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Shah Rukh Khan discharged; doctors warn of treadmill workout hazards

The orthopaedist said that one in five arthroscopic surgeries done by him are because of over-exercise. "Arthroscopic surgery is generally needed in four categories – age related problems, trauma, diseases like tuberculosis or rheumatoid arthritis and over-exercising," he said.

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On Friday, actor Shah Rukh Khan was discharged from Breach Candy Hospital after a successful arthroscopic surgery – a minimally invasive procedure – on his left knee was done on Thursday. The doctor who treated him said that Khan will have to rest for a few weeks, followed by physiotherapy sessions. Orthopaedic surgeons say that injury to knee and shoulders are getting common among youngsters who want to be fit and over-exercise without proper supervision.

Dr Sanjay Desai, the surgeon who operated on Khan, said: "He had pre-mature wear-out of the kneecap due to repeated injuries, lifestyle issues, and the physical activities he does. Like him, we are seeing many youngsters who want to stay fit and over-exercise leading to knee or shoulder injury.

The orthopaedist said that one in five arthroscopic surgeries done by him are because of over-exercise. "Arthroscopic surgery is generally needed in four categories – age related problems, trauma, diseases like tuberculosis or rheumatoid arthritis and over-exercising," he said.

According to the city orthopaedists, many fitness freaks who prefer to run only on treadmills are ending up with knee problems. Experts say that many people think that working out on a treadmill for half an hour or 45 minutes is the best alternative to walking, but this is a myth and can cause injuries to knees.

Dr Dilip Nadkarni, orthopaedic surgeon at Lilavati Hospital gave an example of a recent patient of his – a 23-year-old patient who was about to get married and wanted to lose weight quickly.

He said: "In her attempt to lose weight, she stopped her carbohydrate intake drastically, wasn't hydrating her body, there was salt restriction in her diet and she over-exercised. Due to all of this, ended up damaging her knee cartilage and we needed to operate on her."

Nadkarni said that these days, youngsters are in a hurry to become fit, and neglect the need to have supervised exercise sessions. "They overdo exercises like heavy squatting and more time on the treadmill, and end up getting injured. An unscientific fitness regime causes more harm than keeping one fit," added the doctor.

Doctors also mentioned about weekend exercise trends getting popular among office goers. "With busy schedules, people tend to hit the gym only on weekends. They try to fulfil the week's exercise quota within those two days, and end up visiting orthopaedic surgeons on Monday with injuries," said Nadkarni.

The knee is the largest and most complicated joint in the body, and support one's entire body weight.

With most urban professionals working at desk jobs, sedentary lifestyle and weight gain are major culprits. Being a fitness freak and over-exercising can prove counter-productive too.

A consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Jaslok hospital, Dr Ameet Pispati said: "We have been noticing a rising number of youngsters landing up with knee pain. Almost all the cases have one common factor –spending a lot of time on the treadmill. People with weak muscle around the knee are more prone to knee injury while working out on the treadmill. Long workout on the machine has resulted in softening and wearing out of the kneecap," added Dr Pispati.

Doctors suggest that people trying to lose weight should begin with cycling or swimming, and invest in a good pair of shoes if they are working out on a treadmill.

Few Do's and Don'ts
Simple stretches and warm-ups before you start exercising can help prevent knee muscle damage.
Wear shoes with good insoles. If you are flat-footed, ensure that the arch of your foot is cushioned well.

Yoga and stretching exercises are better options. They exercise all the muscles and keep them flexible.

People above 35 should be more cautious while using treadmills. It's great for the heart, but puts undue pressure on your knees.

Walking on the inclined mode of a treadmill is a bad idea. When you walk on level ground, your body weight is distributed on both legs. Climbing an incline puts pressure on your joints, shifting body weight on one knee.

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