It’s All in the Knees
I don't know about you --- the first snow fall has sure got me excited. The lifts will be turning soon.
I often ask myself what makes a strong skier. Is it your balance? Willingness for an adrenalin rush? Love for the snowy outdoors? Over time I have come to believe that really it is all in the knees.
Skiing the bumps and changing terrain requires dynamic knees. It's the knees that cushion the turns. It's also the knees that are active in the brain's proprioception - the awareness of the position and movement of the body. It's the knees that help you balance on that downhill ski.
The knee joint is comprised of 4 ligaments - two on either side of the joint - the MCL and LCL - and two that cross inside the joint - the ACL and PCL. A stable knee is one where all 4 of these ligaments are intact and tight. The meniscus sits within the joint acting as a cushion or shock absorber. It's the meniscus that helps your lower body handle ripping down the moguls with speed and grace. The knee also braces the main muscles of the lower body - hamstrings and quads. Oh how I dream of those burning quads after powder days.
If you have skied for a period of time you likely have heard of these ligaments or meniscus as they are all common injuries experienced amongst skiers. Major injuries often require intervention. Yet minor ones are often left to heal on their own - give it time. But is that always wise?
Sprains to knee ligaments can have long term consequences. Healthy intact ligaments are the tethers that maintain the integrity of the joint. Lax ligaments destabilize the joint. Risk of knee osteoarthritis rises when the ligaments become unstable. Knee pain or swelling is an indication that the knee is suffering from tissue damage or joint friction.
There are nonsurgical ways to address these strains & cushion injuries. Let's talk about a few of them here.
Hyaluronic Acid Injections
Hyaluronic acid is injected into the knee joint - also called viscosupplementation. This gel like fluid acts as a lubricant to help the joint move smoothly. It is naturally found in the synovial fluid of healthy joints yet arthritic joints often have a lower than normal level of concentration. It can provide pain relief for those with osteoarthritis for up to 6 months.
Prolotherapy
Prolotherapy is a regenerative injection technique. An irritant solution, namely dextrose, is aimed at painful and injured ligament or tendon insertions on bone. This solution starts a cascade - promoting the growth of healthy cells and tissue. Prolotherapy works at stimulating the body's own healing system creating stronger tissue. Healthy tissue eliminates pain.
PRP
PRP, or Platelet Rich Plasma Injection is the injection of your own concentrated platelets into injured tendons, ligaments or joints. It starts with drawing your own blood, spinning your blood in a centrifuge to separate the platelets from the rest of your blood. The platelets are then injected under ultrasound guidance into the knee to stimulate healing. The platelets contain growth factors to lead to tissue and collagen production. As the joint heals, the knee pain alleviates.
All of these treatments are aimed at helping you to regenerate your knees. Keeping you skiing the bumps, at any age. Let me help you get the most out of your winter by getting started on healing your knees. To learn more about these regenerative therapies head over to my