When the ACL tears, you can't repair it just by stitching it up. It would be like trying to sew up the ends of two mops together. The only exception is in pediatric patients. Sometimes their ligament doesn't tear, but pulls a chip of bone off...
Cervical spine surgery focuses on the part of the spine that passes through the neck. It can treat existing damage to the spinal cord and the nerves around it, as well as strengthen the spine to help prevent further damage. Often, the surgery...
The cervical spine consists of seven vertebrae, called C1 though C7. Cervical degenerative disc disease usually occurs as a part of aging, although inherited tendencies, smoking, arthritis, injury or poor posture may contribute. Discs, which...
Exercise is an important part of any rehabilitation program, especially when you are recovering from ACL surgery. The ACL, or anterior cruciate ligament, stretches across the front of your knee at a diagonal angle, providing stability and...
Cervical fusion is the joining of two or more vertebrae in the neck through bone grafts or hardware. It decreases mobility of damaged joints and stabilizes them, preventing further collapse. Often performed in conjunction with removal of a damaged...
The word "cervix" comes from the Latin term for neck. The cervical spine is a continuous chain of vertebrae that extends from the bottom of the skull to the shoulders, where it becomes the thoracic spine. The cervical spine can be subject to...
Your knee acts as a hinge, connecting the thigh and shin bones. The anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, is one of four that connect these bones, running outside the knee to keep it from bending outward. Injuries to the ACL usually occur during...
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a ligament in your knee that provides stability to the knee joint. However, if you tear this ligament, your knee will feel unstable or loose. According to the Mayo Clinic, ACL injury is common in volleyball,...
Pain and numbness in areas like the arms and shoulders can signal damage to the cervical spine, which runs through the neck. Damaged spinal discs can bulge out of their proper places in the cervical spine, touching nerve roots nearby and...
The anterior cruciate ligament is a primary support mechanism in the knee, providing stability when balancing, pushing off and pivoting. A torn ACL requires surgical repair and may take months to recover. For athletes eager to get back to playing,...
Cervical disk fusion is a major surgical procedure meant to relieve chronic pain caused by the pressure on the nerves in the upper spine's disks. When disks degenerate or start to bulge and put pressure on a nerve, even slight movements can cause...
The cervical disc is the cushioning material that lies in between each vertebral body, allowing for space and shock absorption. When the disc protrudes or bulges beyond its normal boundaries, it is called a herniated or prolapsed disc. When a...
A torn ligament can be a debilitating injury that keeps you from enjoying your favorite activities for several weeks or months. Recovering from a torn ligament requires patience and diligence to properly support your healing tissue while avoiding...
If you have had anterior hip replacement surgery, an elliptical trainer may be an appropriate exercise option for you, as they do not put much strain on your muscles. The weight-bearing exercise of an elliptical trainer further boosts the muscles...
Exercising to get rid of fat after an ACL, or anterior cruciate ligament, surgery can be challenging. Your ACL is an important ligament in your knee that provides your knee with support that is needed for lower body workouts. To get rid of belly...
Although a hip replacement will limit your yoga until you heal and may affect your range of motion thereafter, you can still get the benefits of a regular yoga practice, including improved flexibility, strength, balance and well-being. Because...
An anterior discectomy with fusion is a surgical procedure used to help treat degenerative disc conditions in your spinal column. With the procedure, your surgeon will remove the affected disc and replace it with either a metal spacer and fuse the...
A torn anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, is a common injury for athletes in sports that require sudden stops and changes in direction. Basketball, volleyball and soccer are examples. Roller skating also may result in a torn ACL, especially if...
Perhaps you were skiing, or maybe you were playing soccer or volleyball. Everything was fine, until you fell backward and heard a foreboding popping sound in your knee. Your doctor confirms that you tore your anterior cruciate ligament, also...
Muscles and ligaments provide support for your skeleton, and the function of these tissues is essential for proper posture, physical activity and locomotion. Muscle tissue and ligaments contain specialized molecules that provide the tissues with...
The serratus anterior is a muscle located on the lateral sides of the upper rib cage. Although an unappreciated muscle, the serratus anterior plays a significant role in stabilizing the shoulder joint and shoulder blade. Therefore, damage to this...
An article in the August 2009 issue of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery states that you are likely to notice a significant improvement in your cervical neck symptoms after surgery. Therefore, your decision to choose surgery as a treatment...
According to the June 2009 edition of the Journal of Clinical Orthopedics and Related Research, the New York University Hospital for Joint Diseases has been developing a Pilates program for hip replacement patients. While Pilates appears to be...
ACL, or anterior cruciate ligament, reconstruction surgery is a procedure in which the injured ACL is removed and replaced with another piece of tendon taken from the same patient or from a donor. This procedure can be performed using open...
Lower back pain and is a potential complication following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion surgery. While recovering, avoid aggravating your pain by bending your head backward or forward, sitting for prolonged periods of time, performing...
The anterior cruciate ligament, also called the ACL, is one of the four ligaments that connect the bones of the knee joint and keep it stable. ACL strains and ruptures can occur as a result of sports or other athletics, since rotational muscles in...
The medial collateral ligament is a thick band tissue that runs from your upper arm across your elbow. When your MCL is torn, your ability to throw with any sort of force is significantly reduced. While MCL tears used to be considered a...
You don't see it in gyms, next to treadmills and elliptical machines, but you can use a slide board to build leg strength and improve fitness. A 2000 study in the, "Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy" found that using a slide board...
The anterior cruciate ligament lies hidden within the knee joint, connecting the thighbone to the shinbone. Twisting motions common to sports that involve cutting and pivoting -- including football, basketball, tennis and indeed soccer -- can tear...
