Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Alan L. Hammond, GolfersMD News
One of the most common health problems golfers experience is knee pain and injuries. Knee problems, whether minimal or serious, can be debilitating to the golfer and the golf game. Typically, it seems, precaution and prevention prior to a knee injury are mere passing thoughts, athletes and medical personnel opt instead for rehabilitation post-injury. Strengthening the knee is one form of prevention.
Exercise can strengthen the knee, but will it also wear out the cartilage? Certainly not. A recent study in the journal Arthritis and Rheumatism shows that proper exercise can actually build cartilage.
Knee cartilage, also known as the meniscus, serves as a cushion between the bones that converge at the knee. It allows the bones to slide against each other without damaging the bones themselves. The study showed that men from 50 to 80 years old thickened their knee cartilage the more they exercised, and their exercise wasn't terribly extensive or intense. Twenty minutes a week of workouts that increased their heart rate and made them sweat did the job.
Low impact routines, like the elliptical machine, stationary bike, or even good old-fashioned walking, have been shown to improve cartilage building. Running is fine as long as you don't over-do it, and stop at the first sign of knee pain.
If over age 50, stick to low impact routines, at least initially. Running at the outset of a fitness regimen may do more harm than good. It is best to begin by walking and progress to higher-impact activities if desired, under the guidance and advice of a physician, of course.
So, to prevent knee pain and injuries, build up knee cartilage with regular exercise. Then hit the links more often.
Source: Arthritis and Rheumatism, journal of the American College of Rheumatology; Hospital for Special Surgery, New York.
