Although the cartilages occur in almost all body joints, the knee cartilages are the most important as they hold the body’s weight and facilitate movement. The cartilages are elastic, strong, and supportive tissues that facilitate the range of motion on the joints but are prone to misuse, especially if you engage in high-intensity activities. They may disintegrate due to health issues such as arthritis which breaks them down. However, you may opt for home remedies and medical approaches for Scottsdale cartilage repair to improve joint health and increase the range of motion. These are tips for cartilage repair.
Eat Healthily
Healthy food may improve your health and repair the cartilage in the joints. Therefore, you should choose a diet that combats inflammation and pain and improves your health. You can opt for legumes that prevent inflammation which could affect the ligaments and cartilage. Additionally, the legumes contain proteins that replenish the collagen, which is essential for strengthening the cartilage. Moreover, it contains lysine amino acids which repair the cartilage.
You may opt for citrus as they contain Vitamin C, which promotes the production of collagen which supports cartilage. Pomegranates are antioxidants that you should consider as part of your diet as they have anti-inflammatory properties. Other foods which may repair the cartilages include green tea, brown rice, nuts, and Brussels sprouts
Engage In Physical Therapy
Physical therapy improves cartilage health, but you may need to work with a physical therapist if you have ever had surgery or if the cartilage is severely damaged. Physical therapy strengthens the cartilage and improves the range of motion in the joints. However, you may start with light exercises such as walking, swimming, cycling, and dancing to improve cartilage health. You can run, engage in squats, do some lunges, and do exercises that build core strength once the range of motion on the knee increases.
Opt For Microfracture Procedures
Microfracture is a medical treatment that stimulates the cartilage cells leading to the repair of the damaged cells. The doctor drills holes in the bones to stimulate blood flow and cell release, which form the cartilage. However, the treatment will be ideal if you are under 40 or have experienced recent knee injuries and have lesions on the cartilage. However, the treatment will not work if you are over 40 and with severe osteoarthritis.
Cartilage Resurfacing
Cartilage resurfacing uses cartilage cells, which are manipulated to start growing. The surgeon harvested the cartilage cells, manipulated them, and reinjected them back to the knee. This treatment is ideal for people with good regenerative ability, symptomatic cartilage injuries, and isolated lesions.
Opt For Knee Replacement
Finally, you would opt for knee replacement to deal with severe cartilage damage. However, knee replacement is invasive, and the dentist resurfaces the knee areas previously covered by cartilage with metal, plastic, and ceramic material that provide a new gliding surface.
The cartilages on the knee and other joints increase the range of motion and are prone to wear and tear due to misuse and trauma. Thus, you should eat healthily and choose anti-inflammatory food, which increases collagen reduction to repair the damaged cartilage. Alternatively, you could engage in physical therapy that strengthens the cartilage and increases the knee’s range of motion. However, medical treatments such as cartilage resurfacing and microfracture procedures might increase the regeneration of the cartilage and tissues on the joint. Finally, knee replacement surgery which uses metal, plastics, and ceramics to replace worn cartilage, might improve knee health.