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Is the Robocop knee brace the new ‘must have’ for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis? The celebrities seem to think that it is …

Recent media stories, a landmark study and the Autumn/Winter TV schedules highlight the Össur Unloader’s ability to offer pain relief, improve function and maintain a healthy lifestyle

Recent national news stories (London, UK – August, 2017) have drawn attention to the Unloader One knee brace from Össur – as a key aid in helping leading celebrities to continue with an active lifestyle, whether suffering from osteoarthritis or recovering from injury.

National treasure Ant McPartlin’s historic knee surgery and subsequent addiction to painkillers has been well documented, and the star has been photographed in several newspapers wearing the Unloader One as part of his recovery.

Sharron Davies, the television presenter and former competitive UK swimmer, has been wearing an Unloader One since 2012 and recently returned from filming Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls.

“Some of the tasks that I had to do recently on Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls involved long challenging walks. I wore my unloading brace to help prevent the painful swelling around my knee that can come from doing activities like walking,” said Sharron.

And last week, celebrity chef and Unloader One wearer Simon Rimmer was announced as a participant in the forthcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing, who used an Unloader as part of his recovery following microfracture surgery which led to chondral damage.

Numbers of knee surgeries are growing year on year – around 150,000 knee operations are conducted in the UK each year. The annual cost to the NHS for total knee replacement surgery is currently more than £400 million.

“The Unloader One has been proven to reduce the need for pain medication in patients with chronic knee pain and is available on the NHS,” said Emlyn Lewis, Managing Director Össur UK. “Using the product can empower people like Ant, Sharron and Simon to manage their pain biomechanically rather than through the use of pharmaceuticals, which can have negative side effects.”

The Unloader One is a lightweight, easy to use, non-surgical treatment option for the symptoms associated with osteoarthritis of the knee. Recent research demonstrates that Unloader One reduces pain, improves function and decreases the use of pain medication.

About Össur
Össur is a global leader in non-invasive orthopaedics that help people live a life without limitations. Its business is focused on improving people’s mobility through the delivery of innovative technologies within the fields of braces, supports and prosthetic limbs. A recognised “Technology Pioneer”, Össur invests significantly in research and product development; its award-winning designs ensuring a consistently strong position in the market. Successful patient and clinical outcomes are further empowered via Össur’s educational programs and business solutions. www.ossur.com

Content supplied by Ossur UK

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Machu Picchu, The World’s Most Magnificent Ruin is a Must See Destination in Peru

A visit to Peru just would not be complete without a stop at Machu Picchu. It is one of the world’s greatest ruins of the world and a must see destination for anyone visiting the country.

This awe-inspiring complex sits high atop a mountain in the Andes Mountains. Located at 2500 meters above sea level it is hard to imagine building such a magnificent site in today’s world, let alone hundreds of years ago without the use of modern tools and technology.  Remarkably well preserved, it managed to avoid 400 years of looting and destruction. Its location in the mountains hid it from the Spanish Invasion and has given tourists an awesome view ever since being rediscovered in 1911.

This ancient Inca complex is extraordinary.  The grounds stand atop a flat peak and its terraced steps plunge down the mountain clinging to the side of its slopes.  It is truly a wonder of the world.

There are two ways to get to the ruins. One is to join a trek and hike along the Inca Trail from the Sacred Valley. There are several routes that you can take but you must hire a guide and obtain proper documents. It is a 33 km hike and takes four days to complete.  Book your trip well in advance because only 500 hikers are allowed to start the trail each day. During the high season it can be impossible to secure a spot with one of the operators as many people book at least one year ahead of time. Don’t let the low mileage fool you, this is a tough climb making its way up, down and around the mountains, but the pay off is worth it as you emerge onto the grounds of the mystical Machu Picchu.

If you don’t have a lot of time, or if you are not fortunate enough to join a trek on the Inca Trail, don’t worry you can get to Machu Picchu by train as well.  Unfortunately tourists cannot take local transport, but you can catch the tourist train from Cuzco or Ollayantaytambo.  Prices are the same from either town.

For $ 100 USD you can catch the Vista Dome to Aguas Calientes, the jumping off point to see the ruins.  The VIP train has glass ceilings giving you a panoramic view of the Andes.  Attendants take great care of you answering your questions and you are served a nice little meal during the ride.  On the way back from Machu Picchu you will even have on board entertainment, a fashion show and a chance to shop for traditional Peruvian goods. Once again, it is only a distance of 35 km, but the ride takes over 2 hours so it is nice to have a little distraction.

When you arrive at Aguas Calientes, you can find a place to stay at one of the many hotels. In high season be prepared to pay up to $ 100 for a room. It is a hilly town to walk around with the prime attraction being the hot springs; A perfect place for trekkers to relax their aching muscles after finishing the Inca Trail.

You can buy your admission tickets to Machu Picchu at the Cultural Center in Aguas Calientes for the following day.  And after you are settled feel free to walk around the town, checking out the great deals at the market and sampling the local cuisine in the many restaurants.  Try some guinea pig if you dare or if you are not feeling up to the challenge, eat a fresh wood oven pizza while you sip on a pitcher of Sangria or Pisco Sours at happy hour. 

Buses start making their way up the mountain to the ruins at 5:00 am, so keep it an early night.  You want to make sure to rise early if you are traveling at high season. The buses fill up quickly. Plus, by arriving early, you will beat the organized tours that come later in the day as well as the trekkers emerging from the Inca Trail.  You will have a far less crowded view of the Ruins and a chance to take better people free photos.

Entering the grounds at dawn is magical experience.  As the sun slowly peaks through the rising fog, a grand view appears before your eyes.  Surrounded by other taller peaks, Machu Picchu sits like a protected child under their steady watch. Llama’s graze on grassy terraces as you make your way through the maze and the temple complex unfolds before you.

Walk up to the Hut of the Caretaker and you will have the best view of the entire grounds.  This is where all of those famous photographs that you see in magazines are taken and you will not be able to resist taking one yourself.

Machu Picchu has had its share of publicity and hype over the years, but luckily for anyone visiting South America’s greatest treasure, it lives up to every legend, myth and story that you have ever heard.  There are several famous ruins of the world, but Machu Picchu has by far the most magnificent location of them all.

Deb Corbeil is one half of Canada’s Adventure Couple. Together with her husband Dave, they have traveled to over 35 countries where they have taken on extreme adventures from Cycling from Cairo to Cape Town and Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Follow their adventures at http://www.theplanetd.com as they paddle, hike, climb, scuba dive and trek their way around the globe. To see great photos go to their photography site at http://www.picturetheplanet.com

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What You Must Know on What Causes Eczema

In order to identify the right treatment and preventive measures, it is very important for you to understand what causes eczema. There are a lot of individuals suffering from the skin conditions throughout the world. Most patients who are diagnosed are children age 5 and below. However, adult-onset eczema cases are also possible. Since it is a chronic or long-term disorder, eczema is usually managed according to their symptoms to promote the comfort of the patient. Triggers or factors of the disorder are also identified and avoided by the patient. The signs and symptoms of the condition may also differ depending on the severity of the condition.

What causes eczema?
Eczema or atopic dermatitis is a condition characterized by skin itching, drying, cracking and redness. In severe cases, symptoms of the condition include the development of blisters which may develop secretions. If the condition is not managed effectively, it can lead to a lot of complications that can provide further problem especially to children suffering from the condition. The exact cause of the condition is still unknown. However, the following factors are identified by health experts as possible causes.

1. Hereditary factors
Most experts recognize hereditary factors as the most accepted factor on what causes eczema. Several statistical studies regarding the condition show that most patients who are diagnosed with eczema have parents or other relatives who are also diagnosed with the same condition. Majority of the children who have the condition were identified to have developed the disorder due to hereditary factors. However, their eczema may vary in severity.

A certain gene among patients called the fillagrin gene is identified to be defective, leading to the allergic skin condition. Several individuals with damaged fillagrin gene may pass it on to their children as they pass the disorder. Damage of the fillagrin gene causes the signs and symptoms of eczema.

Other than the damaged or defective fillagrin gene, several studies have also shown that individuals diagnosed with certain immunologic conditions may pass the disorder to their children. The immune system of individuals diagnosed with the condition often destroys normal body cells and releases substances into the skin surfaces, leading to inflammation. This is why eczema is recognized as an autoimmune disorder, a condition caused by immune system fighting itself.

2. Environmental factors
Eczema cases among adults are usually caused by environmental factors. These factors include certain conditions where allergic reactions become severe, causing an overreaction of the immune system. Consistent exposure to the allergic environmental factor can lead to long term overreaction of the immune system, which in turn leads to eczema.

Pollution, stress and extreme weather can also lead to changes with the immune system function, leading to eczema.

3. Hormonal conditions
Another factor which may cause eczema among adults is hormonal conditions. Since hormones regulate several body processes such as skin nutrition, hormonal conditions may lead to other problems. If the allergic reaction of the skin is left uncontrolled by the immune system and the hormones, it can lead to the development of eczema.

Veronica Ayuste has been doing a lot of research about eczema cure, just visit her website at www.eczemacureanswers.com.
 

Infant Eczema – What You Must Know When Treating Baby Eczema

If you are a parent who has to deal with your baby who suffers from infant eczema, then you know how defeating this condition can be. There can seemingly be nothing more frustrating, but take solace in the fact that there is hope. Natural treatment for infant eczema exists and can be more effective than one would ever imagine. This article will help the reader understand just what eczema is and what can be done to effectively cure it. If you are one of the many parents who are interested in naturally treating your precious little one’s eczema, then this article is for you.

The first step in treating infant eczema is understanding just what eczema is; know thy enemy. A skin disease eczema is not! Eczema is a skin disorder, more likened to an allergy than anything, as it is a chronic hypersensitivity reaction in the skin. It is characterized by red, scaly skin that itches, and it is usually apparent around the cheeks, elbows or knees. Since its cause is similar to an allergic reaction, a typical treatment may include corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and medicines called topical immunomodulators (TIMs); however, the point is to treat without these harsh measures. With a little knowledge, this is entirely possible, and if he or she could, your baby would thank you.

Since eczema is not a disease, your baby did not “catch” it; however, an indicator of susceptibility is a family history of the condition, as well as related conditions, such as hay fever and asthma. Baby may not want to thank you if he or she knew this, but that can be our little secret.

Since we have an understanding of infant eczema now, the next step in treating is prevention. Prevention is not too late, even if your baby is displaying signs of eczema. Breastfeeding mothers report a much lower incidence of infant eczema than do those who do not breastfeed. The breastfeeding mother may need to avoid cow’s milk, eggs, fish, peanuts and soy, as these are common foods that cause allergic reactions. One should try to keep a handle on stress, nervousness, anxiety and depression, as babies can pick up on this, display their own stress reactions and exacerbate infant eczema.

There are things to avoid lessen the effects of infant eczema. Stress is a great contributor to the appearance of the symptoms of eczema, so this should be avoided. Of course environmental irritants should be avoided, as well as sudden temperature changes. Dry skin is also one of the things that should be remedied quickly to avoid problems.

Eczema in one’s child can be one of those things that just stop a parent’s heart in his or her chest. The irritation that one’s child experiences is nothing compared to the bacterial infections or permanent scars that could result if not treated effectively. Parents are also reluctant to the severe treatments that are sometimes recommended. There are, however, very effective, safe and natural treatments for infant eczema for a parent’s peace of mind and a baby’s health.

Download free report on 10 Natural Eczema Remedies For Babies and Children at http://www.CureChildEczema.com. Learn all about baby eczema and help your child today.