These 4 steps can prevent your knee replacement surgery

At its core, total knee replacement (or knee arthroplasty) is less about replacing the entire knee and more about resurfacing it. Think of it like putting a protective "cap" on a tooth or retreading a worn-out tire.
​When the cartilage—the slippery cushion between your bones—wears away due to arthritis or injury, you’re left with "bone-on-bone" contact. This surgery replaces those damaged surfaces with specialized metal and plastic parts...

Think of your knee like a hinge on a door. If the hinge starts to squeak or grind, you don't always need to replace the whole door sometimes you just need to take care of the hinge!..

Here are the four simple ways to save your natural knee:

1. Lighten the Load
​Every time you take a step, your knee feels 4 times your body weight.
​The Simple Version: If you lose just 5 pounds, your knees feel like you lost 20 pounds. It’s the fastest way to stop the "grinding" feeling..

2. Build Your "Shock Absorbers"
​Your bones shouldn't be doing all the work. Your thigh muscles (quads) are supposed to act like the bouncy springs on a car.
​The Simple Version: If your leg muscles are strong, they "catch" your weight before it hits the knee joint. Simple exercises like straight-leg raises can save your cartilage.

3. Low-Impact Movement (Motion is Lotion)
Cartilage doesn't have its own blood supply; it gets its nutrients from the fluid that pumps around when you move. If you stop moving because it hurts, the joint actually gets "starker" and wears out faster.
The Home Fix: Switch from high-impact (running/jumping) to Low-Impact movement. Walking on flat ground, "air cycling" while lying on your back, or performing gentle heel slides helps "grease the wheel" without adding more wear and tear.

​4. The "Anti-Inflammatory" Lifestyle
​Chronic knee pain is often a result of systemic inflammation. You can lower the "heat" in your joints by changing how you recover and eat at home.
​The Home Fix: Use the R.I.C.E. method (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) after a long day of walking. Additionally, swapping processed sugars for whole foods at home can lower the overall inflammation levels in your joint fluid, reducing that "stiff" feeling in the morning...

(This Information Should Not Be used As Medical Advise And You Must Consult An Orthopedic Surgeon)