How can you keep your knees agile and pain-free?

Minnesotans are known for pushing themselves to the limit in order to make the most of our long summer days - golfing, tennis, water skiing, biking, and running can all take a toll on the knees, especially if you're middle-aged. Almost one in three Americans older than age 45 reports some type of knee pain, and it's a common reason that people visit their doctors or the emergency room, according to the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Knee pain may be the result of an injury, such as a ruptured ligament or torn cartilage. Or, certain medical conditions, including arthritis, gout and infection, may be at the root of your knee pain. More-serious injuries, such as a ruptured ligament or tendon, may require surgical repair. Many relatively minor instances of knee pain respond well to self-care measures.

Although every knee problem can't be prevented - especially if you're active - you can take certain steps to reduce the risk of injury or disease. Here's how.

• Move more
• Strengthen your thigh muscles
• Stretch regularly
• Lose the weight, finally
• Take glucosamine/chondroitin
• Get to the doctor-pronto-if your knee is swollen

Chronic Pain in Real Life:
Learning from the stars and getting the treatment that you need.

There's a sadly familiar scene playing on loop in American pop culture.

The celebrities falling into this pattern come from all different backgrounds, different walks of life, and many have different reasons for becoming a piece of the motif. Some are young party girls, some are high-stress politicians, some are washed-up, and some are just as happy as the average American and fall into a kind of depressive self-destruction unintentionally.

Prescription drug abuse has come to be one of the most overexposed - and over-glamorized - problems in American pop culture today. The public goes crazy for tales of scandal and ruination in a rich and famous person's life - maybe it's because we're jealous. Or maybe we're just so detached from famous people that it's like watching hamsters in a cage.

The Health Wire

A Nation of Caffeination: How much is safe?

Caffeine is a natural stimulant found in many plant-based foods - most notoriously, in coffee. At anywhere between 80 and 180 milligrams per eight-ounce cup, coffee is one of the richest sources of caffeine and is perfectly safe is moderate amounts. Just be sure to limit your intake to 200-300 milligrams per day (about two cups of brewed coffee), and watch out for hidden sources of caffeine!

Black Tea	50 mg per 8-ounce cup
Green Tea	20 mg per 8-ounce cup
Soda	34-54 mg per 12 ounce can
Dark Chocolate	30 mg per 1.5 ounce bar
Energy Drinks	Up to 300 mg percan!

Do you know a loved one who suffers from pain?

Call TCPC at 952-841-2345