Monterey, CA Knee-Replacement Surgery Becoming Increasingly Common : But Not Always Necessary
by Richard Kuehn on 11/21/14
Knee-replacement surgery has become increasingly common. However, research has shown that some people jump the gun, getting knee-replacements without first trying to find other ways to improve movement in the knee. A whopping 600,000 of these surgeries were performed in 2012, more than double the number which were done 15 years ago. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the problem isn’t as bad with seniors as it is with baby boomers. The number of knee replacement surgeries done on people between 45 and 64 leaped 205% between 2000 and 2012 but only 95% for those 65 and older. That’s still a big number, however. Two major studies which were published this year concluded that knee replacement surgery should only be done for those whose arthritis in the knee was medically proven to be advanced. Take pause and think about the implications before taking this leap. You may be able to improve knee function with exercise.
