Check for the Warning Signs of "Knee Osteoarthritis"

     If you experience knee pain, have difficulty moving your knees, or hear loud noises from your knees, you may be at risk of knee osteoarthritis.

Knee Osteoarthritis

     This occurs when the soft bone covering the knee joint deteriorates or wears down. In the early stages, there may be no symptoms other than a feeling of loud cracking or grinding when moving the knee. However, if the knee is heavily used, not properly treated, and carries a lot of weight, it may cause the soft bone covering the knee joint to wear down to the point where two pieces of bone rub against each other without protection. The fluid in the joint also decreases, resulting in knee pain, increased bone pain, stiffness, and difficulty moving.

     Additionally, people with chronic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and gout or those who have had knee injuries may develop knee osteoarthritis at a relatively young age. Other risk factors contributing to knee osteoarthritis include certain postures or sports activities such as squatting for long periods, sitting cross-legged, sitting for prolonged periods with bent knees, and engaging in high-impact sports like running and jumping. Knee osteoarthritis mostly occurs in individuals aged 40 and older and is a significant cause of knee pain in the elderly.

Let's check if you are at risk of "knee osteoarthritis

• Age 40 and above
• Overweight (BMI > 25)
• Engage in activities requiring constant walking
• Stiff, swollen, or painful knees
• Cracking or grinding noises in the knee during movement
• Dull, achy pain in the knees when walking or descending stairs
• Knee pain when standing up or sitting down
• Misaligned or deformed legs, unstable gait

If you have more than 3 of these symptoms, you may be at risk of knee osteoarthritis and should consider changing your behavior and consulting a doctor for advice.

     Try to observe yourself or those close to you to see if you have any of these symptoms. If you have risk factors, you should see a specialized bone and joint doctor for a detailed diagnosis and appropriate treatment because the knee is a vital organ that supports posture. Ignoring knee osteoarthritis can lead to severe disability and significant pain, affecting daily life.

What can you do if you do not want knee osteoarthritis?

We can easily delay knee deterioration by changing our behavior as follows:
 

• Build strong muscles through regular exercise such as brisk walking, aerobics, swimming, or cycling. Avoid high-impact exercises that strain the knees, such as jumping and running.
• Control your weight to maintain a healthy BMI and reduce knee pressure.
• Eat a balanced diet with all 5 food groups focusing on foods rich in calcium and vitamin D to strengthen bones, such as milk, small fish, and green leafy vegetables.
• Change positions frequently avoid sitting cross-legged, sitting for prolonged periods with bent knees, or sitting in one position for too long to relieve knee pressure.
• Reduce wearing high-heeled shoes as they can cause knee strain.