Cracking Knees Gromit
After my first pregnancy I started to notice that I’d developed a bit of a crackle in my knees, particularly in my right knee. I can only assume the extra weight of pregnancy just put too much pressure on my joints and as well as a bouncing baby boy, I also got cracking knees!
I’ve often wondered what on earth is going on in there to make them sound like that and then a recent conversation in the school yard with fellow Mams, confirmed that I’m not alone! We joked about the sound they make when we walk upstairs, bend over to pick up toys and when we exercise. So was it caused by our pregnancies or are we just ‘women of a certain age?’
A quick Google and whilst I still blame it being brought on by the extra strain of pregnancy, it appears that it’s also something that comes with age. The older we get, the more tendency the cartilage that covers our bone in our knees has to become uneven. Those surfaces then rub against each other when we squat or bend at the knee and the result is that awful cracking or popping noise. The good news is, according to WebMD unless there is pain or swelling there is nothing to be concerned about.
I noticed my knees cracking post pregnancy when my body had gone through the strain of fairly sudden weight gain and this for me emphasises the importance of not only keeping our weight down but also stable. Of course, us ladies are not all going to be able to avoid the added strain pregnancy puts on our bodies, however, if that’s not a factor then being mindful of those extra pounds creeping on, will certainly help. I work in a very male dominated environment and I see so many of them (and from a fairly young age) with a body shape I can only describe as a capital D. This added weight around their middle, that I have no doubt has ‘crept’ on over time, is putting extra strain on their back and in particular their lower body, weight bearing joints such as hips, knees and ankles. For this reason many GPs recommend weight loss as a remedy to relieve joint aches and pains. Let’s face it, it sounds like pretty sensible advice! So don’t wait until we’re creaking and cracking our way into old age. Let’s take care of our joints now and avoid the self inflicted strain of carrying too much weight.
Try some low impact exercise such as the use of a rebounder. We had a great time at the JumpGa class we tried at Champneys, which will also be in David Lloyd Clubs during 2018 too.
Not so low impact but it depends on how you play it! I’ve been loving playing squash with the hubby again, which we started in January. Talk about a fun work out!
I’m a huge advocate of healthy eating and can’t quite believe before joining Weight Watchers, I used to haul around an extra two stone with me every day. If you think you’re carrying some excess weight that could lead onto health problems, act now. Small steps can have a huge impact.
