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Pilates is a form of exercise that has become extremely popular in recent years, in large part because it’s adaptable to various levels of fitness. It also offers a gentle, no-impact, complete body workout that you can easily do at home. It combines stretching and strengthening exercises through controlled and precise motions with the goal of toning the entire body. All of those factors make Pilates a possibly beneficial type of exercise for people with fibromyalgia (FMS) or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS)—but only for those who can tolerate the appropriate level of exertion....

Your metatarsal bones are the long bones that link your ankle to your toes. Between the heads of the metatarsal bones and the bottoms of the proximal phalanges (your toe bones) are the metatarsophalangeal joints. In other words, metatarsophalangeal joints connect your toe bones to your foot bones. These joints are surrounded by a thin joint capsule and have ligaments that support them. It’s good to know, too, that the first metatarsophalangeal joint is commonly known as the big toe joint while the little toe joint is known as the fifth metatarsophalangeal joint....

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), or cervical neoplasia, is a particular type of change in the cervix that may or may not be a precursor to cervical cancer. In fact, a cervical neoplasia diagnosis can apply to a wide range of changes to the cervix. These changes can range from self-resolving mild to moderate cervical dysplasia to the early stages of cervical cancer. Defining Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia is abnormal cell growth within the layers of epithelial cells that cover the cervix....

You may not immediately think of a headache as a cold symptom, but many people get a headache at some point while a cold is running its course. Adults get an average of two or three colds per year. Common cold symptoms include sneezing, coughing, congestion, and fatigue. Headaches as a cold symptom have not been researched much, but swelling in the sinuses might be one reason why they happen....

The anal sphincter is a group of muscles at the end of the rectum that surrounds the anus and controls the release of stool, thereby maintaining continence. There are two muscles: the internal anal sphincter and the external anal sphincter. This article will go over the anatomy of the anal sphincter and its function. You will also learn about conditions that affect the anal sphincter and what happens if the anal sphincter is damaged....

If you’ve been diagnosed with Morton’s neuroma, you should know that there are treatments that can help alleviate your pain. And in some instances, the condition can be cured. A neuroma is an inflammed nerve, and it can be caused by things like tight shoes, or it may develop as a result of foot deformities. While there are several causes of forefoot pain, Morton’s neuroma is one of the most common causes....

When a person is in labor, their healthcare provider will use different methods to keep track of the fetal heart rate (FHR). Deceleration occurs when the FHR temporarily slows during labor. The devices used to monitor fetal heart rate during labor can be internal or external. For example, an external method would be an ultrasound device. An internal option is attached to the fetus’s scalp and provides more accurate heart rate readings....

The brainstem is the area of the brain that physically and functionally links the brain to the spinal cord. While the brainstem is relatively small in size, it carries neurons that control movement, sensation, and coordination of the face, eyes, mouth, and body. Brainstem Stroke A brainstem stroke causes a number of effects, including weakness, sensory loss, double vision, trouble swallowing, and decreased coordination. There are a variety of brainstem syndromes....

If you are having difficulty moving or functioning normally due to injury, illness, or surgery, you may benefit from the skilled services of a physical therapist (PT) to help you recover. Your PT may use various treatments and modalities during your rehab. One treatment is called friction massage. Friction massage, often referred to as transverse friction or cross friction massage, is a technique used to decrease the negative effects of scar tissue in the body....

Lipreading, also known as speechreading, is a skill that I could not live without. Reading lips lets one understand more of the hearing world, and reduces the need to write. For example, I can have short chats at work. However, it does not replace written or visual communication. Even the best lip readers can miss a good bit because only about 30% of speech is visible. Many letters and words look the same on the lips, which can cause misunderstandings....

You might wonder when you come in contact with someone with arthritis whether it is contagious and you might catch it from them. If you were just diagnosed with arthritis, you might have questions about why you developed the condition and if it was transmitted to you by another person with arthritis. You might even have developed reactive arthritis following an infection and worry you might give arthritis to a family member....

In first aid, the term “shock” has three distinct definitions: Noun: a medical condition consisting of too little blood flow to the brain and other vital organs. Noun: an emotional state of mind, usually following a traumatic event such as a car accident or the loss of a loved one. Verb: to deliver an electrical charge. Inadequate Blood Pressure Shock has many causes and in the later stages will usually result in a decreasing blood pressure....

Living with someone who has fibromyalgia (FMS) or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) can be tough, whether that person is completely disabled, 50% functional, or goes through occasional flares. In all likelihood, having a chronically ill person in your household will impact your life. You can, however, take steps to make things easier for yourself. If you feel guilty for even wanting that, you’re not alone—a lot of people in your situation feel like they should be worried about the sick person and not themselves....

When you’ve just given birth and started to breastfeed, the sleep deprivation and demands of a growing baby are exhausting enough—and then there’s mastitis. Characterized by debilitating fatigue and breast pain, mastitis refers to inflammation, swelling, or a lump in the breast often caused by an infection or blocked milk duct. While mastitis can happen at any time during breastfeeding, it most commonly occurs within the first two months of giving birth....

The PSA nadir is the absolute lowest level that the PSA drops after treatment. PSA is a protein produced in the prostate. The PSA nadir can tell your practitioner a lot about how successful a given treatment has been, and can even give your healthcare provider an idea as to how likely you are to have recurrent prostate cancer. What Is Prostate Cancer? Prostate cancer develops in the prostate—a small gland that makes seminal fluid....

Still’s disease is a type of inflammatory arthritis that causes fevers, rashes, and inflammation of joints and, sometimes, internal organs. Still’s is also called systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA), as it was first diagnosed in children. SJIA is a type of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), a group of arthritis conditions affecting children. Still’s disease can also occur in adults and is called adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD). While there is no cure for this debilitating condition, medication and a healthy lifestyle can help with reducing inflammation and managing symptoms....

Psychogenic pain is the term for pain that is primarily caused by psychological factors, such as depression and anxiety. While psychogenic pain is not caused by clear physical pathology, it is a very real type of chronic pain. People with depression and anxiety may report psychogenic pain all over their bodies, even when there is no apparent physical cause. Psychogenic pain is often harder to treat than nociceptive pain or neuropathic pain....

Packed red blood cells—also called PRBCs, RBCs, and packed cells—are a type of blood replacement product used for blood transfusions. PRBC transfusion is typically given in situations where the patient has either lost a large amount of blood or has anemia that is causing notable symptoms. If a patient needs blood, there are a few types of blood replacements available—PRBCs being just one. A healthcare provider will choose what type of blood replacement is given based on the patient’s situation....

Dizziness and balance problems are common complaints from individuals who have sustained head trauma and traumatic brain injury. It’s currently estimated that at least 30 percent of brain injury survivors suffer from these problems. Common symptoms include: Feeling light-headed or woozyA sense that the surrounding environment is warped, or undulatingDifficulty maintaining an upright postureStumbling, falling downInability to coordinate body, limb, and hand movementsNausea and vomiting There are a number of factors that influence one’s risk of developing balance problems after sustaining head trauma....

Nausea and vomiting are quite common after chemotherapy. They are often associated with the worst memories of treatment. Nausea and vomiting can also lead to other health complications, including dehydration and malnutrition. This article explains why chemotherapy causes nausea and vomiting and provides some helpful tips for managing these symptoms. Triggering the Vomiting Center Nausea and vomiting are controlled by the brain. Vomiting is triggered from a spot in the brain called the vomiting center....