JOINT VENTURE
nee pain commonly afflicts adults both young and old. “I see it every day,” says Dr. Christopher Ellis, a physical therapist in Naples. The causes are many. Ellis says it is often linked to ankle issues. When your shoes let your foot relax and flatten, the knee rolls inward. Pain could also be related to hip weakness, stiff quad muscles, a sports injury, or a condition like arthritis. If your knee hurts, Ellis recommends avoiding actions that make the pain worse—but you should continue to move. “Movement is medicine,” he says. Exercises like walking, bicycling, and swimming can keep you active and help strengthen your entire leg. If your discomfort is caused by ankle issues, look for shoes with a flat heel, no elevating toe spring, and a wide toe box to better position your ankle and, therefore, your knee. A couple of other tips: Avoid ice because it blocks inflammation and optimal healing, and reduce processed sugars and vegetable oils in your diet. “I’m not sure if you can speed up the body’s healing process,” Ellis says, “but I think you can do things to optimize it, to give it the nutrients it needs.” ()
