Offers tips for stretching and flexibility. Provides step-by-step instructions and photos for basic stretching exercises.

Discectomy is surgery to remove lumbar (low back) herniated disc material that is pressing on a nerve root. It's often done as microdiscectomy, which uses a special microscope to view the disc and nerves. This larger view allows the surgeon to use a smaller cut (incision). And this causes less damage to surrounding...

In Parkinson's disease, freezing is a sudden, brief inability to start movement or to continue rhythmic, repeated movements, such as finger-tapping, writing, or walking. Freezing most often affects walking. But it also can affect speech, writing, and your ability to open and close your eyes. It tends to develop later in...

What medicines can relieve pain at the end of life? The goal of good pain management is to have the least possible pain with the fewest side effects. Because each person responds to pain medicines in a different way, it may take more than one try to find the best medicines for you. Talk with your doctors and your care...

Opioids are strong medicines. They can help you manage pain when you use them the right way. But they can cause serious harm and even death. If you decide to take opioids, here are some things to remember. Keep your doctor informed. You can develop opioid use disorder. Moderate to severe opioid use disorder is sometimes...

Cardiac rehabilitation (rehab) includes a phase that helps you keep the healthy behaviors and habits that you learned in rehab. This phase, or program, is often referred to as the maintenance part of rehab, because it can help you maintain a...

Cardiac rehabilitation (rehab) typically includes an outpatient program. This program is one part, or phase, of your cardiac rehab. You will likely take part in a supervised or home-based exercise program. You will receive information and tools to...

Describes clubfoot and what causes it. Covers symptoms and diagnosis. Also covers treatment, including surgery and nonsurgical methods. Offers info on when clubfoot might point to a more serious problem.

Resistance training may be done with many things, including weights, elastic bands, machines, or your own body weight. Resistance training can help you get the most benefit from your cardiac rehabilitation (rehab) program. Do not start a...

Using a walker can help you move with less pain and more stability. A walker can help you be more independent and safe as you do your daily activities. Be sure your walker fits you. When you stand up in your normal posture and relax your arms at your sides, the walker's hand grips should be level with your wrists. Then...

Covers symptoms of tennis elbow, including pain around the elbow. Covers activities that increase risk, like gardening, swimming, and golf. Looks at treatment options, including surgery. Offers prevention tips, including photos of exercises that may help.

Medicare is health insurance that the United States government provides for people ages 65 and older. It also covers some people younger than 65 who have disabilities and people who have long-term (chronic) kidney failure who need dialysis or a...

What is a spinal cord injury? A spinal cord injury (SCI) is damage to the spinal cord. The spinal cord is a soft bundle of nerves that goes from the base of the brain to the lower back. It runs through the spinal canal, a tunnel formed by holes in the bones of the spine. The bony spine helps protect the spinal cord. The...

Paget's disease is a problem of abnormal bone growth. It may affect just one bone, but it usually affects more than one. In normal bone, the bone tissue is constantly being broken down, absorbed into the body, and then rebuilt with new cells. In...

Discusses pacemakers to control heart rhythm. Gives information on safety guidelines and tips for exercise and travel.

This article discusses encephalits and covers the symptoms, how it's diagnosed, and how it's treated.

Discusses decompressive laminectomy, the most common type of surgery to treat lumbar spinal stenosis. Looks at how surgery may reduce pressure on nerve roots to relieve pain. Covers risks.

A cane can help you walk when you have an injured hip, leg, knee, or foot. You may also use it if you have a weak leg or problems with your balance. The length of the cane is important. Your elbow should have only a slight bend when you lean on the cane. Being safe A walking aid—a walker, crutches, or a cane—helps if...

What are mitochondrial diseases? Mitochondrial (say "my-tuh-KAWN-dree-uhl") diseases are a group of rare diseases that can sometimes be passed down from mothers to their children. The diseases happen when mitochondria don't work the way they should. Mitochondria are tiny parts of the cells in your body. They are often...

Covers causes and symptoms of changes in your spinal discs as you age. Includes changes that can result in back or neck pain, osteoarthritis, herniated disc, and spinal stenosis. Looks at treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Sciatica is pain caused by irritation or pressure against the nerve roots of the sciatic nerve. People with sciatica usually have a shooting pain down the back of the leg. But they also may have leg weakness, tingling, or numbness. The sciatic nerve is formed by the nerve roots coming out of the spinal cord into the...

What is acute flaccid myelitis? Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) is a rare condition that affects the spinal cord. It causes certain muscles and reflexes in the body to stop working normally. What causes it? Experts are still doing research to find the exact cause of AFM. It may be linked to certain viruses. This includes...

The Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA) of 1975 is a federal law. It is also known as Public Law 94-142. It requires public schools to provide appropriate educational services for all children with disabilities between ages 3 and 21. EAHCA has been strengthened and expanded over the years. It is now...

Discusses how to live with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), a device that helps control heart rhythm. Gives safety guidelines and tips for travel, exercise, and making an ICD shock plan.

If you've started a program to get more active but are having trouble keeping it going, it may help to figure out what's getting in your way. Then you can decide how to get back on track. Illness, travel, work, and just having a bad day are a few...