title: A method for reducing the pain and danger of certain arthritic joints.
abstract: It has been found that by hanging upside-down from the feet, the pain arising from an arthritic hip joint is largely eliminated. If this method is not used, the pain returns rapidly. It is suggested that the direct cause of the pain and damage is the presence of small, hard crystals of apatite or related compounds present in the synovial fluid of the joint. Under the normal pressures involved in standing, walking or running, these damage the joint involved by a process of grinding. If this joint is opened by hanging and swivelling, the crystals are induced to move out of the joint region, thereby alleviating the problem.
authors.affiliation: Bone & Joint Research Unit, St Bartholomew's and the Royal London School of Medicine & Dentistry, UK.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Symons
mesh_terms: D001031:Apatites; D006621:Hip Joint; D006801:Humans; D008124:Locomotion; D008954:Models, Biological; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D059408:Pain Management; D011187:Posture; D012420:Running; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D016138:Walking
chemical_list: D001031:Apatites