There are no live seminars scheduled, but we want to remind you that the entire educational seminar "Joint Arthritis - What's New, What Works" is available for viewing online, either in its entirety or in segments.

Brrrrr! The country is gripped in debilitating cold right now - snow is even forecast for northern Florida! While we have had a few chilly days this winter in Southwest Florida, the thermometer hasn't dipped much below 70°. Cold weather does not affect everyone with arthritis, but if you experience discomfort as the mercury drops, try these tips:

Layer your clothing and avoid rapid temperature transitions between indoors and out.

Stay active with low-impact indoor activities like mall walking, yoga or dancing.

Stretch at least 10 minutes every morning to relax stiff muscles.

Avoid caffeine, alcohol and nicotine as these products have a drying effect on cartilage.

Alternate heat therapy such as warm baths and heating pads, which help to ease pain, with cold therapy such as ice packs to reduce swelling.

ZCO patient Sue Ann Miller enjoys running

Florida is an athlete's paradise - our temperate climate allows us to enjoy outdoor activities year-round.  Sporting activities are part of a healthy life choice.  They build good muscle tone, strong bones, and a resilient cardiovascular system.  But over time, our bodies become less fit, and the aging athlete, more than most, may feel the loss of the days of greater strength and endurance.  It can seem as if the body that had previously been at your beck and call has abandoned you, and just at the time in your life when more time is avail able to participate in the sporting activities you enjoy.  What has happened and what can you do about it?

At about age 45, our bodies begin to lose muscle mass. It declines at a rate of about 1 percent per year. The process is known as sarcopenia. Fortunately, many of the physical and mental declines common with aging can be reduced with appropriate fitness and nutrition programs. With regular, intensive muscle training, aging athletes - well into their 80s - can minimize or reverse age-related declines in muscle mass.

While it is never too late to start improving your fitness, senior athletes have special exercise considerations due to the effects of aging on muscle and joint tissue. Besides losing muscle and bone mass with age, tendons and ligaments lose elasticity and are more prone to wear and tear injuries.

A study conducted by the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons determined that chronic and overuse injuries account for approximately 70 percent of injuries in veteran athletes age 60 and older, whereas only 41 percent of younger athletes - ages 21-25 - are affected by these same injuries. Because these injuries are related to repetitive activity in the presence of degenerative changes, they often result in prolonged disability.

Age-associated declines in hearing, memory, balance, motor skills, sensation, proprioception and cognition can further affect your athletic participation. Because of these changes, low-impact, endurance sports are often better suited to older athletes.