Knee Health
It is important for Kansas City moms to take steps to ensure good orthopedic health for both themselves and their daughters. Medical research shows that women’s knees are more susceptible to injuries than men’s and that women are five to seven times more likely to tear their ACL while playing sports. This incongruity between the sexes can be attributed to differences between body types. The shape of the female pelvis can cause kneecap alignment problems, women’s ligaments are looser and men might have stronger muscles supporting the knee. According to a study from the kinesiology faculty at the University of Calgary, there is a connection between the laxity of a woman’s knee joint and her monthly hormone cycles. Research also shows that women with greater knee laxity have a greater chance of being injured in an activity that requires knee exertion.
If you are experiencing knee soreness, the U.S. National Library of Medicine suggests keeping weight off a sore knee, icing it frequently and elevating it while sitting and sleeping. It also suggests wearing a brace or bandage, as well as taking over-the-counter medication for the pain. To help preserve your knees for the future, it is important to maintain a healthy weight so as not to put too much pressure on joints. Research shows that for every pound you are overweight, you put at least five pounds of extra stress on your knees. Strengthening the thigh muscles on both the front and the back of the leg can also help take pressure off of the joints. If you experience chronic knee pain, it is important to seek pain relief from a medical professional.
Kelly Nelson is an intern for KC Parent Magazine. She is a junior at the University of Missouri where she is studying Journalism and Spanish.