Bias Possible Againist Women with Arthritic Knees
By Marilyn Zink
Most of us know of someone who has had knee or hip surgery.
For some reason, knee surgeries seem to be more common with men and hip surgery more common with women.
Interestingly enough, a small study done in spring of 2008 by the University of Toronto suggests that women are less likely than men to get total knee replacement surgery.
Apparently the researchers say subtle gender bias by physicians and surgeons may be to blame.
The study was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal in March. It found family physicians were twice as likely to recommend total knee replacement surgery to a male patient than a female patient.
The study found 67 per cent of family doctors recommended total knee replacement surgery to the male patient, while only 33 per cent recommended it to the female.
I don’t know if the opposite holds true for women getting more hip surgeries than men.
Still, does the surgery bring that person back to the level of health they had before their joints caused issues. Not from what I’ve seen.
From a herbal and natural health perspective, it’s important to treat the condition and prevent it from deterioriating as much as possible. Then surgery becomes unlikely.
Marilyn Zink is the publisher.editor of the Herbal Collective magazine. Your subscription will keep you up-to-date on natural health news.