Gardening led knee pains

Gardening induced knee pains referred to repetitive stress caused due to unusual posture in which knee is pressed continuously while sitting in garden in knee bent position. 

• 10 min walk with stretching allows warming up of body. 
• Put Kneeler Gel Cushion to provide elastomeric cushioning interface for knee
• Wear Good shoes with impact resistant insoles
• Use Long Handed Gardening Tools
• Set up a standing work station
• Manage your weight with low impact exercise and proper diet
• Change your position frequently
• Choose low maintenance landscape optinons
• Elevate and ice your knee before gardening might help

Knee pads and knee cushions are specifically designed to reduce knee pain while providing a cushion for your knees while performing kneeling tasks. Garden kneelers function in much the same way, but they generally have handles that can be used as supports when you go from a kneeling position to a standing position. Additionally, kneelers can usually be flipped over for those supports to become legs, transforming the kneeling cushion into a padded bench you can use while performing seated tasks. 

The pain in legs could be due to an injury, chronic or acute inflammation, overuse impact, obesity, abruptive increase in exercise, mid age weekend games, vein inflammation or internal blood clotting (circulatory problems), osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus (joint pains or stiffness); transient ischemic shock induced numbness and tingling; spinal stenosis; ageing and fibromyalgia. It could also be due to abnormal gait cycle; rigid arch or flat feet or improperly fit shoes induced leg pain and shin splints. When there is no injury, the underlying cause is related to feet problems, Medigel orthotics are recommended specific to feet deformity. 

The progressive flat feet leads to excessive pronation i.e., inward motion of knee as arch (lever of the feet) is falling gradually. The leg is the connecting link and strained as both foot and knee are causing torque strain (twisted force) on each step. This in turn putting lot of strain on leg causing immense pains. No remedy can work unless body alignment is not corrected. The alignment correction is essential by using Heel with Arch (Medial Arch Insole), Insole with Arch or High Performance Insoles to manage such situation.

It is recommended to wear high performance insole (most recommended choice) or alternatively insole with arch or medial arch insole (heel with arch) in your footwear to align your body preventing inner pronation. In the night, wash the foot with warm water and dry it with towel, use Cokum foot cream  massage both knee and foot. In case some pain still persist, use Hot & Cold Pack or Cold Pack for relieving pain.

Knee pain is caused by stressing of joints, irritation and inflammation due to overuse (repeated stress or prolonged pressure like climbing, bicycles, jogging, jumping, running) or accidental injury like abnormal twisting, bending or falling of knee; limited physical activity; extensive or no stretching; neither warming up nor cooling down and; daily wear and tear with underlying cause as arthritis. Progressive flat foot induced inward rotation of knee (painful and chronic) and tightening of calf muscles induced stretch impact on knee are major health ailments. Obesity and an abrupt increase in exercise also induces such pain. 

The upper leg bone (femur) and lower leg bones are attached by ligaments, tendons and muscles in the knee and its surface is covered by articular cartilage required for smooth, gliding and surface for effective joint movement. This cartilage is responsible for shock absorption.

Diffused, acute or both types of pain with associated physical restriction and prognosis is usually good and might require surgical interventions. Locking of the knee i.e., unable to bend the knee or its complete inability to extend the knee; difficulty in walking associated with redness and swelling. Acute injury such as broken bone or torn ligament; arthritis and infections; chronic use/ overuse, osteoarthritis and patellar syndromes like tendinitis and bursitis are important causes. Thus, the major risk factors include Altered biomechanics and extra pressure on knee due to excessive body weight and overuse due to strenuous activity schedule.

The progressive flat feet leads to excessive pronation i.e., inward motion of knee as arch (lever of the feet) is falling gradually. Such leads to an excessive strain on articular cartilage of knee over a period of time causing misalignment of body. Such misalignment lead to excessive pressure on knee making it painful followed by back pain and spine of the body also gets severely affected. The alignment correction is essential by using Arch Support, Heel with Arch (Medial Arch Insole), Insole with Arch are essential orthotic inserts to manage such situation. 

The management of knee injury initiates with control of swelling by resting, icing, compression with wrap and elevation of knee as much as possible (physical therapy) followed by symptomatic care of inflammation and pain. If you have sustained pain after two weeks, consult doctor and follow up till complete care (including surgery, if needed) is achieved. The site, nature, and gravity of the injury along with ageing, health status, and daily action level will directly impact the treatment required to manage the situation.

It is recommended to wear high performance insole (most recommended choice) or alternatively insole with arch or medial arch insole (heel with arch) in your footwear to align your body preventing inner pronation. In the night, wash the foot with warm water and dry it with towel, use Cokum foot cream  massage both knee and foot. In case some pain still persist, use Hot & Cold Pack or Cold Pack for relieving pain. 

Overlapping toe is characterized by one toe lying on top of an adjacent toe especially in case of second and fifth toe. It may be a hereditary in nature otherwise resultant due to counterbalancing of body weight pressure exerted on toe areas. There are different physical states including hammer toes, mallet toes, claw toes and other toe ailments which require specific care. 

It could be due to low or high arches of foot causing uneven distribution of weight towards toes. Women suffering from bunions often accompanied with overlapping toes. Rheumatoid arthritis affecting joints causing such toe deformities. Wearing of stylish footwear leads to disrupted pressure ways which leads to initiation of thickening of skin followed by extreme pain resulting in overlapping toes to counter this pressure. Treatment is conservative (self) or otherwise if not managed in early stages of development, appropriate care can only be given by doctors. 

Hammer Toe is a deformed toe state achieved by angular (twisting) position of the toe to manage additional pressure exerted on toe transferred from altered foot biomechanics in hind or mid foot region especially in case of high heel wearers, ill-fit footwears and bunions. Such overlapping toes cause rubbing and irritation leading to painful toe areas. It could be congenital too. It is different in physical state with claw toe and mallet toes while management remained similar in practice.  The collapse of midfoot arch lead to transfer of extreme weight in 2nd arch (medial latitudinal arch) towards gripping of toe over adjacent to neutralise the pressure attributed towards abnormal gait cycle. The aggravation of situation, if untreated remains inevitable. 

Yes, with each step of an unstable foot cause the toes to over exert themselves in trying to help stabilize the foot during gait. This produces a muscular imbalance with progressive shortening of the flexor tendons (the deforming force) and the extensor tendons (the holding force). The result is an angular mal position of the toe causing rubbing in shoes with pain.

Once it occurred, the preventive strategies include: (a) Wearing of wider shoes; (b) Wearing of open weave socks (similar to diabetic gel socks); (c) Vaseline rubbing to reduce friction; (d) Toe stretching exercises often help in recovery; (e) C3I organogel padding material for providing cushioning and spreader(s) to separate the overlapping toes (only on advise of doctors).

The contraction of middle and end joint of toes (except big toe) leads to tightened ligament and tendon causing curling of toe downwards taking a shape of claw. Claw toe could be flexible (able to straighten manually) or rigid claw toe. It is accompanied with discomfort and pain on top while rubbing inside the shoes. It is different from overlapping toes, mallet toes and claw toes however management remained similar. 

A painful rigid claw toe (non-movable toe) cause extra stress at the ball-of-the-foot, and development of corns and calluses. Such rigid claw toe could be caused due to arthritis too.

Mallet toe is a condition affecting the distal inter-phalangeal joint (last joint of toe) differs from hammer toe in which proximal inter-phalangeal joint of toe (first joint) is affected. It is often flexible & non-painful, though become rigid with time, if not treated. It is also accompanied with thickened nails (deformities) and calluses at the end of toe especially seen in second toe. In case of diabetics, ulceration at the ends of toe was also observed.

Toe Separator are often used to widen the gap between toes if these are getting closer and overlapping. Toe Spreader is used to straighten big toes, however, if you are wearing shoes, use Toe Spreader (with D-ring). In case overlapping toe is associated with bunion state too, use Toe Spreader (D) with Bunion Sleeve. Toe Aligners are also recommended for management of overlapping toes. 

Mastectomy refers to surgical removal of breast as reported in numerous cancer cases. It could be total, radical (breast, lymph nodes and chest muscles); modified radical (breast, most of lymph nodes, & lining of chest muscles) and Lumpectomy – (tumour and small amount of normal tissue). 

Breast prosthesis is recommended under following conditions:

• a mastectomy (either or both breasts)
• a wide local excision at breast site 
• reconstructive surgery, but have developed problems (removal of the reconstructed breast or a reconstructed breast that doesn't provide a balance with the other breast), in such situation, the surgeon explain the problem and proposed breast prosthesis
• having a congenital requirement 

It is an artificial form of breasts used after surgery. Earlier it was available in materials such as silicone, foam or fibrefill, however, now it is available in superior C3I Organic Gel Technology too. An external breast prosthesis is an artificial breast form that can be worn after a mastectomy. It helps balance the body and keeps the bra on the side of the mastectomy from riding up, which helps prevent back and neck pain and a sagging shoulder.

(1) To regain symmetrical balance of the body and to keep body in balance, as being out of balance might lead to rise of muscle-skeletal problems / shoulder drop down issues. (2) Provide significant protection to injured surgical site. (3) Weighted breast is essential to prevent the bra to rise up during daily working. (4) It allows women to continue normally in terms of pre-mastectomy wardrobe and societal pressure is easily avoided. (5) Artificial breasts tries to provide a psychological benefit for day-to-day working for a women after such traumatic surgeries. 

Organic Gel breast form is an elastomer without any plastic like film. It is an approved medical grade gel (G-certified) and no damage can incur to you or your clothing. Gel breast prostheses are unbelievably resilient for extended long periods, if properly cared. These are washable by local detergents and wiped using specific cleaners to maintain hygiene. The use of talcum powder and body lotions on or around the prosthesis is allowed as it will enhance personal sanitation and hygiene. Soaps with moisturizers can also be used. Pat it dry with a soft towel or cloth. Take care not to puncture your breast form with sharp objects, such as pins or pet claws, however, being closed foam it doesn’t leak, though can be cut. It is not possible to repair and your guarantee will be forfeited. Avoid direct sunlight exposure or any source of excessive heat / unprotected by proper clothing being oil based system. No cradle is required to retain its shape, just place in the box or covered place to make it away from dust. There are no special swim prostheses required as it is a multipurpose Organic Gel Breast Prostheses. 

There are two shapes of breast prosthesis available i.e. tear drop type (mid aged person) and triangular type (if you wear compressed / wired bras mostly in life). Click on pics to investigate shape and select as per your bra size. Massage Cream is also recommended to moisturize the breast surgical stie. 

Occupational stress is psychological stress related to one's job. It often stems from pressures that do not align with a person's knowledge, skills, or expectations. 

Some of the attributing factors include:

• Long hours.
• Heavy workload.
• Changes within the organisation.
• Tight deadlines.
• Changes to duties.
• Job insecurity.
• Lack of autonomy.
• Boring work.

High levels of occupational stress have been linked to an increased risk of physical injuries, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, depression and increases in negative personal behaviours such as anger, anxiety and irritability. 

Some signs of stress include:  

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Low sex drive
• Memory and concentration problems
• Compulsive behavior
• Mood swings

Tips to manage stress 

1. Avoid Caffeine, Alcohol, and Nicotine
2. Indulge in Physical Activity
3. Get More Sleep
4. Try Relaxation Techniques
5. Talk to Someone
6. Keep a Stress Diary
7. Take Control
8. Manage Your Time

These are stress relieving gel balls in egg and spherical shape. Egg shaped ones are used primarily in starting stages followed by spherical ones.10 min schedule (twice a day) is recommended to relieve stress (instructions are always attached within in item).