1. Article I read this week (that requires some discussion)…
I read an article that expressed concerns that more people are not being prescribed the anti-viral drug, Paxlovid. I found it very odd… and concerning… that this tactic is being used to have people pressure their doctors to prescribe drugs that the doctor does not deem necessary. This type of article is put out by the pharmaceutical company to push more drugs onto more people, despite the need, effectiveness, and safety. I can’t sum it up quickly in writing, so see the video below for a quick, but better, explanation to help you see this for what it is.
2. Word I love…
I love the word commitment. A few definitions I came across are… a pledge or undertaking… the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc… the act of binding yourself (intellectually or emotionally) to a course of action. The root word, commit, is defined as fully dedicating yourself to something. The quality of your life begins to change the moment you commit to a better way of living. And committing to something can happen in a moment. What are you committed to? Stop pondering, thinking about, dabbling, or hesitating… and COMMIT!
3. Interesting stats I came across this week…
I have always known the importance of the leg lengths of my patients. It is one of the first things I measure on the x-rays we take in our office. Having one leg shorter than another is not uncommon, but there are factors on whether or not a heel lift should be used to correct that. I read the latest data this week on leg length issues, technically referred to as Leg Length Discrepancy (LLD), and thought it was worth sharing. Only 10% of the population has leg lengths that are equal. A one-centimeter LLD showed an increase of up to 53% in knee osteoarthritis, and a two-centimeter or greater deficiency showed up to 68% incidence in knee arthritis. Increased knee arthritis is seen in a LLD of as little as 0.5 centimeter. In another study, 70% of patients needing full knee replacement had LLD greater than five centimeters. The bottom line is that one leg shorter than the other can lead to a whole host of health issues, including lower back pain, mid-back pain, pelvic pain, recurring muscle pulls and injury, headaches, and hip and knee arthritis and pain ultimately leading to the need for replacement. If you are a patient in our office, don’t worry, we measure the leg lengths and address it if needed. If you have not had your leg lengths measured, I’d suggest you do that to ensure a heel lift is not needed. It is a simple (and inexpensive) fix, and can be catastrophic if left unaddressed. I believe the weight-bearing x-ray we take is the absolute most precise way to measure leg lengths and allows us to determine if that leg length difference warrants a heel lift (using a heel lift when not needed, or using the incorrect size heel lift, can do more damage).
