According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, osteoarthritis of the knee is one of the five leading causes of disability among elderly men and women.Believe it or not, the risk for disability from osteoarthritis of the knee is as great as that from cardiovascular disease. There’s just no getting around the fact that if you want to move about, your knees have to stay flexible and healthy.Once stiffness sets in, you could be faced with painful symptoms that will nag you with every step.Also Read ==> Pain Behind Knee – Causes and Natural Treatments
How to Avoid Your Knee Pain?
Now here’s a health secret about how to avoid developing arthritis in your knees — keep your levels of magnesium up. Researchers from the Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina, recently conducted a study to investigate the association between dietary magnesium intake and knee osteoarthritis among African-American and Caucasian men and women.
The presence of knee osteoarthritis was examined among participants from the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project — a large clinical trial conducted in North Carolina. The research team found that the prevalence of knee osteoarthritis was 36% among 2,112 participants. They also found that the relation of magnesium intake and knee osteoarthritis was found to be modified by race.
An inverse association was observed among Caucasians. Compared to those with the lowest intake of magnesium, the odds of knee osteoarthritis were cut by half for participants with a moderate intake of the mineral. Interestingly, a statistically significant association was not observed among African Americans.
Usually, osteoarthritis of the knee happens in knees that have experienced trauma, infection, or injury. There is a connective tissue in your knees called “articular cartilage,” which acts as a protective cushion between your knee bones.
When this cartilage is lost or starts to deteriorate, arthritis develops. Once arthritis sets in, the joint space between your knees narrows. This is one of the first symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee and can be easily diagnosed and seen on X-rays.
As osteoarthritis develops, the cartilage thins, and your surrounding bones react by becoming thicker. Normally, your body produces a fluid that keeps your cartilage slippery and healthy. But, once osteoarthritis sets in, you can end up with extra fluid, often known as “water on the knee,” which causes swelling and pain. Eventually, when all the cartilage is gone, your thickened bones rub against each other, your joint(s) become deformed, and moving becomes painful and difficult.
Boost your magnesium intake and help protect your knees from this sort of damage.
If you are experiencing knee pain, read the article How to Soothe Knee Pain.