Happy Knees, Happy Life
By Donna Stark
Your knees deal with a lot of abuse every single day. They carry and balance your upper body, they allow you to walk, run, and bike to destinations unknown, and they help you bend over to pick things up. If we didn't have the help of our knees, life would definitely be harder to navigate! That's why it is so important to take care of them. But in order to take care of them, you need to understand how they work. Take a look at what your local chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic have to say about the knee and their suggestions on how to keep yours as healthy as possible!
Knees Are Complicated
A healthy knee should be able to bend, rotate, absorb stress, and move smoothly. And even though those actions don't sound very complicated, the knee is one of the most complex joints in the body. It's an area of the body where multiple bones, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and cartilage come together, and if you aren't careful or paying attention to how you move, each one of those components is constantly at risk for injury and pain.
Tips for Healthy Knees
Because your knees are under a lot of pressure every single day, you need to make sure you are taking the necessary steps to keep them healthy. Here are a few simple tips to incorporate into your daily routines that will help you accomplish that.
- Exercise and strength training - Exercise reduces the risk of injury by building stronger muscles around the joint and reducing excess pressure
- Weight loss - Eliminate the strain and pressure on your knees by losing those extra pounds and maintaining a healthy weight
- Daily stretches - Ease the tension in the muscles that support your knees and reduce your risk of injury by incorporating more stretches into your daily routine
- Appropriate footwear - Make sure the shoes you wear have good traction, low heels, and rubber soles to reduce your risk of accidental twists to the knee
- Proper support - Whether it is professionally fitted or purchased at your local drugstore, you should protect a sore, weak knee with a brace or sleeve
- Chiropractic adjustments - Regular adjustments will help restore function, decrease inflammation, and keep your knee joints in proper alignment
Happy Knees, Happy Life
There is nothing worse than having to turn down an invitation to do something fun simply because you can't walk or are suffering from pain, so take the necessary proactive steps right now to secure the health of your knees in the future!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Pittsburgh, Pa.