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If you're over the age of 30, you're probably starting to
realize that your body won't always work the way it did in
days past. You
used to run and jump on the basketball court for hours - no
need to stretch, no need to worry. Now, every so often, you
feel something "pop" or "crack" and wonder what happened to
those carefree days gone by.
As we get older, our bone and muscle structure changes, putting
us at increased risk for a variety of injuries. One of the
most common complaints, particularly in the elderly population,
is knee pain, a point emphasized in a recent study published
by the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
 As part of the Third National Health and Nutrition and Examination
Survey (NHANES III), 6,596 elderly U.S. adults (60 years of
age and older) were asked to report on whether they had experienced
knee pain on "most days" in the six weeks preceding their
exam. The same subjects were also asked to report on their
ability to perform several activities involving use of the
knee joint.
Overall, 18.1% of the men and 23.5% of the women reported
knee pain; the highest reports were among African-American
women and the eldest subjects. Levels of difficulty performing
activities also increased with reported intensity of knee
pain.
Osteoarthritis is the most common chronic articular disease
among U.S. adults, with the knee being one of the most commonly
affected joints. Knee pain, especially in the elderly population,
represents a significant problem because it can limit mobility
and independence and lead to deconditioning. Your doctor can
tell you more about knee pain and about how exercise and dietary
considerations can help prevent osteoarthritis and other conditions
affiliated with age.
Reference:
Andersen RE, Crespo CJ, Ling SM, et al. Prevalence of significant
knee pain among older Americans: results from the Third National
Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Journal of the
American Geriatrics Society 1999: Vol. 47, pp1435-38.
For more information on senior health issues, go to https://www.chiroweb.com/tyh/senior.html
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