In an article with Medscape, Heidi Prather, DO, Founder and Medical Director of the HSS Lifestyle Medicine Program said, “When middle-aged women present with new joint pain, it is important to determine where they are in the menopausal transition” to guide appropriate education and management strategies. “Women may not offer the information without being asked, as they may be unaware of the links between hormone changes and soft tissue and joint pain.”

For some women, the chronic systemic inflammation associated with estrogen loss can be well managed with lifestyle and conventional medical interventions including hormone replacement therapy (HRT), Dr. Prather explained. “For others, things can seem out of control, and usual care is not as effective.”

Dr. Prather pointed to the need for studies assessing “modifiable and nonmodifiable factors to best arm women with the information they need to manage and improve their health” across the menopause transition and beyond.

Read the full article at medscape.com.

In the latest episode of The Starting Gate podcast, Heidi Prather, DO, Sports Medicine and Hip Preservation Physiatrist at HSS and Founder and Medical Director of the HSS Lifestyle Medicine Program, explores how lifestyle factors such as nutrition, sleep, stress, physical activity, and social connection can influence musculoskeletal pain, recovery, and even surgical outcomes. 

Listen to the full episode at The Starting Gate.

She highlighted lifestyle medicine as an effective framework for addressing these interconnected challenges, shared outcomes from the HSS Lifestyle Medicine Program – a standardized, interprofessional program designed to help people with musculoskeletal pain improve whole-person health, reduce pain, and enhance function through behavior change – and outlined what's next.

Watch the full webinar at Osteoarthritis Action Alliance YouTube Channel.

A recent study looked at the relationship between prolonged sitting and the risk of cancer and the risk of death from cancer. Researchers found that people who broke up their sitting with movement or exercise had a lower chance of cancer-related death.

“Obviously, we’re all tied to a computer or a car or something that keeps us inactive, but just interrupting that with any type of activity seems to have, per their data, some very impressive results. Not just cancer death, but even risk of developing cancer,” Dr. Prather added.

According to Dr. Prather, risk for certain cancers (such as breast, colorectal and prostate) is 60% genetic, but 40% of cancer risk is related to lifestyle factors, such as diet, sleep, stress, social connections, relationships, use of risky substances and, yes, exercise.

Read the full article at huffpost.com.

By the time many people think seriously about bone health, age-related bone loss is probably already happening. The foods and drinks you consume throughout life have a substantial impact on your future bone health – so it’s never too early to optimize your diet to support your skeleton.

Building and maintaining strong bones helps provide structural support for the body and reduces the risk of osteoporosis and fractures as you age, said Dr. Prather.

Read the full article at washingtonpost.com. A subscription is required to access. 

This list recognizes female Castle Connolly Top Doctors who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, expertise and dedication in their respective fields. In addition to meeting the requirements to be selected as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor, these doctors also have additional qualifications, including research and academic contributions, volunteer work within healthcare, and training at top institutions.

Read the full article at castleconnolly.com.

Dr. Prather also explained that rapid weight loss may lead to postoperative deep infection. While infection can be reduced by delaying continuation of GLP-1s after surgery, this is another area with mixed recommendations. 

But GLP-1s alone are not enough for long-term change, especially for patients who are unable to remain on the medications due to adverse effects, cost or lack of access, according to Dr. Prather. She said it is important for patients to be provided with the tools to enact behavioral change, such as increasing physical activity, improving nutrition, improving sleep, managing stress and having good social support.

Read the full article at Healio.com. 

A recent study from HSS, published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, found that a lifestyle medicine program was highly effective for improving the health of and reducing risk factors for people preparing to undergo elective orthopedic surgeries.

The study enrolled 54 people, almost 90% of whom had two or more lifestyle-related chronic diseases and a mean BMI of 43.2, which the CDC considers class 3 or severe obesity. “There were two groups of patients sent to the lifestyle medicine program by their surgeons,” said physiatrist Heidi Prather, D.O., physiatrist and the founder and medical director of the HSS Lifestyle Medicine Program and the lead author on the study. “One group implemented changes to improve health in time for a surgical date that had been set months in advance. The second group had significant health risks that needed to be mitigated before considering a surgical date.”

The intervention was a 13-week online program focused around the six pillars of health in lifestyle medicine, which includes eating mostly whole food, plant-based nutrition; engaging in physical activity; stress management; avoiding tobacco and alcohol; prioritizing restorative sleep; and making social connections.

“Patients received one-on-one services with team members and had options to attend group programing that focused on each of the six pillars of health,” explained Dr. Prather. “The services the patient received were dependent on their own specific goals and therefore no two programs were exactly alike.”

By the end of the program, nearly all the participants (96%) had successfully achieved their goals for improving health and reducing surgical risks; 78% reported decreases in weight and BMI, averaging 11 pounds and a BMI reduction of 1.8. Of the 41 people who had a surgery date set, 38 went on to have the surgery, while 11 of the 13 who were not able to schedule their surgery before completing the program went on to have their elective orthopedic surgery.

Read the full article at healthcentral.com. 

“This study is one of more to come from Australia. Movement experts in spine care have developed programs that include lifestyle changes in addition to movement interventions, and mental health care as a comprehensive care model to improve spine pain, function and self-care. These findings will impactfully drive future recommendations for the treatment of chronic low back pain,” explained Dr. Prather.

Read the full article at healio.com. 

The study looked at early outcomes for 54 patients who enrolled in the program between March 2022 and December 2023. About 90% of patients had two or more lifestyle-related chronic diseases.

The program supports patients having scheduled orthopedic surgery, and patients set personal goals to improve sleep, pain, function and overall health. The program focuses on "six pillars of lifestyle medicine."

Of the 54 patients, 41 of them had surgery scheduled, and 93% of them improved their health on time. Thirteen other patients were referred to the program to qualify for elective surgery, and 85% of them could proceed with it. Collectively, 91% of the entire group had surgery after enrolling in the program.

"We were surprised at how quickly patients could make lifestyle changes," said Dr. Prather. “Change is really hard, so the fact that our intensive program achieved such strong results is amazing. We anticipate that attaining these personal health goals will lead to improved post-surgical outcomes,” continued Dr. Prather. 

The findings were published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine.

Read the full article at beckersspine.com. 

Imagine being one of the millions of Americans in need of a hip or knee replacement due to osteoarthritis. Severe pain, reduced physical activity, an inability to perform many routine tasks — the symptoms can be truly debilitating.

But if you're obese or overweight, there's a good chance that your orthopedic surgeon will refuse to provide care. As one patient told the New York Times of her doctor, "He told me to come back when I had lost 30 pounds."

She isn't alone. According to one survey, fewer than half of orthopedic surgeons will operate on patients with a body mass index above 40. Patients with type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and high blood pressure face similar barriers to the surgeries they need.

All of these conditions share a common underlying cause: chronic systemic inflammation. Ironically, the very inflammation-driven "metabolic" condition that can get someone to the point of needing a joint replacement in the first place can be what compels their doctor to refuse to perform one.

Thankfully, some doctors are trying to change the status quo by using an approach called "lifestyle medicine." Lifestyle medicine is a medical specialty that uses evidence-based interventions in patient's behavioral choices to prevent, treat, and even reverse diseases driven by chronic systemic inflammation.

Read the full article at salon.com. 

Dr. Prather presented her proof-of-concept study in a poster at the American College of Lifestyle Medicine meeting.

Read the full article at healio.com.

“In a typical week, my patient schedule varies significantly. I might meet a newly pregnant woman experiencing back pain, an individual managing wrist or hand discomfort from everyday activities, a weekend athlete with knee or shoulder pain from tennis, or a high school or college athlete rehabilitating an injury to return to sports,” said Dr. Milani. 

“I also frequently see patients in their 50s and 60s who have led active lifestyles and want to continue doing so. Some of these individuals may be managing chronic issues such as shoulder and knee osteoarthritis, while others might be navigating injuries from popular recreational activities like pickleball,” Dr. Milani continued. 

“The key is to stay active. The fall season is a great time for outdoor activities. With cooler temperatures, the risks of dehydration and overheating are minimized—making it perfect for sports such as golf, tennis, running, and cycling,” said Dr. Milani. 

Read the full article at www.greenwichsentinel.com.

Your body relies on various nutrients to fuel basic movements and functions. One of those nutrients is creatine. Creatine is a natural substance that’s found in muscles and the brain, made by the liver, kidneys, and pancreas from amino acids.

“Creatine may increase strength, [muscle size], and performance, especially in high-intensity intermittent activities like sprints, weight lifting, and team sports,” said Skolnik. 

Women may benefit more from creatine supplementation than men, Skolnik explained. This may be due in part to the fact that women store a whopping 70 to 80 percent less creatine in their bodies than men do, according to a review article that examined the use of creatine in females from young adulthood to old age.

Read the full article at everydayhealth.com. 

The Exceptional Women in Medicine list is compiled through a rigorous selection process that includes peer nominations, extensive research, and evaluation by the Castle Connolly research team. In addition to meeting the criteria to be selected as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor, these physicians have qualifications including contributions to healthcare through volunteer work, awards and honors, training at top institutions, research and academics, and innovations in their field of specialty.

Read the full article at castleconnolly.com.

Joint pain is a common part of aging. And the discomfort can make it more difficult to do everything from going up and down stairs to taking a walk to getting dressed.

Most joint pain in older adults is due to osteoarthritis (OA), a progressive condition that occurs when the cartilage that cushions and protects the ends of bones wears away—causing bones to rub together.

Two-thirds of adults between ages 50 and 80 turn to over-the-counter pain relievers. While these drugs ease discomfort, they can carry risks if used chronically, especially in older adults, explained Heidi Prather, DO, physiatrist at HSS. 

Some research suggests that inflammatory substances in your body can worsen OA, Dr. Prather said. What you eat may help. A 2022 review of 14 studies, published in the European Journal of Rheumatology, found that a plant-based diet reduces OA pain and slows cartilage changes in joints, and lowers inflammatory “markers” in the body, such as interleukin-1 (IL-1) and IL-6. 

Managing stress can help reduce pain. “When you’re stressed, your body releases hormones like cortisol that promote inflammation and lead to worse pain,” Dr. Prather said. Consider doing activities to help you relax, whether it’s a minute or two of deep breathing to ease tension, or a formal stress-reduction class.

Read the full article at consumerreports.org. 

The Exceptional Women in Medicine list is compiled through a rigorous selection process that includes peer nominations, extensive research, and evaluation by the Castle Connolly research team. In addition to meeting the criteria to be selected as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor, these physicians have qualifications including contributions to healthcare through volunteer work, awards and honors, training at top institutions, research and academics, and innovations in their field of specialty.

Read the full press release at newswire.com. 

“I hope everyone can find somebody who can champion them for, not just their career, but for their family life and for their aspirations outside of work and how to meld all of that together,” said Dr. Prather. “When you find that special person, maintain that relationship and nurture it. It lasts you a lifetime.”

Watch the full video interview at Healio.com/news/orthopedics.

According to Dr. Prather, a number of lifestyle and other nondrug treatments can help ease symptoms — and prevent OA from progressing. “Sleep is crucial to pain perception,” noted Dr. Prather. Insufficient sleep time can reduce the levels of neurotransmitters — feel-good brain chemicals that can help blunt pain, she explained.

Additionally, a Mediterranean-style diet, which is rich in produce, whole grains, seafood, beans and nuts. A high-sugar diet may negatively affect the gut microbiome, according to a study published in the journal PLOS One in 2021. And “your gut makes most of your body’s serotonin, a brain chemical that boosts mood and makes it easier for you to tolerate pain,” said Dr. Prather.

Read the full article at Washingtonpost.com.

Dr. Prather explained that many of the medications that are used for pain relief aren’t recommended for regular use by older adults, but a number of lifestyle and other nondrug treatments can help ease symptoms and prevent OA from progressing.

According to Dr. Prather, “Sleep is crucial to pain perception.” Insufficient snooze time can reduce the levels of neurotransmitters – feel-good brain chemicals that can help blunt pain.

Dr. Prather noted that a healthy diet is also important, such as a Mediterranean-style diet, which is rich in produce, whole grains, seafood, beans, and nuts. She noted, “your gut makes most of your body’s serotonin, a brain chemical that boosts mood and makes it easier for you to tolerate pain.”

Read the full article at Consumerreports.org.

She underscored the need to seek medical help if there is swelling or redness, feeling of weakness or instability in the joint or if weight cannot be put on the joint without pain.

For a racing heart, Dr. Prather suggested wearing a fitness watch that provides feedback on your heart rate, so you know what’s normal for you. “It helps you feel safe because you know your body,” she added.

Read the full article at Silversneakers.com.