One out of two people will develop osteoarthritis in a knee over the course of his or her lifetime. Pretty high odds aren’t they? If you are over 60 the chances are that you have felt a few twinges already. Not surprising I suppose, as the knee is the largest joint in the body and it is very complex.
Does being physically active increase your chances of knee pain? I would guess that with a one in two chances of knee discomfort that the answer would be a definitely maybe…maybe yes, maybe no.
Studies (Arthritis Today, Jan/Feb2009) indicate that being overweight is more detrimental than anything else. People who have maintained a normal weight over their lifetime have the lowest risk. If you gain weight, you are going to get arthritis in your knees and you are going to be miserable. Every pound that you carry puts five pounds of added stress on your knees.
What about exercise? The good news is that motion is lotion for your knees (Michael O’Shea/ Parade Section of The Seattle Times). Strengthening the muscles of the thighs can help prevent knee trouble. Ergo; new studies show that exercise protects knees and eases arthritic pain. For a long time there was a lot of concern about running being a sure way to ruin your knees, but recent studies show that this was not the case. There is no evidence to indicate that mild to moderate impact on the joints promotes development of arthritis.
So, what do you do to promote healthy knees? Watch your weight, exercise, pace yourself (know your limits and warm up sufficiently before you exercise) and don’t wait too long to see a doctor if you are experiencing problems. Many knee patients just need physical therapy and home exercises to treat their conditions.
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