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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Golf season is in full swing. Watching the best of the best on the PGA Tour will encourage many people to get off the couch and onto the course. However, whether you’re a professional or amateur player, you may find yourself sidelined due to knee pain, the second most common injury in the sport. We’ve witnessed the result in recent years, as some of the world’s best golfers have sustained knee injuries that have kept them out of competition for extended periods of time. To potentially avoid this, you should be aware of how to maintain healthy knees so you can continue to play the game as you choose.
But how do you know if knee pain is caused by overworked joints or something more chronic such as knee osteoarthritis (OA)?
Knee joint pain can be related to overuse—characterized by pain around the front or sides of the knee joint.
Ultimately, you have a one in two lifetime risk of developing knee OA symptoms. The excess wear and tear that golf places on the knee joints may result in OA of the knee, a condition in which our knees’ natural lubricant starts to break down. Over time, as joint fluid continues to break down, cartilage wears away and bones may even start to rub against each other, causing increased pain and swelling.
OA of the knee can limit movement and restrict you from doing what you enjoy most, like golf.
While there isn’t one standard treatment for knee OA, I tend to tell my patients to maintain an active lifestyle and stay within their ideal weight range. (Losing even 10 pounds can help ease the pressure on knee joints.) Exercise is an important tool in treating OA; participating in aerobic exercise and strength/flexibility training can improve your health and may help minimize your OA symptoms.
You should always consult a physician before beginning any exercise program. If you are not getting enough pain relief from exercise or over-the-counter treatments, there is more you can do to help manage your knee pain and restore movement.
Various treatments exist, including oral or topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Some of the newer alternatives include a topical solution, gel and patch. Guidelines from a range of respected medical organizations suggest that topical NSAIDs offer potentially significant gastrointestinal safety benefits for certain patients.
Regardless of age, skill level or gender, everyone who loves golf is eager to return to the sport. Knee function has always played an integral role in the game of golf. The fundamental concept of a golf swing is the transfer of weight from your back foot to the front, supported mainly by the knees. If you think you’re suffering from knee OA, take heart: the condition can make certain physical activity painful, but it won’t necessarily keep you off the golf course. A treatment plan that includes exercise can help ease the pain, restore knee function, and help you live a full and active life.
Dr. Joseph Markenson is an attending physician at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City and professor of clinical medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College.
Editor’s note: The author acknowledges receiving honoraria from Covidien, the supplier of PENNSAID® (diclofenac sodium solution) 1.5% w/w, as a consultant and speaker.
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