How Athletes Can Cope With Osteoarthritis
It may take several approaches – from physical therapy to weight loss to low-impact exercises – to keep you on the playing field.
By Heidi Godman, Contributor |March 23, 2018, at 11:30 a.m.
Joe Hahn is a little slower than he used to be. A high school football career and subsequent decades devoted to running and playing lacrosse every week have led to osteoarthritis – a wearing away of the cartilage – in both of his knees. “It affects how you move laterally. Your brain gives you the green light, but your body just says no. It slows down what you can do and changes the dynamic of how you’re performing,†explains Hahn, a 48-year-old from Cleveland.
Hahn is like many lifelong athletes who discover that years of punishing physical activity take a toll. Research suggests that athletes are more prone to osteoarthritis than the general population, especially professional and elite athletes. “It has to do with putting a lot of miles on the body. It can be very frustrating for athletes who are used to being exceptional at what they do and using their strength, mind, body and spirit to excel at their sport,†says Dr. Jason Genin, a Cleveland Clinic physician who specializes in orthopedics and sports medicine. He’s also the team physician for the Cleveland Indians.
https://health.usnews.com/health-care/patient-advice/articles/2018-03-23/how-athletes-can-cope-with-osteoarthritis
