The body contains an average of nine to eleven pints of blood, depending on a person’s size and weight. Blood travels about 12,000 miles every day and provides cells with nutrients, transports hormones, and removes waste products. The body’s network of veins, arteries and capillaries is nearly 60,000 miles long. Over 99% of the […]
Migratory arthritis is characterized by pain and swelling in one or two joints. As the symptoms in that joint resolve, similar symptoms in another joint emerge, usually in an asymmetric location. So if your left shoulder is in pain and it subsides and the right shoulder becomes painful, you may have migratory arthritis. It migrates […]
Dance is a physically demanding performing art, requiring extreme flexibility, strength and endurance. Most dancers begin dancing at the age of five or six. Dancers may routinely participate in classes during most of the day, followed by rehearsals or performances evenings and weekends. The rigorous schedule for training, rehearsals and performances puts dancers at high […]
Is your New Year’s resolution to go for a run first thing every morning? On January 2, did you hit the snooze button and go back to sleep? Or, did you resolve to stop scrolling mindlessly through social media only to lose your willpower after breakfast? New Year’s resolutions are definitely a way to […]
Many people take dietary supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin to ease arthritis pain and promote joint health. Current research shows that these supplements have limited benefits for people with arthritis and joint pain. Glucosamine is a component of your healthy cartilage, especially around joints. Glucosamine for supplements is harvested from shells of shellfish or made […]
Estrogen reduction during menopause often means bone loss that puts women at risk for osteoporosis, thinning of the bone. A woman can lose up to 20% of her bone-mineral density within five years after menopause. Bone loss dramatically increases the risk of fracture especially in the spine, hip and wrists. Fractures due to osteoporosis affect […]
Twenty-eighteen was a banner year for marijuana legalization in North America. Thirty-three states have legalized medical marijuana, including cannabidiol oil, CBD, for medicinal purposes. Ten states and Washington, DC, have legalized marijuana for recreational use for adults over 21. In October, Canada legalized marijuana federally, becoming the first G7 country to do so. Marijuana prohibition began […]
January is National Winter Sports TBI Awareness Month. Harsh winter days offer thrill seekers a playground of opportunity to participate in extreme sports, such as snowboarding, skiing, heli-skiing, and snowmobiling. The high velocity, living on the edge sense of adventure makes these sports appealing. There are physical risks associated with such activities, injuries, especially concussions […]
The new federal physical-activity guidelines were updated in November 2018 for the first time since 2008. They urge adults to do 75 minutes of vigorous or 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity each week and muscle-strengthening exercises or yoga twice a week. Only 23% of all American actually meet the recommended criteria. Do you? […]
Airport metal detectors are sensitive to metals, including orthopedic metal implants inside your body. The most commonly implanted orthopedic materials include stainless steel, cobalt chrome, and titanium. As airport security measures have been heightened and metal detectors are more sophisticated, people who have metal parts face greater and more frequent inconvenience with more invasive security […]
Pre-op is the time before your surgery, before operation. The purpose of preoperative evaluation is to prepare you for surgery. Your DOC orthopedic team needs to gather and give you as much information as possible for the best surgery outcome. Your pre-op evaluation will include a comprehensive history of the injury or chronic condition […]
Dr. Merritt Pember, Direct Orthopedic Care (DOC) surgeon and veteran U.S. Army Major (Operation Iraqi Freedom), a team of DOC military service veterans and sponsor partners created the Run for the Flag race to honor veterans and as a fundraiser for Folds of Honor. Folds of Honor provides educational scholarships to spouses and children of America’s […]
In 1891, Dr. James Naismith invented the game of basketball to condition athletes during cold months in Massachusetts. He used a soccer ball and two peach baskets nailed to the gym balcony. Today’s fast-paced game of basketball can result in acute/traumatic or overuse injuries. It is estimated that more than 1.6 million injuries are associated […]
As the end of the deductible year approaches, make sure that you maximize the benefits of your 2018 health insurance plan. Now is the time to make money saving decisions because most deductibles reset on January 1. Deductibles reset to $0 at the beginning of each calendar year. A deductible is the amount you […]
Direct Orthopedic Care (DOC) announces the second annual Run for the Flag Veterans Day Race in honor of Veterans Day on Sunday, November 11, at 8 a.m. The event welcomes the entire Austin-area community with a special invitation to veterans, American service members, and their families to Camp Mabry, in Austin, Texas, to participate in […]
