June is national Men’s Health Month. Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Amar Ranawat answered questions on preventing and treating joint injuries in adult men.
What are the most common causes of joint injury in adult men?
The most common joint injuries I see in adult men are tendon ruptures, early osteoarthritis and overuse injuries.
Can I protect my joints when I’m younger to avoid injuries in my later years?
While you cannot guarantee against injury down the road, you can decrease the risk of injury by exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding risky activities that could result in injury.
What are some exercises I can do to strengthen my joints?
Low impact, low resistance exercises such as stationary bicycling and swimming strengthen joints.
What types of joint injuries need surgery and which can be treated non-operatively?
Certain fractures or tendon or ligament ruptures are best treated with surgery. The majority of injuries, however, should be treated non-operatively first.
If I do need surgery, how long will it take the rehabilitate to normal function?
Initial recovery usually takes a minimum of three months. For greater injuries, rehabilitation can sometimes take up to one year to reach maximum improvement.
Reviewed on May 9, 2018.
Amar Ranawat, M.D, is an orthopedic surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery. He specializes in total hip and total knee replacement, revision total hip and total knee replacement, and peri-prosthetic fractures.
