Knee Arthritis and Running
Knee arthritis, or more accurately termed osteoarthritis, is a frequent problem as we age.
It also can significantly impact a runner’s sports desires.
The knee absorbs a lot of stress with impact sports such as running.
Running is also a repetitive sport. This means accumulative wear the more you run. This results in progressive wear of the knee joint.
We now know the knee joint is more complex than just a wear and tear phenomenon. There are chemical mediators, also called cytokines, which can be influenced by biological agents and Regenerative Medicine strategies, as an alternative to knee surgery, arthroscopic surgery, or knee replacement surgery.
What May Cause Knee Arthritis?
Many other factors may contribute to knee arthritis in runners. Bio-mechanical deviations such as knock-knees or bow legs, being overweight, leg length discrepancies and prior trauma or surgery to the leg.
It is not uncommon to see runners who pick up the sport later in life. These athletes may have suffered knee injuries in another sport such as football or basketball.
It is also common that these athletes have had prior knee surgery. Knee meniscal surgery or ACL repair is commonly associated with knee arthritis 10-20 years later.
These patients that have become runners are often surprised when told they have knee arthritis. They were often running pain-free for long periods, only to find out their knee pain is now knee arthritis.
Running and Knee Pain
Runners typically don’t wish to stop running so they often research alternative treatment strategies such as regenerative medicine.
Knee osteoarthritis is a progressive disorder by definition. This means it gets worse with time and more joint stress. Unfavorable truths for aging runners. However, this does not always mean the end of a runners career.
Dennis M. Lox, M.D., a Sports and Regenerative Medicine expert, has treated many runners successfully with Regenerative Medicine techniques tailored to each patient’s unique situation.
No two patients are alike. They come in all shape and sizes. Every knee is different. There are varying degrees of knee joint arthritis and various treatment strategies.
Obviously, a marathoner is not the same athlete as a casual short distance runner for exercise. All factors are addressed to arrive at a specific treatment plan for each runner. Dr. Lox has treated runners from all ages and levels of runners. These include marathoners who desire to run another Boston, to Ironman competitors looking to complete in all the worldwide events.
Understanding your knee’s past, present and future is a good start in the education process of running with knee pain and arthritis.
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