A torn meniscus is a type of knee injury and is also one of the most common cartilage injuries caused, affecting more than 200,000 people in the country every year. The tear occurs in the cartilage which cushions the thigh bone from the shin bone and can be caused due to forceful twisting or movement of the knee. There are a number of alternatives when it comes to meniscus tear treatment: Therapies: Therapies for meniscus tear treatment are divided into two types mainly, physical therapy and stretching exercises. Meniscal cartilage tear exercises include seven which are recommended and taught by therapists namely passive knee extension, heel slide, standing calf half stretch, hamstring stretch on the wall, straight leg raise, prone hip extension and clam exercise. Wall squat with a ball, step up's, knee stabilization and terminal knee extension are advanced exercises which can be performed after familiarizing yourself with the first seven. It is, however, important to learn and perform these exercises under proper medical supervision before trying them out at home. Physical therapy mainly includes exercises not so different from the ones mentioned above including quad sets, hamstring curls, heel dig bridging, shallow standing knee bends among others as prescribed by your physician. Medication: Medication for meniscus tear treatment can be classified and explained according to the class of drug they belong to. Since pain, swelling, stiffness can be experienced as the major symptoms affecting the knee, medications often prescribed are the ones which belong to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesic medications. NSAID's are best for relieving pain and reducing the inflammation while analgesics focus mainly on alleviating the pain. Self-care: When it comes to self-care for meniscus tear treatment, a combination of RICE therapy and physical exercises other than the ones prescribed in physical therapy is recommended by medical professionals. RICE therapy is known as rest, ice, compression, and elevation, which will help in relieving the pain and inflammation in knees. Taking rest, applying a cold compress, compressing the affected area with good quality bandage and keeping the knee elevated will all assist in minimizing the swelling. For physical exercise, aerobic activity is recommended at least five days a week to improve your cardiovascular health. Surgery: Surgery is another option when it comes to meniscus tear treatment. This is only recommended when the condition is far more severe and cannot be cured using physical therapy and medications. A procedure called arthroscopy is done to diagnose the severity of the condition and also treat related joint problems. Specialist care: Consulting with specialist medical professionals like an orthopedic surgeon is another option.

The Toyota Sienna, when it was launched, was touted as the “Camry of minivans,” heralding a new phase in Toyota’s history. Just about 20 years ago, Toyota replaced its mid-engine Previa with the very first Sienna model in 1998 as a front wheel drive that was built on an extended platform as the Toyota Camry, which was then very popular. Its name derives from the Italian town, ‘Sienna.’ The three models CE, LE and XLE came with the excellent fuel economy of 16 miles per gallon for in-city driving and 22 miles per gallon for long distance highway driving. This was one reason for its popularity in the minivan segment. As it slowly began to face competition from other car manufacturers in the same segment, the Sienna also underwent some upgrades to retain its stake in the minivan market. The 2001 edition saw a major redesign of the tail lights and also both front and rear bumpers. Other upgraded features in this version of the Toyota Sienna included an engine with a well-boosted torque output due to the inclusion of a variable valve timing feature, not to mention a complete revamp of the HVAC controls on the central console. The lower end CE model came fitted with a two passenger bench seat in the second row, while the LE and XLE models featured captain’s chairs in the second row. The sliding door on the driver’s side was a standard feature in all Toyota Sienna minivans belonging to this generation, as were the removable seats. Another major positive of the 2001 Toyota Sienna was its enhanced safety features which included a side torso airbag. The Toyota Sienna fared very well, in fact, even better than its predecessor, Previa, in six frontal crash test measures. This model received a consistent five-star rating for the safety of the frontal driver, frontal passenger, and the side rear passenger and received a four-star rating for side driver in crash tests that were performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Among its competitors in this time frame was Hyundai’s Odyssey which was a minivan offering many features on par with the Sienna’s.

You will see many people taking the route of claiming for a personal injury after a car accident by themselves. What is also uncommon is that most of these people undergo extreme stress as they realize that fighting their own case is not as easy and that they must do an extensive research on all the legal claims to win it. Looking for a smarter alternative? Your best bet would be to hire a car injury attorney. If you are still confused, then read along to know top three scenarios where hiring a car attorney would be your best option. Playing against the big players Most of the times, you will be claiming your insurance in front of some of the biggest auto insurance firms of the city. In such cases, it is always you against a renowned firm’s lawyers, who may be just the right person to help you get your claim. In such cases, hiring your personal car injury attorney will prove to be fruitful. Your attorney would have an experience with dealing with such parties, and he or she will be able to help you settle your case for a decent claim. If your claim gets rejected Many times, if you are claiming for your injuries on your own and the firm thinks that the liability is unclear, they can decline your claims. In such cases, if you are not happy with the decision and feel that justice is not being done, hiring a personal car injury attorney would be a smart thing to do. Your attorney can help in making your case stronger and compel the firm to reconsider your claim. Complex accident circumstances There are some car accidents which are not black and grey. In such cases, there are too many complex angles and the liability remains an unsolved mystery. You would need an expert investigation for such car accident cases. Hiring a car injury attorney would be your smartest bet as they would know how to untangle and make sense of the situation. Though hiring a personal car injury attorney will cost you a considerable legal fee, you will realize it is all worth the money when you win your case.

A cargo van, as the name suggests, is a type of road vehicle used for transporting goods. Depending on the kind of the van it can be bigger or smaller than a truck and SUV, and bigger than a common car. Large vans with only front seats for passengers are used for business purposes, to carry goods and equipment. Some vans are specially equipped and used by television stations as mobile studios. Postal services and courier companies use large step vans to deliver packages. The standard size vans appeared with the innovation of Ford's engine under a short hood and using pickup truck components and taillights. The cockpit of the engine is often known as a dog house. Over time, they evolved longer noses and sleeker shapes. Second stage manufacturers also modify the original manufacturer's body to create custom vans for the general public. Five years ago, if you’d wanted a cargo van for your business, you’d have had four choices: Ford’s long-in-the-tooth E-Series, Chevrolet’s ancient Express, Dodge’s Ram converted minivan or the pricier Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. But today, there are a number of options encompassing cargo vans. Vans offer a large range of choices for interior customization; modern diesel and gas engines, which deliver more power with better fuel economy; and a slew of sizes, from car-size wheelbases for easy city driving to models with more than 500 cubic feet of cargo volume and 5,000 pounds of payload. Companies like Nissan, Ford, and Mercedes have a range of models to pick from. However, there are a few things that need to be looked into before buying a van for your business. Anyone considering small vans should be aware of payload constraints and the weights they’ll need to haul. Fuel will not be saved if you overweight them, and they don’t handle well if you overload them. Cargo vans are often touted as extremely reliable because no matter where employees drive them, cargo locked up in a van is very secure.

People across the world have increasingly become conscious of the fact that non-renewable resources like fossil fuels will not last forever! Hence, the role of the sun as a primary renewable source of energy cannot be ignored. Thus, in the recent years, solar hot water heaters have gained an immense amount of popularity. Water is one of the best carriers of heat. In fact, you can use the high temperature of the sun’s rays to heat the water back at home without any limit. All you need to do is fix a solar hot water heater in your house. Hot water heaters make practical use of the solar energy to heat water for domestic purposes. The solar panels on the roof absorb all the energy just like that in a solar electrical unit. The difference being that in this case, there is fluid in these panels that transport the solar heat down to the water tanks. Once cooled, the fluids travel back to the panels to start the process again. Isn’t it amazing to see what natural resources are capable of? Not only that, the below-mentioned benefits can surely convince you to get one. Fight out climate change Currently, several individuals in the country use fossil fuels or natural gas to heat water. This contributes a lot to the increasing pollution which is directly a reason for climate change. To save your planet from toxic greenhouse emissions, switch to solar water heaters. Contribute to the solutions of public health issues Electricity used by many residents is one of the causes for acute air pollution that is both hazardous to the climate and human health. So, imagine what difference solar water heaters can make. Think about the health of your loved ones. Save up on the utility bill The sun’s rays are a source of free and unlimited energy that is used by these solar water heaters. Thus, you can contemplate the amount of energy and cost savings that you can manage on a monthly basis. Enhance home value Make the one-time investment of solar water heaters now, because it’ll prove to be beneficial in the long run. If at any point you want to sell your home, it will help you to sell it off faster and at a higher price than expected. Do take these benefits into account and adopt an environmentally safe approach with solar water heaters. These are easily available in your nearest markets and are convenient to install.

While washers and dryers have become a must-have for any modern household, they are one of the toughest appliances to shop for. That of course includes multiple reasons. Which brands to go for, what the perfect type of washer and dryer for my home is, what is the right size for my need, and whether to go for a washer and dryer combo: these are questions that commonly surface, and before you decide to zero in on one, read on so that you make an informed choice.   Types The first thing to decide while buying a low cost washer and dryer is the type of washer and dryer you need. Types of washers and dryers commonly available include top load washers, front load washers, electric and gas dryers, and combination washer and dryers. These models differ in design, utility and capacity. For example, if space-crunch is one of the issues you have to deal with, then you should go for an option in the form of stackable washer and dryers.   Height, Width, Depth Second is the question of size: height, width and depth. These will of course depend on the load of washing that you would need to do per day or per week as well as the number of people using it and availability of space. Washer and dryers commonly range from 3.4 cu. ft. to 9.2 cu. ft. or even larger. Anything in between this range is more than enough for a normal household of four to six.   Brand Like everything else, brands offering washer and dryers differ in design, range, price and not all are the same. Although, a brand of choice is entirely based on reliability, some brands stand out in the manufacturing of certain appliances more than others. Similarly, when it comes to washer and dryers, brands such as Ariston, Asko, Bosch, Electrolux, Fisher & Paykel, LG, Miele, Samsung, Hoover, Simpson, Westinghouse and Whirlpool offer the best product at the right price.   Features Not all low cost washer and dryers have the same features. While some offer great features such as sensor-controlled suds detection, extra rinse options, delayed start options, precision dispense options, and eco-friendly options; others have to be monitored more closely in person. Moreover, washers and dryers differ greatly in speed: some offer “fast cycles” while with others you might have to wait a while longer. If time is always of the essence for you, and you want your machine to take care of your laundry, go for one with a delayed start option and a fast cycle, but that is sure to burn a bigger hole in your pocket!   Combo (or not) Combining washing and drying in one appliance surely sounds like the perfect laundry appliance, but in some cases it is too good to be true. Low cost washer and dryers that come as a single appliance often cannot match up to the performance of two separate appliances. Moreover, the price of a combo washer cum dryer is almost the same as buying them separately. However, a combo is highly desirable under certain circumstances. For example, they are the perfect solution to the problem of space-crunch. And although, it is more time-consuming, one can manually always perform the two functions separately. This in turn yields the same level of satisfaction.   Price The price of washer and dryers differ due to a variety of reasons. Prices differ from brand to brand, but also because of the features offered, the size of the washer and dryer, the type (front load, or top load, or combo) and design. Most mid-range, low cost washer and dryers are packed with the fast cycle feature, can take a load ranging between 90 to 120ltrs, and come with a sleek design and eco-friendly system.