Loma Linda University Community Medical Center news Director of senior services appointed at LLUCMC ÔJust for SeniorsÕ hears talk on aches, pains Specialist in cataract and intraocular lens surgery, radial keratotomy, and laser speaks to members of the ÒJust for SeniorsÓ club August 27, 1998 [TODAY, August 27, 1998] Director of senior services appointed at LLUCMC   Mr. King   Former director of marketing and community relations at Columbia San Clemente Hospital in San Clemente, Royston A. King, MPH, a 1971 graduate of the School of Public Health, has been named director of senior services at Loma Linda University Community Medical Center. Mr. King was named to this position effective August 3. Until accepting his new position, Mr. King was instrumental in initiating and facilitating many programs at Columbia San Clemente Hospital. Among these included a chapter of the National Association of Senior Friends, a program for individuals over 50, to gain market share in local senior populationÑ600 seniors joined in its first year. Mr. King served as consultant and managing director of Professional HealthCare Marketing, Laguna Niguel, from 1990 to 1993. He was director of marketing and community relations at Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center, Mission Viejo, from 1983 to 1990. From 1976 to 1983, Mr. King served as business consultant and managing director for King & Associates in Loma Linda. He was a department chair for the School of Allied Health Professions from 1970 to 1976. Mr. King is a member of the American Marketing Association and the Public Relations Society of America, and has an extensive list of published materials to his credit. [Top of page] ÔJust for SeniorsÕ hears talk on aches, pains Scott R. Strum, MD, assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation, speaks to ÒJust for SeniorsÓ members about aches and pains they may experience as they age. There are many changes in the bones, muscles, and ligaments associated with aging. Natural changes in aging tissue and various diseases can produce discomfort. Following is a brief review of the talk given June 17 to members of the ÒJust for SeniorsÓ club by Scott R. Strum, MD, assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, about some of the most common causes of pain in the elderly and recommendations regarding treatment. Natural changes of aging As people age, a host of alterations occur throughout the body, several of which can contribute to the development of painful conditions, even in the absence of diagnosed disease. Cardiac function, muscle strength, and many postural changes combine to yield overall physical decline. Regarding posture, there is anterior thrust of the head with extension of the cervical spine, increased forward bending of the thoracic spine, and straightening of the lumbar spine. In the legs, there is greater hip and knee flexion, and decreased ankle range of motion.   The ÒJust for SeniorsÓ audience listens to Dr. Strum as he relates what they can do to minimize discomforts that may occur.   Disuse Disuse atrophy refers to the changes that occur as a result of sedentary living. With alarming rapidity, the efficiency of the heart, lungs, colon, and muscles decline when these systems are not challenged regularly with exercise. Recent evidence has emerged that memory and other cognitive processes may also be diminished by lack of physical exercise. Joints become stiff due to decreased flexibility of the ligaments and tendons that cross them, and bones lose calcium when they are not challenged with weight-bearing activities. Weaker muscles and tighter ligaments are sources of pain for two reasons: tight ligaments become uncomfortably stretched with routine activity, and weak muscles become painfully fatigued with routine activity. Bones that lose calcium are more brittle and this predisposes individuals to develop fractures, which in turn are painful. The key to limiting--and indeed reversing--the changes that arise from disuse is to increase physical activity. This means more than engaging in a daily exercise program. It means the more a person walks and moves around during the day the better. Those who are in excess of 40 years of age should consult with a physician regarding what type of exercise program they can participate in, and once cleared for exercise, the more they do, the better off they will be--as long as they donÕt injure themselves in the process. Injury can best be prevented by doing less than they think they can, and gradually increase their efforts with time. Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis is the kind of degeneration that happens to joints with excessive wear and tear. It differs from rheumatoid arthritis in that it is not the result of an overzealous immune system attacking the cartilage in the joints and other body systems. Why these changes occur more quickly in some people than others remains uncertain. Nevertheless, destruction of the cartilage in joints results in pain. There is no known way to reverse the destruction of the cartilage, despite the claims of some in the alternative medicine industry who claim that consuming some components of cartilage can restore lost cartilage. There are some studies underway investigating the effects of introducing cartilage-making cells into degenerating joints, but this approach is a long way from application at this time. The pain in this condition comes from the actual discomfort of the degenerating joint itself, and the discomfort of the tight ligaments and fatigued muscles around the joint. The joint hurts when moved, so muscles and ligaments try to limit its movement, thus becoming tight and sore themselves. A wide array of medicines can help with the pain of the joint, but exercise is again the mainstay of treatment and prevention of this kind of pain. The goal of exercise in a case of osteoarthritis is to limber up the muscles and ligaments, and challenge the heart and lungs without increasing the damage to the cartilage of the joints in question. Osteoporosis Osteoporosis refers to the process of calcium and collagen loss from bones, and the resulting increase in brittleness that predisposes individuals to fractures. (Loss of calcium by itself is termed osteomalacia, a less common disorder.) This problem is much more prevalent in women than in men, and is the topic of a great deal of research at this time. There are clinics that specialize in the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis, and this is the appropriate place for people with advanced disease to be treated. Pain in osteoporosis is due to fractures, and also the altered posture that results from the bony deformities (producing chronically stretched ligaments and muscles). Calcium, vitamin D, estrogen, and some newer medicines are employed with weight-bearing exercise to limit the development of osteoporosis. Summary There are many different causes of aches and pains in the elderly. Specific diseases require appropriate medical intervention, as well as conditioning programs. Many types of exercise are beneficial to the elderly in the same way that they benefit younger people: improved sense of well-being, better cardiovascular function, greater strength, better balance, improved flexibility and posture, and so on. These changes serve to reduce a wide array of different types of pain. There are many different exercise programs available in the community, and many offer special deals for groups and for the elderly in general. Clearance from a physician is essential before initiating a conditioning program. In some cases it is best to begin a program with a few physical therapy sessions, because physical therapists are skilled in discerning particular postural and musculoskeletal problems and will design specific exercise programs to address these concerns. [Top of page] Specialist in cataract and intraocular lens surgery, radial keratotomy, and laser speaks to members of the ÒJust for SeniorsÓ club Wayne B. Isaeff, MD, FACS, specialist in cataract and intraocular lens surgery, radial keratotomy, and laser, Inland Eye Institute, speaks to members of the ÒJust for SeniorsÓ club at Loma Linda University Community Medical Center in late July. He provided important information on cataracts (milky cloudiness that develops within the naturally clear lens of the eye), dry eyes, glaucoma (build-up of fluid pressure behind the eye), macular degeneration (deterioration of the central area of the retina), and presbyopia (loss of elasticity of the eye). After his informative talk, vision screenings were provided and Dr. Isaeff spoke with the attendees on a one-to-one basis. For more information on maintaining or restoring eyesight, call Inland Eye Institute at (800) 794-2020. [Top of page][TODAY, August 27, 1998][News and media page] University | Medical_Center | LLU&MC_home | Search_&_index | News_&_events | Employment | Contact | Our_mission All contents copyright © 2001 Loma Linda University. All rights reserved. Revised Wednesday, January 10, 2001 10:07 AM Send comments and questions to webmaster@univ.llu.edu URL: /