Knee Pain Isn’t Just About Aging — Understanding Cartilage Wear and Treatment Options for Sports-Related Arthritis
Update Date：2025/06/04，
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Sports Medicine and Smart Recovery Center
The knee joint is one of the body’s most weight-bearing and frequently used joints. Whether you're walking, climbing stairs, or simply standing for long periods, the knee plays a crucial role in daily movement. However, when people begin to feel knee pain, their first reaction is often, “Is it arthritis?” In reality, knee pain can stem from a variety of causes. Beyond degenerative arthritis, individuals with high physical activity levels or sports enthusiasts are also prone to cartilage wear and sports-related osteoarthritis due to overuse or poor posture.
Cartilage Wear Isn’t Just an “Aging” Problem
Joint cartilage functions like a shock absorber, protecting bones from friction during movement. When cartilage wears down, increased bone-on-bone contact leads to pain and inflammation. While commonly associated with aging, cartilage damage also affects younger individuals—especially those who engage in intense physical activity, have unresolved past injuries, or maintain poor movement patterns over time. This can result in sports-related osteoarthritis.
High-impact sports like running, basketball, and soccer pose greater risks, especially if knee strength is inadequate or movement coordination is poor. These factors can cause uneven pressure distribution in the joint, leading to premature cartilage degeneration.
How to Diagnose and Distinguish Types of Knee Pain
When patients experience knee pain, stiffness, difficulty climbing stairs, or post-exercise swelling, doctors begin with a detailed medical history, physical exam, and imaging tests such as X-rays, ultrasound, or MRI to assess joint space and cartilage condition. These tools help differentiate between muscular strains, ligament injuries, and signs of degeneration or inflammation.
Further analysis through strength testing, gait analysis, and joint pressure evaluation helps identify the root cause of the pain and guides a more targeted treatment approach.
Treatment Options Vary by Severity
Treatment for cartilage wear and sports-related arthritis ranges from conservative to more invasive approaches. Below is an overview based on severity:
Early Stage (Mild Wear / Post-activity Soreness)
• Physical therapy and posture correction: Muscle strengthening and movement control programs help reduce joint overload.
• Weight management and activity modification: Every 1 kg of weight loss reduces knee load by approximately 3 kg, making a significant difference in symptom relief.
Moderate Stage (Recurring Swelling / Pain Affecting Daily Activities)
1. Injection therapies:
o Hyaluronic acid injections lubricate the joint.
o PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) injections promote tissue healing.
2. Prolotherapy:
o Involves injecting irritant solutions like concentrated dextrose to stimulate the body’s natural healing response for ligaments and surrounding structures.
Late Stage (Severe Wear / Joint Space Loss on X-ray)
• Minimally invasive arthroscopy: Removes debris and repairs torn tissue inside the joint.
• Total knee replacement surgery: Reserved for complete joint degeneration; effective but requires longer recovery.
The Role of the Sports Medicine Center: It’s Not Just About Moving — It’s About Moving Correctly
The Sports Medicine and Smart Recovery Center at Tri-Service General Hospital integrates orthopedics, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and sports injury prevention to address various degrees of joint issues. The center offers precision movement analysis, personalized rehab programs, and advanced technologies to help patients recover function and improve quality of life.
Services include posture correction, strength and flexibility training, and smart equipment such as anti-gravity treadmills and EMG-based muscle training. Here, rehabilitation is not only about treatment—it’s also a path to prevention and performance enhancement.
A Friendly Reminder
Knee pain isn’t an inevitable part of aging. Early detection, proper treatment, and structured training are key to preventing future joint surgeries. If you've been experiencing ongoing knee discomfort, consider visiting our Sports Medicine Center—our expert team is here to support your joint health every step of the way.