How to Prevent Osteochondritis
- 1). Identify risk factors for osteochondritis. It is most common in active males, and baseball pitchers are at particular risk. Other high-risk sports include golf, gymnastics, shot put, tennis and wrestling. Vascular insufficiency also may be a contributing factor to osteochondritis.
- 2). Limit the overuse of your joints. Osteochondritis is especially common in participants of activities that place stress on your joints, especially repetitive impact movements. Strengthening exercises also may help prevent osteochondritis.
- 3). Warm up with 5 to 10 minutes of light activity and use gentle stretching to promote flexibility before exercising. Gradually increase the intensity and avoid sudden changes in the intensity of the exercise. Stop what you are doing if your knees begin to hurt because this can lead to injury.
- 4). Lose excess weight. Osteochondritis of the knees is especially prevalent in overweight patients. You should also ensure your shoes fit well and absorb shock. You should also use shoe inserts if you have flat feet.
- 5). Educate adolescents that play organized sports about the risk to joints. Proper technique for jumping, pivoting and running is needed to help the patella move in its groove properly and thus reduce the chances of injury.
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