman’s day-to-day life and cause challenges during delivery. If you’re pregnant or plan to be in the near future, here are some tips to help prevent lower back pain during pregnancy.

Engage in Light Exercises

While you should avoid high-intensity workouts, it’s a good idea to participate in light exercise routines such as yoga, pilates, swimming, and stationary biking. Not only can they strengthen your back, they can also improve your flexibility. The stronger and more flexible you are, the more likely you are to maintain good posture and prevent lower back pain.

Be Careful While Lifting

Ideally, you’d never have to lift anything throughout your entire pregnancy. Since this may not be possible, practice caution any time you lift. Rather than bending forward from your waist, move as close as you can to the object and bend your knees. This way you can keep your back straight and avoid strain.

Take Control of Your Stress

Pregnancy can be stressful, especially if you’re juggling work, childcare, and other responsibilities. Stress can raise muscle tension in the back and lead to back pain so it’s important to keep it to a minimum. If you’re feeling stressed, go for a walk with a friend, meditate, or soak in a lukewarm bath.

Wear Proper Footwear

High heels during pregnancy can exacerbate lower back pain. So swap stilettos for comfortable shoes with good arch support. You may even want to wear compression stockings to keep blood from accumulating in your legs.

Sleep on Your Side

Sleeping on your stomach and pregnancy don’t mesh well. To keep your back pain in check, sleep on your side instead of your back. If you’re unable to get comfortable, try a body pillow to support your growing tummy.

Try Hot and Cold Therapy

Take an ice pack or hot towel and place it on your back to find relief from pain. If you do so, keep the heat or ice away from the abdomen.

If your back pain becomes unmanageable during any part of your pregnancy, visit a doctor as soon as possible.

The Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center of Oregon is an award-winning, board-certified orthopedic group located in downtown Portland Oregon. We utilize both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal trauma, spine diseases, foot and ankle conditions, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumors and congenital disorders.

Our mission is to return our patients back to pain-free mobility and full strength as quickly and painlessly as possible using both surgical and non-surgical orthopedic procedures.

Our expert physicians provide leading-edge, comprehensive care in the diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic conditions, including total joint replacement and sports medicine. We apply the latest state-of-the-art techniques in order to return our patients to their active lifestyle.

If you’re looking for compassionate, expert orthopedic and podiatric surgeons in Portland Oregon, contact OSM today.

Phone:

503-224-8399

Address
17355 Lower Boones Ferry Rd Suite 100A
Lake Oswego, OR 97035

Hours
Monday–Friday
8:00am – 4:30pm

Could Your Foot Pain Be Caused by a Problem in Your Spine?

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Article featured on Spine-Health

This blog provides a list of common causes of foot pain and helpful pointers to help you understand the origin of your foot pain.

Foot pain caused by a spinal problem

Nerve root irritation or compression in the lumbar or sacral spine (lower back) may cause sciatica pain to radiate down your leg and into the foot. Specifically, compression of the S1 nerve root, also called classic sciatica, can cause pain along the outer side of your foot.

Nerve roots may be compressed or irritated due to a number of causes. Common examples include:

  • Lumbar herniated disc: Leaking of the inner contents of an intervertebral disc
  • Lumbar degenerative disc disease: Age-related changes causing narrowing and shrinkage of the disc
  • Spondylolisthesis: Slipping of a vertebra over the one below it
  • Lumbar spinal stenosis: Narrowing of the bony openings for spinal nerves and/or the spinal cord

The inability to lift the front part of your foot or frequent tripping while walking may be due to a condition called foot drop. This condition is typically caused due to compression of the L5 nerve root. Rarely, compression of the L4 and/or S1 nerve roots may also cause foot drop.

Foot pain caused by compression of nerves in the hip, knee, or leg

Foot pain can also occur when nerves are compressed or damaged along their path in the hip, knee, or leg. For example:

  • Peroneal neuropathy, a condition where the peroneal nerve is compressed or injured near the knee may cause foot pain and foot drop when you try to move your foot.
  • Sciatic neuropathy or damage to the sciatic nerve in the pelvic region (hip) may cause foot pain along the top of your foot with some degree of weakness.
  • Tarsal tunnel syndrome or dysfunction of the tibial nerve within the tarsal tunnel of the inner ankle may cause a sharp, shooting pain in your ankle area and along the sole of your foot.
  • Sural nerve entrapment can occur in the leg or near the ankle and typically causes shooting pain along the outer side of your ankle and/or foot.

Additionally, a corn may develop on the skin around your toes. Corns grow over time as a result of excessive friction, and they can compress nearby nerves, causing pain and other symptoms. Another possible cause of nerve pain in your foot is Morton’s neuroma, which is a thickening of the tissue around a nerve in the foot.

How to identify the source of your foot pain

With all the possible causes of nerve pain in the foot, it may be difficult to pinpoint the exact underlying cause. Here are a few useful signs to help you identify the source of your foot pain:

  • Foot pain that follows recent trauma to the lower back, hip, knee, or ankle may help indicate the site of nerve damage
  • Foot pain due to nerve root compression or sciatica may also be associated with other symptoms, such as pain, numbness, and/or weakness in the buttock, thigh, and leg; and typically affects one leg at a time
  • Foot pain that develops after wearing tight boots or shoes may indicate peroneal or sural nerve compression near the knee or ankle
  • Foot pain that develops after a hip injection or hip surgery may indicate sciatic neuropathy.

Nerve pain in the foot may also occur due to nerve damage from systemic conditions, such as diabetes or multiple sclerosis.

Twisting, bending, or a direct hit on your ankle and/or foot may injure the foot bones, ankle joint, blood vessels, muscles, and/or tendons, causing foot pain.

Schedule a visit with your doctor

It is important to schedule an appointment with your doctor to accurately diagnose the cause of your foot pain. Treatments for foot pain can differ widely and must be directed at resolving the underlying cause; not just masking the symptoms. For example, a lumbar herniated disc may require heat therapy and exercise, while a corn on your toe can often be treated with special shoes and warm water.

The Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center of Oregon is an award-winning, board-certified orthopedic group located in downtown Portland Oregon. We utilize both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal trauma, spine diseases, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumors and congenital disorders.

Our mission is to return our patients back to pain-free mobility and full strength as quickly and painlessly as possible using both surgical and non-surgical orthopedic procedures.

Our expert physicians provide leading-edge, comprehensive care in the diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic conditions, including total joint replacement and sports medicine. We apply the latest state-of-the-art techniques in order to return our patients to their active lifestyle.

If you’re looking for compassionate, expert orthopedic surgeons in Portland Oregon, contact OSM today.

Phone:
503-224-8399

Address
17355 Lower Boones Ferry Rd Suite 100A
Lake Oswego, OR 97035

Hours
Monday–Friday
8:00am – 4:30pm