If you have arthritis, strengthening surrounding muscles can control movements of the knee, unload the knee joint and reduce pain. Here, our Certified Trainer Janet Livingston from the Clubs at Charles River Park, demonstrates an exercise that you can perform at home to strengthen your knees and ultimately move in a pain-free manner.
Speak to your doctor before starting new exercises. Your doctor may recommend other exercises and additional stretches. Physical therapists can also tailor an exercise regime for your particular condition.
Start all new exercises slowly at first. Expect to feel some fatigue in the muscles you are working, but you do not want to feel pain in the affected joint. Listen to your body. It will tell you if you are doing too much or if an exercise is inappropriate for you. The goal is to work the muscles, but be pain free while doing the exercises.
If you see swelling or are in persistent pain, immediately stop the exercises and consult your doctor.
Walking is one of the best exercises. It does not require any special skills, equipment and can be done anywhere at your leisure. Make your walks interesting by picking different routes or bringing along a friend. And it soothes the mind too.
Today, our patients are facing a barrage of advertising, touting new drugs and seemingly innovative medical devices. All promising dramatic improvements to your well being. Much of what you see on TV is marketing, and generally not backed by valid science or clinical data.
Since you have entrusted us with your orthopaedic care, it’s very important for us to provide you – our patients, with an objective and balanced overview of topics, which impact your orthopaedic health decisions. This is what we hope to accomplish in this newsletter – Aches and Joints. Orthopaedic information from a reputed source!
Our mission is to interpret the vast amounts of orthopaedic knowledge – some of it generated right here in our clinics and research laboratories, and distill and translate it in a manner, most useful to you.
Tell us what topics or concerns you want to see discussed in these pages. If you have comments about what we have written, tell us that too. Send us an e-mail:
Harry E Rubash, MD
Chief, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital
Edith Ashley Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Harvard Medical School