You can receive Featurettes by e-mail daily, weekly or monthly by request. We can e-mail by your choice of topic or all stories as you may prefer. To make it even more convenient for editors to use our stories, NAPS has added an RSS syndication feed to our Web site. Simply hit the RSS button on our site for automated updates on available content. Please contact us to arrange to receive Featurettes in the format that works best for you at (800) 222-5551 or e-mail your request to us at printmedia@napsnet.com. We can provide Featurettes on CD-ROM or you can download it online at www.napsnet.com. Gary Lipton Media Relations Manager Phone: 1-(800)-222-5551 Fax: 1-(800)-990-4329 Web site: www. napsnet .com e-mail: printmedia@napsnet.com #2542 North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., 350 Fifth Avenue, 65th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10118-0110 Improving Pregnancy Care New Developments In Treating Joint Pain (NAPSA)—For a growing number of Americans, joint pain is a fact of life. For some, it is bad enough to affect their quality of life. Fortunately, new methods of treatment are increasing the options available for treating the condition. In a recent survey, 68 percent of people over the age of 45 revealed that they currently experience some level of joint pain. For 42 percent of these individuals, joint pain presents a more critical problem, interfering with everyday aspects of their life, such as interactions with friends and family, their job or maintaining their home. Physicians work with each patient to determine the best way to restore motion in the joint and reduce pain, including medications, physical therapy and surgery. With a baby boomer population of approximately 70 million people who are accustomed to leading an active lifestyle, more individuals are looking into surgical treatment options earlier instead of living with pain until an older age. Advancements in joint replacement surgery are making surgery an increasingly viable option earlier in the progression of joint pain for certain patients. Most recently, customized approaches to joint replacement have helped these individuals return to their active lifestyles while providing increased chances for long-term success, playing a key role in quality of life both now and in the future. One such customized approach is the Biomet Signature Personalized Patient Care system, which uses MRI technology to create a three-dimensional model of the patient’s joint anatomy. Until recently, surgeons relied on two- (NAPSA)—A key part of maintaining a healthy pregnancy may be to baby your back and joints. Pregnant women tend to experience added stress on their lower back and pelvic joints, which can result in pain and—in certain cases—prenatal complications. According to Jason Rexroth, M.D., an OB-GYN specialist and supporter of the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress, chiro- Advancements in joint replacement surgery are making surgery an increasingly viable option earlier in the progression of joint pain for certain patients. dimensional X-rays for preoperative planning. However, this only provides a very limited view of the joint structure and requires the surgeon to make determinations about the size and placement of the implant during the surgical procedure. The new technology provides surgeons with the tools to create custom positioning guides in advance of the surgery, allowing for procedures that are more efficient and less invasive. Additionally, surgeons benefit from such systems or guides because they assist in aligning the joint implant—the most important factor in a successful total knee replacement surgery. “With Biomet’s Signature system, surgeons have access to interactive software to help develop the initial preoperative plan and patient-specific positioning guides for precise implant placement,” said Adolph V. Lombardi, Jr., M.D., orthopedics clinical assistant professor at Ohio State University. To learn more, visit www.bio met.com. Note to Editors: There are potential risks to knee replacement surgery including loosening, dislocation, fracture, wear and infection, any of which can require additional surgery. For additional risk information, visit www.biomet.com and read “Patient Risk Information” for the “Vanguard Complete Knee System” and talk to your surgeon. The life of any joint replacement will depend on your physical condition, activity levels, willingness to follow surgeon instructions and other factors. Only an orthopedic surgeon can determine whether you are a candidate for knee replacement surgery. All trademarks herein are the property of Biomet, Inc. or its subsidiaries unless otherwise indicated. Chiropractic pregnancy care could help keep mom and baby healthy. practic pregnancy care is the best solution. “It treats ailments but also significantly reduces reliance on pain and narcotic medications,” he explains. This isn’t exactly some “newwave” idea. Women have relied on chiropractic care during pregnancy since as far back as the early 1900s. Doctors say its use may also help encourage healthy fetus development, as well as make the delivery process easier by maintaining proper pelvic balance and eliminating nervous system disturbances. “A healthy nervous system is essential in the development of a healthy baby,” says Dr. Rexroth. For more information, please contact your local chiropractor or visit www.yes2chiropractic.com. Warm Up To Energy Savings (NAPSA)—Besides making your home chilly in the cooler months, an old, underperforming home heating system can also leave you with high energy bills that stretch your household budget. According to E NERGY S TAR , a home’s heating and cooling system accounts for as much as 50 percent of that home’s energy use. As system efficiencies decrease and energy costs increase, it makes sense to replace an obsolete heating, ventilating and airconditioning (HVAC) system with new, more energy-efficient equipment. To end up with a system that best meets your needs, consider the following steps: Inspect. To analyze your home’s current heating and cooling system, invite a certified technician to inspect and service the system. North American Technician Excellence (NATE)-certified technicians, for example, can identify existing or potential problems, take steps to repair or avoid them and, if appropriate, recommend new systems that better match your heating and cooling needs. Learn. Become knowledgeable about efficiency ratings, heating and cooling capacities and other factors that affect equipment performance. It’s also a good idea to research the types and brands of systems available. Consider where the system will be installed. Do you require an outdoor unit or will you need to install the unit in a basement, attic or closet? Think green. Taking an environmentally friendly approach to equipment purchases and installations can improve the indoor air Having your home’s current heating and cooling system inspected by a certified technician can keep you warm and help save on energy bills. quality in your home and reduce your carbon footprint. Fortunately, it usually results in increased energy savings, too. So choose a heating unit that’s sized for the heating and cooling demands of your home, and be sure your home has sufficient insulation and the ductwork is properly sealed. Otherwise, you may lose some of the efficiency your new system offers. Finally, as you shop for a new system, consider the compact, 33inch line of Coleman multi-position gas furnaces. These new furnaces feature some of the industry’s highest annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) ratings—as high as 98 percent—and offer EcoTrak technology, which provides homeowners with customizable airflow and comfort based on the climate in which they live. In addition, these models also qualify for most local utility rebates as well as up to $1,500 in tax credits under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. To learn more, visit www.cole manac.com or call (877) 874-7378.
