| Knee pain is an extremely common complaints among | | | | knee pain compared to those who had the weakest |
| older men and women. There are many causes, not | | | | muscles. This supports previous research that sounds |
| the least of which is osteoarthritis which affects over | | | | strong quadriceps muscles protects against cartilage |
| 27 million Americans. Some of the more common | | | | loss. However, the increased muscle strength did not |
| causes include arthritis, already mentioned, ligamental | | | | prevent osteo arthritis but actually decreased the |
| injuries, cartilaginous injuries, patellar tendinitis, | | | | pain and symptoms that the woman experienced. |
| dislocated kneecap, bursitis and Baker's cyst. Less | | | | X-ray evidence showed that 10% of those individuals |
| commonly conditions such as gout, Osgood-Schlatters | | | | with strong muscles who had no pain did have |
| and osteochondritis - the previous two seen almost | | | | evidence of arthritis on x-ray. |
| exclusively in adolescence- will cause knee pain. | | | | This evidence supports other research which has |
| The knee is a hinge joint which is formed by two | | | | found that "saving the joints" by becoming totally |
| bones and held together by four ligaments. The | | | | sedentary will not slow the process of arthritis. In a |
| kneecap covers the ventral side of knee enabling a | | | | study published in 1992 in the Annals of Internal |
| friction free pain free movement. The joint is | | | | Medicine researchers found that those who had |
| surrounded by a membrane that produces a fluid | | | | arthritis in their hip did better when they did not |
| which helps to nourish the cartilage and keep the | | | | "baby themselves". Becoming sedentary lead to a |
| slippery. Between the bones in the upper leg in the | | | | loss of muscle and bone strength at a time when |
| lower leg, which meet at the knee, is cartilage. This | | | | these individuals needed it most. |
| cartilage also helps to cushion the joint and create a | | | | The goal of treatment is to decrease pain in the |
| friction free motion. | | | | joints through a multidisciplinary team approach. |
| Being only moderately overweight can put excessive | | | | Patients are often evaluated and treated by physical |
| forces on the knee causing signficant wear and tear - | | | | therapists who can help them develop programs to |
| osteoarthritis. Research has shown that during | | | | improve muscle strength, function and range of |
| walking the hips, knees and ankles will bear up to five | | | | motion. Physicians and pharmacists work together to |
| times a person's total weight in force. For every | | | | find adequate medical pain control while social |
| pound of extra weight a person carries another 5 | | | | services is brought into play to help individuals find |
| pounds is an added to each knee during walking. | | | | support in the community and act as a liaison in the |
| Contrast this with a 10 pound weight loss being the | | | | workplace. |
| equivalent to 50 pounds of extra stress relieved | | | | Individuals who have arthritis in the knee will also find |
| from the joints. | | | | benefit from using a cane held in the hand opposite |
| Arthritis in the knee will typically affects people over | | | | from the side with the arthritis. The cane should be |
| the age of 50 and is more common in those who are | | | | of correct height which any medical supply company |
| overweight or who have suffered significant knee | | | | can adjust. Weight loss is another significant portion |
| injuries in their earlier years. Researchers have also | | | | of treatment in order to decrease load bearing on |
| found a genetic predisposition which means that it | | | | the knee. |
| tends to run in families. | | | | Some individuals find relief from mild to moderate |
| The pain of knee arthritis will progress as the | | | | pain using cortisone injections into the joints. It is not |
| condition worsens. What is very interesting about | | | | recommended more than every two to three |
| arthritis that occurs in the knee is that it does not | | | | months. While an ace bandaged may be helpful to |
| always progress steadily over time. Individuals will | | | | control swelling and gives some psychological benefit |
| often report that symptoms fluctuate with the | | | | need braces are generally not helpful. However, |
| weather and that they have good months and bad | | | | recent special braces developed specifically for |
| months. | | | | individuals with osteo arthritis in the knee as well is |
| The most common symptoms that individuals report | | | | wedged shoes have been found to decrease the |
| when they have arthritis pain in their knee is that the | | | | bearing load on the joints and therefore the pain and |
| pain increases with activity, they have limited range | | | | degeneration of the cartilage. |
| of motion, they experienced swelling in the joints, it | | | | Individuals who suffer from osteo arthritis of the |
| feels as if the knee "gives out", they have stiffness | | | | knee often find that their lifestyle changes over time |
| in the joints, there is tenderness when they press on | | | | and as the disease progresses they lose more and |
| the knee and the knee may become deformed. | | | | more function. However, with some minor dietary |
| According to a study done at the University of Iowa | | | | changes, weight loss, exercise and support using a |
| researchers found that women who had strong thigh | | | | cane many are able to continue to function well in |
| muscles, quadriceps, were 50% less likely to develop | | | | their daily lives with only minor adjustments. |