Keep Your Knees Happy with These Tips from an Orthopedic Doctor in Las Vegas, NV

The knee may not look like much, but it is actually one of the largest and most complex joints in the human body. Your knees are responsible for carrying the majority of the pressure your weight exerts on your body each day, and the knee is responsible for a variety of daily functions that you may not even think about.

At Bernard Ong, M.D., as an orthopedic doctor in Las Vegas, NV, we’d like to help our patients prevent damage to their musculoskeletal system rather than have to repair it. Knee pain and injuries can be difficult to manage depending on the severity of harm done to the joint, so we’d rather you take these four simple steps to help keep your knees strong and healthy:

• Drink lots of water: Your knee contains cartilage, which is a strong yet flexible connective tissue. Cartilage allows your knee to have a free range of motion while still keeping it strong enough to stand up against the pressure exerted on your knee every day. Cartilage is composed of nearly 80 percent water, so it is important to keep yourself hydrated. When the water content in your cartilage drops, you are more likely to suffer from degenerative joint disease. Drinking plenty of water is one simple way to keep your knees healthy.
• Keep exercising: No matter your age, weight or level of physical activity, it is essential that you find some way to get up and move. When it comes to your knees, any movement is better than no movement at all. Your knees, just like any other part of your body, will lose mobility the less often you use them. Plus, cartilage lacks blood vessels, so regular exercise is necessary to help keep the tissue alive and healthy.
• Watch your weight: Your knees carry a lot of pressure from your body weight. In fact, every pound of body weight has the pressure of four pounds on your knees. If you weigh 150 pounds, your knees are being exerted as if they were carrying 600 pounds. To help keep your knees healthy for longer, watch your weight and avoid putting undue pressure on your knees.
• Be smart about your shoes: Buying shoes that offer good support for your feet and knees may seem expensive, but if you weigh the costs between a shoe and the loss of movement in your knee, it’s really no contest. You should also change out your shoes about every 6 to 12 months. A good shoe will not only help prevent knee damage, but it may also help relieve knee pain you currently have.

Living a healthy lifestyle means being proactive about caring for your knees. You can help keep your knees healthier for longer by following the four simple tips listed above. To learn more about knee health and preventive measures you can take, give Bernard Ong, M.D. a call and set up your appointment with an orthopedic doctor in Las Vegas, NV today.

Categorized in: Orthopedist

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