Tag Archive for: knee arthritis

Top 5 Arthritis Myths That Keep People in Pain

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If you or someone you love is living with arthritis — then you already know how frustrating it can be. Daily tasks become harder, favorite activities fall by the wayside, and you may start to wonder: “Will things ever get better?”

Even worse, many people living with arthritis fall victim to misguided advice.

Let’s look at five of the most common myths about arthritis management — and shed some light on what you can actually do instead:

Myth #1: “There’s nothing you can do — it’s just part of getting older.”

This is one of the biggest and most damaging myths of all.

While it’s true that arthritis becomes more common as you get older — and it’s considered a normal part of aging — it doesn’t mean you have to live with chronic pain or disability. In fact, many people with visible (even advanced) arthritis on X-rays and MRIs are living active, healthy lives with minimal to no pain at all.

Research supports this. A 2015 study published in Arthritis & Rheumatology found that more than 30% of adults over 60 had radiographic evidence of knee osteoarthritis — but only a portion of them had symptoms. In other words, just because your joints show signs of “wear and tear” doesn’t mean you’re doomed to pain.

The real issue is how you move — and how you use your joints. Strategic exercise, strength training, and natural therapies can drastically improve your mobility and reduce pain — regardless of your age or what your imaging says.

Doing nothing, on the other hand, is one of the worst things you can do.

Myth #2: “You should rest and avoid activity to protect your joints.”

If your joints hurt, don’t move them — right? That might make sense if you have an injury that requires an initial rest and healing phase. But that’s not the case with arthritis. When you avoid movement in an arthritic joint, you actually worsen your symptoms.

Too much rest leads to stiff joints, weakened muscles, and poor circulation — all of which contribute to more pain and less function over time. Movement helps lubricate joints, strengthen muscles, and prevent further degeneration.

I’m not sure why this myth is still so common — especially when just about every major orthopedic organization (including the CDC and the Arthritis Foundation) agrees that regular, low-impact physical activity is one of the best things you can do for arthritis.

The key is doing the right kind of movement. So if you’re struggling, work with an expert who can help you figure out the proper, targeted activity your body needs. But whatever you do — don’t fall for this myth.

Myth #3: “If your joint is bone-on-bone, surgery is the only option.”

Hearing the phrase “bone-on-bone” from your doctor can feel like a death sentence for your joint. And the typical recommendation? Joint replacement surgery.

But what if I told you that “bone-on-bone” isn’t always the actual reason for your pain — and that you’ve got options beyond a major procedure like surgery?

The first thing to understand is that what shows up on your imaging (like X-rays and MRIs) doesn’t always match up with your symptoms. A 2018 study in BMJ Open found that nearly half of people with severe osteoarthritis on imaging had little to no pain. And many people with significant joint pain showed only mild arthritic changes on their images.

Translation? “Bone-on-bone” isn’t necessarily the root cause of your problem. I’ve seen many people with this diagnosis successfully avoid major surgery and keep their original parts far longer than they thought possible.

When faced with this kind of diagnosis, the best thing you can do is pause — and explore your options. Surgery will always be there if you need it. But don’t rush into it or assume it’s your only option.

Myth #4: “Cortisone shots and medications are the best way to manage arthritis.”

Cortisone shots may provide short-term pain relief for arthritis — but they don’t actually fix anything. Worse, repeated cortisone injections have been shown to damage cartilage and accelerate joint degeneration over time.

One study published in JAMA (2017) showed that patients receiving cortisone injections for knee arthritis had worse cartilage loss at two-year follow-up than those who received a saline placebo — despite experiencing no significant difference in pain relief.

NSAIDs (like Advil) and prescription pain medications can also help dull pain, but they come with side effects — and, just like cortisone, do nothing to address the root cause of your symptoms.

If you’re relying on medication or repeated cortisone shots just to get through the day — or to delay surgery — it’s time to explore options that promote natural healing instead of just masking symptoms.

Shockwave Therapy and EMTT are two non-invasive regenerative therapies that do exactly that. These cutting-edge technologies enhance your body’s natural healing processes by targeting inflammation and tissue damage at the cellular level. And while more research is still needed, promising clinical evidence suggests these therapies may actually help reverse — or significantly delay — the progression of arthritis.

Do your own research — and be open to natural, forward-thinking treatment options that support your long-term joint health.

Myth #5: “Arthritis means you’ll never get back to the activities you love.”

This is one of the most heartbreaking myths — and it’s simply not true.

I’ve worked with countless clients who believed their days of hiking, gardening, traveling, or playing with grandkids were behind them — only to regain full function and freedom after following a personalized treatment plan.

And while surgery sometimes is the best option — especially if you’ve waited until your arthritis has become advanced — there’s a lot you can do to improve your outcome. Working with a specialist to build strength and prescribe targeted movement can make recovery faster and easier.

Plus, emerging research shows that using regenerative therapies like Shockwave and EMTT both before and after surgery may help accelerate healing and improve long-term outcomes.

Managing arthritis is absolutely possible when you take a natural, proactive, and personalized approach. You just need the right plan — and the right team to guide you.

Final Thoughts:

Arthritis is real — but don’t let myths and outdated advice keep you stuck. If you’re not sure where to start — or feel like you’ve already tried everything — speak with someone who specializes in mechanical pain and natural joint care. Often, the most effective solutions are the ones no one has told you about yet.

Dr. Carrie Jose, Physical Therapy Specialist, and Mechanical Pain Expert, owns CJ Physical Therapy & Pilates in Portsmouth, NH, and writes for Seacoast Media Group. If local to Portsmouth, NH, and looking for help – request a FREE Discovery Visit with one of her Specialists by CLICKING HERE.

Shockwave Therapy

Four Non-Invasive Ways to Get Rid of Arthritic Knee Pain

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Knee arthritis is one of the most common and debilitating forms of joint pain affecting adults over 50. It’s a condition that slowly wears down the protective cartilage in your knee joint – leading to stiffness, swelling, and pain that can make even simple activities like walking the dog or climbing stairs feel like a chore. 

While conventional treatments like traditional physical therapy, cortisone injections, and pain medication have been used for years to offer temporary relief – they don’t always work for everyone – and they fail to address the root cause . The good news is that there are several non-invasive, natural, and cutting-edge alternatives that go beyond masking symptoms and instead aim to support your body’s ability to heal and repair itself – especially when traditional treatments have come up short.

Corrective, Therapeutic Movement Strategies:

Perhaps the most accessible (and free) non-invasive solution is movement. Now, it might sound counterintuitive – and even laughable – to consider this as a viable strategy for arthritic knee pain, especially when your knee hurts. But not all arthritic knee pain is due to the arthritis itself.

Let me explain.

Much of the pain you experience when you’ve got arthritis is due to joint immobility and the compensatory patterns that develop over time. When you can identify these faulty movement patterns—and correct them with specifically prescribed therapeutic movement strategies designed to fix the mechanics in your knee joint – you can get significant pain reduction in your arthritic knee. You’ll need to work with a specialist to figure out which specific movements (or set of movements) your knee needs, but once you know what they are, you can use them forever to manage your knee pain – and it won’t cost you a dime.

Weight Management

Extra weight – even just a few pounds – can significantly increase the load placed on your knees when you’re walking, climbing stairs, and moving through your day. In fact, research from Dr. Stephen Messier and colleagues at Wake Forest University found that for every pound of weight lost, there is a four-pound reduction in knee joint stress during daily activities. In other words, losing just 10 pounds can reduce pressure on your knees by a remarkable 40 pounds with every step you take. Healthy, manageable weight loss – through a combination of smart nutrition and regular activity – can make a meaningful difference in pain levels and joint function. And the benefits aren’t limited to your knees. Losing weight reduces mechanical strain throughout your body, supporting the health and longevity of other joints as well.

Adopt an Anti-inflammatory lifestyle

While most people associate knee arthritis with “wear and tear,” it’s also a condition fueled by chronic inflammation. When you reduce inflammatory triggers – especially through your diet – it can lead to noticeable improvements in how your knees (and other joints) feel. Eating more whole, unprocessed foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and healthy fats is a powerful way to calm inflammation naturally. Aim to incorporate fatty fish like salmon, sardines, and mackerel at least twice per week, along with daily servings of dark leafy greens (like spinach and kale), berries, walnuts, chia seeds, and extra virgin olive oil. Spices like turmeric and ginger have natural anti-inflammatory properties and can easily be added to meals or smoothies.

On the flip side – it’s important to avoid refined sugars, processed grains (such as white bread and pastries), and fried foods – which are all known to promote inflammation. Beyond food, other daily habits that support lower inflammation include getting 7–8 hours of quality sleep, managing stress with activities like deep breathing or walking in nature, and drinking enough water – typically half your body weight in ounces per day. These foundational habits not only help reduce knee pain – but they’ll support your overall health and energy levels as well.

Explore non-invasive Regenerative Therapy

One of the most exciting technologies to hit the market in recent years – and that’s quickly gaining popularity – is the use of non-invasive regenerative therapies like Shockwave Therapy and EMTT. What I love about these treatment options is that they work with (not against) your body’s natural healing ability to regenerate degenerated or inflamed tissue – a major contributor to the pain and stiffness associated with knee arthritis. Shockwave Therapy uses mechanical sound waves to increase blood flow, break down scarred or damaged tissue, and reawaken dormant healing cells in the affected area. EMTT (Extracorporeal Magnetotransduction Therapy), on the other hand, uses high-frequency electromagnetic energy to reduce inflammation at the cellular level – boosting mitochondrial activity, improving cellular metabolism, and accelerating tissue repair. It’s particularly effective at targeting bone marrow lesions and chronic joint inflammation – both of which are commonly seen in knee arthritis.

While each of these therapies can be effective on its own, recent studies have shown that using EMTT and Shockwave together significantly enhances treatment outcomes. A 2021 clinical study published in Orthopedic Reviews found that the combination of EMTT and Shockwave Therapy led to greater improvements in pain relief and functional mobility compared to either treatment alone – while also providing longer-lasting results. For individuals who have already tried traditional physical therapy or cortisone injections without success – this combination of cutting-edge technology offers a powerful, drug-free solution that doesn’t just mask symptoms – it promotes actual healing.

Take Control of your Knee Pain – Naturally

If you’re struggling with knee arthritis and feel like you’ve tried everything – don’t give up hope. Medications and injections aren’t your only options. And surgery does not have to be your next step. By combining strategic movement, healthy weight management, anti-inflammatory lifestyle choices, and cutting-edge non-invasive regenerative therapies – it’s absolutely possible to reduce knee pain and reclaim your mobility naturally – without having to rely on pills, injections, or surgery. The key is finding the right combination that works for you – and being proactive about exploring alternatives that go beyond standard prescriptions and treatment strategies.

Are you local to Portsmouth, NH?

If so, consider speaking to one of my specialists for free by CLICKING HERE.

Dr. Carrie Jose, Physical Therapy Specialist, and Mechanical Pain Expert, owns CJ Physical Therapy & Pilates in Portsmouth, NH, and writes for Seacoast Media Group. If local to Portsmouth, NH, and looking for help – request a FREE Discovery Visit with one of her Specialists by CLICKING HERE.

When exercise hurts your back instead of helps

Six Ways to Help Manage Knee Arthritis and Stay Active

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Knee arthritis is one of the most common forms of osteoarthritis, affecting more than 80% of cases and impacting at least 19% of Americans over the age of 45.

For many, a diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis leads to chronic, debilitating knee pain that stops them from doing their favorite activities. Sometimes it’s due to the limiting belief that once you have arthritis, you have “bad knees” for life. Other times it’s because you’ve been told you have “bone on bone” in your knee and that you should scale back on activity so you don’t make it worse.

This line of thinking is flawed and often leads to unnecessary injections, procedures, and surgery. Because being active is one of the best things you can do to manage your arthritis and protect your knees.

But what if movement and activity hurt?

Here are six ways to help manage arthritis in your knees so you can stay active and keep doing the things you love:

1. Strengthen Your Hips and Core

When you have poor control of your hip and core muscles, you get more stress through your knee joint. The strength of your upper leg muscles is very much dependent on your hip and core strength. Your thigh bone (femur) connects your knee and your pelvis, and your core strength controls your pelvis. If your pelvis isn’t stable, your femur is going to have a difficult time staying in alignment, which will ultimately have an impact on your knee joint. If you’ve got arthritis in your knees – it’s critical you minimize any added stress to your knee joints. Strengthening your core and having good hip strength will help prevent and minimize the symptoms of arthritis – keeping you active for longer.

2. Keep Your Knees Mobile

Mobility before stability is my mantra. And I say this for just about every joint in your body. But it’s especially true for your knees. There are joints whose primary function is stability, and there are those whose major function is mobility. Your knee needs to be mobile. Its major purpose is to bend all the way so you can squat and pick things up, and it needs to straighten all the way to give you stability when you need it. When either of these motions is lacking, your ligaments and surrounding muscles will suffer, adding more wear and tear to your joint, which can aggravate arthritis symptoms. When folks are told they have arthritis – a lot of folks just “accept” that their knees are stiff. But the truth is that even a 10% improvement in your knee mobility can lead to significant functional gains, help you better manage arthritic knee pain, and avoid major interventions.

3. Don’t Stop Your Activities

When people find out they have arthritis – and especially if they’ve been told it’s “bone on bone” – they often think that slowing down or stopping activity will help protect their knees. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. Study after study shows that severe joint pain among adults with arthritis is worse with inactivity. When you remain active, you keep blood flowing, your knee joints mobile, and your muscles strong. These are very important factors in managing your arthritis. Plus – sometimes the knee pain you feel when you’re doing certain activities has nothing to do with your arthritis. Statistics show that only 15% of patients with evidence of knee osteoarthritis on X-ray even had symptoms. That means that the other 85% are walking, biking, and running around enjoying their favorite activities – despite what their X-ray says. The point here is to keep doing your activities – it’s one of the best ways to prevent arthritis from advancing and protect your knee joints as you age. If you’re really struggling with this – it’s time to talk to a knee expert who can help you.

4. Optimize Your Footwear and Walking Mechanics

Many people don’t realize how much their feet impact their knees. If you’re wearing unsupportive shoes or walking with poor mechanics – your knee joints will absorb more stress than they should. Over time, this increased strain can exacerbate arthritis symptoms. Consider wearing supportive shoes that align your feet properly and provide adequate cushioning. Walking is a really good activity for your knees and arthritis. So if you’re experiencing frequent knee discomfort while walking, a professional gait assessment can help identify areas of weakness or imbalance that might be contributing to your pain as well as help you find the perfect pair of footwear.

5. Opt for Natural, Joint-Friendly Pain Relief

Your knees work hard every day. And if you have arthritis – finding relief without relying on medications or invasive treatments/injections can be a game-changer and minimize any downtime. There are plenty of natural pain relief strategies that will help minimize inflammation and keep you moving comfortably. Heat therapy and corrective stretching techniques are great for reducing stiffness by keeping blood flowing and muscles relaxed and flexible. Similarly massage and foam rolling can improve circulation and ease muscle tension around your knee joint. Regenerative treatments like shockwave therapy, EMTT, and dry needling are becoming popular alternatives to cortisone shots – as they work with your body’s own mechanisms to stimulate healing versus causing joint damage over time. By integrating natural pain relief methods into your routine, you can better manage knee arthritis and stay active without unnecessary reliance on medications or invasive procedures.

6. Manage Your Inflammation with Diet and Hydration

Chronic inflammation worsens arthritis symptoms, but the right diet can help. Anti-inflammatory foods like fatty fish, leafy greens, berries, and turmeric support joint health, while omega-3s from fish oil reduce inflammation at a cellular level. Collagen powder and glucosamine-chondroitin can support cartilage health and joint lubrication. Hydration is also key. Water keeps joints cushioned and prevents excess friction. Simple dietary changes, paired with the right supplements, can make a significant difference in managing knee arthritis.

Final Thoughts

Even if you’ve been told you have “bone on bone” or advanced arthritis, you can still improve your knee health. The best thing you can do for your knees is to keep moving. And if pain is getting in the way – I hope these strategies help you manage your symptoms naturally – so you can avoid resorting to medications, injections, or surgery.

Dr. Carrie Jose, Physical Therapy Specialist, and Mechanical Pain Expert, owns CJ Physical Therapy & Pilates in Portsmouth, NH, and writes for Seacoast Media Group. If local to Portsmouth, NH, and looking for help – request a FREE Discovery Visit with one of her Specialists by CLICKING HERE.

Failed Knee Surgery

Knee Surgery Gone Wrong? It’s More Common Than You Think.

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Arthroscopic knee surgery is one of the most common surgeries performed. Despite research telling us that it’s not nearly as effective as most people are led to believe.

Science tells us that people who do undergo arthroscopic knee surgery are likely to have knee arthritis that advances rapidly. This results in a total knee replacement that you could avoid.

Arthroscopic knee surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that’s commonly done to help “clean out” your knee joint. It’s done if  you’ve got degenerative arthritis, or to clip out pieces of a torn meniscus that might be irritating your knee.

Sounds pretty simple and harmless – right?

Well… it is until it isn’t.

The big problem is that arthroscopic knee surgery is not necessary for most cases of knee pain.

If there is a complication – which there are many even with “minimally invasive” procedures – you could end up being worse off than when you went in.

Plus – if you never even needed the surgery to begin with – you just put your knee through unnecessary trauma that you’ve got to now heal from. This further delays you from addressing the root cause of your knee pain.

The truth is that most people can get full relief of their knee pain as well as full restoration of knee function without any type of surgery or procedure. This is true for 70% of all knee pain cases.

An early research study from 2002 by JB Moseley and colleagues, and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, revealed that placebo surgery for advanced knee arthritis was just as effective as actual arthroscopic surgery.

Since then, numerous studies have proven similar results. This means that even if you have a torn meniscus or degenerative arthritis in your knee – you can still get better naturally and with conservative treatment.

So why then – despite all this research – are surgeons still performing arthroscopic knee surgery more than ever?

In some cases it’s just what the surgeon knows, and they haven’t kept up with the research. Other times, it’s due to poor conservative management of knee pain. If you’ve gotten physical therapy and it wasn’t effective, people believe that the physical therapy “didn’t work”.

But more often than not, you just haven’t found the right physical therapist yet – someone who understands how to diagnose knee pain properly and get you the customized approach that is required to avoid surgery.

And then there’s the elephant in the room…

It’s very common for knee pain to be coming from somewhere other than your knee. Knee pain can come from your ankle, hip, or back. One study showed that 40% of the time – knee pain is caused by your back – even when you don’t have any back pain.

MRI’s add even more confusion to this. It’s entirely possible to have degenerative changes, a torn meniscus, or advanced arthritis in your knee – and still have your knee pain stemming from a source other than your knee.

Over the course of my 20 year career, I’ve seen many knee surgeries go wrong.

Most of the time, it has nothing to do with the procedure itself. It has everything to do with an incorrect diagnosis going in. Say your knee pain can be resolved conservatively. Then you put it through unnecessary trauma (surgery). There’s a good chance you’re going to have more problems afterwards. You get knee surgery when your knee problem isn’t even coming from your knee. Then you’re definitely going to have problems afterwards.

The moral of this story is to make absolutely certain that:

1) Your knee problem is really a knee problem and

2) You’ve fully exhausted all (quality) conservative therapy options before going under the knife.

Remember that 70% of all knee pain cases do not need surgery.

Science has proven this. Don’t resort to knee surgery unless you’re 100% sure you really need it. Because it can go wrong and when it does – it’s much harder to come back from then if you had avoided it to begin with.

Want help with your pain now? CLICK HERE to talk to one of my specialists for free – you can tell them all about your knee pain and we’ll let you know if we can help. 🙂

Dr. Carrie Jose, Physical Therapist and Pilates expert, owns CJ Physical Therapy & Pilates in Portsmouth and writes for Seacoast Media Group. To request a free copy of her Knee Pain Free Report CLICK HERE  or to get in touch, email her at [email protected].

Holding Knee with Arthritis

Three Tips to Protect Your Knees From Arthritis

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Knee arthritis is one of the most common forms of osteoarthritis.

Knee arthritis accounts for more than 80% of all osteoarthritis and impacts at least 19% of Americans over the age of 45.

For many, a diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis leads to chronic, debilitating knee pain that stops them from doing all of their favorite activities. Sometimes it’s simply due to the limiting belief that once you have arthritis – you’ve got “bad knees” for life.

Other times it’s because you’ve been told you have “bone on bone” in your knee and there’s nothing you can do – except to scale back on activity so that you don’t make it worse. This line of thinking is flawed and often leads people to unnecessary procedures and surgery. One of the best things you can do to protect your knees from the debilitating effects of arthritis is to keep moving.

Here are three tips to help you protect your knees from arthritis as you age – so that you can keep doing all of your favorite activities and avoid any major procedures or surgery:

1. Strengthen Your Hips and Core

Your knee joint is situated just below your hips and core. And research has shown that when you have poor control of your upper leg muscles – you get more stress through your knee joint.

The strength of your upper leg muscles is very much dependent on your hip and core strength. Your thigh bone – or femur – connects your knee and your pelvis – and your core strength controls your pelvis.

If your pelvis isn’t stable – your femur is going to have a difficult time staying in alignment – which will ultimately have an impact on your knee joint. If you’ve got arthritis in your knees, it’s critical you minimize any added stress to your knee joints.

Strengthening your core and having good hip strength is going to help prevent and minimize the symptoms of arthritis and keep you doing activities you love longer.

2. Keep Your Knees Mobile

Mobility before stability is my mantra.

And I say this for just about every joint in your body. But it’s especially true for your knees. There are joints whose primary function is stability – and there are those whose major function is mobility.

Your knee needs to be mobile.

Its major purpose is to bend all the way so you can squat and pick things up – and it needs to straighten all the way to give you stability when you need it. When either of these motions are lacking – your ligaments and surrounding muscles will suffer.

A lot of folks just “accept” that their knees are stiff – especially if you’ve been told you have arthritis in your knees. The limiting belief is that stiffness is par for the course. But the truth is that if you keep your knees mobile as you age – you can not only maintain the mobility you have but improve what is lacking.

If your knees are stiff – start moving them. The thing to understand about arthritis is that it’s a normal part of aging. Debilitating mobility is not. Even a 10% improvement in your knee mobility – which can happen even if you’ve got arthritis – will result in huge improvements in your knee function.

It can be the difference between a natural solution to knee pain vs undergoing a major surgery like knee replacement.

3. Don’t Stop Your Activities

When people find out they have arthritis – and especially if they’re in pain – they often think that slowing down or stopping activity will help protect their knees.

This couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Study after study – including one from the Center for Disease Control – shows that severe joint pain among adults with arthritis is worse with inactivity. When you remain active, you keep blood flowing, your knee joints mobile, and your muscles strong. These are very important factors in managing your arthritis. Sometimes, the knee pain you feel when you’re doing certain activities has nothing to do with your arthritis. Statistics show that only 15% of patients with evidence of knee osteoarthritis on X-ray even had symptoms.

That means that the other 85% is walking, biking, and running around enjoying their most favorite activities – despite the fact their X-ray showed arthritis too. The point here is to keep doing your activities – whether you’ve got arthritis already or not – it’s one of the best ways to prevent and protect your knee joints as you age.

So – to review…

If you want to optimize your knee health as you age – which you still can even if you’ve been told you have “advanced arthritis” – prioritize your core strength, the mobility of your knees, and stay active.

Focusing on these three things can have a significant impact on how arthritis affects you – and can help you avoid major (often unnecessary) surgery in your future.

Is knee pain keeping you from doing your favorite activities? Are you considering a major procedure or surgery but not sure if you need it?

Join us on Tuesday Oct. 25th from 6-7pm for our Free Masterclass for Knee Pain Sufferers.

Sign up using this link —> Knee Pain Masterclass.

We hope to see you there!

Can’t make it live? All participants will receive a complimentary replay of the class 🙂

Dr. Carrie Jose, Physical Therapist and Pilates expert, owns CJ Physical Therapy & Pilates in Portsmouth and writes for Seacoast Media Group. To request a free copy of her Knee Pain Free Report CLICK HERE  or to get in touch, email her at [email protected].

Holding Knee with Arthritis

Arthroscopic Knee Surgery – Does it Even Work?

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While researching for my latest article in the Portsmouth Herald, I came across an interesting study titled: “Arthroscopy for degenerative knees – a difficult habit to break.”

The title of this study is telling.

Arthroscopic knee surgery is still one of the most common surgeries performed, despite research telling us that it’s not nearly as effective as most people are led to believe.

Furthermore, studies now indicate that people who get arthroscopic knee surgery are likely to have knee arthritis that advances more rapidly – resulting in a total knee replacement that could have been avoided.

Arthroscopic knee surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that’s commonly done to help “clean out” your knee joint if you’ve got degenerative arthritis, or to clip out pieces of a torn meniscus that might be irritating your knee.

Sounds pretty simple and harmless – right?

But over the years, research has shown that this procedure is really not necessary in most cases.

Most people can get pain relief and restore function in their knees without ever getting surgery.

One of the earliest studies from 2002 by JB Mosely and colleagues, and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, revealed that placebo surgery for advanced knee arthritis was just as effective as actual arthroscopic surgery. Since then, numerous studies have shown similar results. Even if you have a torn meniscus or degenerative arthritis in your knee – you can still get better naturally and with conservative treatment like physical therapy.

Despite all this research, surgeons are still performing these procedures more than ever.

In some cases it’s just what the surgeon knows, and they haven’t kept up with the research. Other times, it’s due to poor conservative management and not giving therapy enough time to work.

In our office, we often see people after they’ve tried regular physical therapy first. Since we have a more specialized approach, and we’re able to spend more time with our clients, we tend to get better results and can help clients avoid surgery all together.

But not all physical therapy clinics are afforded that luxury. In those cases, people are led to believe that the physical therapy “didn’t work,” and they get scheduled for surgery.

But what’s the big deal really?

If outcomes are the same regardless of whether you get surgery or not – why not just get it? It’s quicker, and far more convenient than going to weekly therapy appointments…

But despite the term “minimally invasive,” it’s still surgery.

You will have bleeding, swelling, and recovery time. There is trauma that is caused to the soft tissue in and around your knee that has to heal. There’s also the risk of infection, which comes with a whole set of different complications.

And then of course there’s the elephant in the room that nobody likes to talk about…

I’ve seen many of these arthroscopic surgeries performed that had clients feeling WORSE than before surgery. Because it turns out the procedure wasn’t even necessary. Luckily, we’re still able to rehabilitate them. But it’s completely demoralizing and discouraging for our clients.

In general, despite how small the procedure may seem, you want to avoid surgery whenever possible.

Although small, the risks that can happen with surgery simply aren’t worth it – especially when you can get the same results from natural, conservative treatment.

For some, arthroscopic knee surgery really is necessary. But for most, it can be avoided.

If you’re currently suffering from knee pain and want to learn more about what you can do to avoid surgery and heal your knee pain naturally and on your own – DOWNLOAD our Free Guide: 7 Ways to Get rid of Knee Pain Naturally.