This article is one of a series covering back pain — causes, symptoms, and the treatments we use at Back and Body Medical in Midtown Manhattan. For the complete overview, see the full guide:
When it comes to the health of your knees, some people have the attitude of use it or lose it, or don’t wear them out too fast by being too active. So which one’s right? We are going to talk about it right now.
Today’s study looks at the age old question: If you exercise too much, do you wear out your joints, or is it use it or lose it if you don’t exercise enough?
A study looked at 76 post menopausal women with averaging ages between 60 and 68. By X-Ray, they confirmed that the patients were experiencing osteoarthritis. They then looked at them one year later after high intensity leisure time activities. They showed improvement in the stimulus and improved knee cartilage. A doctor on this study feels as if it’s the intermittent compression of loading and unloading the cartilage within the knee while doing impact activities that increases fluid flow and nutrient effusion within the knee joint and the kneecap.
The doctor performing the study notes that because of this, it should be recommended to have regular, daily, physical activities, and it sounds like based on this they should include some sort of impact like in the examples given at the end of the study were walking and Nordic walking.
So for all those people who say let’s not be too active because we don’t want to wear out the joints, this study shows that it is the opposite that is true and that it’s time to be active.
If you have any questions on our treatment options in New York, please contact us, we would be happy to help you and see what we can do for you.
In pain? Want a tune up? Call us today (908) 325 – 3000. We can treat and help you.
Ready to get out of pain? Most new patients are seen within 24 hours — walk in or book online.
Dr Shan Sivendra MD is the founder and medical director of Back and Body Medical in Midtown Manhattan. A board-certified medical doctor, certified acupuncturist, and Director of House Physicians at St. Barnabas Medical Center, Dr Sivendra has been practicing in New York since 1995.
He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Saint Barnabas Medical Center (affiliated with Mount Sinai School of Medicine) and received the Resident Research Award for three consecutive years.
Dr Sivendra has a background spanning internal medicine, pain management, and conservative spine rehabilitation, and was licensed in both the US and the UK.
At Back and Body Medical, he leads a multidisciplinary team of chiropractors, physical therapists, and acupuncturists dedicated to helping patients recover from pain without surgery or unnecessary medication.
Further Reading: Back Pain