Are Your Knees at Ease?
A new year can mean a renewed exercise regimen and added stress on your knees. Do you know how to help knee pain and get active again?
Rest: Hurting knees need time off Stop running or doing anything that worsens the pain. Instead stay fit with water workouts,swiming, walking, biking, and other activities that don't put pounding pressure on knee joints.
Pain relievers: Over-the-counter drugs such as acetaminophen can ease pain, while ibuprofen and naproxen reduce pain and swelling. Pain-relieving gels, salves, or creams that contain capsaicin (Castiva) may also relieve discomfort.
Ice packs: To reduce knee pain and swelling, apply an ice pack or bag of frozen veggies wrapped in a towel for up to 15 minutes at a time. During the first day of pain, apply ice as often as once an hour. After that, ice your knee at least four times a day.
Compression: To reduce swelling and provide support, compress your knee gently by wrapping it with an elastic bandage.
Elevation: Elevate your knee above heart level to limit swelling.
If knee pain persists after three days of home treatment, call your doctor.
Also call if you have:
Severe pain or inability to bear weight on your knee
Redness, warmth, or significant swelling around the knee,
possibly accompanied by a fever
A Knee that buckles, locks, or clicks
A knee that looks misshapen..deformed
Did You Know?
Taking dietary supplements called glucosamine and chondroitin (natural substances found mainly in cartilage) may help repair knee cartilage and ease pain.
Be sure to talk with your doctor before taking any supplement.
Naproxen and Ibuprofen belong to a class of drugs called NSAIDs nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs) that can increase the risk of stomach bleeding
People with a history of Ulsers, Stomach or Bowel bleeding should ALWAYS ask their doctor before using NSAIDs to relieve knee pain.
For specifucs relative to "Possible Side Effects of Non-Steroidal Inflammatory Drugs" (NSAIDS) BE SURE TO VISIT~omnis1/nsaids.htm
Know Your Numbers
Being overweight or obese is a leading cause of knee pain.
Losing as little as 11 pounds can reduce the risk of getting knee osteoarthritis by fifty percent (50%).
Glossary
arthritis: A general term for inflammation in joints.
cartilage: A firm, rubbery material that covers the ends of bones in norma1 joints. It reduces friction and serves as a "shock absorber".
Osteoarthritis: also called degenerative joint disease, is the most common form of arthritis.
Overuse injuries: Damage that occurs from repetitive activities, such as too much stair climbing, cycling, jogging, jumping, or kneeling.Includes bursitis, tendinitis, and patellofemoral pain syndrome.
Slow Going
Researchers found that obese adults who walked at a pace of two miles per hour instead of a more brisk three miles per hour reduced stress on knee
joints by twenty five percent (25%)-which could mean less arthritis and joint injury.
Not only did they reduce joint stress, they burned more calories when they walked at the same speed as normal weight walkers. Researchers theorized that obese people have heavier legs and wider stances, making walking more work. They also may use more muscles during walking to compensate.
Source: Obesity Research
From the WebMD Arthritis Health Center, including
information from THE CLEVELAND Clinic, the National Institutes of Heaith, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Want to learn more? Go to www.WebMD.com and search for "knee pain" and "arthritis."
Highlights & * added by page author.
| Knees-Joint Problem sites |
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| Range of Motion Exercises...Do these range of motion exercises once or twice daily to maintain joint mobility...Move in a slow, steady manner. Do not bounce. A gentle stretch at the end of each motion is OK, but there should be no pain...Make sure you breathe regularly as you exercise. DO NOT HOLD YOUR BREATH. You may want to count out loud. Do each repetition 5-10 times |
Site sells products...Osteo-Tea and Osteo-Tab are used for bone related Arthritis joint pains or Osteoarthritis. This formula can be used to help with disorders such as bone growths (osteophytes), bone byperplasia, spondylitis associated with bone hyperplasia, slipped or dislocated intervertebral disc, sciatica due to protruding disc, osteoporosis and bone or joint injuries such as fractures, sprains and contusions...Use of these products is an individual decision...Contact and interface with your family physician is recommended before ingesting (taking) . |
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This is a group to answer questions, provide information and talk about different types of Total Knee, Total Hip and other types of joint replacement surgery. Talk to other individuals that have had total joint surgery and have some basic questions answered by a Physical Therapist. |
| Dr. Wayne Goldstein's..Patient Education site...Print a Brochure relating to Knee Replacement/Revision surgery..AND "Watch the Animation" of Hip and Knee Replacement |
The Zimmer Knee (*)professes to be(*) contoured to fit the unique shape and size of women's knees. It does this by matching a woman's shape and size with its 3 distinct differences: The Zimmer Gender Knee has a thinner profile than traditional knee replacements, it allows for more natural movement of the kneecap, and it has a shape specially contoured for women. |
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Launched: 3/27/2003
