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Dr. Mark Anthony Vann II

Orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine and foot & ankle

Joint Preservation in an Active Society – Separating Fact from Marketing

In a society living longer and staying active, concern for joint preservation has never been more present. Healthy joints are key for quality of life. And while there are a growing number of products on the market promoted for joint health, the things truly supported by long-term scientific research are far less exciting and not so conveniently packaged; a healthy weight, nutritious diet and toned muscles.

Over the course of our life, our joints and the connective cartilage between them wear down. This is a natural part of the aging process. But, there are some factors that accelerate this natural process. Some are related to autoimmune diseases, while others are related to a previous trauma. But, one of the most damaging things on load bearing joints like the knees and ankles is excess weight. Excess weight dramatically reduces the life of the joint. This is something we can control.

No over-the-counter product can compare to the positive effects that weight loss can have on the musculoskeletal system overall. This is one of the best joint-preserving measures we can take.

Building toned muscles will help preserve bone density and more equally distribute and absorb the impact of many repetitive movements. This is particularly important for athletes subjecting their limbs to rigorous and repetitious activities. Strong well-conditioned muscles and their bone-strengthening effect also help protect against fractures – often times the trigger for joint instability and eventual onset of osteoarthritis.

The right diet facilitates both building and maintaining strong muscles and bones. These all go hand in hand. And while they’re not exciting and rarely promoted in marketing campaigns, they work.

When a trauma or other condition results in joint degeneration despite best efforts, there are today more options available than ever before. Injections like viscosupplementation are proving effective by replacing the Hyaluronic acid lost in osteoarthritis – and providing lubrication within the joint for smooth painless movement.

New procedures now allow us to perform joint resurfacing, preserving the healthy part of a joint, rather than complete joint replacement. And a new orthopedic metal device known as a Trabecular is eliminating the need for harvesting bone grafts from another part of the body, or using a cadaveric allograft. The Trabecular Metal is metal that closely resembles the mechanical and physical properties of healthy bone. This can dramatically reduce the associated risks of joint reconstruction procedures.

Ideally, an individual does all that is within their power to preserve their joints – then utilize the best we have to offer in orthopedic medicine for many more strong and active years.

Dr. Vann is an orthopedic surgeon who is fellowship trained in foot and ankle. He specializes in foot deformities and trauma and has privileges at OakBend Medical Center.