We put a lot of stress on our knees each and every day, so it should come as no surprise that it is the most commonly replaced joint in our body. And while medical technology is only increasing the success rate of knee replacement surgery, it still involves a significant trauma on the body and an extended recovery, so it’s preferred to avoid the procedure if at all possible. One of the best ways to do that is by working to strengthen your knees and protect them from overstress. In today’s blog, we share five ways that you can strengthen your knee joints.
Strengthening And Protecting Your Knee Joints
Here are five simple and smart ways you can take more ownership over your knee health so that they remain strong long into your golden years.
- Pursue Regular Exercise– Exercise is inherently stressful on our knees, but a moderate amount of stress and strain is actually a good thing for your knees. Healthy stress ensures that muscles, ligaments and other soft tissues maintain strength and flexibility, so being inactive and overly protective of your knees can actually cause them to atrophy. Be sure to pursue regular exercise at all stages of life. Low-impact exercises that test the knees without overstressing them can be particularly helpful, like walking, swimming or cycling.
- Maintain An Ideal Weight– Your knees bear the weight of your body, so the more you weigh, the more stress your knees are under. Overweight and obese individuals are at a much higher risk for knee arthritis and the eventual need for a knee replacement. Maintain an ideal weight or strive to shed a few pounds to take stress off your knees. It’s never too late to work towards a healthier weight.
- Physical Therapy – If you’re serious about protecting your knees as you get older, consider connecting with a physical therapist. We can help you overcome lingering knee symptoms that are causing discomfort or limiting your physical ability, or we can work with you to develop a sport-specific training program that prepares your knees for the activities you perform most. The health of your knees is incredibly important, so don’t be afraid to lean on a professional to help the process along.
- Braces And Orthotic Inserts – You can also help to protect your knees by investing in some supportive gear. Knee braces can offer some extra stability during exercise or athletics, and custom orthotic inserts can help to ensure stress is dispersed evenly across your hips, knees and feet. We can help find the right protective gear for your knees based on the activities you pursue the most.
- Incorrect Form– Finally, many people don’t realize just how much extra stress is put on their knees when they have poor or inefficient form. An exercise routine or running program can be great for the health of your knees, but if you have poor form, you may be overstressing them during these activities, which works against your ultimate goal of making them stronger. Oftentimes it can be difficult to self-assess problems with your form, so the best way to improve your form or body positioning is with the help of a professional who can offer an outside perspective. An athletic trainer or physical therapist can check your form and make sure your movement patterns aren’t overly stressful on your knees.
Let the team at OrthoRehab Specialists improve the health of your knees so that you can keep pursuing all the activities you love. For more information, or for help with a different physical issue, reach out to the team at OrthoRehab Specialists today at (612) 339-2041.