Arthritis in general is when joints become inflamed and cause pain. Arthritis of the knee involves an overall breakdown of cartilage surrounding the area. Cartilage is the body’s natural shock absorption method. Once this protection is gone then the bones begin to rub together which causes a number of painful symptoms along with stuff joints and inflammation/swelling.
This type of deterioration can be caused by age, an injury, overuse due to a job or sporting activity, or by simply being overweight. One way that a person can prevent arthritis pain is to eliminate the overlying problem. This means taking some time off of whatever activity is exacerbating the problem. Losing weight can not only reduce stress on your knee joints but on the overall health of your body. Lifting light weights and having regular cardio exercise(even just walking 30 minutes a day) can help reverse the effects aging has had on joints.
A doctor or physical therapist can create a specialized program for your specific needs that may eliminate the necessity for pain medication. These types of exercise programs for those with arthritis of the knee include strength training, endurance exercises and even yoga type activities to increase your range of motion. Certain types of supports may also be recommended to help reduce the amount of stress on the knee joint. A PT, physical therapist, may also suggest extreme temperature therapies that include ice massage or TENS(transcutaneous nerve stimulation).
Easy tips for preventing pain when suffering from arthritis of the knee are as simple as getting plenty of rest, changing positions often, avoiding any movements that my put stress on your joints such as jumping and modifying your office or home to make certain activities easier (if possible). Some experts even believe that taking time to reduce ones emotional stress with meditation, tai chi, or yoga may help relieve stress on the affected joints.
