|
|
|
|
| ||||
South of Boston |
|
MIND BODY EXPERT ADVICE Silencing loud knees Q: I have a minor problem with my knees - they both crackle when I bend. They don't really hurt; they're just noisy. Should I be concerned? A: Although your Rice Krispies knees - technically termed crepitus - may be a symptom of arthritis, misaligned kneecaps are more likely at fault if you're not feeling pain, says Dr. Andrew A. Freiberg, arthroplasty service chief at Massachusetts General Hospital's Yawkey Center for Outpatient Care in Boston. Usually, alignment problems can be diagnosed with an easy in-office exam. If your doctor concludes that this is the case, you may be prescribed physical therapy, including exercises to strengthen weakened quadriceps muscles that may be causing or aggravating your off-center kneecaps. Quads are at the front of the thighs and help hold kneecaps in place. Therapy isn't a guaranteed silencer, though. If it doesn't work, you may have to live with your musical knees. "Supplements like omega-3 and glucosamine probably won't help," Freiberg says. "Neither will surgery." If your knees hurt, swell, or stiffen along with the crackling, however, get an X-ray to rule out arthritis. - Rodale Copyright 2006. All rights reserved by New York Times Syndication Sales Corp. This material may not be published, broadcast or redistributed in any manner. |
|
|
|
|
South of Boston Media Group, 400 Crown Colony Drive | ||||||