Have you heard of Osteoboost?
Here are the facts: On January 18, 2024, the FDA provided clearance for a new medical product called Osteoboost™, a wearable vibrating belt intended to reduce bone loss and encourage bone growth in the hips and spine. Inspired by technology hoping to prevent bone...
Snap-Crackle-Pop: Explaining the Symphony of Noisy Joints
Joints form when two bones meet to allow movement. The ends of these bones are covered with a smooth, slippery tissue called hyaline cartilage.* This specialized cartilage along with a lubricant called synovial fluid, allows our joints to move smoothly, like a...
Meet the “itis’s”: Understanding the Difference Between Tendonitis, Bursitis, and Osteoarthritis
Once you’ve “been around the block” a few times, it’s likely that at some point you’ve been diagnosed with tendonitis, bursitis, or osteoarthritis somewhere. This could happen at or near any joint, but the areas that are most commonly affected are the shoulder,...
Are Walking Poles Worth Using?
Walking is an excellent activity not only for our overall health and wellbeing, but also for our bones. In a large study of over 61,000 postmenopausal women, Feskanich and colleagues found that walking 4 hours/week “substantially” reduced the risk of hip fracture...
Spine Sparing Strategies for Everyday Activities
Last month, I explained why avoiding spinal flexion is so important to protect a spine with osteoporosis or low bone mass and I outlined specific ways to improve our postural alignment. But how do we protect our backs while picking something up off the floor? Or...
You Know You Shouldn’t, But Do You Know Why?
If you’ve been diagnosed with osteoporosis or low bone mass, you’ve probably heard that you should avoid bending (or rounding) your spine forward. But do you know why? Let’s do a deeper dive into why posture, particularly as related to your bone health, is so...
How and Why to Get Those ZZZ’s
WHY A SOLID SNOOZE IS SO IMPORTANT As a result of the large uptick in sleep research over the last several years, we now know that good sleep quality is a predictor of physical health, mental health, and vitality. There is growing evidence that high-quality sleep can...
Let’s Go Play in the Dirt
Spring has arrived and gardeners everywhere are creating their “to do” lists. The joys of gardening don’t need to be outlined for devotees, but let’s explore the health benefits that may not be so well known. And perhaps if you’ve been wondering if you should give...
A Lesson from Killer Whales
The Collapsed Dorsal Fin of Captive Orcas For many years, there has been scientific debate concerning the reason why the naturally straight and very tall dorsal fin of killer whales (orcas) sometimes flops over. While there are various theories explaining this...