Knee Pain Is So Common in Women
Whether it’s a sharp pain or a dull ache, knee pain is very common problem, affecting 12.4 million (33.6%) adults over the age of 65. Interestingly, women are more affected and burdened by knee pain than men. One of the study of women ages 50 and older, found that nearly two-third had some type of knee pain. The anatomic differences between males and females that may play a role include narrower femurs, thinner patella, larger quadricep angles, and differences in tibial condylar size.
CAUSES :-
Knee pain can be caused by injuries, hormonal issues, arthritis and other problems. Hormonal differences between men and women may play a role in the development of knee pain. The female hormone have an affect on the cushioning cartilage that sits between the bones of the joints to allow smooth joint movement and protects cartilage from inflammation. After menopause women lose that protection due to decrease in estrogen.
Arthritis :-
Septic Arthritis – It is a kind of infection caused by bacteria, virus, fungus, parasites. The symptoms of septic arthritis can be inflammation, redness, warm to touch, general fever, and chill. Young children under the age of 15 and old people over the age of 60 are more infected by such arthritis.
There can be two types of arthritis
– a) acute and
—b) chronic.
Acute septic arthritis is for a short term and knee pain will be there only for few days. Chronic arthritis remains for a longer time and can damage into the body.
Osteoarthritis – It is a common type of arthritis in which the cartilage between the joints gets damaged. In osteoarthritis, the bones of the joints rub more closely against one another with less of the shock-absorbing benefits of cartilage. It can occur even in young people and above the age 45. Women are more likely to have osteoarthritis than men. It occurs in both the knees. The cause does not to be sports, even a regular walking can cause knee pain in such situation. Osteoarthritis gets worse over time, if not taken good care. This is a chronic problem and cannot be cured if immediate action not taken.
Age and heredity plays a important role in having osteoarthritis in knees. But beside that, being overweight also leads to osteoarthritis. Weight increases pressure on all the joints, especially the knees.
SYMPTOMS :-
Symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knees may include :-
• Pain that increases when you are active
• Swelling or inflammation
• Feeling of warmth in the joint
• Stiffness in the knee
• Difficulty in mobility of the knee, using the stairs or even walking
• Cracking sound when the knee moves
TREATMENT OF OSTEOARTHRITIS :-
Treatment for the knee pain range from activity modification to the causes and severity of the disease and disability of the patient.
• Exercise :- Exercise can reduce pain and increase function in a patient with early arthritic changes. Low impact weight-bearing exercise program is beneficial to patients with osteoarthritis. Exercises for strengthening the supporting muscles, above and below muscles of knees helps in strengthening the knee. Since, people with weak gluteal muscles also suffers with knee pain. Therefore, it’s important to strengthen gluteus muscles, quadriceps, hamstrings, calf and shin muscles (tibia).
• Physical therapy :- Physical therapy helps in improving mobility and daily function. Physio therapy includes the strengthening of the supporting muscles and helps in taking the pressure off of the damage cartilage.
• Weight loss or weight control :- Weight control is one of the most effective and hardest way to reduce the osteoarthritis of knees.
• Local injection :- This includes the steroids that suppress inflammation only for short term. The pain can return after few weeks of injection.
• Surgery :- If the good care is not taken before, the last option for treating osteoarthritis is the total knee replacement.
DIAGNOSIS :-
• Ultrasound :- ultrasound is cheap and easily available. It can show the muscle tears and inflammation.
• X-Ray :- It is also cheap and good way to see the kind of injuries. It can show the report of the bones and fracture. It does not show the cartilage between the bones. The sign of osteoarthritis can be seen if there is no space at all or very thin space between the two bones of the knees.
• MRI :- MRI is an expensive and does not have radiation. It can show the soft tissue individually. MRI can help in knowing about the damage in the cartilage and ACL fully or partially torn and whether the surgery needed or not.
CONCLUSION :-
Every problem has its solution. Since osteoarthritis is a very common problem among women, it can be cured by various way. Women need to have proper nutrition and follow better exercise routine. Proper nutrition and exercise is the best way to stay fit and healthy.
Komal Singh
Fitness trainer and Nutritionist
Proprietor and Founder of
Love Your Self
