Obese Don't Have to Lose Weight Before Joint Replacement: Study

MONDAY, July 24, 2017 -- Obese patients don't need to lose weight before undergoing knee or hip replacement surgery, a new study contends.

"Severely obese patients can benefit a lot from the surgery," said study lead author Wenjun Li, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

New Surgery May Fix Tough-to-Treat Rotator Cuff Tears

TUESDAY, July 25, 2017 -- A new surgical procedure can help people with shoulder injuries once considered beyond repair, a small new study suggests.

Out of 100 patients who had the surgery in the study, all 26 of those who had played sports before the surgery were able to play sports again afterwards. Thirty-two patients who had jobs lifting heavy workloads were able to return completely to work. Another two -- a farmer and a manual worker -- were also able to return to work, but with reduced hours and reduced workloads.

Surgery for ACL Tear Often Successful Over Long Term

FRIDAY, July 21, 2017 -- People who undergo knee surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) can expect to stay active and maintain a high quality of life, researchers report.

Activity levels may decline over time, but a new study found that those who had the knee operation could usually still play sports 10 years later.

Don't Let Summer Strain Your Back

SATURDAY, July 1, 2017 -- Summer is the time when everyone dives into yard work and takes family vacations. But all that time spent bending, lifting and traveling can strain your back, spine experts say.

An estimated 3.7 million Americans sought care for back pain and injuries at doctors' offices in the summer of 2014, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).

Could Your Office Job Rob You of Vitamin D?

THURSDAY, June 22, 2017 -- Spending your days cooped up inside an office might mean you're not getting enough vital vitamin D -- know as the "sunshine vitamin," researchers report.

Canadian researchers found that vitamin D deficiency levels differ by occupation, with people who are closeted indoors faring worse than others.

Being Thin Could Boost Stress Fracture Risk in Female Runners

FRIDAY, June 23, 2017 -- Female runners with a low body weight are more likely to have stress fractures and take longer to recover from them, according to a new study.

Researchers from the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center reviewed data on dozens of injuries suffered by female college runners. They found that runners with a body mass index (BMI) below 19 were more likely to suffer stress fractures than others. BMI is an estimate of body fat based on weight and height.