Don’t Let Knee Arthritis Slow You Down
A new post over at Medical News Today offers hope to knee arthritis patients.
Middle-aged men and women with osteoarthritis of the knee now have more options than ever before for treatments that may allow them to remain active in the sports they love
According to Dr. Brian Feeley, assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery, University of California, San Francisco, “The number of patients between the ages of 40 and 60 who are experiencing knee arthritis is growing, and unlike most older patients, this patient population presents a unique set of treatment challenges.”
An increasing trend within this age group is that these patients want to continue playing the sports they love and remaining active for many years after developing arthritis. “As a result, orthopaedic surgeons and other physicians need to come up with different treatment strategies including non-operative treatments or even cartilage restoration procedures, to address pain and functionality, and to help keep patients as active as possible,” added Dr. Feeley.
For patients suffering with arthritis of the knee, Dr. Feeley recommends the following approach to help patients remain active:
- Take control of your situation – understand the disease process and learn about different treatment options.
- Work with your physician to come up with both short-term and long-term courses of treatment to help manage your symptoms early while maintaining the health of your knee and body for as long as possible.
- Be flexible with your activities and do not put the exact same stresses on the knee everyday. In some cases, mild activity modification such as switching to more biking or swimming and less running may make a huge difference in the number and severity of symptoms. Trying new activities also can help keep morale high.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions of your physician. Look for a doctor who can help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of each treatment option, and who is willing to work with you to tailor a treatment strategy to your individual needs.
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