Just like the rest of your body, your knees are aging. This means that over time, cartilage can wear down. Overusing your knees, carrying extra weight, sustaining knee injuries, or having a family member with osteoarthritis can put you at greater higher risk for having knee problems as you get older. But none of this means you can’t take steps to help keep your knees healthy.
Here are a few tips.
- Do stretching exercises to maintain a better range of motion and keep the joints limber.
- Make time for strengthening exercises. Work on strengthening not just your quads, but also your hips and core muscles.
- Don’t put extra stress on your knees by running up the stairs; walk instead.
- Lose some weight if you’re carrying a few extra pounds. “Every extra pound you pack on puts about 4 extra pounds of pressure on your knees when you walk or take the stairs.”
- Do different exercises, don’t just focus on one kind of workout. Cross-training can help you avoid imbalances and keep various muscles strong.
- When you ride a bike, make sure your seat is at the right height. If it’s too low, it can put unnecessary stress on your knees. Make sure “your knee straightens out when the pedal is at its lowest point.”
Help keep your knees healthy by following these tips. You may not be able to avoid aging, but you can take steps to ensure your knees stay flexible and strong.