Knee pain — it’s something that even the most fearless athletes on the face of the planet are afraid of because it could mean the end of their careers. However, you don’t need to be in sports just for you to worry about knee pain since there are so many everyday physical activities that can be compromised because of its existence.
According to doctors, most cases of knee pain are brought about by bad habits. With all the weight that the knees have to support and all the bending and twisting they have to be subjected to, they are susceptible to being damaged. And one of the earliest signs that there is a problem with the knees is pain.
Just because knee pain is often associated with wear and tear doesn’t mean that only the elderly can suffer from such problem. Even if you’re just in your 20s or 30s, it’s very much possible for you to be bugged by knee pain if you don’t take good care of your knees. To keep the problem at bay, quit the following habits that can harm your knees:
Wearing Bad Footwear Constantly
High heels may leave your legs looking long and slender, but they can increase the odds of your knees aching. Did you know that numerous studies have shown that wearing high-heeled shoes is the number one cause of knee (and also foot) injuries among women? Indeed, looking great can come with a steep price!
This does not mean, however, that you should start throwing away those high heels. What you can do is put them on only during special occasions. Women and men alike should make sure that they opt for footwear that properly fits and provides support, especially a pair that’s intended for regular use such as for work and exercising.
Having Unwanted Pounds
Your knees are some of the weight-bearing joints in your body — joints that carry our body weight when we are standing up. With all the tasks that your knees have to carry out every day, they can be highly susceptible to damage if they also have to constantly support a lot of weight.
It’s for this reason why it is a good idea for you to get rid of those unwanted pounds if you want to keep your knees from unnecessary wear and tear, which can ultimately lead to pain. Switch to healthy eating habits and make sure that you do your best to scrap the following habit that could be causing your knees to ache.
Leading a Sedentary Lifestyle
Overusing the knees can definitely increase their risk of being injured. But did you know that refraining from using them on a regular basis is just as bad? In some instances, the cause of knee pain is the weakening of the muscle groups that provide support and stabilization, and such can be due to having a sedentary lifestyle.
That is why exercising on a regular basis is a great idea if knee pain is a problem that you don’t want to deal with anytime soon. Walking, swimming and bicycling are some wonderful exercises for the knees. Doing the likes of lunges, squats, step-ups and leg raises properly can also help strengthen the knees.
Maintaining Poor Posture
Earlier, it was mentioned that your knees are considered as weight-bearing joints. Your body is designed in a way that its weight is equally distributed among joints meant to carry them. If you have poor posture, the whole system is suddenly undermined and some of those joints have to compensate, such as your knees.
To save your knees from unnecessary work that can cause its supporting structures to easily degenerate, it’s a good idea for you to maintain proper posture all the time — it’s not just your knees that you will be saving from damage, but also so many other joints in your body including those that are in your hips and the entire length of your spine.
