Free Preventive Health Services Pushing Disease Prevention to the Forefront

The US population is aging, and it's going to cost all of us.

In 2008 The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons estimated muscle and bone injuries cost the US $850 billion/year. This is more than the combined cost of Cancer and Heart disease.

Youngsters develop muscle injuries carrying heavy backpacks, soldiers are removed from combat with muscle injuries resulting from the heavy combat loads, middle aged workers suffer back - shoulder - and leg pain due to their jobs and lack of flexibility over a lifetime, the elderly end up with a shuffling gait because their hamstring muscles are so tight their stride is under 12". Their quads have little strength as a direct result of the tight hamstrings, and falls are the inevitable result.

Millions are on disability, suffering life changing pain and discomfort - and the further health problems that accompany the inability to exercise or find restful sleep.

In most cases the "knotted muscle tissue" is the common cause of muscle overuse problems. Recent research has show the spindle cells ( muscle sensory cells that enable muscle contraction ) have their own pain circuit, and this reasonably can be reversed and the muscle returned to normal by high pressure - deep tissue massage.

It is way past time for effective treatment of overuse injuries. Society simply cannot accept "take 2 aspirin and good luck". The Osteopath - Chiropractor - and Massage Therapist can be partners with MDs if the doctors will simply listen. Society should demand it.

The alternative - start saving up for the much larger bill coming due.

greg zurbay of MN 5:10PM December 06, 2011