5 Ways to Take Care of Your Knee Joints After 50
It is not uncommon for everyone to suffer with knee pain at some time. But as we age knee pain becomes more likely. Today we talk about 5 ways to take care of knee joints after 50. One of the most common factors when it comes to knee joint pain is leading a sedentary life. Other factors is some form of trauma. It maybe a car accident, sporting injury and as we age everyday wear and tear takes a toll. To help us understand a few ways to take care of knee joints after 50 we take a brief looks at cause, prevention and treatment of knee pain issues.
5 Ways to Care for Knee Joints
Supportive Footwear
Trade heels for shoes that support the feet and provide cushion to knees. See comfortable supportive shoes on Amazon.
Knee Braces
Use knee braces to to avoid strain and provide support knee at work and after any injuries. See the wide range of knee braces on Amazon.
Exercise
Work with a physiotherapist or exercise specialist to find the right exercises for your mobility, especially ones that will strengthen knee joints. And will always avoid over stressing already damaged knees and tendons.
Manage Weight
One of the biggest stressors on knees is excess weight. Reducing weight by diet will help to reduce joint pain and swelling that will aggravate any knee issues.
Rest and Recovery
If you suffer knee pain due to an injury or trauma taking the time for rest and recovery is essential. Often times people get back to their everyday exercise and activity as soon as they are feeling better. But lack of rest and the right care can set back or make knee injuries worse or even cause permanent damage. Work with a physiotherapist, follow their instructions including the R.I.C.E. (rest, ice, compression, elevation) method as a way to care for your knee joints.
Many people have spent years sitting behind a desk, or they may perform physical labor. When we are young our joints take are able to withstand a lot more abuse. But as we age the wear and tear catches up, turning to pain and selling. This can stop us in our tracks. And when we suffer such pain it can take a toll on our life as a whole.
Common Knee Issue After 50
And they are prone to suffer pain and swelling. And when the knees suffer so do other parts of the body as they try and compensate. The hips and back suffer, and painful joints can lead to muscle and tendon problems. Bad knees can lead to a vicious cycle of pain. And as a result a person lifestyle can suffer.
Common Causes of Knee Pain
Knee pain is often a byproduct of an overuse injury. Sheer wear and tear, or even lack of rest and recovery for those who happen to live active lifestyle can further add to knee problems. In addition knee pain can occur regularly for people with chronic conditions, such as trauma, arthritis or patellofemoral syndrome.
In what follows, we discuss some of the common causes, symptoms, and potential treatments of knee pain. This will help you to understand the basic reasons why knee pain is so prominent. And some of the preventative measures that can be taken to avoid certain knee problems.
Causes of Knee Pain After 50
Arthritis
Knee pain has several causes. Some result in very mild symptoms, while others result in debilitation and immobility. In some cases some people cannot recall the circumstances surrounding the time their knee pain began. When individuals have this scenario, they often wonder, “Could my knee pain be arthritis?”.
In many cases knee pain may a result of arthritis. With over 100 different types of arthritis, the likelihood of arthritic knee pain is high. Especially if the pain is not a result of any trauma or injury to the knee.
Persistent versus Temporary Pain
To manage the ways to take care of your knee joints it’s important to take note of the difference between temporary knee discomfort and chronic, persistent knee pain. The difference level of pain and mobility or lack there of will determine the best ways to take care of your knee joints, and how to treat them.
Below are the most common causes of knee pain:
- Arthritis (such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout) At its most basic, arthritis is simply the inflammatory swelling of joints, ultimately causing tenderness and pain at the source.
- Tendonitis (more specifically, patellar tendonitis) Another inflammatory condition, tendonitis, results in pain, tenderness, and soreness of the tendons surrounding the knee bone.
- Overuse Injuries (torn ligaments, ruptured tendons, and meniscus tears) Typically a result of lack of rest and recovery. Or the natural wear and tear, or trauma
- Tumors or Infection (bone cancer)
- Physiological Issues (poor posture, poor walking mechanics, and lack of physiological awareness)
- Patellofemoral Syndrome- A syndrome often occurring in active individuals and elderly individuals, causing pain between the knee and thighbone(femur).
- Osgood-Schlatter Syndrome – A condition prevalent in adolescent children and young teens, caused by the rapid growth and bony changes at the area of the tibial tuberosity (just below the patella), resulting in marked tenderness.
Understanding the symptoms will help you to take a proactive approach for ways to take care of your knee joints mid life. You can address them, either on your own or with the help of a medical professional.
Common Signs of Knee Issues
Below are some patterns of symptomatic knee pain that is important to note:
- Persistent aches and pain in any part of the knee
- Relentless throbbing
- Sensation of Pins and Needles
- Lack of mobility
- Waxing and waning pain
- Sharp pain with movement
The thing to pay close attention to is whether or not the pain improves or remains persistent. Persistent pain for a prolonged period of time should be addressed, and it’s best to seek medical attention from a physician.
Whatever the case, if you experience any symptoms, mild to severe, the first step you should take no matter what is rest. This will help you make the correct subsequent decisions. But, remember that a delay in diagnosis means a delay in treatment and recovery.
Additional Ways to Treat Knee Pain
Since our knees take on a huge load of our body weight, reaching and maintaining a good weight is crucial to relieve stress and to reduce pain and swelling. In addition to eating a healthy diet, daily exercise is one of the important ways to take care of your knee joints.
If you haven’t experienced any acute trauma or injury, and you aren’t suffering from chronic conditions like arthritis or tendonitis, a poor lifestyle is the likely cause of knee pain.
Thus, the first and best treatment outside of prevention in the first place is lifestyle changes. Examples of such changes include frequent exercise, dietary changes, weight loss, and stretching.
Other medical treatments for knee pain may include:
- Steroidal injections
- Anti-inflammatory prescription medication
- Muscle relaxants
- Rest and recovery
- Stretching
- Physical rehab
- Surgery
Some countries use stem cell therapy – it is crucial that you use a reputable Dr and learn about stem cell therapy treatment.
There have been many advancements in the surgical treatment of arthritic knees, including the total knee replacement. As time has gone by, this surgery has become much more common and has had continued improvement in outcomes. It can truly be the saving grace to many people who have chronic knee pain due to degenerative disease of the knee.
Final Thoughts on Ways to Take Care of Your Knee Joints
With knee pain being such a prevalent issue in many individuals, young and old, the importance of prevention can’t be stressed enough. By taking part in low-impact exercise, making lifestyle changes, and resting and recovering you can help take better care of your knee joints.
by listening to your body, and even making a footwear change, you can often combat knee pain on your own.
Once you begin to experience knee pain, it begins to hinder other aspects of your life and may even lead to other sources of pain in your ankles, back, and neck.
The good news is that with understanding and care some knee pain is often preventable. And in many cases there is treatment for knee conditions.
If you become concerned, the best course of action is consultation with your doctor.