A Day In The Life Of Your Knee

Most people never think about their knee until they experience some discomfort, such as pain, or are part of an injury that calls for surgery. However, according to an orthopedic knee surgeon, understanding the daily life of your knee can help protect it from harm.

If you suffer from knee pain or conditions like gout and osteoarthritis, your orthopedic surgeon has probably suggested a few tips to manage the issue. Nonetheless, you don’t have to suffer a derailing condition to start caring for your knee.

Orthopedic Knee Surgeon Insights on Knee Life

The knee joint is one of the most complicated and also the largest joints in the body. It connects the femur with the tibia. As a result, your knee joint is under pressure all day when walking, sitting, standing, running, etc.

Although it is built for longevity, the knee is susceptible to injury and diseases. Common issues include ligament injuries, fractures, bursitis, torn meniscus, patellar tendinitis, and many more. In addition, conditions like osteoarthritis and other medical complications are also prevalent.

The knee joint is more vulnerable than other joints because it connects the two longest bones, translating to significant pressure acting on both sides. That’s why you need to maintain a healthy weight to avoid exerting more pressure on your knee joints.

Here’s a look at what your knee goes through every day.

1. Experiences High Levels of Stress

Your knee joint bears more stress than the hip joints and all other levers in your body. That is because it supports your upper body weight and absorbs shock from the ground upwards when walking, running, or working out.

The knee also takes a beating when you lift heavy objects, kneeling, or performing impact activities like aerobic exercises. Excess stress on the joint can result in sprained/twisted ligaments, torn cartilage, and inflamed tendons.

2. Surfers Daily Degradation and Aging

Your knee, like the rest of your body, goes through the aging process and natural degradation. Most knee pain issues are directly related to aging, injury, and repetitive stress. You’ll use the joint more as you get older and might pick up a few knocks and injuries.

Over time, your knee joint will weaken. Degenerative diseases like arthritis can accelerate the process, resulting in mobility issues. Keeping an active physical life and maintaining healthy habits that strengthen the muscles is advisable to decrease the rate of this natural decline.

How to Protect Your Knee from Common Issues

There are many things you can do to keep your knees healthy. Of course, you should always maintain a proper posture and choose the right shoes. It is also vital to avoid overly strenuous workouts or anything that puts more strain on your knees.

Anyone can suffer an injury to the knee or degenerative disease. However, should you experience unbearable pain or problems with your knee, the right approach is to engage a reputable orthopedic knee surgeon like Frank R. Noyes, M.D. of the Noyes Knee Institute.

Dr. Noyes is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and specializes in knee surgery and sports medicine. He is also an internationally recognized authority in the industry and has many years of experience helping patients suffering from knee issues.