Stretching Before a Run Does Not Prevent Injury

Post provided by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

According to a study presented at the 2011 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, stretching before a run neither prevents nor causes injury.

The study also found that the most significant risk factors for injury include:

- history of chronic injury or injury in the past four months
- higher body mass index
- switching pre-run stretching routines (runners who normally stretch stopping and those who didn't stretch starting to stretch before running)

"The more mileage run or the heavier and older the runner was, the more likely he or she was likely to get injured," said Daniel Pereles, MD, study author and orthopaedic surgeon. "Although all runners switching routines were more likely to experience an injury than those who did not switch, the group that stopped stretching had more reported injuries, implying that an immediate shift in regimen may be more important than the regimen itself," he added.

Total Knee Replacement Patients Functioning Well After 20 Years

Post provided by American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

A research study revealed at the 2011 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons shows that more than 90 percent of individuals who undergo total knee replacement (TKR) experience a dramatic reduction in knee pain and a significant improvement in the ability to perform common activities. Most patients who undergo total knee replacement are age 60 to 80.

The study evaluates patient functionality 20 years after knee replacement. Although aging may cause a gradual decline in physical activity, a remarkable functional capacity and activity level continues 20 years or more after TKR.

John B. Meding, MD, study author, said "this research refutes any perception that the importance of a well-functioning TKR diminishes over time because of an overall declining functional status. Elderly people are using their surgically replaced knees for fairly active lifestyles many years after surgery."

Patients considering knee replacement should talk to their orthopaedic surgeons about the implant's life expectancy.