Ohio ranked No. 8 in Gallup’s recent 2012 survey of the U.S.’s most obese states. The poll shows 29.5 percent of our state’s population is considered obese, slightly above the national average of 26.2 percent.

Obesity is defined in the poll as any person having a Body Mass Index (BMI) score of 30 or more. Our neighbors to the south, West Virginia, came in at the heaviest while Colorado ranked as the thinnest state in the United States.

Orthopaedic Associates of Zanesville wants our patients to lead a healthy lifestyle with plenty of exercise and a balanced diet. We encourage you to read our previous blog posts, listed below, which have outlined our country’s obesity epidemic and tips for living a healthier life:

Don’t Wait to Lose Weight

Mickey Mouse Says No to Junk Food

Slow Down When You Chow Down

The Weight of Responsibility: America’s Obese Children

Orthopaedic Associates of Zanesville is proud to help our patients “get back at it.” In 2011, we released a series of videos highlighting three of the most common ailments we treat and procedures we perform: wrist injuries, tendonitis and hip replacement surgery. We encourage you to watch these videos by clicking on the links below, because if you haven’t seen them – they’re new to you!

• Wrist injuries: Wrist injuries are the most common ailment we treat at OAZ, particularly broken wrists and carpel tunnel syndrome. Treatments options include casting, setting the fracture or surgery. As we discussed in an earlier blog post, carpal tunnel syndrome results from pressure on the median nerve and often causes numbness, tingling, night pain and weakness in the hand.
• Tendonitis: Tendonitis occurs when small tears form in a tendon. It is a common injury often associated with weight lifting. Biceps tendonitis is caused by repetitive elbow flexion while triceps tendonitis is the result of repetitive and forceful elbow extension.
• Hip Replacement: Hip replacement is necessary when the covering allowing a joint to move freely is worn or damaged. Often categorized as “bone-on-bone friction,” the result is a loss of movement and a decreased ability to bear weight, which leads to surgery.

At OAZ, our primary goal is to educate our patients on how to make the right choices for their bodies and their bones. If you or a loved one has suffered an orthopaedic injury, please schedule an appointment with one of our physicians by visiting our website or calling 740-454-3273.

Bone health is an important issue in the African American community and one we will spotlight as part of Black History Month. “The age-adjusted prevalence of osteoporosis and the rate of hip fracture are lower in Black women than in White women in the United States,” according to a report from the Surgeon General.

Despite these numbers, there are some key issues plaguing African American bone health, particularly when it comes to diagnosing and treating osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disease classified as low bone mass and it usually affects elderly women.

The following list of facts is credited to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases and can also be found on its website:

• Osteoporosis is under recognized and under-treated in African American women.
• As African American women age, the risk for hip fracture doubles every seven year time span.
• African American women are more likely than white women to die following a hip fracture.
• Diseases more prevalent in the African American population, such as sickle cell anemia and lupus, can increase the risk of developing osteoporosis.
• African American women consume 50 percent less calcium than the recommended dietary allowance. Calcium plays a crucial role in building bone mass and preventing bone loss.
• As many as 75 percent of all African Americans are lactose intolerant. Lactose intolerance can hinder optimal calcium intake which can weaken bones.

Orthopaedic Associates of Zanesville is proud to celebrate Black History Month and encourages you to share these bone health facts with your friends and family.

Winter weather brings cold temperatures, and that colder weather leads to snowy and icy conditions. Below are eight tips for preventing winter falls, courtesy our friends at American Bone Health:

1. Wear shoes with good traction.
2. Dress warm. If you’re warm, your muscles will stay relaxed. Tense muscles can adversely affect your balance.
3. Be careful getting out of your car. Plant both feet firmly on the ground before moving. Steady yourself on the door frame until you have your balance.
4. Don’t take shortcuts. Stay on cleared sidewalks and paths, and don’t walk between parked cars. Remember that grassy slopes can be as slippery as snowy steps.
5. Take extra time. Don’t rush. Take short steps with your toes pointed slightly outward to maintain a stable base of support.
6. Pay attention. Stay aware of the surfaces ahead of you. Look down with your eyes only. If you move your head downward, you may shift your balance.
7. When walking in the dark or in shadowy areas, stay alert for black ice. It is treacherous and extremely slippery.
8. Keep your driveway and walkways clear. Pay someone to do this if necessary.

Winter weather hazards are no laughing matter, despite this funny photo we found online.  Orthopaedic Associates of Zanesville wants to make sure our community stays safe. So when walking on ice this winter, keep the following tips in mind:

Keep your eyes up and watch your step. Assume sidewalks and walkways are icy.

• When in doubt, walk like a penguin. Take small steps and shuffle your feet over slippery surfaces.
• Keep your feet on the ground and avoid walking on your tiptoes.
• Keep your arms at your side and use them to balance if the terrain becomes slippery.

Start by taking three deep breaths: One … two … three … now exhale. Today is National Stress Awareness Day, which is designated for people to recognize stress in their life and manage it in a healthy way.

According to our friends at the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAAOS), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) isn’t just a result of military combat. PTSD is an anxiety disorder occurring after traumatic physical injuries. The JAAOS estimates 20 to 51 percent of patients with an orthopaedic injury experience PTSD.

The thought is that orthopaedic trauma, such as musculoskeletal injuries, hinders a person’s emotional and physical functionality. Basically, serious injuries are scary and can shake your psyche. Luckily, medical facilities like OAZ provide top-notch care and post-operation rehab which can ease a patient’s worries.

While the American version of National Stress Awareness Day was strategically placed the day after taxes are usually due, stress can come in many forms. So remember to breath and take a look at how to reduce stress, complements of the Mayo Clinic.