Look around any coffee shop, train station, or living room. You will see the same posture everywhere. Shoulders hunched forward. Head tilted down. Eyes glued to a glowing screen. We live in a digital world, and while our smartphones keep us connected, they are wreaking havoc on our spines.

This condition has become so prevalent that it has its own name. It is called Tech Neck. While the name sounds casual, the medical reality is anything but. Tech Neck is a repetitive stress injury to the cervical spine. If left untreated, it can lead to chronic pain, nerve issues, and early degeneration of the spinal discs.

The first week of January is an exciting time. Gyms are packed with motivated people. The running paths in Palos Hills are busy despite the cold. Everyone is fueled by the promise of a fresh start and a healthier year. You might have bought new running shoes or signed up for a high intensity interval training class. The motivation is high. However, by the third week of January, we often see a different trend at MidAmerica Orthopaedics. The excitement fades and is replaced by nagging knee pain, aching shins, and stiff shoulders.

If you are one of the millions of Americans living with chronic back or neck pain, you know exactly how it feels to have your world shrink. It starts with skipping the morning jog. Then, it’s avoiding long car rides. Eventually, you might find yourself saying no to playing with your grandkids or missing out on family events because the thought of standing for more than ten minutes is unbearable.

As the temperature drops in Chicago and the winter winds start howling, you might be finding yourself reaching for the heating pad.

If you notice increased stiffness in your hips, knees, or hands when the weather turns cold, you aren't imagining it. There is real science behind the link between winter weather and joint pain. The good news? You don't have to hibernate until spring to find relief.

If you are a parent in the Chicago suburbs, you know that youth sports are more than just a pastime—they are a lifestyle. From travel soccer tournaments in Palos Hills to high school football under the Friday night lights, our kids are active, competitive, and constantly pushing their limits.

But with high activity comes the risk of injury. Whether it’s a tumble from the monkey bars or a collision on the soccer field, injuries happen. When they do, the common instinct is to assume that because kids are resilient, they can be treated exactly like adults.

If you think “lifting weights” and “joint health” are opposites, you’re not alone — it’s an understandable headline-grabbing myth. The reality is more useful: progressive, well-prescribed strength training is one of the most powerful tools we have to reduce joint pain, improve function, and delay or even avoid surgical intervention in many cases.

This blog breaks down how strength training helps joints, what kinds of programs actually move the needle, and how MidAmerica Orthopaedics and our physical therapists work with patients — from weekend warriors to older adults — to build safe, effective programs that protect rather than punish joints.

You had your joint replaced. You walked out of surgery with a plan, a therapist, and the sense that the future looked smoother, less painful. So it can feel confusing and alarming when old pain creeps back in or new symptoms appear months or years later. The good news: not all return-of-pain signals disaster. The better news: when something’s off, MidAmerica Orthopaedics has a clear, stepwise approach to figure out why and to get you moving toward a solution — whether that solution is a course of conservative care, a targeted procedure, or a carefully planned revision.

There’s something kind of magical about running when the air has that crisp, focused edge—your breaths come out in clouds, your legs feel alive, and the lakefront looks like it belongs on a postcard. But for plenty of runners, the season also brings an unwelcome companion: extra joint stiffness and aches that weren’t there in July.

If your knees complain a little more when the temperature drops, you’re not inventing it. Weather-related changes — especially falling temperatures and shifts in barometric pressure — can affect joint tissues and the way your body senses pain. That doesn’t mean you have to retire your shoes until spring. With a little strategy, runners in Chicago can keep building miles all winter without paying for it later.