What To Avoid If You Have Painful Knees (Arthritis)
Amongst all the mid-life crises, one such crisis is painful knees. Most women succumb to some kind of joint problems once they reach mid-life, with the most common being arthritis and osteoporosis. These ailments are often hereditary and afflict the knees once you grow older, with each successive year worsening the situation. Hence, extreme care needs to be taken to curtain this ailment and all kinds of precautions must be taken to retard the problem.
There are several do’s and don’ts for people suffering from painful knees. The don’ts are important as avoidance of such things/activities will help reduce the pressure on the knees and slow-down the arthritis.
Aoid Stairs
Climbing stairs lays immense pressure on the knees and this should be avoided at all costs. However, if you stay on a higher floor (with no lift) then it is best to plan your day in such a manner that the necessity to climb stairs is only once a day. All outside chores should be done in one trip.
Avoid Squatting
Squatting is a way of sitting on the floor, on your heels. This form strains the knee and aggravates knee joint problems. Sitting on the floor and using an Indian toilet system (which requires squatting) should be avoided completely. However, if you do need to sit on the floor, it is best to stretch the legs out in front or sit sideways. The cross legged position should be avoided as well.
Avoid Weight Bearing Exercise
Any kind of weight bearing exercise should be avoided as this puts more load on the knees. Gym exercises like squats and lunges should not be done at all.
Avoid Putting on Weight
The more the body weight, the more is the strain on the knees. Our knee joints bear the body weight and, hence, weight increases must be kept in check.
Avoid the Treadmill
Though the treadmill is an effective cardio exercise, it is detrimental for those who suffer from knee problems. It is better to walk at a slow pace in a park or on the road rather than use the treadmill.
