Bad knees are a common conversation starter when climbing the stairs alongside a middle-aged stranger.
But in reality, people seem to be jumping the gun on dealing with the issue. Increasing numbers of knee replacements are startling, and the surgery doesn’t necessarily yield positive results.
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There’s no doubt that knee replacements are increasingly popular. More than 600,000 such surgeries were performed in 2012, compared with about 250,000 just 15 years ago. But some new studies suggest that people may be electing to have the procedure prematurely and, perhaps worse, gaining limited benefit from it. According to figures from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the number of knee replacements in people between 45 and 64 soared by 205 percent between 2000 and 2012; among people 65 and older, the increase was only 95 percent.
Younger people who have bad knees should reconsider knee replacement as a go-to response to arthritis or other issues, not only because it might not be necessary, but based on studies in Spain, knee replacements are only good for a couple of decades, meaning people younger than 65 are basically asking for an additional new replacement in the relatively near future.
Your knees need to be on the verge of completely dysfunctional before you opt for such a procedure, as far as the researchers are concerned. Physical therapy, exercise and weight loss might be a better options in the meantime for those suffering from severe knee pain.
