Oh, My Aching Knees!

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Added: Sat Apr 5th 12:38pm
Posted in: Aging

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Staying in shape at middle age can be challenging because it’s no secret that as we grow older, our body parts start to deteriorate.  Take the knees for example.  Did you know women are five to 10 times more likely than men to suffer a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which is a common knee injury?  The reason for this, according to Dr. Alison Toth, the team physician for Duke University’s women’s athletics, is due to an increase in estrogen and the lack of testosterone.

 

There are preventive measures you can take to keep your knees and other body parts in tact:

 

Get a good pair of shoes:  Find athletic shoes with firm, arched insoles that aren’t stiff.  Just because one pair of shoes costs more than another doesn’t necessarily mean they’re better for you.  You should buy what fits and feels good on your feet.

 

Limber Up:  Warm your muscles by stretching prior to working out.  Stretch again after your workout.

 

Build strength:  Light to moderate resistance training with weights for your legs is an effective and safe way to build endurance.

 

Try something different:  Instead of punishing your knees with the same daily routine, try other activities that provide less stress on your joints.  If you’re a walker, try swimming or elliptical training or even kick boxing.

 

STOP when you get tired:  If you try to push yourself even harder, you may end up causing even more damage to your knees—or worse yet—other parts of your body.

 

Exercise is designed to promote strength and flexibility.  It helps moderate the aches and pains that come with aging.  Your knees will be good to you as long as you take good care of them.