Hello! I'm new here. Please feel free to direct me if there is a more appropriate place for my question
My dad told me he suspects he has knee arthritis. He feels his right knee give way/loss strength from time to time and there is this pain. He told me to research and I thought to come over here and see what the community could recommend esp. in terms of exercises. On that note, I'd like to add that my dad keeps wanting to exercise but then overdoes it, complains of pain, and is particularly stubborn when it comes to lifestyle changes (Yes, so many contradictions sigh).
Anyway looking forward to hearing from you!
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calmsailboat
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Here are some exercises specifically for knee arthritis [from a UK based site] - but if you look at the site there are general exercises for osteoarthritis-
Early stage knee arthritis can be helped by short regular amounts of exercise, lose weight or even dancing 🙂but only your dad can decide . Arthritis Action does a good Arthritis Management course for members. which covers many things . If you have internet you can see all the details on the main Arthritis Action page including the costs & benefits of being a member. You don't say how old your Dad is , but if he is an older person he needs to see a gp to rule out other causes eg I have arthritis but also bursitis plus if you have gouty arthritis then exercise is not a good idea as it makes it worse. . Arthritiis effects all age groups but the main object has to be getting it diagnosed including what type of arthritis it is as treatments are different .there are lots of different illnesses that cause pain in limbs including knee pain. Please get a diagnoses before researching on line, which your Dad will have to do then you can reseach get the idea ? Also please remember Arthritis is not curable it can only be managed and you need a doctor to help with that . Best wishes to you both pain every day is not nice but it can be mnanaged.
I agree that diagnosis is the first step. Your father should be able to get an X-ray on the NHS. Meanwhile you could suggest he experiments to find out which exercise gives him problems and which ones don't Strengthening and flexibility exercises shouldn't cause any problem whatever the diagnosis and will help.
Arthritis doesn't get any better but you have good times and bad. From personal experience I often over do it when I have been feeling good for a few days, however doing no exercise is worse. Finding the right balance is very difficult. Strengthening and flexibility exercises definitely help me do more of other exercises that I enjoy, so that is a carrot for your father to try them.
Hello! Thank you for all the replies! Just wanted to make some clarifications:
-My dad and I are based in the Philippines.
-I cannot force my dad to do what he is unwilling to do. I may be in medical training but I have only so much influence when it comes to health matters in the family. Yes, I am more than aware it may seem that I am bypassing proper diagnostics but my dad really wants to have an idea what exercises are out there.
Knee giving away sounds more like injury (meniscus tear) he should go see orthopedic doctor in time if this isn’t fixed he will develop arthritis or probably has it alongside the injury already .
Stationary bicycle is his safest option and it will help strengthen the muscle around the knee without further injury or damage.
I agree with others re getting a diagnosis first. I have ankylosing spondylitis which affects most of my joints, on top of the usual spinal symptoms. I started having my knee buckle on me whilst on holiday, doing more active walking in hilly area. I already knew I had OA on top of my inflammatory arthritis, and GP told me just to do exercises, without examining my knee. It turned out I had tendonitis and bursitis, and the exercises I was given, were aggravating the tendons and bursa. If it is something inflammatory, then they can administer steroid injections, which when I’ve had done settled the pain for a year or so.
Please encourage him to see his gp and rule out any mechanical issue, or inflamed tendons or bursa.
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