Your Knee Pain is Likely NOT Genetic
2 minute read
You do not have your Mom/Dad/Grandmother/Uncle’s bad knees, back, insert whatever body part you want here!
Just because your mom has knee pain does not mean you will have the same pain. Think of all the things that your mom has done in her lifetime that may have contributed to her knee pain! (this goes across the board for any joint painWas she an active person and had previous knee injuries that may contribute to longer term pain?
My Dad tore his ACL in 1969 before they even knew what an ACL was! At the same time he tore his meniscus. When he had surgery they literally took out the entire meniscus and didn’t even know there was a ligament they could have tried to fix. He was literally bone on bone in one knee for over 50 years and lived an extremely active lifestyle. Do I expect to have the same knee pain as him?! Nope! I also don’t believe that because he tore his ACL I’m predisposed for tearing mine.
Was she an inactive person with knee arthritis? (Then most likely she has tight muscles that causes her knee pain; this is a subject for a whole other blog!) But the short version, tightness in muscles around a joint can cause that joint to track with increase friction causing inflammation….which will cause arthritis and pain.
I can’t tell you how often i hear this comment! And to be honest it drives me crazy! I recently started working with a youth club team (ages 5-15) and one of the teenage kids said “I have bad knees just like my dad” I wanted to stop everything right there and go on a soap box….but didn’t. But honestly it kinda broke my heart because this 13 year old boy thinks he is destined for a life of knee pain because his Dad has had some knee pain from specific injuries! This just isn’t the case!
I'm not denying that genetic factors can influence orthopedic pain. However, having a genetic predisposition doesn't guarantee you'll develop these conditions. Many other factors play a significant role in determining whether or not you'll experience orthopedic issues, such as how you take care of YOUR body. What do you feed your body? How do you move your body? Are just a couple of the factors that can affect how you may respond to predisposing factors.
Do you do any strength training? This is probably the most important factor in preventing orthopedic pain! Staying strong and allowing your body to move optimally will keep you moving optimally with less chance of succumbing to any predisposition.
So please don’t blame Mom/Dad for your various pain….it isn’t their fault!
If you have questions about this please feel free to drop me a note below on get in touch with me directly! I’d be happy to discuss more in depth with you! Or click below and schedule a FREE discovery call with me!