Knee Joint
 

The knee is the biggest joint in your body that connects your thigh bone to your shin bone. Your knee joint helps you stand, move and keep your balance - any movement that uses your legs relies on your knees.

The knee is a synovial joint and it’s made of a cavity in one bone that another bone fits into. It is lined with a fluid-filled sac called the synovial membrane which helps cushion the joint and lets it move with as little friction as possible.

Knee Pains

Knee pain is a common complaint among adults and is often associated with wear and tear in the knee joint due to daily activities such as walking, bending, standing and lifting. Athletes who run or participate in spots that involve jumping or pivoting are also more prone to knee problems.

Common knee problems include sprained or strained ligaments, cartilage tears, tendonitis and arthritis. Depending on the condition, you may experience symptoms such as pain when moving, inflammation, discolouration around the knees, a popping noise or feeling in your knees.

Caring for Your Knee Joints

As one of the largest and most complex joint in the body that is crucial to your movement, protecting your knee joints should be a priority. Although the knee is prone to injury, pain and many forms of arthritis, there are steps you can take to minimize the impact of knee problems.

Some tips you can follow are:

• Get moving and have regular physical activities. It can help your knees in various ways such as relieving stiffness and pain, strengthening the muscles that supports the knees, reducing weight gain that puts stress on the knees and improving your balance to reduce your risk of falling.
• Maintaining a healthy weight. Excess weight can put additional stress on your knees and increase the wear and tear on your cartilage. Excess fat is also associated with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and gout, which may cause joint damage.
• Treating your injuries promptly. If you do injure your knee, reduce swelling and promote healing by practicing RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation).
• Practice good posture. Bad posture can place unnecessary stress on your knee joints over time, leading to excess cartilage wear and tear. Good posture allows your muscles to work more effectively to support the joints.