Boomers With Knee Arthritis Advised to Give Up Jogging, Weekend Basketball

Baby boomers suffering from arthritis in their knees should give up jogging and weekend basketball and "choose different types of exercise to avoid heading into surgery," advises Dr. Arlen D. Hanssen of the Mayo Clinic.

"A conservative approach based on lifestyle alterations, with surgery used only as a last resort provides the most realistic answer for arthritis patients in their forties and fifties," Hanssen said at the 69th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

"Middle-aged patients who've had knee surgery recommended to them should try less aggressive alternatives first," advised Hanssen. "The current thinking combines changes in lifestyle to include different types of exercise, for example, a combination of medication, physical therapy, and surgery, only if all else fails."

People in their 40s and 50s are stuck between two sets of surgery recommendations, with the primary concern being the longevity of a prosthetic replacement in an active middle-aged person.

Ligament repair, often recommended for patients in their 20s, would not give the same favorable results in a patients 20 years older with more deterioration of their ligaments. The surgery is designed to restore a higher level of activity.

Joint replacement is also a difficult recommendation for someone in middle age as it requires a decrease in physical activity.

"A middle-aged person who loves singles tennis potentially risks repeat surgeries by putting their artificial knee through premature wear and tear," said Hanssen.

For baby boomers, Hanssen recommends delaying surgery as long as possible by switching from high impact aerobic activity to sports that are easier on the knees, such as swimming, walking on a treadmill and biking. "Keep exercising, but change the form of exercise," he advised.

Other sources: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons