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How to Avoid and Manage Arthritis in Your Knee
June 30, 2016 7:42 pm / Category: Physical Therapy
BY SEAN SWOPES, DPT, RAUSCH PHYSICAL THERAPY
The term arthritis, or more specifically Osteoarthritis (OA), refers to degeneration of the articular cartilage of the knee. While OA is most commonly associated with knee pain in 40-60 year olds, it is not something specific to old age. In fact, most people—regardless of their age—have some form of OA, but it’s the severity that usually determines the onset of pain.
What causes arthritis in the knee?
Photo Credit: AAOS OrthoInfoMost of the body is comprised of cartilaginous tissue, and having arthritis means that that cartilage is breaking down. When you have OA, the “hyaline cartilage” at the end of the long bones in your leg (Tibia and Femur) is breaking down. Healthy hyaline cartilage provides cushion to long bones and provides a smooth surface for movement to occur; in appearance, this tissue is very white and smooth. In contrast, degenerative hyaline cartilage appears red and irritated.The breakdown of this articular cartilage leads to excessive wear and tear on the joint, causing inflammation, which ultimately results in pain.
OA can also form through injury to the intra-articular (joint) surface of the knee. Injury to the (tibiofemoral) joint can lead to bleeding within the joint, which leads to further degeneration of the knee.
How can I avoid arthritis in the knee?
While many people may think arthritis is just a part of growing old, there are steps you can take to help minimize the risk of arthritis effecting your knee or your quality of life.
Improve strength in your core, not just your legs
Since humans walk upright, our pelvic and core stability can determine the effectiveness of those knee stabilizing muscles. Hip strengthening exercises can improve the stability of the legs and decrease abnormal stress to the knee joint.
Activity modification
If you knee is painful and inflamed, switch to lower impact activities. For example, if running is irritating your knee, go for a swim or bike ride instead; these two activities still allow for good cardiovascular training but decreases stress to the knee.
Strengthen your legs
The body adapts to the daily stress we place upon it. While we can often tolerate our day-to-day routine without over-stressing our knee, we are all one-weekend-trip-at-Disneyland away from causing damage to the knee joint. As simple as it sounds, strengthening the muscle surrounding the knee can help to reduce the risk for arthritis. The goal of strengthening is to place the load into the muscle, which takes the stress away from the knee joint.
Four ways to improve arthritis-related pain and function
While unfortunately this condition is degenerative and non-reversible, those who are diagnosed with OA can still address limitations to improve knee function and manage pain. Four ways to improve function with OA-related related pain include:
