The Athletically Active Middle Aged Arthritic Knee: Introduction, Demographics, Sports Participation, Epidemiology, and Types of Injuries Seen

Today's middle-aged are more active than the middle-aged generation that preceded them. Older adults are now more active. In addition to having a more active lifestyle, a perception exists that medicine, namely orthopedics, will be able to repair or correct years of use and abuse. It is becoming much more commonplace for middle-aged individuals to pursue various athletic and physical activities well into their 50s, 60s and 70s. 1 This is compounded by the fact that the population segment older than 50 years continues to grow as the baby boomer generation ages. 2 Primary care physicians, orthopedic surgeons, and various ancillary healthcare personnel are now being challenged to provide treatment strategies to these aging patients in order that they maintain their desired level of physical activity. Additional measures must be considered when treating an acute injury in the context of preexisting arthritis. Further considerations must be made when these disease processes involve patients who wish to remain physically active. Often times, the goals and expectations of the patient following treatment are unrealistic and, therefore, need to be addressed early in the doctor-patient relationship. The treatment of arthritis in these settings is an evolving concept. The purpose of this article is to introduce the demographics, sports participation, and types of injuries seen in the athletically active middle-aged arthritic knee.