When hearing elderly people, everyone complains about knee pain, leg pain, stiff joints, unable to stretch or bend, struggling to get up or sit down with discomfort. Especially those over 65 years old, it is rare to find anyone without knee problems. Does that mean no one can escape age-related knee osteoarthritis? Let’s find the answer…
At age 65, there is a 50% chance of developing knee osteoarthritis
Dr. Siraphat Phopuk, an orthopedic specialist at Phyathai Nawamin Hospital, explains
“Everyone’s knees naturally degenerate with age, but that doesn’t mean everyone will experience pain severe enough to prevent walking or exercising. There are elderly people who do not have significant knee pain requiring medication or treatment.”
“The main cause of knee degeneration is the articular cartilage, a special type of cartilage with a smooth, shiny surface that minimizes friction during joint movement. If this cartilage is injured or damaged, it cannot repair or regenerate to its original state. Once the cartilage surface is damaged, it loses its functional capacity completely.”
If you want to avoid rapid knee degeneration… be cautious of the following
Body weight: When walking on flat ground, each knee bears about 3 times the body weight. When walking up and down stairs, the load increases to 4 times the body weight. The heavier the body weight, the greater the pressure on the knees during walking, causing faster wear and tear of the articular cartilage and premature cartilage degeneration.
Minor injuries to the knee: Playing high-impact sports that put a lot of stress on the knees or cause tears in the cartilage or ligaments weakens the knee strength from a young age, leading to cartilage damage and degeneration before old age.
Incorrect knee usage: Such as squatting, kneeling, sitting on the heels, or sitting cross-legged for long periods, which causes excessive pressure or friction in the knees. Using a squat toilet for extended periods can also contribute to knee degeneration.
Diseases causing chronic inflammation of the synovial membrane: One of the causes that accelerates cartilage degeneration.
If you experience knee pain, stiffness, or noises in the knee, you should promptly see a doctor for diagnosis. Early prevention or treatment can extend the lifespan of your knees, potentially preventing degeneration to the point where knee replacement surgery is necessary.