By There’s one part of me that’s always felt older and more out of shape than the rest of my body: my knees. Maybe it’s because I tore a bunch of ligaments in one knee when I was in the fourth grade. Maybe it’s because up until about two years ago, I did very little running or weight-bearing exercise, and I’m sure my knees have always been weaker than they could have been. Whatever the cause, I’ve had a long-standing fear about landing too hard or jumping too high and twisting something or worse—plus, a constant ache in both knees whenever I sit with my legs bent for too long.
A few weeks ago I had the chance to meet Jason Theodosakis, MD, an assistant professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and author of The Arthritis Cure. “Dr. Theo” wanted to give me some pointers about how to prevent osteoporosis and osteoarthritis—something I’ll admit I wasn’t that worried about at the age of 26. But I was curious about my knee pain, so I gave him a quick description to see what he thought.
Moviegoer’s knee puts me at risk
“Aah, you’ve got moviegoer’s knee,” he said, as I described the uncomfortable sensation I get when sitting at a lunch counter, on a train ride, or even at my desk while typing. Huh? He explained that my pain is most likely caused by a decrease in blood flow and hyaluronic acid, a joint lubricator, when the knee is bent at a 90-degree angle. (Another condition, patellofemoral pain syndrome, can also cause similar pain.) Leg-strengthening exercises can help improve symptoms, he said—and I agree that since I’ve been hitting the weight machines regularly, I definitely have noticed less pain. But he also told me that moviegoer’s knee can be a sign of early osteoarthritis. At the very least, this should be a wake-up call that maybe it is early enough to start thinking about the future.
New research released this week from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality shows that 1 in 10 American adults was treated for arthritis in 2005. The most common form is osteoarthritis, usually attacking the fingers, knees, and hips. I always thought of arthritis as affecting primarily senior citizens, but it can actually strike much earlier. My dad, I realize now, has had arthritis in his wrists since his mid-40s. I’m also at risk simply because I’m female: Our hormones, anatomy (wider hips), and even the way we tend to run (more upright than males) increase our chances of suffering knee injuries that can lead to arthritis.
Next page: My arthritis prevention plan
Comments (4)
Thank you so much for this article. It has been the most helpful information I’ve found. I’ve had knee discomfort since an injury in middle school, which has turned into serious knee pain in the last couple of years. I was x-rayed by one doctor about a year and a half ago, but told he felt the results were inconclusive and I should learn to live with it, basically telling me that I must have been wrong about my symptoms. This article gave me some hope, some real suggestions for improving my pain level on my own and how to describe my symptoms better to a new doctor. Thanks!
Very useful piece of information on arthritis.When I was younger I have similar problems,now I could control it through exercises.
I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis about 7 years ago and found fabulous relief with SheaFlex70, a new product at Walgreens. It has really helped me with range of motion, stopping the achiness and also that “heavy head” feeling that I was experiencing. I have a very sensitive stomach so taking glucosamine really bothered me – this has not! I am so happy to find something to help me!
I have had a similar problem with knee pain when I started playing in a softball league. Growing up I was a swimmer and water polo player, so I was never involved in any activities that would put a lot of impact on my knees. When I started playing softball, I would barely be able to walk for 3 days after games.
I started using the Thermotex Infrared Heating Pad after reading the Bottom Line Natural Healing with Dr Mark Stengler article about it. The Thermotex has absolutely worked wonders for my knees, better than a standard moist heating pad. Infrared heat penetrates human tissue deeper without being too hot or uncomfortable to wear. I even used it on my back.
Check out the Thermotex here: http://www.activeforever.com/p-1701-thermotex-infrared-heating-pad.aspx . I highly recommend it to ANYONE with knee pain.