Health as a prevention of rheumatic diseases emergence in words of Professor Adam

01. January 2018

An ordinary man who achieved extraordinary things - yes, that was Professor Adam. And as such he tried to solve the “ordinary” problems of the ordinary people but in an extraordinary way. He did not speak uselessly, but always tried to solve the arisen situation.  If he talked about a danger of an insidious osteoarthrosis and osteoporosis, he always had a few solutions and recommendations how to prevent their emergence, or at least slow down or reduce their progression.

He supposed that the rheumatic diseases have socioeconomic and medical meanings. Therefore he believed that an early prevention or at least partial elimination of these diseases can greatly decrease the expenditure on their complications and significantly decrease a rate of disability and death, which is even higher than gynecology cancers death rate. It would be very useful for our hectic times, when the rheumatic diseases spread literally at lightning speed and do not attack only the midlife of advanced age people. No, the rich experiences of Professor Adam prove that more and more young people, unlike 30 years ago for example, come to the doctor´s office with a back pain. Why is it so? According to Professor the clear fact is to blame: the contemporary youth, mainly in Prague, has not enough opportunities for cultivation of their muscular system. The physical training in schools is usually insufficient as well as the opportunity to do sports.

Why do the young people suffer from the same diseases as their parents and grandparents? There are a few reasons there: primarily it is the technologies – mainly computers - that are used to the exclusion of activities in the fresh air and the physical exercises are underestimated in general.  Professor Adam solves the “reverse side” again and searches for the fastest and the most effective way back or out. Back means to find a method for prevention of dangerous rheumatic diseases. He can see it only in a healthy lifestyle and he encourages his patients in living such a life!

Unfortunately, a man does not always succeed. Today the diseases of the locomotor systems represent about 20 % of all sick leaves. They are then the second most frequent group of diseases of the Czech population. In 2011 the Czech Social Security Administration registered 247 thousand of them and an average sick leave lasted 69 days. One quarter of all diseases was locomotor system diseases. For the economic it meant more than 17 million of sick days. The trend shows, that the rate of these diseases is growing.  Women are ill a bit longer. Last year 67 % of all locomotor system diseases were the spine diseases – 165,991 cases: 88,907 men and 77,084 women. In average women had 69 sick days and men had 5 days less. 80,928 cases of locomotor system diseases were other than spine diseases. The sick leave in these cases was 75 days in average. Unpleasant primacy belonged to women again – 77 days in bed, 74 days for men.

Sport for Health

Instead of more drugs and chemicals professor recommends the only thing: a healthy lifestyle. This is really an effective prevention of rheumatic diseases. The most important rule is the continuous stimulation of our organism, because as it is said: “sport for health”. MUDr. Adam emphasizes the importance of sport, physical exercises and physical work, which we should not avoid. The attention should be payed to all this from our early childhood in order to allow our locomotor system evolve properly and to form a good muscular base including spine muscles.  Body hardening by cold water is equally important for building a strong immunity. Immunity also plays an important role in prevention of rheumatic diseases – individuals with a weak immune system suffer from frequent infections, which is a big warning signal. In such case it is essential to supply the organism with vitamin C and enough of UV radiation, which affects the metabolism of vitamin D and has a very positive effect. No less important is to take care of yourself and be careful – Professor emphasizes that small work or sport injuries can manifest not until a later age. The sufficient consumption of proteins like tendons, gristles or aspic can help – these proteins favorably influence the metabolic processes in an organism. A certain degree of temperance is also an inseparable part of the healthy lifestyle. Professor uses the old Czech proverb: “Eat and drink to be half full”, which applies to feast lovers as well as to those, who want to prevent themselves from osteoporosis.

A healthy mind in a healthy body

“A healthy mind in a healthy body” - the fact that counted in past, counts now and will count forever. In this spirit Professor Adam prefers massages, rehabilitation and physiotherapy, which cheers up our psyche, to taking pills of various kind. He speaks primarily about spas. He claims that the Czechs are the “world power” in this field. Spa treatment brings a great relief. We have various natural sources – radioactive, thermal, mineral waters, fens plain or mineralized, mud etc. We do not need to look for help so far away: massages and ointments can be very effective, as well as regular physical exercises and strengthening. Professor talks about a whole range of exercises that can release painful muscles spasms. Warming up affected muscles or joints is also relieving: we can use Priessnitz compresses, solux or thermophores. Professor Adam has a few pieces of advice for those who suffer from spinal malfunction. Sleeping in a high-quality bad (flat, but not hard) is very important. On a hard bed painful muscles are continuously pressed and cause even more pain. Also good bedding with enough under one´s head is a great relief. And a visit of a sauna is also beneficial. In simple terms – according to Professor Adam physical procedures are significant part of a treatment and often more acceptable than taking pills.

Osteoporosis is not fully curable, but it is possible to delay its onset and alleviate its course

There are also other ways how to support a protection against the very harmful rheumatic diseases. Professor Adam talks mainly about an early prevention – and although the healthy lifestyle plays a significant role, it would not succeed alone in a struggle against insidious rheumatic diseases.  Professor focuses our attention to nutrition of a locomotor system – to nutrition of the connective tissues by the connective tissues, collagen by collagen. This procedure is the base of a method, which was already practiced by a famous medieval mystic and visionary Hildegarde from Bingen.

We can replace 4.5 kg of veal legs a day recommended by Hildegarde by 10 g of collagen peptides, which contain the corresponding amount of native collagen for nutrition of the connective tissues of the locomotor system. People with a congenital inclination to osteoporosis or those with a joint prosthesis surgery hold or to be held should pay a special attention to bones nutrition. Special rehabilitations and practice of walking in a pool are also necessary to begin with. The joint should not be overstressed by a long standing or walking. Jumping movements, which are very harmful to our joints, should be reduced with the first signs of a coming disease.

“We can only wish people would not risk their health and young people would bear a future in mind. Indeed we cause many of the rheumatic disorders ourselves” says Professor Adam. Preventive protection and joint nutrition before a disease appearance can make the following years more pleasant. As Professor says - osteoporosis is not fully curable, but it is possible to delay its onset and alleviate its course and postpone the necessity of the joint prosthesis, lifespan of which is about 15 years.