Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM 18 UCW JUNE 14 - 20, 2023 About 800,000 knee replacement surgeries are done in the U.S. each year with about one in every 12 people over the age of 25 that have replacements and approximately 5% of women over the age of 50. However, the average age for re- placement surgery is 65. From 2019 to 2020 there were 10 states with the highest number of replacements, including Washington as the highest and North Carolina at six on the list. Our other Carolina state, South Caro- lina, was three on the list. e most common reason for surgery is osteoarthritis which is a breakdown of joint cartilage that can cause damage to the joints resulting in limitations in movement and pain. Medical conditions which include gout, infections and arthritis can also be contributing factors. ere are other causes of knee pain that do not include osteoarthritis. e most common problems attributed to knee pain are repetitive use, strained ligaments, cartilage tears and tendon- itis. Other injuries can include fractures to the patella, dislocation, and menis- cus tear. Weight can be a contributing factor because excess weight puts more strain on the joints and the carti- lage that protects the knees. Addition- al weight increases the stress in joints in daily activities and use. Additional body fat can increase the chemicals in your blood that can inflame the joints. ere can be other factors that contribute to knee pain which can be your hips, glutes, calve and incor- rect shoes. When we walk or run our weight is transferred from side to side as we alternate our feet and if the hips are tight, it does not allow proper rota- tion of the feet which puts stress on the knees. Extended periods of sitting even- tually lead to decreased movement of the hips in flexibility and muscle control. e knees also move from side to side and if one of the major glute muscles — the gluteus maximus — is weak or not moving correctly the result can be stress on the knees. Tight calf muscles can cause tendon strain initiating pain in the knee. Im- proper footwear can also cause knee pain. Old shoes that have worn down soles and treads that are thinning can contribute to knee pain. Wearing shoes that do not support your weight can be a contributing factor to knee pain. Wearing the wrong type of shoes can put stress on your knees and hips. You might think that exercise can make your pain worse but activities that include stretching and low- impact activities such as swimming, rowing, weight lifting and walking do not put as much stress on the joints. If you really like doing deep squats and lunges, lessening your range of motion will help with the intensity and stress on the joints, and putting a pad under your knees when doing floor exercises will help as a cushion. Pain is an indicator that something is not right, and nobody knows your body like you do. It is important to make that appointment with a physician to see what the cause is. An early visit may result in your doing strengthening exercise, wearing dif- ferent shoes and stretching. It is possible that knee replacement can be avoided, genetics and weight loss notwithstanding. Exercise pro- grams that can stretch and strengthen the muscles and soft tissues can be beneficial. No one looks forward to having a knee replacement, but avoiding a visit to your physician is not the best alternative. Being proactive when you begin noticing pain and discomfort can be beneficial. Live, love life and good knee health. FITNESS CYNTHIA ROSS, Personal Trainer. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomin- gweekly.com 910-484-6200. Why do my knees hurt? by CYNTHIA ROSS Get FREE BOOKS for your child D o l l y P a r t o n ' s I m a g i n a t i o n L i b r a r y m a i l s f r e e h i g h - q u a l i t y , a g e - a p p r o p r i a t e b o o k s t o c h i l d r e n f r o m b i r t h t o a g e f i v e ! T h e N o r t h C a r o l i n a P a r t n e r s h i p f o r C h i l d r e n a n d t h e S m a r t S t a r t I n i t i a t i v e h e l p f u n d t h i s w o r k . www.unitedway-cc.org S i g n U p T o d a y !