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INFLAMED ARTHRITIC KNEE
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Doctors have known for many years that having weak quad muscles (in the front of your upper legs) increases risk of damage to the cartilage in your knees. A study shows that strengthening these muscles improves knee function. The knee is like two sticks held together by four bands called ligaments (cruciate). Strength training stabilizes the muscles that support the knee and helps retain joint space. People with knee pain are advised to do exercises that strengthen the knee, such as pedalling a bicycle or performing knee strengthening exercises that involve bending and straightening the knees against resistance. People with knee pain should avoid exercises that jar the joints, such as jumping or running. |
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Doctors and Physiotherapists recommend walking barefoot as often as possible as this alleviates the pain from inflamed arthritic knees. In any case, it is much better for general posture to walk barefoot frequently as all your bones (legs, hips, spine, & neck) are properly aligned. |
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Just because you have one or two new knees and are enjoying being able to walk and do a lot of the things you haven't been able to for years, it doesn't mean you should give up doing exercises. The more you exercise by walking, cycling, and doing the exercises given you to by the physiotherapists, the longer it will be before you need any further treatment, and the better you will feel. Even if you feel you can't be bothered, you are stiff and your knees hurt, exercising will make movement easier, loosen your joints and improve your outlook on life. No-one seeing me walk today would imagine that I had two metal joints, or had ever been so disabled that I could not walk more than a few yards (and that only with two sticks).
Try it and see for yourself.
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The following two pages have exercises, which have been approved by physiotherapists, and which are designed specifically for knees, whether you have painful, inflamed, arthritic knees, whether you have prosthetic knees, or whether your knees are okay and you want to keep them that way for as long as possible (after all, prevention or postponement of is always better).
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