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There is a popular misconception that problems in the knee joint can affect only elderly people. However, as medical reports confirm, cases of troublesome knee joints (with reduced functionalities) are reported by patients from practically all age groups. While knee replacement surgeries remain the sole remedial recourse in certain cases, you can follow a few easy tips to stay safe from such orthopaedic hazards. Over here, we will acquaint you with eight of these tips: a. Follow a healthy diet – Consult your orthopaedic doctor, and ask him/her to draw up a balanced, bone-strengthening diet for you. Include milk, green vegetables, proteins and vitamins in adequate amounts in your meals. Religiously following this diet has every chance of keeping your knee joint strong, even when you start getting on in age. b. Do not RUSH – Not while working at home, or while crossing streets, or while performing any other apparently ‘routine’ chores. If you are involved in sporting activities, don protective gears to protect your knees, before taking to the field. A heavy fall can necessitate a partial or complete knee replacement surgery – which can be quite expensive too. c. Mitigate knee pains the natural way – In case you have taken a painful knock in the knee, don’t simply pop a couple of strong painkillers. Instead, apply ice-packs at the affected area, for about an hour or so (with gaps in between). If the pain does not start subsiding even after a couple of hours, seeking medical advice from orthopaedic specialists would be advisable. d. Exercise on a regular basis – Activities like cycling, swimming, and even brisk walking help in building strength in the muscles of your lower limbs. That, in turn, makes the bones, ligaments and tendons at and around the knee joint more robust. Lifting weights is also a great way to bolster the power and stability of the joints. You should, however, consult qualified knee surgeons before trying these strenuous exercises. e. Manage your weight – Being either anorexic or obese is equally bad from an orthopaedic point of view. Get your body mass index (BMI) and bone mineral density (BMD) figures regularly checked. In case your weight is not in proportion to your height and/or age, get in touch with an orthopaedic surgeon in Kolkata, and follow corrective measures to get your weight back within the normal range. The joints of both overweight and underweight people tend to be more brittle, and even a ‘light fall’ can usher in the requirement of knee joint replacement operation. f. Use walking aids and braces – If you do have a long-standing knee problem, it would be a good idea to walk with a stick or a cane – for additional support. Orthopaedic specialists also often recommend putting on knee braces – particularly when a patient is recuperating after a complete or partial knee replacement. Insertion of artificial knee implants often becomes unavoidable, and they have to be taken care of as well! g. Choose your footwear with care – There are certain medically approved shoes, which provide extra protection and comfort to the soles of the feet, and prevent excess pressure from being exerted on the knee joints. For people with existing knee aches, an orthopaedic doctor is likely to recommend flats or shoes with relatively low heels. Stilettos look glamorous, but wearing them too frequently is not necessarily a good idea! h. Place a pillow between your knees while sleeping – This is, one again, particularly important for people with chronic knee joint problems. Along with taking the medications prescribed by your orthopaedic surgeon, you also need to adopt the correct knee postures, to avoid possible weakening in the long-run. When you go to bed, place a soft pillow between your knees, so that the joints get maximum comfort. If the doctor categorically states that you need to undergo a knee joint replacement surgery, make sure that the prosthetic(s) that would be used are of the optimal quality. Inquire about the risk element (which would be negligible) of the operation, and the right post-operative care guidelines. Of course, if you follow the tips mentioned above, you might not require knee replacements at all!
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