Are you at risk for knee replacement?
Arthritis is the number one precipitating cause for knee replacement surgery. Over time, the cartilage of this joint can wear away making all weight bearing activity painful and limiting mobility. Injuries and congenital defects can set off arthritis, but most commonly it is brought on by excess and uneven weight bearing.
For every pound of body weight, the knee absorbs three to four pounds of force. When the weight is unevenly distributed, the force is that much more. Arthritis of the knee can be slowed or prevented by maintaining a healthy body weight and correcting unbalances in weight distribution.
Testing for weight distribution is as simple as getting two identical calibrated scales, place one foot on each, center your weight, look straight ahead, and have someone else read the weight each scale registers. The scales should register the exact same number. Any difference over half of a pound puts one at risk for developing arthritis.
12 Knee Facts You Need to Know
- There are four major bones in the knee, the femur, the tibia, the fibula, and the patella. That means that there are three joints as part of the knee complex, the knee joint between tibia and femur, the patella-femoral joint, kneecap and femur and the superior tibia-fibular joint
- The knee has 14 ligaments. 7 intracapsular ligaments including the anterior cruciate (ACL) and posterior cruciate (PCL). 7 extracapsular ligaments including the medial collateral (MCL) and the lateral collateral (LCL)
- The function of the knee is particularly important for weight-bearing activities, such as walking, running and going up/down stairs. The load distributed over the kneecap can be up to 5 times the body weight, particularly when going downstairs.
- Our knees are all different. It has been suggested that they may be as unique as fingerprints
- The knee relies on 12 muscles at least to perform its function.
- In order for the knee to work perfectly, it relies on a perfect balance between hip and ankle support
- Your knee is a very complex joint comprising cartilage, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels and it is here that three bones come together – namely the fibula and tibia (lower leg), and the femur (thigh). Your knee consists of two separate joints.
- An elephant is the only land mammal that cannot jump – its bodyweight is simply too much for any joint to survive that impact.
- The knee is one of the most complex joints in the human body.
- The kneecap houses a unique type of bone called the sesamoid bone. This bone is buried within a tendon or muscle.
- It’s the largest and most complicated joint in the body. Like the elbow, it’s a hinge, allowing the joint to bend and straighten.
- Arthritis is one of the most common diseases found in the knee and occurs when the surfaces of the bone that make up the knee become rough due to wear and tear, inflammation or infection.
Make a commitment to your health today.
Stay well adjusted,
Dr. Dan