The Knees

If your body were the world, the knee would be the United Nations. At the knee, the body's powerful muscles hamstrings and quadriceps meet and interact. Usually, the knee is capable of withstanding the forces placed on it while giving you the benefits of mobility. However, it's also vulnerable.

Something as simple as running when your weight and fitness level suggest that walking is more appropriate can injure the knee. So can wearing the wrong shoes, such as those without proper support or padding or shoes that once were appropriate for exercise but have outlived their usefulness. Improper exercise technique, especially if leads to muscle imbalances such as super strong quadriceps and weak hamstrings can cause knee problems.

And as is true with the other joints, knee problems, once started, can affect everyday activities, and everyday activities can affect knee problems.