Knee pain is a common problem that affects millions of Americans.
In fact, more than 700,000 knee replacement surgeries are performed each year in the United States. This is expected to grow to over 1.2 million by 2030. While these statistics seem daunting, there are preventative measures you can implement today to keep your joints and knees healthy!
Here are a few knee preservation tips that are easy to put into practice.
- Warm-up and cool down properly: Before starting any physical activity, it is crucial to warm up your muscles and joints. This can be done through light cardio exercises, stretching, and mobility exercises. Similarly, after completing your workout, you must cool down and stretch your muscles to prevent stiffness and soreness.
- Wear proper footwear: Proper footwear prevents knee and joint injuries. Ensure your shoes fit well and support your feet and ankles adequately. If you have flat feet or high arches, consider using orthotics to provide additional support.
- Strengthen your muscles: Strengthening the muscles around your knees and joints can help prevent injuries. Focus on exercises that target your quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes. These muscles help support your knees and joints and can help prevent injuries.
- Maintain a healthy weight: Excess weight can put additional stress on your knees and joints, increasing your risk of injury. Maintaining a healthy weight can help reduce this stress and prevent injuries.
- Listen to your body: If you experience pain or discomfort in your knees or joints, listening to your body and taking a break is vital. Pushing through pain can lead to further injury and prolong your recovery.
- Incorporate low-impact activities: High-impact activities like running and jumping can stress your knees and joints. Incorporating low-impact exercises like swimming, cycling, or yoga can help reduce this stress and prevent injuries.
Need some extra help? We’ve got you covered.
We recognize that sometimes individuals who deal with joint pain need more insights and solutions than those mentioned above. At Mercy Health, we can help.
Many younger patients are experiencing knee pain due to athletic activity, and most of these patients are not appropriate for knee replacement procedures. However, recent advancements in surgery and medications have provided surgeons with more options when dealing with these complex cases.
We offer knee preservation services that can help you avoid knee replacement surgery and prolong the use of your natural knee. In fact, our knee preservation seminars are designed to help you learn about new and upcoming knee pain treatments and recent surgical advancements in joint preservation.
The seminars are led by Brian Chilelli, MD, and Michael Laidlaw, MD, both board-certified orthopedic surgeons specializing in sports medicine and knee preservation.
Sign up for one of our two upcoming knee preservation seminars at Mercy HealthPlex Anderson and Mercy HealthPlex Fairfeld.
Also, learn more about the orthopedic services we offer at Mercy Health in our Cincinnati market.
