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Protecting Your Aging Knees
I love to run, and I have been running since I was a teenager. At 66, I have to protect my knees more than I did back then.
I strained my knee when I was 55 and tore my meniscus two years ago, but those two injuries taught me how to do a better job of protecting myself. Here are a few things I learned through physical training and advice from the orthopedist.
Stretching
When I was twenty I never stretched but probably should have. Now I know It helps to prevent injuries so every morning I take a few minutes to stretch everything. It makes a huge difference for me. It also helps to use a roller to work out the muscles and if you have some tight spots like in your shoulders place a tennis ball under you and gently move back and forth.
Don’t forget your calf muscles. Stand on a stair with half of your foot hanging off and stretch your calf muscle.
Hip exercises
I have been told many times that strong hips keep everything else strong. If you use a gym make sure the hip machine is part of your routine. If you work out at home lift your legs to the side and add a weight to make it more difficult.
Core exercises
Everything is connected and when one muscle group is weak it can affect the rest of the body so keep your core…
