When thinking about knee injuries, most people assume that they are exclusive to professional athletes or a geriatric family member. The truth is that knee injuries are not as uncommon as people might generally believe, and anyone, no matter how young or physically fit, can suffer from a knee injury at any point in their lives.
Knee Injury Prevention
As one of the most overused joints in the body, the knee joint is under constant strain and pressure that can build up over time and lead to mechanical injuries. When certain lifestyle factors such as weight and physical activity (or lack thereof) are taken into account –especially in the United States where a third of school aged children and roughly three in four men are considered to be overweight or obese – the potential for a host of health problems, including knee injuries, vastly increases.
The best methods for knee injury prevention include a combination of physical, nutritional, and in some cases medical steps to ensure that the joints are functioning properly and not suffering from burdens of extra weight. Patients should always seek the advice of a medical health professional if experiencing knee pain or if they are worried about injury.
When it comes to avoiding knee injuries, eating a sensible balanced diet and maintaining a healthy weight are great places to start. Less weight, less pressure, less work for the knees. Strength training exercises that build up the muscles around the knee are also an excellent step that people can take to lessen the strain on the knees and to ensure that the knee joint is not doing all of the work.
Warming up before any physical activity can seem like a waste of time, but it’s worth the investment to lessen the possibility of tears or strains.
Next, read more about ACL tear prevention.
