Who is at risk for knee pain?
All of us may have an episode of knee pain due to traumatic causes, arthritis, or any of the abovementioned causes. However, there are certain risk factors that would increase the likelihood of suffering from knee pain due to various reasons.
According to a study published in the journal Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, the most critical risk factors are as follows:
• Older age: The incidence of knee pain increases as people age, which is especially the case of osteoarthritis, and osteoporosis-related pain.
• Being a woman: Women have a higher prevalence of knee pain compared to men. Rheumatoid arthritis and other forms of arthritic pain are more common in women.
• Overweight and obesity: A higher body mass index is usually associated with a higher risk of knee pain. Obese individuals and those with a body mass index of 26 kg/m2 or higher are at increased risk of developing knee pain.
• Smokers: People with the habit of smoking have a higher chance of suffering inflammatory causes of knee pain due to the inflammatory nature of tobacco smoke.
• Previous knee injuries: Patients who sustained knee injuries have a higher risk of knee pain, either for traumatic causes or post-traumatic arthritis.
• Work-related factors: Depending on the type of work, certain people may have a higher risk of experiencing knee pain. For example, people who need to stand or remain flexed for a very long time, lift heavy loads or perform strenuous work have a higher incidence of knee pain.
If you have one of these risk factors, it does not mean you will suffer from knee pain. It only means your probability is higher than the average, and it would be a good idea to talk about it to your doctor and notify your symptoms if you start experiencing knee pain.
