Within the normal knee joint are two C shaped discs of cartilage called the medial and lateral menisci. They have a unique wedged, kidney shape and a blood supply only to their outer third which decreases as you age. Almost 70% of each meniscus is made up of water. These unique properties allow the knee to function as well as it does but they are also the reason why meniscus tears are one of the most common knee joint injuries.

The wedge shape of your meniscus assists with the rotational stability that is created by the anterior cruciate ligament especially during pivoting movements. The large water content allows them to act like a shock absorber. As you walk, jump or run the knee absorbs large forces with the amount of force increasing exponentially as the speed of movement increases. Your meniscus helps to disperse these compressive forces over the whole knee therefore minimizing the damage to the cartilage that lines the bone surfaces.

Meniscal tears are often classified as either traumatic or degenerative. In the younger population, meniscus tears are usually due to trauma by twisting on a slightly bent knee.

The traumatic type of meniscal injuries is most often sports related. Commonly there is pain and a ‘pop’ is heard. The knee joint swells and occasionally the athlete will report a locking or painful clicking sensation.

Degenerative tears occur in the older population due to natural age-related degeneration and often the person is unaware of the cause of pain and swelling.

Stay tuned for my next column which will address the management and rehabilitation for the torn meniscus.

For the fitness of you,

Linda Reilly

This year during Dental Health Week (6 to 12 August), the Australian Dental Association (ADA) is reminding everyone to #WatchYourMouth, in the light of the latest national survey conducted by the association that showed Australians are not prioritising their oral health.

It follows the launch earlier this year by the ADA of Australia’s Oral Health Tracker which was developed in response to data showing that just over 52 percent of Australians are only brushing once a day instead of the recommended twice daily and nearly two in five (38 percent) never floss or clean in between their teeth. Australians also need more regular dental check-ups, with 69 percent only going to the dentist when they have a problem.

This is especially concerning given the fact that tooth decay is Australia’s most common disease, with one in five adults having untreated tooth decay and one in five also have gum disease, with oral cancer rates also on the rise.

To help combat these figures, Dental Health Week 2018 is stressing these four key tips for good oral health:

• Brush twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste

• Clean in between your teeth with floss or interdental brushes

• Eat a healthy diet, limit sugary foods and drinks

• Visit your dentist regularly

ADA President, Dr Hugo Sachs said Dental Health Week is an opportunity for people to take a look and learn more about why a healthy mouth is so important. “Good oral health is vital to good overall health, so watching your mouth will help maintain your general wellbeing. Watching your mouth means brushing and flossing, eating a healthy diet, lowering our sugar and alcohol intake, stopping smoking and seeing your dentist for regular check-ups. These good habits will greatly reduce the risk of oral disease.”

Ask your dentist about the Child Dental Benefits Schedule to access benefits for basic dental services (capped over two years).

The benefits include check-ups, X-rays, cleaning, fissure sealing, fillings, root canals and extractions. Your child may be eligible if they are aged 2 to 17; they are eligible for Medicare, and you or your child are getting Family Tax Benefit Part A or certain other government payments.

When you think about how much we use our hands especially when playing ball sports, it’s not hard to understand why hand and finger injuries are so common.

Most of these injuries heal spontaneously, which is why they are often neglected by athletes. Many people don’t seek help until it is too late for effective treatment. However, an early, accurate diagnosis to identify potentially serious injuries can prevent long term functional impairment and deformity.

Knowledge of the mechanism of injury or how the injury happened can also help with an accurate diagnosis. A punching injury often results in a fracture to one of the metacarpal bones, commonly the base of the fifth metacarpal. A direct blow to the point of the finger often causes a dislocation or sprain of one of the finger joints. Sometimes the finger flexor tendon can pull a plug of bone off its attachment causing an avulsion fracture. This most commonly involves the ring finger and occurs when a player grabs an opponent’s clothing during a tackle.

As a general rule of thumb, if there is any deformity present, either with the hand open or closed, persistent swelling or any of the hand or finger joints don’t move as they should, it is important to have the injury checked out by a professional. Some fractures may require surgery, some immobilisation or splinting. Sprains or dislocations may require swelling management with ice or an oedema glove and exercises to prevent loss of range of motion.

An early diagnosis and appropriate management can prevent a lifetime of deformity and loss of function.

For the fitness of you,

Linda Reilly

If you have ever been hit hard in the thigh with someone’s knee or shoulder, you most likely know how painful and debilitating a corked thigh can be. A cork, or a muscle contusion as was formerly known, is a common occurrence in contact sports, as well as sports like cricket and hockey when a player is hit by the ball.

Contusions result from blunt trauma to a muscle such as when two players collide and one is hit in the thigh by the knee of the other. The underlying muscle and connective tissue are crushed without breaking the skin. This causes bleeding within or between muscles resulting in a haematoma. A cork may result in immediate pain, weakness, muscle spasm and stiffness.

Most contusions are minor and heal quickly, however if you lose joint range or power in the leg, have trouble with explosive bursts or kicking, it is time to come off the ground and not return to play.

It is important that treatment of a muscle contusion starts immediately, with the first 48 hours post injury the most important.

Immediate treatment for a corked muscle should include ceasing activity, icepacks applied every two hours for 15 minutes, bandage the corked muscle with an elasticized bandage, elevate the injured limb above heart height whenever possible and avoid exercise, heat, alcohol and massage in the first 48 hours.

Range of motion is a good indicator as to the severity of the injury. Difficulty flexing the knee past 90 degrees may suggest a more severe injury that requires a physiotherapy assessment.t.

For the fitness of you,

Linda Reilly

Flannery’s and Life Pharmacies are focusing on diabetes awareness during July and August. “We are trying to raise awareness about the importance of early detection and early treatment for all types of diabetes,” said Sarah Hazell, Pharmacist. “Unfortunately too many Australians are being diagnosed with diabetes too late,” said Sarah “and the delay in diagnosis is putting many people at risk of major health problems”.

Early diagnosis, treatment, ongoing support and management can reduce the risk of diabetes-related complications. Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in adults, the leading cause of kidney failure, the leading cause of preventable limb amputations and increases the risk of heart attacks and stroke by up to four times.

“Around 5 percent of Australians aged 18 years or older have diabetes,” said Sarah “and the risk of diabetes increases with age, from 2.8 percent in people aged 35 to 44 to 15 percent in those aged 65 to 74”.

If you would like to know more about diabetes, please call into either Flannery’s or Life Pharmacies and speak to the registered nurse or one of the pharmacists.

They can provide you with information and advice and refer you to your GP for further investigation if necessary.

A baker’s cyst, also known as a popliteal cyst, is a swelling at the back of the knee joint. Baker’s cysts are fairly common and are associated with chronic swelling within the knee joint. They occur, most frequently, secondary to degenerative disease within the knee joint such as osteoarthritis or meniscal degeneration. The main sign that a baker’s cyst is present will be a bulge and a feeling of tightness behind the knee.

This may be tender to touch with pain and stiffness often worsening as the knee is straightened after activity or when squatting or kneeling.

Just as a door hinge requires oil to reduce friction and allow smooth movement, similarly, the cartilage and tendons in the knee joint rely on a lubricating fluid called synovial fluid. Synovial fluid circulates around the knee joint and in and out of various fluid sacs called bursae that communicate with the knee joint. Sometimes when a structure within the knee joint is damaged or inflamed too much fluid is produced. If this fluid gets trapped in the popliteal bursae it is called a baker’s cyst.

If a baker’s cyst is suspected the whole knee joint should be assessed thoroughly as treatment involves treatment of the underlying cause. Once the cause has been addressed the swelling generally settles down. Sometimes the bursae might be drained or surgically removed but if the underlying cause of the swelling is not corrected the swelling will just return.

Strengthening exercises for the lower limb can help to improve joint biomechanics and to decrease the load on the knee.

“For the fitness of you,”

Linda Reilly

Doctor’s Choice Podiatry is pleased to announce that they are now providing podiatry services in the Forbes Medical Centre.

This is in addition to the existing podiatry service provided in Flannery’s Pharmacy and Parkes Pharmacy.

Adam Debenham, originally from Forbes, and Bill Devanney are very excited about this new chapter in providing quality podiatry care to the Forbes and Parkes region.

Adam and Bill offer thorough foot assessments, both vascular and neurological, as well as general foot and nail care, paediatrics, orthotics, footwear advice, diabetic foot care, assistance with foot pain and all other areas of podiatry care.

Initially, appointments within Forbes Medical Centre will be every four weeks on a Monday. It is however anticipated that this will build rapidly to a more frequent service.

There are still a few appointments available for Monday, 16th July. The same service is available at Flannery’s Pharmacy every fourth Tuesday and Wednesday as well as in Parkes Pharmacy Monday -Friday every four weeks.

Bookings are essential, fees apply. Call 0475 074 104 for further details.

Studies have shown that one in four women over the age of 50 suffer from pain on the outside of the hip, and this is particularly true for active women. Gluteal tendinopathy or more specifically, gluteus medius tendinopathy is a common cause of lateral hip pain.

Your gluteal tendons are the tough fibres that attach your gluteal muscles to the hip bone. It is thought that gluteal tendinopathy is more common in women over 50, due to the shape of the female pelvis and hip bones, along with the hormones that influence the female body during menopause.

Tendinopathies develop when load to the tendon is increased too quickly such as an increase in exercise particularly in sports like running or hiking.

When tendons become stressed small micro tears form, which encourage inflammatory chemicals and swelling. These will quickly heal if managed appropriately.

However, if the loading continues (working through the pain), the formation of these micro tears can exceed the rate of repair. The result is a tendinopathy, causing pain and dysfunction.

Unfortunately, many gluteal tendinopathies are misdiagnosed and incorrectly treated as a bursitis with corticosteroid injections. Whilst this may provide some temporary pain relief, it is only useful if the pain free time is used to exercise and strengthen the tendon appropriately. If injections are not combined with strengthening exercises for the gluteal muscles the tendinosis is likely to continue with return to activity.

A gradual loading programme aimed at strengthening the gluteal muscles and improving the biomechanics of the female hip is the most effective treatment for long term relief of lateral hip pain.

For the fitness of you.

Linda Reilly

The head cold, also known as the common cold, is usually a mild illness but it can impact your daily life. In addition to sneezes, sniffles, coughs and a sore throat, a head cold can leave you feeling tired, rundown, and generally unwell for several days.

Sarah Hazell, Pharmacist at Flannery’s Pharmacy shared some self help tips to relieve the symptoms of the common cold.

“It’s important to get plenty of rest, drink lots of water, keep warm and eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruit and veggies,” said Sarah.

“It’s also vital to avoid cigarette smoke as this will exacerbate the symptoms,” said Sarah.

Many people benefit from boosting their immunity to prevent the common cold.

“Taking immune booster products can help with general immunity and can also help reduce the severity and length of colds,” said Sarah.

Colds and flu can make other conditions worse, such as asthma or diabetes. You should see your doctor if you:

• Have symptoms lasting longer than 10 days;

• Can’t or won’t drink fluids;

• Vomit frequently;

• Experience intense headache;

• Experience chest pain;

• Have breathing difficulties and

• Have a rash with a fever

There is a large range of over the counter medications which can help relieve the symptoms of the common cold including throat lozenges, gargles and sprays for sore throats, cough mixtures/tablets to alleviate dry or chesty coughs and medications to help with blocked or runny noses and headaches. “It’s best to visit the Pharmacy to discuss your symptoms and seek professional information and advice,” said Sarah.