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Location 1

101 Hodencamp Rd

suite 103

Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 USA

805-402-7576

Monday:

8:00 am - 12:00 pm

1:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am - 12:00 pm

1:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am - 12:00 pm

1:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am - 12:00 pm

1:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am - 12:00 pm

1:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Why Do My Knees Hurt?

It seems that as they get older, many people expect their knees to give out. Osteoarthritis of the knee is, in fact, common in those over age 50 and knee arthroscopy is one of the most frequently done orthopedic surgeries.1 Also, increasing numbers of people are undergoing total knee replacements. The rate has been recently described as "soaring".2

What's going on? Is this mechanical failure people seem to be experiencing in their joints a new phenomenon? Or are more diagnoses being made now owing to the ready availability of CAT scans and MRI units? Are more surgeries being done owing to the abundance (at least in urban areas) of surgeons wanting to perform these procedures?

Regardless, deeper questions point to lifestyle patterns that may predispose a person to developing knee osteoarthritis. A comparison with earlier times may be useful in this context. For example, it's not well-known that people in the Middle Ages - the 11th and 12th centuries - lived into their 80s. They managed to get along without ibuprofen, without arthroscopy, and without major surgical procedures. But we live in the 21st century. What is our problem?

The major difference between the average person living 900 years ago (or even 100 years ago) and us is that most of those people did a variety of physical activities all day long. People plowed fields and chopped down trees. They built fences and did housework. They walked to the market and carried their purchases back home. They were active, frequently intensely active throughout the day, often working 6 days a week. We're just as active and work just as hard. But most of our work and activities involve a seated position. In contrast to our forebears, we sit all day. Compounding the problem, more than 2/3 of adults (in the United States, at least) do no regular exercise.
The result is that joints which were designed to perform heavy physical work are now effectively doing none. Our hips, knee, and ankles were built to support a labor-intensive lifestyle which initially involved hunting and gathering and then (for the majority of Homo sapiens) focused on agriculture. Now these large joints are inactive for most of the day. Everyone knows that a machine left untended will begin to malfunction. Dust and rust accumulate and the machine will break down, usually sooner than later. Our bodies are no different.
Thus for many of us, the short answer is that our knees hurt because we don't use them properly. Of course, some persons have medical conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis that often involve chronic knee pain. But the vast majority of knee problems are due to lack of use. What there is to do is to get active. The good news is that restoring regular vigorous exercise is easy. Walking at a modest pace for thirty minutes, five times a week, is all that it takes. You can do more, but that's a personal choice. Exercise is not a magic solution, but restoring needed activity levels is an important part of the solution to chronic knee pain.3
1Potts A, et al: Practice patterns for arthroscopy of osteoarthritis of the knee in the United States. Am J Sports Med 40(6):1247-1251, 2012
2Leskinen J, et al: The incidence of knee arthroplasty for primary osteoarthritis grows rapidly among baby boomers: A population-based study in Finland. Arthritis Rheum 64(2): 423-428, 2012
3Smith TO, et al: The effectiveness of proprioceptive-based exercise for osteoarthritis of the knee: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Rheumatol Int 2012 Jul 22 [Epub ahead of print]

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Primary Location

Monday:

8:00 am-12:00 pm

1:00 pm-6:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-12:00 pm

1:00 pm-6:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-12:00 pm

1:00 pm-6:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-12:00 pm

1:00 pm-6:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-12:00 pm

1:00 pm-6:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

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    Marie B.
  • "Sharp pain down both back of legs to me feet. All gone after 12 visits!!My wife all her general aches and pains all gone. Carpel tunnel treatment for my hands, tingling almost all gone."
    Jerry N.
  • "I love the approach here with Dr. Rosenthal. They really do promote the well being of the entire body. The services and care offered here are unparalleled. I have a much better awareness of my body and how so many factors go into maintaining a healthy body. I have and will recommend Dr. Rosenthal to anyone looking to better themselves."
    Jason B.
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    Keith P.
  • "It has been a pleasure having Dr. Rosenthal work with me. I work out HARD and I have Scoliosis in the spine. I also had vertigo, tingling in my arms and limited range of motion. Since coming here I have not had vertigo, no tingling and range of motion is much better. I thank and totally appreciate Dr. Rosenthal and staff for feeling good."
    Tom K.
  • "As a martial artist I work out my whole body on a regular basis. With injuries I sustained and constant stress on my body it became difficult to teach and train in the art I love. I came in to get help and after seeing my X-rays, and the way mybody was out of alignment I realized how much help I really need. Now in just three months time my body is in much better alignment, I am feeling so much better and my body is under a lot less stress."
    Alex R.
  • "I first came here after suffering really bad pain in my lower back. It hurt to stand up and even sitting down involved discomfort. I was met by Dr. Rosenthal and in a very professional yet caring way; and after an evaluation, Dr. Rosenthal suggested treatment. I am now in the third week of such a treatment and the improvement has already been immense. I have nothing but gratitude and respect towards Dr. Rosenthal and his team."
    Demi M.
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    Jerica A.
  • "When I came here I was extremely stressed, my body was tight and misaligned. After the first month I had major improvements. I am continuing treatment and on a path to total transformation. I have been to many treatment centers in the past and this is by far the best experience."
    Bryan S.
  • "Great results. Wonderful great people! Will definitely recommend to other people."
    Sandra F.
  • "When I first came here I was having headaches and migraines almost daily at a debilitating level. As a student it was really hard to stay focused on schoolwork. After a month of coming here the headaches disappeared. I am sleeping better and have more energy. It completely changed my day to day life and helped to get me back to the things I enjoyed."
    Jenna M.
  • "After years of neck and upper back pain, off and on, I finally feel great. I'm very thankful to Dr .Rosenthal and crew for helping me improve the quality of life. I highly them."
    Kristen F.
  • "I came in not being able to use my right arm due to horrible pain. The treatment was fully explained to me. Everyone is so helpful and warm here. They really care about you as a person and your progress. This is a very happy and wonderful place. My arm is almost back to 100% thanks to all of you."
    Julie T.