You don't have to be a competitive athlete to train like one. You just have to want the results of preparing your body for the event – in this case the event is a knee replacement. The good news is that your training may even help you avoid a knee replacement and enjoy life for many years before moving ahead with surgery.
In fact, I have successfully added 22 years (!) in delaying a knee replacement. I am now 56 years old and I was told, when I was just 34, that I needed to have my knee replaced “but I was too young”. I know things have changed now and replacements are done at an earlier age but this wasn’t an option for me.
But now I’ve made the decision to replace, I’ve been training for it like it is an athletic event. Many doctors will require you to participate in a “pre-hab” program for knee replacements. I highly recommend this or to do it on your own – which was my choice.
Both of my knees “qualify” for a knee replacement, but only my left one is having the mechanical issues that finally prompted me to say yes. My right knee is functioning and my secret recipe keeps it in good shape.
In all those years I found the secret recipe to reducing knee pain and living an active life has just 4 ingredients:
Remember the song "Your ankle bone's connected to your knee bone, your knee bone's connected to your hip bone...." its that kinetic chain from ankles, calves, knees, upper legs, butt (hips), and core are all key for healthy knees. Keeping your joints juicy, through mobility movements and stretching, is also super important. Think you can't squat because of your knees? Think again...it is all about form. Check out my book "Healthy Knees Strength" to learn the simple exercises you can do to help your knees feel better.
Repeat this to yourself until you do it and it becomes a truth “I am the kind of person who rides my bike 2X per week and strength trains 2X per week so that I can live a healthy active life.” Of course, you can always add more to that equation or substitute some other cardio activity for the bicycling, but if you want the best for your body, it’s what you need to do. Period.
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To your Healthy and Happy Knees
~Robin