Zehr Center for Orthopaedics

10/15/2026

Maintaining bone health is crucial as bone structure changes throughout life. The food you consume affects your bones, and a nutritious, balanced diet can help build strong, healthy bones. A Baylor College of Medicine dietitian details a well-rounded diet to keep bones strong. https://blogs.bcm.edu/2025/12/29/the-best-foods-for-bone-health/

10/13/2026

Meniscus tears are common injuries among athletes and aging adults. In your knee joint, between your shinbone (tibia) and your thighbone (femur), are two structures that act as shock absorbers. They are known collectively as menisci. The C-shaped medial meniscus lies on the inside part of your knee. The U-shaped lateral meniscus is found on the outer half. The two menisci form a gasket between the tibia and the femur. They help spread out the forces that are transmitted across the joint.

The ends of your tibia and femur are covered with articular cartilage – a smooth, slippery material that allows the bone surfaces to slide against each other without causing damage to either surface. The menisci protect the articular cartilage from getting too much pressure on one small area on the surface of the joint by spreading out the forces on the knee joint.

The simple act of walking puts up to two times your body weight on the knee joint. Running increases that force to about eight times your body weight. If the force is concentrated onto a small area, damage and degeneration of the articular cartilage occurs, resulting in a condition called osteoarthritis.

The menisci are prone to injury. Originally fairly tough and rubbery, the meniscus grows weaker with age. In younger people meniscus tears usually occur as a result of a forceful twisting injury, such as might be encountered in sports. Fairly minor injuries, even from the up-and-down motion of squatting, can result in meniscus tears in aging adults.

Degenerative types of meniscal tears are commonly seen as part of the overall condition of osteoarthritis of the knee in the older adult.

Symptoms of a torn meniscus include pain and swelling, sometimes involving the entire knee. If the tear is large enough, the knee joint can also lock up, meaning it cannot be straightened out.

10/11/2026

10/08/2026

Meeting your weekly exercise goals is a meaningful step for bone health, but this research suggests it may not be the whole picture.

For bone health, one factor may outweigh exercise frequency.

10/06/2026

Treating trochanteric bursitis focuses on reducing the inflammation and pain. Trochanteric bursitis is an inflammation of the bursa at the point where a large tendon stretches across the bony bump on your hip known as the greater trochanter. It is the result of a buildup of friction, which can be caused by a repetitive use injury, an acute injury, a systemic condition like arthritis or an infection.

Your orthopedic surgeon can usually diagnose the condition by reviewing your medical history and conducting a physical examination. If an injection of a local anesthetic into the bursa relieves the hip pain immediately, the diagnosis is usually trochanteric bursitis. Occasionally, your doctor may order X-rays to investigate possible underlying problems with the hip itself, such as arthritis.

Doctors primarily use nonsurgical methods in treating trochanteric bursitis. Your orthopedic surgeon may inject cortisone along with the local anesthetic, in order to reduce the inflammation and relieve the pain. He or she may also prescribe additional anti-inflammatory medication. Your orthopedic surgeon may also suggest a series of exercises designed for stretching and strengthening. You may apply heat or ice to further calm the inflammation of the bursa.

Your orthopedic surgeon may also prescribe physical therapy in treating trochanteric bursitis. Your therapist will use hands-on treatment and stretching to return full range of motion for your hip. These exercises will improve strength and coordination in your buttock and hip muscles. This will enable the femur to move in the socket smoothly and can help reduce friction on the bursa. You may need a four to six week course of therapy treatments before you regain full motion and function of your hip.

In the rare event that treating trochanteric bursitis with nonsurgical methods fails, you may need surgery. The primary goal of all surgical procedures designed to treat this condition is to remove the thickened bursa, to remove any bone spurs that may have formed on the greater trochanter, and to relax the large tendon of the gluteus maximus.

10/06/2026

Happy ! 🎉 Physician associates go beyond every day to deliver compassionate, high-quality care in communities everywhere. This week, we’re celebrating all they do. With a special thanks to our own Christiane Riella, PA-C. Academy of Physician Associates.

10/03/2026

"My experience with Dr Zehr and his staff at the office and at the Seaside Surgery Center was nothing short of amazing. Everyone was extremely professional, supportive, and compassionate throughout my partial knee replacement surgery. Dr Zehr will based on your situation give you options to assist you on making a decision best for you . Highly recommend!!" - Jim George

10/01/2026

A common prebiotic fiber may ease knee arthritis pain by tapping into a surprising connection between the gut, muscles, and nervous system.

A prebiotic fiber supplement reduced knee osteoarthritis pain while also improving grip strength and pain sensitivity in a six-week trial. The results hint at a fascinating gut-muscle-pain connection and suggest that a simple daily supplement may be easier to maintain than digital physiotherapy.

09/29/2026

It may come as a surprise to many that half of all of the joint replacements done in this country are in the under 65 age group. The mid 50’s is the time when the arthritic joint starts to become painful and, for many, incapacitating.

Joint replacement in younger patients continues to increase.The mid-50’s is the time when the arthritic joint starts to become painful for many.