What is the one joint that gives more trouble to more people over their lifetimes? The knee! Problems with aging knees are one of the leading causes of disability in older adults. The knee is critical to mobility and is a joint that receives a lot of stress, but not a lot of TLC. Read on to learn more about your aching knees, how to prevent further damage and steps you can take to keep your knees healthy and mobile.
The knee is a type of joint known as a hinge joint. This means that two parts come together like a door hinge, connected in the middle. The two parts, in this case, are the thigh and the shin joined in the middle by the knee. This hinge joint is primarily designed to bend and flex, not twist. But there is some ability in the knee to tolerate lateral (sideways) and twisting motions. A healthy range of motion in the knee relies on strong and flexible muscles in the upper and lower leg that connect to and stabilize the knee. So exercise is key to keeping the knee supported!
Always check with your physician before starting a new exercise program, especially if you have knee discomfort. And ask for supervised exercise programs for people with your specific issues. Physical therapists have excellent suggestions for knee strengthening exercises. And many gyms have trainers who specialize in rehabilitative workouts.
If your knees check out okay, start with simple strengthening exercises. Good choices are stair climbing, biking, and simple squats against the wall. Try this:
Strength is just one component of healthy knees. Another is flexibility. This does not mean flexibility in the joint itself but in the muscles surrounding the knee. The most important muscle group to stretch is the quadriceps; the four muscles that make up the front of the thigh. These muscles all connect to the top of the knee and can pull the kneecap (patella) up when they are too tight. It's also important to stretch the hamstrings - the muscles on the back of the thigh - as well as the adductors (inner thigh) and the IT Band (Ilio-Tibial Band) on the outer thigh.
A good simple stretch for the quadriceps can be done lying prone (on your belly) with a strap or towel.
The best friend of sore knees (after consulting with your physician, of course!) is rest and ice. You can apply ice up to four times an hour for 15 minutes at a time. Ice reduces swelling and inflammation and also helps to lessen discomfort.
Consult with your physician about other treatments or medication he or she may recommend. And don't forget to add supplements shown to support the health of your joints and more, like Schiff® Mega-D3©. Each small Mega-D3© softgel has 5,000 IU of Vitamin D3 plus resveratrol and red wine extract to support many key areas of health that decline with age: joint, muscle, bone, immune, cardiovascular, breast and colon health, plus memory and concentration.