Physical Therapy: Health and Fitness: Physical Therapy Article ...

Avoiding a knee replacement is something that every individual with knee pain due to osteoarthritis tries to avoid or put off to the very end as a last resort. Depending on the amount of damage that osteoarthritis has caused inside thee knee compartment will determine how much time you have. You can buy some time and avoid surgery by following these three key ideas and putting them into action.

1. Ask Your Surgeon If You Are A Candidate For Viscosupplemntation.

You can check and discuss with your orthopedic surgeon if viscosupplementation injections will work in your case. The use of this procedure will depend on the amount of osteoarthritis you have in your knee and where it is located. This procedure helps replenish the natural lubrication you have and, helps to maintain the shock absorber qualities inside your knees. This can be discussed with your doctor to determine if the benefits outweigh the risks.

This procedure is given through a series of injections and you can feel either immediate results or may find some relief in a couple of weeks.

2. Lose Some Weight To Help Decrease Impact Forces In Your Knees.

The amount of weight you carry greatly impacts the health of your knees. As we age we tend to put on more weight if we do not make a conscious effort to exercise and eat right.

By carrying extra body weight you place a greater amount of force through your knees.

For every extra pound you carry over your ideal body weight, you add three pounds of added force to your knees when you walk and, ten pounds of added force when you run.

Ten extra pounds of body weight can add anywhere from thirty to sixty pounds of force through your knees.

Your diet and controlling your weight may be the most important thing you can do to maintain healthy knees and decrease the chances of developing osteoarthritis.

3. Keep Your Legs Strong With Resistance Training.

Maintaining strong knees involves keeping the surrounding muscles strong. The muscles involving your quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves when sufficiently strengthened allow them to absorb the impact of your daily activities such as walking and decrease the amount of stress that is placed through the knee joint itself.

Exercise activities such as bicycling and swimming also are highly recommended to build sufficient leg strength if you are unable to start a resistance training program.

Bicycling will build both quadriceps and hamstring strength and will help in developing your cardiovascular system which helps in delivering nutrients to your knees.

Swimming assists in taking stress off your joints and allows for more freedom of movement.

Avoiding a knee replacement through weight loss and exercise can be very successful if properly followed with discipline and determination. If you need viscosupplementation than it may be just a matter of time however before surgery will be required. it can buy you six months or more before replacement is required.

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