Why Knee Pain Worsens as You Age in Vacaville

The baby boomer generation is becoming older and heavier, which makes them more likely to develop knee problems as they age.

According to research, knee pain is common in people who are 65 and older. In the United States, 25% of women and 16.5% of men over the age 70 have reported that they experience knee pain.

The connection between knee pain and advancing age in Vacaville

When you look at the knees, they are like any other joint in the body. Our bodies fight against gravity on a regular basis and with each step, there will be some wear and tear on the joint. The more years and the more steps you take, the more wear and tear there will be.

However, getting older is not the only factor that contributes to knee pain in Vacaville. There are other things that go hand-in-hand with aging that increases your chances of knee pain such as the following:

• Obesity: Many people gain weight as they age and having those extra pounds can add more load than your knees usually bear. Your knees will start feeling the effects of the extra wear and tear from carrying the excess weight. Age plus being overweight is a leading factor that increases your risk of developing osteoarthritis.
• Osteoarthritis: In a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevent (CDC), about 14% of Americans who are 24 years old and above have osteoarthritis. This type of arthritis is very common, in which the cartilage protecting the bones in your knees start to break down and will make you vulnerable to knee pain. As you reach age 65, the number increases steeply to 34%. According to experts, the most common cause for knee pain in older people is osteoarthritis.
• Muscle Changes: When you are between age 20 to 60 years old, your muscles may shrink in size by about 40%. This causes you to lose your strength in the process. Hips and legs muscles take up some force on your legs as a result of walking and other activities. As you age, you will lose this muscular support and you will be more vulnerable to knee pain.

Staying strong and healthy

Even when you have reached the age where you and your friends are starting to experience the problem, there are some steps that you can do to prevent the pain from creeping up.

• Lose weight: One study shows that overweight people with knee osteoarthritis have experienced decreased disability after losing 5% of their weight. This concludes that obtaining a healthy weight could also be healthy for your knees.
• Exercise more: Land-based exercises like walking or strength training are best for people with knee osteoarthritis. Exercise can help reduce knee pain and will even make you move around easily. The benefits it provides are similar to those from non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Now that you have some of the things about knee pain clarified for you, it is time that you apply it to yourself. Also, the clinic of Absolute Integrative Physical Medicine in Vacaville, CA can help you with this type of problem. Just dial (707) 474-5688 and set up an appointment today!