“If you look at the makeup of the knee, and the strain put on it every day, the fact that so many people have knee problems is no surprise,” says Harvey Smires, MD, a board certified orthopaedic surgeon on the Medical Staff of Penn Medicine Princeton Health. “For example, your kneecap bears four times your weight when going up stairs. Simply standing puts a lot of pressure on your knees.”
Addressing any symptoms of knee problems early can make treatment easier.
A Range of Causes and Treatments
While knee damage can occur as a result of an accident, such as a sports-related injury, wear and tear over time; a sudden movement; or being overweight can all cause knee problems. Conditions that generally may develop include arthritis, tears, strains, and fluid buildup in the knee.
“The knees are very unforgiving,” says Dr. Smires. “So, if you have a knee injury when you are younger, say 40 or under, and it is not taken care of properly, you will be far more prone to knee problems as you age.”
Maintaining a healthy weight, remaining physically active, and being mindful of proper lifting and other movements that can involve the knees can help reduce the chances of developing a knee problem or slow the degenerative process.
“When a patient presents with a knee problem, we start by going over the symptoms and checking their range of motion,” says Dr. Smires. “If there is a problem, weight-bearing x-rays and sometimes advanced imaging like an MRI will be ordered.”
Treatment for some conditions involves physical therapy and, if warranted, recommended weight loss. Steroid injections or draining a knee that has a buildup of fluid may help in certain instances as well.
“If surgery is needed to repair a tear or treat certain other conditions, it can be done arthroscopically, so the procedure is easy and recovery is quick,” says Dr. Smires. “If a partial or total knee replacement is needed, we are now able to use robot-assisted surgery, which allows for a very high precision.”
Signs of Knee ProblemsThe most common signs of a knee problem include:
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