Tendinitis is a painful condition that is experienced by many athletes upon strain and compression of joints. Several safe and effective treatment options are available and research is underway to discover better ones. The use of dimethyl...
The axial skeleton consists of the skull, spinal column, ribcage and pelvis. This important part of the anatomy protects the central nervous system and delicate organs of the torso. It also forms the framework for the "core" of the body, to which...
The most common type of arthritis that affects the cervical spine (C-spine) is osteoarthritis. This non-inflammatory condition is caused by trauma or "wear and tear," and is also called degenerative spondylosis or degenerative disc disease. The...
The skeletal system is composed of the bones and joints of the body, including the ligaments that hold them together. In contrast to the dried-up bones we tend to picture when referring to the skeleton, the skeletal system is a dynamic system that...
The neck consists of seven cervical vertebrae that connect the skull to the torso. With trauma, the neck is more susceptible to injury than other regions of the spine because of its relative lack of protection, and because the head often acts as a...
Curvature of the human spine is a common occurrence originating from the fetal position maintained within the womb. Muscle and skeletal development after birth alter the original c shape, or kyphotic curve, incorporating a neck and lower back...
Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis is the actual name for the condition that is understandably often referred to by the abbreviation DISH. While the condition can affect other areas of the skeleton, it predominantly involves the spine. DISH...
Inflammation is a general term that describes swelling, redness and pain after exposure to an irritant. This irritant can be anything from trauma to bacteria. There are many categories of inflammatory joint diseases, and many factors that can...
Curvature of the spine, also known as scoliosis, is a relatively common condition. It can vary in its onset, its rate of progression, its severity, its location and its potential impact on the affected person's appearance and health. There is also...
A herniated forearm muscle is a relatively rare condition in which your muscle protrudes through the fascia -- the fibrous tissues that connect the muscles -- into the fat beneath the surface of your skin. This condition is sometimes inherited and...
The wrist is an amalgamation of many bones, joints, nerves, tendons, ligaments and blood vessels, all of which can be injured and produce pain. Pain is subjective, however, and is felt differently from person to person. Severe pain is generally in...
It is important to know the basic anatomy of a joint and how it works in order to understand some of the disease processes that can affect joints. Most actual joint diseases (as well as joint pain) are types of arthritis. There are several...
The lower part of the human spine consists of the lumbar vertebrae (usually five), the triangular shaped sacrum and the coccyx. Degeneration of the bone takes place in these areas in a sense, but as Nathan Wei, M.D. points out, the degeneration...
Your pectoral muscles assist with movements of the shoulder and arm. They are activated when you engage in everyday activities such as lifting, raking and shoveling. If you lift weights or participate in sports that require powerful chest action...
The aorta is the largest artery in the body and is responsible for carrying the blood away from the heart to the rest of the body. The section of the aorta that descends through the chest is called the thoracic aorta and is divided into three...
The spinal column consists of four regions: the cervical (neck); thoracic (mid back); lumbar (low back); sacrum/coccyx (tail bone). Different categories of disease can affect these regions, ranging from arthritis to cancer, infection and even...
Any time joints are involved in repetitive and pressure-intense movements, such as running on a treadmill, problems frequently emerge regarding inflammatory or mechanical issues within the joints. Unexpected twisting motions often injure tendons,...
The thoracic spine comprises 12 vertebrae which are separated by discs and attached laterally to ribs. Various conditions can create varying degrees and types of pain in the thoracic spine, very few of which are life threatening. Sprains are the...
At one time doctors relied heavily on plain films or x-rays for information concerning the inner workings of the body. Today more sophisticated equipment reveals far more about the body's interior and uses less harmful methods. Tests such as the...
