As the Baby Boomer generation ages, there is a swelling populaton of people suffering from osteoarthritis. Arthritis pain seems to go hand in hand with insomnia, with joint pain keeping awake 60% of those with osteoarthritis

A new study, reported in the Aug. 15 issue of Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, finds that cognitive therapy has a beneficial effect on osteoarthritis patients and insomniacs – assisting them in their quest for a good night’s sleep.

Cognitive behavior therapy for insomnia or CBT-I,was given by an experienced clinical psychologist who taught participants cognitive restructuring techniques that helped change unrealistic beliefs and irrational fears regarding sleep or lack of it.

Handwritten sleep logs kept by participants documented their sleep patterns, and pain level was graded by the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) and the Body Pain Subscale (SF-PAIN) question from the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 Pain.

Results showed that after CBT-I treatement, patients were falling asleep faster than before, and remained sleeping approximately 37 minutes longer. CBT-I seems to be an effective tool for treatment of osteoarthritis in conjunction with other pain management techniques, and may also work well with other chronic pain conditions.

by Jose Sonik

The more aggressively you screen for and try to prevent osteoporosis, the lower your risk of a hip fracture is, studies show.
Hip fractures are common in the elderly, especially women, who lose essential calcium during pregnancy and menopause.
Kaiser Southern California has developed a three-step action plan that they say can reduce hip fractures by as much as 25%.
The three steps are as follows:
Bone scans: Kaiser recommends x-ray absotiometry, the best bone density test available. The tests should be taken by all women over 65, all men over 70, everyone on high dosages of medicines that leach calcium from the bones, and anyone over 50 with a history of fragility fractures. These are the high-risk populations, and a scan could catch a weakening bone before it becomes a fracture.
Education and treatment: Learning and teaching about osteoporosis helps people help themselves. The more you know about osteoporosis, the better you can protect yourself from fractures. Kaiser found that patients who understood their treatment opted for more than just drug treatment: they got home safety checks to help prevent falls. Slippery bathtubs, cords across the room, and loose rugs are all tripping hazards that can snap a fragile bone.
Fall Prevention: If you’re at risk for a fall, consider learning fall-reduction techniques, that will lower your risk for a fall. Physical therapy can improve balance and coordination, reducing the risk still further.
Kaiser ran a three-part program with 620,000 patients in Southwestern United States, and found an overall reduction of hip fractures by 35%. Why wait for them to test it in your neighborhood? Start your own three-part program today.