Wake up to your risks for knee replacement
Wear and tear from work, play, injuries and the march of time is often blamed for the osteoarthritis-caused joint pain that around 33 million Americans battle daily. But it turns out, there's another powerful trigger of knee and hip osteoarthritis (OA) and pain -- a disrupted circadian rhythm, AKA unhealthy sleep patterns.
Your circadian rhythms impact sleep-wake patterns, hormone release, metabolism and your risk for obesity (a major cause of inflammation and osteoarthritis), and it turns out, help your body maintain and repair cartilage and other joint tissues.
Interfering with circadian rhythms can bring you to your knees -- literally. A study in Arthritis Care & Research shows that folks who get less than six hours of sleep nightly are 41% more likely to have knee osteoarthritis and 31% more likely to have a total knee replacement (TKR). Folks with insomnia have a 34% higher risk of OA and a 40% increased risk of a TKR. Nightshift workers are also affected; it was found to increase their risk of TKR by 28%.
If you have OA and your sleep cycle is off-kilter, building muscle strength with power training or doing interval training plus sleep therapy (usually based on cognitive-behavioral therapy) helps achieve sounder, more regular sleep. GLP-1s may also help.
You're aiming for a wake-sleep cycle that's (more or less) 24 hours long, going from waking around daylight to daytime alertness, an after-lunch energy dip, and melatonin-driven sleepiness around 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. And want to wake up to even less pain? Check out 4YOUngevity.com for cutting-edge info.
Health pioneer Michael Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic and author of four No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. Check out his latest, "The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow," and find out more at www.4YOUngevity.com. Email your health and wellness questions to Dr. Mike at questions@4YOUngevity.com.
(c)2026 Michael Roizen, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
(c) 2026 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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