SALISBURY TWP., Pa. – Roughly one in five Pennsylvanians is over age 65, and, as we all start to get outside, many older adults will be feeling the impact of winter inactivity, especially when it comes to joint pain.
So, how can we keep those joints at their best?
Dr. Eric Lebby, Orthopedic Surgeon at the Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Institute, part of Jefferson Health, joined 69 News at Sunrise Tuesday morning to give us some answers.
He talked about how joint pain is very common. More than 53 million people in the U.S., or 20% of the population, have arthritis, he said.
An uptick is seen in joint pain as spring rolls around and people get outside more.
Dr. Lebby talked about what’s normal soreness or stiffness, and when you should see a doctor. Everyday aches and pains are normal, but when something starts becoming constant, and it’s not going away, that’s when you need to go and see a doctor, Lebby said.
How do you safely get active again, especially if you’re over 65? Lebby says to start out slow, especially as you might be transitioning from a more sedentary winter lifestyle to a more active one for the spring.
How do you know if it’s time for joint replacement surgery? Only you know when it is time to tell your surgeon you need surgery, Dr. Lebby said.
Dr. Lebby said if a surgeon tells you it’s the right time, that’s not the right surgeon.
What about the younger population? Anything the under 65s can do to preserve their joints? Dr. Lebby says sleep, exercise, nutrition, and managing stress are the four secrets to life, he said.
He said exercise is a first-line treatment for arthritis. You just have to find the right exercise that’s right for you.