Physical therapists are often called upon to help determine when an older adult is ready to go home after being in the hospital. Or when it's time to move from an independent living situation to an assisted living or skilled nursing care facility. These judgments are made with the assistance of standardized tests that measure physical performance.

Fracture belt refers to the higher number of fractures observed in a geographical region. Several studies have been done looking at specific types of fractures (e.g., wrist, ankle).

Shingles is caused by one of the many herpes viruses. It is also known as herpes zoster. It starts as a painful skin rash with blisters -- usually along a nerve pathway on one side of the body. The rash usually heals within two to four weeks.

But some people have continued nerve pain for much longer -- sometimes months or years. This condition is called postherpetic neuralgia. Over time this pain may go away. Sometimes it is replaced with numbness.

Symptoms of shoulder, elbow wrist, and/or hand pain and dysfunction from work-related repetitive tasks have been labeled as upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders (UEMS). According to the results of a recent study of UEMS, the recovery rate from these problems does depend on the site of the disorder.

What surgeons consider a complication of surgery and what patients view as a complication are often very different. And since differing opinions can lead to unrealistic patient expectations, there's a need to clear this misunderstanding up right from the start. The authors of this article hope to lend a hand with that task.

Many people engaged in repetitive tasks such as supermarket cashiers, assembly-line workers, and workers in the food or meat packing industry develop work-related upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders (UEMS). Symptoms include shoulder, elbow wrist, and/or hand pain and dysfunction. The natural history or clinical course (what is likely to happen) for UEMS is unknown. Giving a patient an idea of a prognosis is difficult.

Many of the performers in today's modern circuses like Cirque du Soleil have years of training in dance and gymnastics as well as acrosport. Acrosport is a term used to describe the tumbling, aerial, and acrobatic movements made through space in the circus arts.

At age 13, she has a few years yet to train. Avoiding injuries during this phase should be the focus of any discussion regarding her gymnastics. Taking dance classes, tumbling, yoga, and t'ai chi are all part of today's gymnast's daily training schedule. Working hard, taking appropriate rest breaks, and training smart is what it's all about these days.

Circus performers have wow'ed audiences for years with flying trapeze artists, elephant tricks, lion tamers, and clown acts. But the circus has taken on a distinct difference in the last 25 years with the athletic gymnastics routines performed by modern circus artists without animals. Cirque du Soleil is a large circus company of this type entertaining audiences around the world.

Joint laxity or looseness is one factor that might contribute to chronic joint injuries or sprains. And that's something you can be born with. Inherited conditions (e.g., Marfan's syndrome) involving collagen fibers that make up the soft tissues are a more remote possibility.