Protect your knees from injury

Even if you’re not an athlete, a knee strain or sprain can take you out of the game for awhile.

To avoid knee injury, the best strategy is prevention. “Problems also can develop with age as the cartilage in joints becomes less ‘rubbery’ and is more easily injured,” explains Kareem Sobky, M.D., orthopedic surgeon with St. Louis Orthopedic Institute, and member of the SSM St. Joseph Hospital of Kirkwood medical staff.

Dr. Sobky offers the following tips to spare your knees:

• Before exercising, warm up by walking for five minutes. Then perform slow, easy stretches — particularly on your thighs.
• Strengthen leg muscles that support your knees by walking up stairs or riding a bike. Strengthtraining exercises also can help.
• When jumping, land with your knees bent.
• Don’t bend your knees past 90 degrees when doing knee bends or squats.
• Rest if you feel pain or fatigue in your knee. Wear shoes with nonskid soles.