Are Knee Problems Inevitable?

From the day we start crawling, our knees play a starring role in getting us from point A to point B. We give our knees a workout, which is why knee problems are fairly common. 

“Just because knee issues are common doesn’t mean you should ignore them and try to push through the pain, even if the pain doesn’t seem too bad,” explained Amit Lahav, MD, director, Orthopedic Total Joint Program, Northeast Medical Group. “You should always listen to your body because you know when something isn’t right.”

Identifying the problem

Knee problems vary widely from degenerative issues like osteoarthritis to injuries from overuse or impact. The National Library of Medicine reports tendinosis and arthritis are among the most common non-injury problems people have with their knees. Whether the problem is intense or moderate, Dr. Lahav advises a three-pronged attack for getting an accurate diagnosis. 

“You really need three things, working together, for an accurate diagnosis,” Dr. Lahav said. “A good patient history is number one. This is when we talk about how long your knees have been bothering you and what specifically triggers any pain you have. Number two is the physical examination. We’ll test the joint to see how it’s moving and where the pain is coming from. The third piece to the diagnosis is imaging, which allows us to see inside. All three of these things, working together, can point us to the underlying problem.”

Escalating treatment

Once the cause of the pain is identified, Dr. Lahav prefers a conservative approach to treatment.

“Sometimes the best course is physical therapy, mild exercise or stretching, especially when we’re dealing with non-impact injuries,” he said. “We can move on to medications like ibuprofen or a cortisone injection if we’re not getting the results we want. Any of these treatments can be very effective for several common knee issues. It’s important to gradually escalate the treatment before ultimately arriving at surgery.”

While Dr. Lahav said, in most cases, surgery is the last option, he added that it can be life-altering for those who need it.

“If we’ve decided surgery is the best choice, the result is often a great improvement in the patient’s quality of life,” he said. “Particularly when we’re talking about a procedure like a knee replacement. Patients come in and they’re not able to walk without assistance and after the surgery they’re walking pain-free.”

Limit the risk

Dr. Lahav admits there is very little people can do to avoid impact knee injuries like those sustained in a car crash or while playing sports. However, he did say there are steps people can take to help prevent non-impact knee issues.

“I always say if you take care of your knees, they’ll take care of you,” he said. “I advise low-impact activities. Don’t suddenly take up long distance running, because your knees will take a pounding. Instead try cycling, swimming or using an elliptical. They all get your heart rate up without beating up your lower joints.”

Another popular exercise Dr. Lahav cautions against is using the stair machine found in most gyms.

“Those stair machines put a lot of stress on the front part of the knee,” he said. “The front part of the knee takes on about seven times your body weight when climbing stairs. That’s added stress you just don’t need for a good workout.”

When it comes to any problems that pop up, Dr. Lahav said the first thing everyone should do is listen to their body.

“We know when something isn’t right,” he said. “If it hurts when you do something, but the pain goes away when you stop, you should stop. And if it persists, speak with your clinician.”