Whether we’re walking or just sitting in a chair, we use our knees more often than we think. The knee is known as a hinge joint which means it is only meant to move in a single direction. This characteristic makes it highly vulnerable to injury. Blows from the sides or front, twists, or movements in the wrong direction can cause stretching or tearing of the knee ligaments. There are six types of ligaments in the knee and understanding the anatomy can help you prevent common knee injuries.
Conventional wisdom says that obese people should probably put off their joint replacement surgery until they can lose enough weight to avoid any complications that may occur during an operation. The logic seems reasonable enough, but it presents something of a catch-22 for the patient: how can I lose weight if I can’t exercise? After all, obesity is closely linked with arthritis and the joint pain associated with it. Joint pain leads to inactivity, leading to weight gain, leading to more joint pain. A truly vicious cycle. (more…)
