Many times we think of knee problems as something that only happens when people get “old.” But more and more we’re finding that to not be true. According to the article “Best Ways to Keep Your Knees Healthy” on the website myhealthlists.com, knee problems don’t age discriminate. In fact, the author states that an increasing number of 20 and 30 somethings are experiencing knee problems. In addition, he points out a rather scary fact: most people don’t realize they have knee problems until it’s too late. Kind of an ‘if it’s not bothering me I’m not going to worry about it’ kind of thing, it seems.

But healthy knees are something we certainly should be worried about, while they’re still healthy. So what can we do to keep them healthy?

He has 4 suggestions:

Maintain a healthy weight

The knees support the entire weight of the body. The more weight we’re carrying, the harder they have to work and the more stress we put on them.

Eat foods that help keep the knees healthy

Foods that are rich in calcium and potassium, and contain good fats, are essential to knee health. If on a strict diet, be sure to take the appropriate supplements.

Exercise, but don’t overdo it

Cycling and walking are good for the knees, but as with pretty much everything, too much of a good thing isn’t good. It’s important to not exercise to the point of damaging the joint cushions.

Pay attention to your footwear

Be aware of the potential damage done to the knees by wearing the wrong footwear, in particular high heels. The author claims that wearing high heels too often is a main cause of knee problems in women, and that “wearing the right shoes for the right purpose” is important to keeping our knees healthy.

Once the damage has been done, knee pain is a daily thing. So while I’m not willing to completely forgo my stilettos, I’m certainly going to pay more attention to my knees while they’re still healthy, instead of waiting until I’m in pain.

Written by: Tricia Doane, Rust Built, Marketing Services