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Tell us about Back in the Groove.
Back in the Groove was founded in 2005 and it’s supported by the Zimmer Corporation. Research revealed a significant disparity in musculoskeletal care among African Americans and minority patients in the U.S. in comparison to their white counterparts. We were surprised to see that African Americans weren’t taking advantage of technologies available for joint replacement. Community outreach, educating the community about the benefits of mobility that can be improved by joint replacement, is essential.
Who is your average patient?
My youngest patient is 36 and my oldest is 100. I have some who are young and very active and have had some injuries and premature arthritis in their knees. People are finding that they can no longer do things that they like to do
— shoppers can’t shop, bowlers can’t bowl and golfers can’t golf. My patients suffer from knee, hip or ankle pain [because] the cartilage has worn out in the joint and arthritis has occurred. They have significant problems functioning and they have pain on a regular basis. My older patients have been dealing with pain for long periods of time. They have been using a cane, crutches, braces or a walker, and taking anti-inflammatory medications and injections to manage their pain — it has become so great that it has interfered with their every day life.
What kind of tests are available for those who suffer with chronic joint pain?
There are screenings that evaluate bone density, detect breakdown in bone metabolism and whether you are at risk for a fragility fracture. Men lose calcium in their bones, they are so weak that they even have fractures, as a result of very little trauma. I always tell women who are going through menopause to get a bone density screening and if it’s low, follow up with a formal test. Talk to your physician so you can make an intelligent decision about your [treatment plan]. With the new technology, we’re very excited about the joint replacement that we’re able to perform in terms of outcomes, benefits with smaller incisions, less blood loss and much more rapid rehab.
For more information, please call (866) 923-2345 or visit backinthegroove.zimmer.com.