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Low-impact Exercise Can Ease Chronic Joint Pain
Category: Arthritis and RICES
Aug 15, 2006
Knee pain dominated the calls on Saturday's Deseret Morning News/Intermountain Healthcare Hotline on sports medicine and orthopedic injuries.
Dr. Eric Heiden, orthopedic surgeon and five-time Olympic Gold medal speedskater, and Dr. Max Testa, internationally known sports medicine researcher, both of The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital, took several dozen calls from as far away as California and Florida. Most of the calls concerned chronic pain of the knees, shoulders, elbows and hips.
Heiden said most of his callers complained of difficulty doing things that used to be easy because they now have one or more painful joints. Several asked about total knee replacement options.
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Figuring out how pain started and when it happened is a first step. If someone remembers that they were squatting in the garden and felt a crunch in the knee, that goes a long way to help the physician identify the pathology of the injury.
As a first step for many orthopedic injuries, they recommend rest, ice, compression and elevation. They also tell patients to stay away from what made them sore for a while. Soft tissue usually heals in about six weeks. After that, it's typically safe to try the favored activity and see what happens.
An individual needs a training program to restrengthen muscles, Testa said, before putting too much pressure on joints. Walking and jogging are helpful, in moderation. Heiden also talked to callers about water aerobics, which don't stress the joints but provide great benefits and help maintain flexibility.