Tips for avoiding a knee replacement!

Tips for Avoiding a Knee Replacement

Arthroplasty

Arthroplasty (surgical replacement of the joint) is most frequently performed on the knee given its location and the fact that it holds the body’s weight. It’s not surprising that the knees are the first joints to show stress.

Knee injuries and arthritis are a pandemic that affect the young and old combined. Women are statistically more likely to suffer from osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis due to their child-bearing builds though men tend to develop arthritis earlier. While arthritis, unfortunately, is a common development in ageing and tends to favour certain genetic makeups, there are steps one can take to better look after your joints and bones and hopefully avoid surgery.

Weight loss is the starting point. Each kilogram or pound of weight you carry exudes 4 times additional pressure on the knee joint. Exercising the big muscle groups in the legs enable strong hamstrings and quadriceps improving stability in your knee joint and helping to avoid injury. Choose non-impact exercises such as cycling, walking or swimming to build muscle and keep those joints lubricated.

Whereas most of us know botox as that beauty warrior that does wonders to slow and hideaway the signs of ageing, it is also an excellent remedy for joint pains. An injection of botox, cortisone, or hyaluronic acid reduces knee pain and if you are looking for a bolder approach platelet-rich plasma injections regenerate cartilage and are favoured by sportsmen around the world.

Of course, there are also tools available to help soften the impact on the knees such as our handy Kneepals https://project7.jayedhosen.com/kneepal/ (which remove the pressure off the patella and place the weight on the tibia or shin bone) and for active individuals, a knee brace that unloads pressure and stabilises the knee joint can be of great assistance.

For family healthcare that puts your family first visit us at https://project7.jayedhosen.com/

Read our previous article here