What happened to Lao Han’s legs? Is this disease really caused by freezing?

What is "Old Cold Leg"?

Let’s first talk about what kind of disease is Laohan’s Leg. Although many people often talk about the three words “Old Cold’s Leg”, it may not be possible to truly understand what the disease is. many.

The scientific name of "Osteoarthritis" is osteoarthritis (to be precise, it should be knee osteoarthritis), which is a degenerative bone and joint disease [1]. The three words "degenerative" have actually told us implicitly that this disease has a certain relationship with age, so it is not surprising that it is very common in the elderly. But this does not mean that this disease is a "patent" for the elderly. Some young people who exercise excessively and improperly may also suffer from this disease.

The key point of Lao Han’s legs is articular cartilage. Articular cartilage is mainly distributed on the joint surface. Although it is not large in weight, it is irreplaceable in terms of importance. First of all, articular cartilage itself is elastic and can cushion the vibration and impact of the connected bones when walking, jumping or other movements. In addition, articular cartilage can also secrete synovial fluid that has a lubricating effect. On the one hand, it can ensure that the joints are not easily worn during movement, and on the other hand, the joints can move more flexibly and freely.

Myth 1: "Old cold legs" are caused by freezing

Osteoarthritis is actually a degenerative change of joints and cartilage. It is a degenerative disease. The knee joint is a relatively large load-bearing joint in the human body. The legs are what we use the most, so they are also the most damaged, and there are more opportunities for pathological changes. Cold weather is not the cause of osteoarthritis. A damp and cold environment is more likely to affect the blood circulation of the knee joint, further accumulating various inflammatory factors in the knee joint cavity, leading to aggravation of knee joint pain. The knee joint is a joint that likes warmth and is afraid of cold. If the cold has caused discomfort in the knee joint, or your legs feel cold for a long time, etc., you should listen to your mother and put on long johns!

Myth 2: Only the elderly will suffer from "old cold legs"

In fact, the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis is far more complicated than wear and tear. Multiple risk factors have been identified, including age, trauma, obesity, genetics, anatomical factors (such as O-shaped legs, X-shaped legs), and gender (more common in women). Old cold legs are not only seen in the elderly. The prevalence of knee osteoarthritis increases with age. There are also many very young people with "old cold legs". For example, in the United States, there are approximately 14 million patients with knee osteoarthritis who suffer from pain and other symptoms, and more than half of them are younger than 65 years old.

"Old cold legs" are not terrible, they can be prevented and cured

1. Reduce climbing stairs

Standing on both legs, one leg bears half the weight. But as long as you lift your legs and walk, the weight on the knee joint is doubled. In addition, the faster you walk, the greater the weight you carry, and the impact of going downstairs is the greatest, which can reach 6 times your body weight. Therefore, it is not advisable to exercise by going up and down stairs.

2. Try not to squat all the time

If you always squat, the cartilage will be squeezed. Over time, it will easily cause local ischemia and lead to necrosis. In addition, when squatting, the patella at the front of the joint does not move, and the patella is prone to softening over time.

3. Appropriate cycling exercise

Cycling is a good aerobic exercise and will not increase the burden on the knee joints. But everything must be done in moderation. When riding against the wind or riding uphill, the wear and tear on the knee joint will be relatively greater. In addition, don’t cycle for more than an hour a day. Long-term cycling can also cause excessive wear and tear on your knee joints.

4. Wear appropriate shoes

High heels have almost become the "standard accessory" for girls, but when walking in high heels, it is easy to change the stress line of the lower limbs and cause damage to the joints.

Self-assessment

1. Knee joint pain worsens after exposure to cold

2. Knee joints snapping

3. Squatting down Can't get up, can't squat down

4. The knee joint feels stiff in the morning, which is relieved after exercise