How to Prevent Knee Arthritis Caused by a Sports Injury

How to Prevent Knee Arthritis Caused by a Sports Injury

Knee Arthritis -

A looming consequence of a sports-related injury to the knee is the likelihood of developing arthritis later in life. A person can suffer from arthritis in the knee due to an injury occurring decades ago – especially former high school and college sports athletes. Dr. Howard Marans – founder of OCOrthopedic+ located in Santa Ana, CA – recommends seeking immediate sports medicine treatment for all athletic-related injuries to avoid the development of arthritis in the long term.

Knee Arthritis

Damage to the knee joint can lead to accelerated joint wear and tear requiring treatment later in life. After a severe sports-related injury to the knee, it is imperative for an athlete to receive immediate treatment to ensure full recover – both in the short term and in the long term.

Arthroscopic Knee Surgery

To effectively treat a severe traumatic knee injury – and – prevent the onset of arthritis later on in an athlete’s life, arthroscopic surgery is often required.

Arthroscopic surgery is a procedure in which a small incision is made in the knee and a small camera – an arthroscope – is inserted to view the inside of the joint. Arthroscopic surgery is preferable to open joint surgery in many knee injury cases.

Knee arthroscopic surgery is used to quickly and effectively treat:

  • Ligament tears
  • Meniscal tears
  • Damage to knee cartilage

Physical therapy and rehabilitation of the knee joint is required after surgery taking many months.

Best Arthritis Treatment Plans

Physical therapy and exercise. Initially, the Doctor may send you to physical therapy until you are comfortable doing the exercises on your own at home. This helps you establish a routine. The physical therapist can monitor your progress and suggest adjustments to your exercise plan if pain persists.

Recommendation to lose weight. Being overweight puts extra stress on your joints. This can worsen your osteoarthritis symptoms. If you are obese, you may be able to reduce your symptoms by losing as little as 10% of your body weight.

Taking NSAIDs to relieve pain. The Doctor may recommend that you take over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to relieve pain-causing inflammation. It is important to follow the recommended dosage and take as needed. NSAIDs can increase your risk of developing a stomach ulcer or abnormal bleeding.

Lifestyle changes. While you may not be able to fully prevent osteoarthritis, you can prevent flare-ups of your symptoms by making a few changes in your lifestyle, including:

  • Dietary changes
  • Avoiding activities that promote stress on your joints
  • Maintaining proper body alignment

Renowned Knee Arthritis Doctor in Santa Ana

Dr. Marans has the education and clinical experience to accurately diagnose and treat the underlying cause of your pain.

  • Orthopedic Residency at the University of Toronto
  • Fellowship at Toronto’s Orthopedic and Arthritic Hospital
  • The Doctor completed his Sports Medicine studies at the Royal Adelaide Hospital in South Australia

OCOrthopedic+ offers:

  • Clinical experience and excellence
  • Cost-effective surgical treatment
  • Compassionate care
  • Rapid and permanent recovery

As a leading knee specialist in Southern California, Dr. Howard Marans offers all-encompassing orthopedic diagnosis and surgical treatment.

  • Medical history
  • Patient history of activity
  • Physical examination
  • X-Ray
  • MRI

OCOrthopedic+ is a leader in sports medicine. We provide our athletic patients with an individualized treatment plan. Each patient is unique and their special needs and concerns must be incorporated into treatment. Dr. Howard Marans has over 20 years of providing his patients with whole body care.

Our mission is to treat all patients in a professional, timely manner. Optimal outcomes depend on:

To schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Howard Marans, please click the icon below – or – call 714.979.8981.