Solutions are available to ease the hurt
If you like to play sports, that’s great. Participating in sports has so many benefits. But even good things aren’t without risk. With sports, sometimes the wear and tear on knees leads to pain that eventually needs treatment.
With time, everyone’s joint cartilage wears down to some degree. An athlete’s knees may sustain more impact than a nonathlete’s, which in some people may accelerate the natural process of arthritis, says Dinesh Dhanaraj, MD, sports medicine specialist at St. Mary Medical Center.
And sometimes sports injuries, such as torn knee ligaments, set the stage for arthritis down the road. Knee injuries are more common in runners, soccer players and skiers, for example.
But don’t get the wrong idea about sports, Dr. Dhanaraj stresses. For the vast majority of people, the physical and mental health benefits of playing sports far outweigh any risks.
“Yes, you may get knee arthritis at 60 if you play sports,” Dr. Dhanaraj says. “But you may get arthritis anyway, even if you don’t play sports.”
That said, here are a few ways you can limit the potential for knee wear and tear if you are active:
- Vary your exercise routine to decrease the risk of overuse injuries.
- Exercise regularly, not just on weekends. Proper conditioning helps prevent injuries.
- Instead of jogging on concrete, run on grass, a treadmill or a track, if possible.
- Change your running shoes every 400 miles.
Solutions for knee pain
If you have knee pain, there’s good news: Doctors at St. Mary have many options that may help you. Depending on the cause of your knee pain, treatments could include physical therapy and medicines such as joint injections.
Sometimes surgery is recommended for a knee that is badly damaged. Options can range from minimally invasive repairs to total knee replacements. Knee replacements can improve pain-free motion, but doctors recommend that you avoid high-impact sports to maintain the life of the new joint.