Summer sun and longer days bring out the weekend warrior in many of us. But if precautions aren’t taken, pain and injuries can follow.
When it comes to knee pain, it’s women who are feeling the brunt of the agony. And while women have higher instances of knee injury than men, their pain can be due to a wide range of causes, including hormones and their general anatomy.
Some reasons for pain, including inherited conditions or obesity, can happen regardless of gender. But women, in particular, experience knee pain for the following reasons:
Anatomy — Women tend to have wider hips than men, putting extra stress on joints. Ligaments — The ligaments in a woman’s knees are more limber than a man’s, making them more susceptible to injury and regular wear and tear. Estrogen — Female hormones can contribute to the weakening of the ligaments in the knee. Muscles — Women can develop stronger quadriceps than hamstrings, creating a strength imbalance. Osteoporosis — Women have a higher incidence of developing osteoporosis, which can damage the bones around the knee joint.Preventing knee pain
While there’s nothing women can do about their genes or physical build, and arthritis will develop despite their best efforts, there are ways women can anticipate knee issues and address them before they occur.
Certain lifestyle changes, or simply staying in tune with their doctors, can help women keep their knees healthy and relatively pain-free. Women can protect their knees from injury or pain by:
Maintaining a healthy weight to reduce stress on the knees. Wearing good shoes that match their activity for the day. Doing specific exercises that strengthen leg muscles. Consulting with a primary care doctor to maintain appropriate hormone levels and allow for early treatment of osteoporosis.If left unchecked, some conditions that cause knee pain may lead to more severe problems. These preventive measures and early treatment can thwart long-term damage to the structures that make up a healthy knee joint.
Treating knee pain
Because knee pain in women can stem from many different causes, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Talking with a primary care doctor is the best way to determine whether it can be managed at home or if medical treatment — or even surgery — may be needed.
Treat knee pain at home if it’s caused by a flare-up of mild osteoarthritis, or mild stress or injury. Use rest, ice, compression and elevation, and take over-the-counter medications, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Over-the-counter creams or patches can also provide temporary anti-inflammatory benefits.
See a doctor about knee pain if home remedies are not helping, or if the pain is caused by a traumatic event. For chronic arthritis, a doctor can help shape a lifestyle plan to better manage weight loss, medications and physical therapy.
Osteoporotic fractures or sports injuries can be treated in several ways, depending on the severity of the condition. In some cases, surgery can help with more severe issues.
Knee pain, whether mild or chronic, is not something women should simply have to live with. Knowing the cause and addressing it early could make a big difference in preventing or managing pain so women can stay active and enjoy summer to the fullest.
Dr. Steven Allsing is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and joint replacement doctor affiliated with Sharp Grossmont Hospital.
Hence then, the article about if you re a woman here s how to prevent and treat knee pain was published today ( ) and is available on Times of San Diego ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( If you’re a woman, here’s how to prevent and treat knee pain )
Also on site :
- There Are Over 50 Spots to Find DOLE Whip at Walt Disney World—Including These Genius Versions You Didn't Realize Existed
- The minimum wage is now the lowest it’s been in 70 years—making the federal wage floor ‘officially a poverty wage,’ report finds
- Iran-US war latest: Iran warns ‘not a single drop’ of oil will pass through Hormuz as US ends ninth night of strikes