The amount of physical activities a patient indulges in can predict how well he will respond to orthopedic treatment, a new study finds.
The study was conducted by researchers from the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. They also found that a patient's activity level is a strong predictor of how soon he or she will recover after treatment.
Currently, standardized scales for the shoulder, hip, knee and ankle are commonly used in orthopedics to measure a patient's activity level. But, the measures of how often, rather than how well, a task is performed do not account for symptoms, functional disabilities, age, weight, overall health and other factors which also may impact prognostic and outcome variables.
"In orthopedics, we want to restore function to take away pain and to help patients return to activity," said orthopedic surgeon and lead study author Robert H. Brophy, in a press statement. "We're still learning about how to best use, quantify and measure activity levels to optimize prognostics and outcomes."
"There's not just one activity level variable" in these measurements, said Dr. Brophy. "It depends on the population, the injury you're studying, etc. We're making progress, and the progress varies depending on what you're looking at."
There are many orthopedic conditions that call for immediate medical attention and physical activities can help enhance treatment outcomes.
Arthritis
The two most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis mainly affects the hips, knees, feet, spine and hands. In contrast, rheumatoid arthritis can affect not only the joints but also the skin, lungs, heart, eyes and other organs. It is one of the most disabling forms of arthritis.
Sports Injuries
When it comes to sports injuries, prevention is definitely the best medicine. Wearing the proper equipment, staying in shape and not pushing yourself too far too fast are all steps that may help keep you safe.
Osteoporosis
There may be some things you can "feel in your bones," but the start of osteoporosis isn't one of them. In the early stages, this bone-thinning disease has no symptoms at all. And when it progresses, the resulting broken bones can be disabling or even life-threatening.
Rotator Cuff Tear
The classic sign of rotator cuff injury is pain when you lift your arm over your head. The pain may hit during sports, chores or simple daily activities, such as getting dressed. Your shoulder may make grating or cracking sounds with movement or prevent you from sleeping on that side.
The key treatments for these conditions include:
- Cartilage Repair
- Disc Replacement
- Hip Replacement
- Knee Replacement
- Shoulder Replacement
- Spinal Fusion Surgery for Scoliosis
The current study was published online in the July issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAAOS).
