Tai chi may be as good as physical therapy for arthritis-related knee pain

POSTED June 15, 2016, 9:30 AM
Robert H. Shmerling, MD, Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publications

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. And the knee is the most commonly affected joint. In fact, almost half of the population will have knee pain due to osteoarthritis by age 85. There is no cure; the only permanent treatment is a total knee replacement. Considering how common osteoarthritis of the knee is, news of a novel approach to treating osteoarthritis of the knee comes none too soon.

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Get your copy of Knees and Hips

Do your knees or hips hurt? Most people will at some point have knee or hip pain because these large joints have a demanding task: they must bear the full weight of your body while at the same time allowing for a wide range of motion. Wear and tear, injury, and simple genetic predisposition can all contribute to knee or hip pain. This report covers a wide range of knee and hip conditions and describes in detail treatments, preventive strategies, and surgeries.

Your resting heart rate can reflect your current — and future — health

POSTED June 17, 2016, 9:30 AM
Matthew Solan, Executive Editor, Harvard Men's Health Watch

One of the easiest, and maybe most effective, ways to gauge your health can be done in 30 seconds with two fingers. Measuring your resting heart rate (RHR) — the number of heart beats per minute while you're at rest — is a real-time snapshot of how your heart muscle is functioning. Your RHR, when considered in the context of other markers such as blood pressure and cholesterol, can help identify potential health problems as well as gauge your current heart health.

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Knees and Hips

Featured content:

•	Knees in motion
•	Hips on the ball
•	Testing for knee and hip problems
•	Nonsurgical treatments for knees and hips
•	Special section: Knee and hip replacement
•	... and more!