Why Many Elderly People Now Suffer Knee Pain

 +Why Many Of Them Are Going For Knee Replacement Surgery

 

These suffering knee days many older celebrities are knee problems as they age gracefully.

Knee pain is now common among people who are 65 and older. A recent British study in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism found that nearly two-thirds of women aged 50 and over, are experiencing a persistent incident of or intermittent knee pains.

Certain factors that can go hand-in-hand with ageing may increase your chances of knee pain, They are:

 

Osteoarthritis

 This is a common type of arthritis in which the cartilage that protects the bones in your knees breaks down, leaving you more vulnerable to knee pain. Experts have found that most knee pain in older people is due to Osteoarthritis.

 

Obesity

If you gain weight as you age, as many people do, those extra pounds add up to more load that your knees have to bear. Your knees feel the effects of the extra wear and tear from carrying any extra weight. Along with age, being overweight is a leading factor that raises your risk of developing osteoarthritis.

 

Muscle changes

Between the ages of 20 and 60, your muscles may shrink in size by roughly 40 percent. As a result, you lose strength. The muscles in your hips and legs take up some of the force on your legs that results from walking and doing other activities, Press says. Losing this muscular support as you age leaves you more vulnerable to knee pain.

 

How to prevent Knee Pain in Advancing Age

Even if you're at an age when more and more of your friends are developing the problem, research has shown that you can help prevent knee pain by taking the following steps:

Lose weight. In one study, authors found that overweight people with knee osteoarthritis enjoyed decreased disability after losing 5 per cent of their weight — just nine pounds if you weigh 180 pounds — over a period of four months.

Exercise more. There is strong evidence supporting land-based exercises, such as strength training or walking, for knee osteoarthritis. According to a recent study, exercise reduced knee pain and helped participants move around more easily. It provides benefits similar to those from non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

And here's one final important point to keep in mind if you're worried about age-related knee pain: Although a sizeable portion of the older population does have knee pain, the majority doesn’t. So if you haven’t developed knee pain with age, take steps to ensure.  www.everydayhealth.

 

WHAT Is Knee pain?

Knee pain is a common complaint that affects people of all ages. Knee pain may be the result of an injury, such as a ruptured ligament or torn cartilage. Medical conditions — including arthritis, gout and infections — also can cause knee pain.

Many types of minor knee pain respond well to self-care measures. Physical therapy and knee braces also can help relieve pain. In some cases, however, your knee may require surgical repair.

 

Symptoms

The location and severity of knee pain may vary, depending on the cause of the problem. Signs and symptoms that sometimes accompany knee pain include:

Swelling and stiffness

Redness and warmth to touch

Weakness or instability

Popping or crunching noises

Inability to fully straighten the knee

 

Risk factors

A number of factors can increase your risk of having knee problems, including:

 

Excess weight

Being overweight or obese increases stress on your knee joints, even during ordinary activities such as walking or going up and downstairs. It also puts you at increased risk of osteoarthritis by accelerating the breakdown of joint cartilage.

 

Lack of muscle flexibility or strength

A lack of strength and flexibility can increase the risk of knee injuries: Strong muscles help stabilize and protect your joints, and muscle flexibility can help you achieve a full range of motion.

 

Certain sports or occupations

Some sports put greater stress on your knees than do others. Alpine skiing with its rigid ski boots and potential for falls, basketball's jumps and pivots, and the repeated pounding your knees take when you run or jog all increase your risk of a knee injury. Jobs that require repetitive stress on the knees such as construction or farming also can increase your risk.

 

Previous injury

Having a previous knee injury makes it more likely that you'll injure your knee again.

 

Complications

Not all knee pains are serious. But some knee injuries and medical conditions, such as osteoarthritis, can lead to increasing pain, joint damage and disability if left untreated. And having a knee injury — even a minor one — makes it more likely that you'll have similar injuries in the future.

 

Prevention

Although it's not always possible to prevent knee pain, the following suggestions may help ward off injuries and joint deterioration:

 

Keep extra pounds off

Maintain a healthy weight; it's one of the best things you can do for your knees. Every extra pound puts additional strain on your joints, increasing the risk of injuries and osteoarthritis.

 

Be in shape to play your sport

To prepare your muscles for the demands of sports participation, take time for conditioning.

 

Practice perfectly

Make sure the technique and movement patterns you use in your sports or activity are the best they can be. Lessons from a professional can be very helpful.

 

Get strong, Stay flexible

Weak muscles are a leading cause of knee injuries. You'll benefit from building up your quadriceps and hamstrings, the muscles on the front and back of your thighs that help support your knees. Balance and stability training helps the muscles around your knees work together more effectively.

And because tight muscles also can contribute to injury, stretching is important. Try to include flexibility exercises in your workouts.

 

Be smart About exercise

If you have osteoarthritis, chronic knee pain or recurring injuries, you may need to change the way you exercise. Consider switching to swimming, water aerobics or other low-impact activities — at least for a few days a week. Sometimes simply limiting high-impact activities will provide relief.

The knee is the largest joint in the body and knee pain is a common complaint across all age groups. It may be owing to a diverse range of causes including sudden injury, overuse injury, or an underlying medical condition.

The location and severity of knee pain vary depending on the root cause. The thigh bone (femur) and lower leg bones (fibula and tibia) compose the knee joint. Structures found in or around the knee joint include discs (menisci), cartilage, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. Signs and symptoms that may accompany knee pain include swelling, stiffness, redness, warmth, weakness, instability, popping or crunching noises, fever, and decreased range of motion (inability to fully extend or flex the knee).

Www.mayoclinic