ISLAMABAD: Knee pain is a typical grievance that troubles a lot of people and thereby hinders the performance of daily activities. Attacking the knee joints, which consist of powdery bones, tissues, ligaments, and muscles, is the primary reason behind their vulnerability.
There could be different reasons for the pain in the knees including accidents, illnesses of the joints, or damage to the tissues around the knees. Nevertheless, if one does regular activities such as walking, biking, or swimming, it can be a factor in the prevention of knee troubles or in lessening the pain.
A noteworthy article in the British Medical Journal tells how different exercises work on knee pain differently but aerobic workouts are at the top of the list for the most effective. The aerobic exercises comprise brisk walking, jogging, swimming, running, cycling, and stair climbing.
One’s heart rate and breathing are elevated by aerobic activities leading to better functioning of the heart and lungs and, consequently, to the health of the joints.
The main reason among others for knee joint pain is its high incidence, having a prevalence of around 30% in the population above 45 years. Data from 217 clinical studies conducted between 1990 and 2024 is analyzed, and that data is synchronized with the involvement of more than 15,000 participants. The end result of the research was that continuous aerobic exercise leads to a remarkable reduction in knee pain both in the short run and long run.
The scientists have, despite the shortcomings pointed out by them resulting from the absence of direct observation, inferred that going for walks and riding bikes would be great preventive measures as well as therapeutic options for people with knee pain. In addition, a research from the University of California published in December 2024 reached the conclusion that the consumption of ultra-processed foods is significantly related to the occurrence of knee joint pain, the latter being increased greatly if the former is over-consumed. As a result, the foods that are bad for health because of their high-fat content will cause more fat to accumulate in the thigh muscles which is one of the reasons why people feel pain in their knees and hips.
ALSO READ: KP health department launches probe into alleged dengue deaths in Mardan
A total of 666 participants who did not suffer from joint pain participated in the research, of which a considerable number were overweight and 40% of their diets were ultra-processed foods. The findings pointed out a direct relation of the processed food intake to the increment of fat in the thigh muscles, which further led to the increase of the risk of joint pain.
