How does the joint spend its life?
Before age 15.
The knee joint is in the developmental stage, and most of the growing pains of adolescence occur near the knee joint.
From 15 to 30 years old.
The knee joint is in “perfect condition” and works tirelessly. As long as the knee joint tissue is not damaged, it is basically not felt.
Ages 30-40.
The patellofemoral cartilage develops early and mild wear and tear, and a period of weakness occurs, with short-term knee pain that lasts a few weeks to a few months and is not even noticeable in some people. Patellofemoral cartilage is a 3-5 mm thick layer of hyaline cartilage in the human knee joint that cushions the knee joint from the impact of movement.
However, because the patellar cartilage has no nerve distribution, it will only sound an “early warning signal” once during the vulnerable period before the full layer wears out, and strenuous exercise should be avoided during this period. From this time on, the knee joint can no longer be used as you wish.
From 40 to 50 years old.
After walking long distances, the inside of the knee joint tends to become sore and painful, which is relieved by rubbing it with your hands. In the knee joint, the meniscus serves to cushion vibrations and maintain stability. Since 60% of the body weight is supported by the medial side of the knee joint, degeneration of the medial meniscus occurs earlier. Because of the nerve distribution in the meniscus, people can feel soreness and pain during the degeneration process. This phenomenon is a reminder that it is time to start taking care of your joints.
Over 50 years of age.
This is because the patellofemoral cartilage has reached the end of its “useful life”, the cartilage is worn down and arthritis has developed. This is the time to use the joint sparingly, reduce strenuous exercise, especially stairs and climbing, and use crutches if necessary to reduce the pressure on the knee joint.
What are the causes of knee pain?
After middle age, the tendons and ligaments of the knee joint begin to undergo degenerative changes, the synovial fluid secretion in the joint cavity decreases, the bone surface of the joint rubs together over a long period of time to form bone wear, and the tissues around the joint tend to become fibrous due to inflammation, so the elderly often feel stiffness in the knee joint.
This is why the elderly often feel stiffness in their knee joints. When they move, they will make a “clicking” sound or frictional sound, and when they are cold or overly active, they will experience pain, swelling, and fluid accumulation in the joint cavity, and in severe cases, they will have deformed joints and become disabled.
Specifically, the causes of knee pain in the elderly are as follows.
1. Chronic synovitis
Chronic pain and swelling in the knee joint. Synovial effusion and synovial hypertrophy can be seen on physical examination.
2. Patellofemoral deviation
The knee joint is sore and weak after activity, improves after rest, and is painful when semi-squatting.
3. Free body in the knee joint
The patient’s leg is weak or has a feeling of joint jamming, and there is a friction sound under the patella.
4. Pre-patellar bursitis
History of trauma, causing prepatellar pain, with localized pressure pain on examination.
5.Osteoarthrosis
The joint pain is obvious after sitting or squatting for a long time, when getting up and going downstairs, and relieved after rest.
6.Pseudogout
More male patients, preferably in the knee joint. The painful swelling, high skin temperature and limited function during the attack. x-ray shows calcification of meniscus and articular cartilage surface.
7.Necrosis of femoral head
Hip lesion with knee pain symptoms.