Stem Cell Therapy

Stem cell therapy has been in the public eye recently for treatment of many orthopedic conditions including arthritis. A group recently performed a meta review of the current research on stem cell therapies and found many promising results. We have begun to see more stem cell therapies reaching the general population in the clinical arena. Most of these studies however focus on anecdotal experiences and not empirical data such as measurements of cartilage layers. So despite the significant advances in the arena of stem cell injectables, there is a need for “ additional high-powered and well-designed clinical trials to confirm the safety and efficacy of treatment”.

Click here to view the study

http://www.arthroscopyjournal.org/article/S0749-8063(14)00957-8/abstract

Calcium and Bone Health

A recent study out of New Zealand shows that older adults do not see significant benefits from increased calcium intake. The study “concluded that dietary calcium intake is not linked with reduced risk of fracture among older adults, and that there is no evidence from clinical trials that increasing calcium intake from dietary sources prevents fractures”.

In conjunction with many other studies, these findings bring a question to the medical community; is it time to reconsider the recommendations for calcium intake in the older population? Further research may necessitate changing the protocols for the treatment of osteoporosis in the near future. Click here for the full article.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/300219.php

Joint injections at time of surgery speed knee replacement recovery

Recent studies show that patients that received intra-articular injections of non-opioid anesthetics felt less pain and were walking further more quickly. When compared to the traditional nerve block alone, intra-articular injections added to the short-term recovery of total knee patients.

I have found this to be true in my practice as well. For the past several years many patients have been able to go home the same day after partial and total joint replacements with the use of intra-articular injections. To read more about this study Click Here.

Welcome to Dr. Shane Martin M.D.'s Blog on Hips and Knees

Welcome to my blog on Hip and Knee health. My name is Shane Martin.  I am a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in robotic hip and knee replacement procedures.  My staff and I are based in Phoenix with offices in Scottsdale and Glendale. I am passionate about getting my patients back to an active lifestyle as quickly and painless as possible.  I am committed to providing a personal experience for my patients as they navigate the road to a healthy, rewarding lifestyle.  I have found robotics to be one of the most powerful and useful tools for achieving exceptional results in joint replacement surgery. To learn more about this amazing robotics system visit my website at Drshanemartin.com and stay tuned for more exciting updates.

Low and Non-impact exercises: Staying fit with arthritic knees and hips

Our hips and knees are the joints that ground us and allow us to motor through life, but when they become painful it can be difficult to stay active. Whether you are an avid athlete or a casual walker it can be frustrating when your joints prevent you from staying active, but as the old adage goes an object in motion stays in motion.  This is also true with arthritic joints. Movement is important to joint health, especially your large weight-bearing joints. It seems counter intuitive that activity would make arthritic joints feel better but when you consider that non-impact range of motion helps to decrease inflammation and nourish the remaining cartilage in your joints it is easy to understand. 

 You have probably experienced this phenomenon yourself if your joints feel especially stiff and painful when getting out of bed in the morning but seem to improve as you “get moving”.  By substituting non-impact or low-impact exercises such as biking, swimming, yoga, or the elliptical trainer you can stay active while decreasing your arthritic joint pain. You do not need to give up your other activities permanently, but substituting when your joints are bothersome or adding in these activities to your routines can help you stay more active. Below you will find some links with further information on exercises for knee and hip health.

The Best Cardio for Knees

Managing Arthritis with Exercise 

In depth Overview of a Workout with Arthritis