Are You Killing Your Knees? - Page 2
4. Is your body properly aligned?
Just as driving a car when the wheels are out of alignment causes the tires to wear irregularly, the same principle holds true for your knees. If your body is not properly aligned, your muscles, joints, and ligaments take more strain than they are able to endure healthfully.
Here are some general principles of correct standing posture:
- Your back is straight. Don't slump forward at the shoulders or waist.
- Your knees are slightly bent - they should not be locked.
- Your abdominal muscles are tight - gently suck in your stomach.
- Your head is centered over your body. Check yourself in the mirror from side to side.
- Your weight is evenly distributed between your feet. Do not jut one hip out to the side.
A physical therapist can help you assess your biomechanics and teach you proper standing, sitting, walking, running, and lifting techniques that can help spare your joints from extra wear and tear.
5. Are you wearing the right shoes?
Shoes that cause your body weight to be unevenly distributed place extra stress on your knee joints. In addition to avoiding obviously uncomfortable or impractical shoes that can throw your stride off and stress your knees, you also should consider a visit to a specialty store if you have special anatomical considerations. As they say, nobody's perfect. Flat or rigid arches, uneven leg length, and bowed legs are fairly common in the general population, and each can contribute to an awkward stride and put pressure on your knees. Consider purchasing at least one of your main pairs of shoes or sneakers at a specialty store where the staff can advise you on which shoes provide the appropriate support for your foot and body type. Before you go, consider a visit with a podiatrist. He or she can help diagnose any additional foot concerns, such as overpronation or supination, and prescribe orthotic inserts that go into your shoes and correct your gait.
High-heeled shoes might add to the risk of osteoarthritis or other knee problems: A Harvard University study found that women who wear high heels have stress across the part of the knee where osteoarthritis usually develops.
Be Good to Your Knees Now
Arthritis of the knee is common, but it is not necessarily an inevitable consequence of aging. Taking care of your knees now will cost you a lot less time and effort than rehabilitating them down the road.
