Home

Will You Develop Osteoarthritis of the Knee?

Steps to Avoid
Overuse Injuries

When Your Child Breaks
a Bone

When Summer Sports Take a Toll

It Strikes One in Two
Will You Develop Osteoarthritis of the Knee?
Timothy Sitter, M.D., Board Certified and Fellowship Trained Orthopedic Surgeon

FREE SEMINAR

Learn more about osteoarthritis of the knee and treatment options for mild to moderate knee pain at a free seminar presented by Dr. Timothy Sitter. It's Wednesday, April 21, at 6 p.m. at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, Conference Room BC. Registration required. Call 800-451-2006, ext. 3335 or visit www.managingosteoarthritis.com. Please reference course ID # TX-0421.

Nearly half of Americans will develop painful knee osteoarthritis over their lifetime, suggests a large government study. In obese people, the potentially debilitating disease will strike nearly two out of three (65%). It is the nation's most frequent cause of disability.

With osteoarthritis, cartilage – a rubbery tissue at the end of bones that allows joints to move easily – breaks down. "The knee contains a small amount of fluid that lubricates the cartilage," explains Timothy Sitter, M.D., board certified orthopedic surgeon, with Methodist Orthopaedic Specialists of Texas. "If you have osteoarthritis, this fluid does not work as well. The knee can become painful, stiff and swollen."

Factors that increase your risk of developing osteoarthritis of the
knee include:

• Heredity – Some genetic mutations may play a role.
• Weight – Weight increases pressure on the knee joint.
• Age – The ability of cartilage to heal itself decreases over time.
• Gender – Women older than 50 are at higher risk than men.
• Trauma – Previous injuries to the knee (including repetitive stress injuries) can lead to osteoarthritis.

Protect Your Knees
"Many people are unaware of the seriousness of arthritis and the impact it can have on their lives," says Dr. Sitter. "But the statistics point out the need for Americans to learn about arthritis and take action to prevent the problems that knee osteoarthritis can cause and to reduce its occurrence."

Steps you can take to head off knee osteoarthritis or minimize its effects include:

• Control weight. "If you already have symptoms, losing 15 pounds can cut knee pain in half," Dr. Sitter says. Maintaining a healthy weight can lower your risk of osteoarthritis.
• Become active. "It's a common misconception that physical activity can worsen arthritis," Dr. Sitter states. "The opposite is true. Physical activity can help decrease symptoms."

If pain becomes too severe or doesn't respond to more conservative treatment, surgery may help you regain a normal lifestyle. Contact Dr. Sitter, an experienced joint reconstructive surgeon, at Methodist Orthopaedic Specialists of Texas at 866-567-4130 for a consultation.