Knee Pain Info About Arthritis

Knee pain info about arthritis--One of the most common causes of knee pain in older adults is osteoarthritis. It usually surfaces after the age of forty-five, but it's not uncommon for people as young as their twenties and thirties to begin suffering from the disease. Arthritis is not just an old person's disease. Sport injuries and excess body weight also contribute to damaged joints.


Symptoms of Osteoarthritis

• painful joint(s)
• stiffness in joint(s)
• usually not much swelling
• usually no redness

Causes of osteoarthritis

• overuse of a joint
• injury to a joint
• being overweight
• poor eating habits

How it happens

The cartilage in your knee joint protects the bones from rubbing against each other. With healthy cartilage, the knee cap glides smoothly when you bend and straighten your knee. When cartilage is damaged (see causes above), the bones can rub against each other, causing pain. Also, when cartilage degenerates, bone regrowth can occur, causing painful bone spurs in your knee.

Knee pain info on how to manage your pain

STRENGTHENING--Strong muscles will help protect your joints. Strengthening the muscles above your knee, the quadriceps, will provide support, absorb shock, and prevent injury. Don't forget to do strengthening exercises for your hamstrings, the muscles at the back of your thigh, to provide extra balance and stability.

STRETCHING--Gentle stretching should be performed everyday to maintain and increase flexibility in your muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints. Flexibility allows you to perform your daily activities with more ease, comfort, and safety. Sprains and strains can occur when you are tight. Stretching is especially important before any exercise program, including walking.

AEROBIC EXERCISE--Aerobic exercise has a whole host of benefits. It improves your overall health by increasing your energy, lowering your blood pressure, controlling your weight, and improving your mood. It doesn't have to be strenuous. The simpler you make it, the more willing you'll be to do it. Walking is simple and free. If you can walk in your neighborhood, great. It's just outside your front door. Or grab a friend and walk at a nearby park. Treadmills and stationary bikes are also great aerobic activities.

If you experience stiffness or soreness after exercise, try putting a cold pack on your knee for about 20 minutes. There are over-the-counter creams and balms that may ease the pain. Ace wraps and knee braces can add extra support for weak knees. Rebuilding cartilage with glucosamine chondroitin supplements has mixed results. Some people report improvement in knee pain and function while others report no change at all. The same goes for healing magnets--some users report benefits and others report no change.

Make sure you see your doctor before starting any type of exercise program. If the damage to your knee is severe and limits your quality of life, knee replacement surgery may be your best option. Your doctor can usually determine the amount of damage with an xray or MRI.

Click here for more knee pain info