2026/09/15 07:12
Orthopedic surgeon Dai Dawei pointed out that surgery is not necessarily required in the early stage of knee joint degeneration. In the early stage of degeneration, maintenance can be done through weight control and moderate exercise. The picture shows the situation. (Picture taken from freepik)
[Health Channel/Comprehensive Report] Once the elderly have knee joint degeneration, it does not mean that it can only be solved by surgery! Dai Dawei, a physician at the Department of Orthopedics and Joint Reconstruction Center of National Cheng Kung University Hospital, pointed out that even though minimally invasive artificial knee surgery is gradually becoming more popular, the surgery is still mainly suitable for patients with more severe degenerative knee arthritis. In the early stages of degeneration, six strategies can be adopted, including weight control, moderate exercise, protective gear protection, intra-articular injections, physical therapy and drug treatment, to relieve pain and delay the progression of the disease.
Should elders need surgery for knee pain? Dai Dawei shared in an article on the website "Orthopedic Soul" that even if the satisfaction rate of artificial knee surgery is as high as 95-99%, it is still only suitable for patients with more severe degenerative knee arthritis. Until then, there are many ways to delay deterioration. Try these 6 tips first. Most people may not need to go to surgery:
Please read on...
●Control weight
According to new research, patients with knee degeneration can reduce their knee pain by more than half by losing just 15 pounds (about 7 kilograms). The American Orthopedic Association's "Guidelines for the Treatment of Degenerative Knee Arthritis" clearly recommend that patients with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 25 should lose weight immediately. In other words, controlling your weight is definitely the most important trick to delay knee joint degeneration.
Even if you end up needing artificial knee replacement surgery, losing weight is definitely a good thing. The surgery is easier to perform, has fewer complications, and recovery after surgery is significantly faster.
●Moderate exercise
Strong muscles can help take the pressure off your joints. Patients with knee joint degeneration must choose exercises based on their physical conditions and pain conditions, with the principle of not exacerbating pain. Milder exercises such as walking, cycling, swimming, Tai Chi, and aerobics are more suitable for the elderly.
●Protective gear protection
When the knee joint is uncomfortable, you should rest mainly. If you must move, you can consider wearing a suitable knee pad. The type and model suitable for each person is different. It is recommended to go to a medical equipment store to try it on in person for more accurate results.
Knee pads will lose elasticity after being used for a long time and need to be replaced in one to two years. If they are used for a long time, it is recommended to use a Velcro-type knee pad, which can be adjusted for tightness. Knee pads with openings in the front can reduce the pressure between the patella (kneecap) and thigh bone, reducing cartilage wear.
●Intra-articular injection
Steroid injections are highly effective during acute attacks and have minimal side effects. Some people think that hyaluronic acid is useful, but an old car will not become a new car just because it is lubricated.
●Physical therapy
It is not just hot compress electrotherapy. What is really effective is that hot compress relaxes the muscles and electrical stimulation strengthens the quadriceps muscles to make the knee joint more stable.
●Drug therapy
Commercially available analgesics such as "Panax" or other anti-inflammatory analgesics can relieve pain, but long-term use is not recommended. If long-term medication is needed to control pain, a professional orthopedic surgeon should be consulted. Currently, there are drugs with fewer side effects that can control pain and significantly reduce complications such as gastric ulcers and kidney failure.
