That’s because knee replacements are common. According to Medscape, 693,400 knee replacements were performed in those older than 45 in the year 2010, as originally reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Many conditions can cause knee ailments. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), these problems can come by way of two things: disease or injury. The NIH says that arthritis is the front runner when it comes to knee ailments; this term describes joint diseases.
“Knee injuries can occur as the result of a direct blow or sudden movements that strain the knee beyond its normal range of motion,” report the NIH. And at times, it can take a long period for the knees to develop an injury, making knee injuries even more frustrating.
Injury to the knees can occur during simple daily activities. For example, the NIH says that walking awkwardly can cause knee injury. This happens when the knees become misaligned. These issues are also said to come from long-time use of the knees, similar to wearing out the tread on tires. In other words, knee joints wear out, too.
One of the ways to prevent injury and reduce pain from an injury that has occurred is to strengthen the knees. "Strengthening the muscles around the joint protects you from injury by decreasing stress on the knee," Willibald Nagler, M.D., chairman of rehabilitation medicine at the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center in New York City, tells Prevention. That said, Prevention reminds readers that two things are important when it comes to knee exercises: proper form and technique.