Knee Surgery and Its Prevention

Much has been written about knee surgery and the innovations made to replace them. It’s the largest joint in the body. The knee helps you stay active, flexible and is an essential role in facilitating movement. And in spite of the fact that any problem/injury affecting the knee would have the power to immobilize it, it is one the most overlooked aspects of health care. No one can deny that we often worry about our knees only after a crippling pain begins. However at this point, the damage has already been done and replacement surgery is sometimes the only option. However, knee problems don’t happen suddenly. It’s a slow process that occurs within the first 40 years of life and because of bad lifestyle choices and genetics. The knee is protected by cartilage — a soft, flexible, connective tissue that is softer than bone but harder than muscle. It forms a cover and links the two major bones of the leg. Damage to this cartilage can be painful and irreversible and therefore surgery becomes a necessity. Knee cartilage health can be affected by many factors, according to Dr. J.V.Srinivas , senior orthopaedic surgeon, Fortis Hospital, Bangalore, India. In osteoarthritis, the … cartilage is completely worn out, until one bone rubs against another. It’s a result of a process of degeneration, due either to a very active lifestyle or a severe lack of calcium. Women are particularly at risk. Women in our culture get married early and have on average two or three children in their twenties. These women lack calcium and by the time they reach 40, they are affected by osteoporosis, a bone brittling and calcium deficient disease that can put them at risk for fractures and degeneration of the knee cartilage. Inflammatory arthritis (which is extreme swelling or pain in addition to the degeneration of cartilage) can cause severe damage as well but this occurs as a result of genetic factors and diseases and therefore can hardly be avoided. In most cases, damage to the cartilage is due to the process of aging. But there are ways one can protect himself against the pain and prevent more damage. According to Dr. Srinivas it’s important to maintain good body weight. Overweight or obese people will only put more pressure on their knees. Regular exercise will help joints stay mobile and flexible. A timely diagnosis and the control of diabetes and hypothyroidism are important too, because if not kept in check it could affect healthy cartilage.” Starting to take care of knee health should occur at childhood. Dr. Srinivas says that the more active one is the more nutrition is being fed to the knee cartilage. A lot of children lead sedentary lives and stay glued to computer screens and TV. Because bone health peaks between the ages of 20-40, one should maintain participation in sports and be active as much as possible during those years. After the age of forty, men and women lose at least 3% of their bone calcium per year. It is impossible during those years to build calcium reserves and taking calcium pills won’t work. Most Americans and Europeans engage in sports during these crucial years, so for this age population, knee problems usually occur in the eighties. For the average citizen knee problems crop up as early as the forties, which can severely threaten our mobility and add greater discomfort to old age. Here are some precautions: 1-Don’t worsen knee pain by climbing stairs or sitting cross-legged on the floor. 2-Try to sit on chairs or a raised surface until the pain recedes. 3-Avoid walking on hard gravelly surfaces or performing strenuous exercises while in pain. 4-Rest is best . 5- Switch to low impact activities like swimming and walking. People that have advanced osteoarthritis can avail themselves of knee replacement surgery. This is fast becoming a common procedure in many countries. The surgery can be expensive depending on the hospital and post-surgical care. The surgery involves partially or completely replacing the knee. Recovery can take from 3-6 weeks, after which one can usually return to normal life. The pain should have completely receded and the knee should be as good as new. Following surgery, doctors usually advise the patient to have an active lifestyle to help further weight loss and to prevent fresh damage to the knee joints. Caring for knees is a lifelong process. After all, it’s because of this joint that we have the ease and freedom of mobility. While recuperating from knee surgery physical rehabilitation will occur. One of the most cost effective and efficient physical therapy solutions is the LEGTUTOR. The LEGTUTOR is an ergonomic wearable leg brace with dedicated rehabilitation software. The LEGTUTOR rehabilitation concept is based on performing controlled exercise rehabilitation practice at a patient customized level with real time accurate feedback on the patient’s performance. This means that the LEGTUTOR system allows the physical therapist to prescribe a leg rehabilitation program customized to the patient’s knee and hip movement ability at their stage of rehabilitation. The LEGTUTOR uses biofeedback to keep the patient motivated to do the exercise practice in the form of challenging games. The TUTORS, (HANDTUTOR, LEGTUTOR,ARMTUTOR, 3DTUTOR) are suitable for a wide variety of other neurological and orthopedic injuries and diseases as well as post trauma and orthopedic surgery. The TUTOR system is used by many leading rehabilitation centers worldwide and has full FDA and CE certification. It is designed for children and adults and can be used at home supported by telerehabilitation. See WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for more information.