Can an MRI Miss a Head Injury and Not Show It?
Head injuries are very common, including among kids, so it’s crucial for an MRI to show a head injury.
However, this isn’t always the case — in that this technology doesn’t always show trauma to the brain. (more…)
Getting an MRI if a Family Member Has a Brain Aneurysm
Did you recently learn that an immediate family member has an aneurysm and are wondering if you should undergo yearly MRI screenings, what with all the anxiety this would cause? (more…)
Why Aren’t There Routine MRI Screenings for Brain Aneurysm?
Medical plans don’t include the mention of “routine” MRI screenings for a brain aneurysm.
And this seems pretty odd, given that often, the first symptom of such an aneurysm is a thunderclap headache soon followed by death. (more…)
Can an Unruptured Aneurysm Cause Headaches?
Though a rupturing brain aneurysm causes a thunderclap headache that’s the worst imaginable, can an unruptured aneurysm actually cause any kind of headaches, and if so, how does this happen if it has not ruptured? (more…)
Can a Brain Aneurysm Cause a Headache on One Side?
“Brain aneurysms can occasionally cause one-sided headaches,” says Farhan Siddiq, MD, a neurosurgeon with University of Missouri Health Care. (more…)
Can a Brain Aneurysm Cause Head Stabbing Pain?
Ever get a sudden “stabbing” type pain in your head and wonder if it’s a brain aneurysm rupturing?
These sudden sharp stabbing pains in the head can, indeed, be caused by an aneurysm – depending on how you define “sudden stabbing pain in the head.” (more…)
Can You Hear a Brain Aneurysm Rupture?
People hear balloons popping in their head, snapping, clapping and crackling and wonder if it’s an aneurysm rupturing.
Though when an aneurysm ruptures in the classic sense, a so-called thunderclap headache results — a headache so painful that it could drop a person to their knees. (more…)
Is a Treadmill As Good for the Heart As Walking Outside?
You’re mistaken if you believe treadmill workouts don’t work the heart as well as “real” walking or jogging outdoors.
The treadmill can even be better than the “real thing.” (more…)
Best Cardio Exercise for Postmenopausal Women
What may be the best cardio exercise for postmenopausal women offers not just fat loss and improved cholesterol, but also stronger bones and legs.
If you’re thinking running, think again. (more…)
Both Knees Hurt with Deep Knee Bends: Cause & Solution
Does a deep knee bend or very low squat hurt both knees, even with only your body weight?
“There are varied opinions regarding ATG squats,” says Dr. Tom Carpenter, corrective exercise specialist, certified personal trainer and chiropractor, inventor of Stand Corrected™, a portable harness-like stretching tool that helps alleviate back, neck and shoulder pain.
The preschooler below is in a very deep squat or knee bend, also known as ATG: “ass to the grass.”
Young children are naturals at this due to their proportions. Come adulthood, these proportions are much changed.
Dr. Carpenter points out that some exercise experts advise never to bend your knees with your thighs more than parallel to the floor.
On the other hand, there are fitness experts who believe that stopping at parallel to the floor actually puts more strain to the knees.
“Proponents of ATG argue that the four main stabilizing ligaments for the knee — posterior and anterior cruciates as well as medial and lateral collateral ligaments — provide the greatest knee stabilization with full knee flexion (full squat) or full knee extension (standing),” explains Dr. Carpenter.
Therefore, stopping the squat at parallel “prevents these ligaments from fully engaging and providing full protection for the knee joint,” says Dr. Carpenter.
“Critics of ATG say that since we don’t all possess the same body architecture, ATG can be harmful for many people.
“Knee to hip proportional distance can vary from one person to the next, making it less advantageous for some people to perform ATG squats without risking injury.”
In other words, if your femur (thigh bone) is longer than your torso, or it’s disproportionately long relative to shin bone length, you will be at a biomechanical disadvantage with ATG squats or deep knee bending. The diagram below shows this.
“Also, proper form needs to be strictly adhered to or knee injury is very possible. My feeling is that if it hurts, stop doing it.
“As a former martial artist who wound up having to undergo a partial knee replacement, in part from over-training, I would strongly urge you to avoid risking your knees at all costs. It’s not worth it!”
Photo credit: Aleesia Forni
