Dealing with Osteoarthritis of the Knee this Ski Season

The snowy conditions are making many of the hills in our region bustle with skiers and snowboarders who live for the cold and snow! This time of year offers many physical diversions as far as exercise, and skiing is a very popular one. However, if you suffer from osteoarthritis of the knee, you are likely aware that partaking in this kind of winter activity can spell major pains (both during and afterwards).

If you're an avid skier or boarder, the chances of you hanging up those boards or poles in exchange for some extended comfort in your knees is highly unlikely.  So if surgery isn’t in your near future, are your only options to ski or board through the pain (thereby inevitably worsening it) or quit this favoured activity altogether?

Here are some options to take into consideration when seeking answers and dealing with this painful condition.

1.     Knee Brace – generic knee braces are relatively easy to find and are easy on the wallet. However, here's the thing with generic knee braces: they're often quite bulky and uncomfortable, not to mention the fact that a one-size-fits-all brace may only fit a minority of the population. Instead, think about getting a custom knee brace. These are often far lighter, more comfortable, and made to fit the exact specifications of your body. A knee brace will help to stabilize the joints and keep pressure on areas that can be weakened by osteoarthritis of the knee.

2.     Viscosupplementation – this is another non-surgical option to help relieve the pain from osteoarthritis of the knee. It involves the injection of hyaluronic acid solution into the knee joint, which acts as a lubricating agent for bones to move more freely and also to provide shock absorption. Because there is no surgery, this treatment can be very effective after only a very brief period, allowing you to return to the hill soon after. With long-term use, viscosupplementation can reduce pain significantly. It can also reduce inflammation.

3.     Physiotherapy – physiotherapy is a well-known non-surgical treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee. Physiotherapy treatment can help to restore function and reduce pain a number of ways, including through the manipulation of joints for the reduction of scar tissue. Typical physiotherapy treatments may include massage, manual therapy or acupuncture. These can be used separately or as a combined regimen to help lessen the pain from osteoarthritis.

If you're looking forward to getting back out there and enjoying the ski season but are worried about pain in your knee joints, don’t be. These three options offer very attractive pain and ailment relief options without painful surgery that requires lengthy recovery time.

For more information about treatments for osteoarthritis of the knee contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 1 (416) 800-0800 or visit us online at www.aesm.ca.