Pain

Age-proof your knees

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Improving range of motion, muscle strength, and weight control can help reduce pain and make your knees feel younger.

Knee pain is common in older age, often caused by osteoarthritis (the wearing away of knee cartilage). Fortunately, there are ways to fool Father Time and postpone knee problems or even prevent them entirely. "In many cases, you can delay or avoid the need for surgical intervention, such as a knee replacement," says Dr. Lars Richardson, an orthopedic surgeon with Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.

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