Knee and Hip Replacements Expected to Spike

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons expects that the number of knee replacements done in the United States will increase by 525% in the next 22 years.  Hip replacements are expected to more than double also by 2030.

The drastic increase in the number of joint surgeries will be caused by the aging American population, the increased demands of younger patients, the increased ability of surgeons to perform the surgery, and an increased level of arthritis in the general population.

While many people are genetically prone to develop arthritis as they get older, the growing weight of the average American is increasing the stress put on our joints.  Surgeons have seen the average age of a joint replacement patient gradually creep down from about 70 years of age to somewhere around 65.  They are attributing this age decrease to a weight and stress increase.

A recent Time magazine article suggested three lifestyle changes that can keep your knees and hips healthier longer.  The first is weight control.  According to Dr. Joseph Buckwalter, an arthritis specialist at the University of Iowa, each pound of weight that you lose takes 3-5 lbs. of pressure off of a bad joint. 

The second thing to prevent joint pain late in life is to adequately address the problems when they occur.  According to Dr. Buckwalter, treating joint injuries - including ankle sprains - properly as they occur can greatly decreased the risk of arthritic pain later in life.

Finally, Buckwalter points out that exercising regularly helps to maintain muscle strength, a full range of motion, and flexibility, all of which protect your joints.  Daily exercise can be the difference between a mobile life and a surgery.