MetroSouth Medical Center introduces Drs. Paul and Robert Atkenson, orthopedic surgeons offering a “team approach” to patient care. 

Doctors Atkenson and Atkenson have been practicing orthopedic surgery in the southland for the past 20 years and have noticed a significant increase of knee pain in women and believe there are several reasons for the increase, including:                                      

Biology:  Women’s bodies are designed to give birth and that means the tendons in their lower body are more elastic than men’s.   As a result, their joints have less stability and increased laxity, making them more prone to injuries.   Also, because women’s hips are wider than their knees, their knee joints are not aligned as straight as men’s which can lead to a higher rate of knee injuries osteoarthritis in later life. 

Genetics:  Osteoarthritis runs in families and they see a strong genetic link for this condition in women.  Women whose mothers developed osteoarthritis will probably find  they will develop it in the same joints around the same age as their moms.

Hormones:  Researchers believe that female hormones play an important nutritional role for cartilage and have found that estrogen actually protects cartilage from inflammation which can lead to osteoarthritis.  After menopause, women’s estrogen levels dramatically decrease and they lose that protection, which can result in osteoarthritis, even if they are on hormone replacement therapy.

Activity:  Today’s women are more involved in sports and other high impact activities causing more joint injuries and premature cartilage wear.

Women with persistent knee pain and/or a family history of osteoarthritis, should get their knees checked by an orthopedic surgeon.  Women who prolong treatment may experience less optimal outcomes than women who proactively seek early treatment for knee pain.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Paul Atkenson or Dr. Robert Atkenson, please call 708 489-7925.