Knee problems are surprisingly common, affecting around 20 per cent of the population in both the UK and the USA, and rising to 30 per cent in people over 60. Some principle causes include osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, sports injuries, gout, and rarer conditions (such as Yersiniosis, an infectious disease). With rising rates of obesity, knee problems look set to increase as well. Some 30,000 knee replacements are performed in the UK each year, but some research suggests that there is a need for at least 15,000 more; while in the USA, 270,000 knee replacements are done a year. Yet, many of these could be delayed or avoided with the right techniques. "Treat Your Own Knees" is a practical, easy-to-use book of exercises to strengthen knees and prevent pain and problems. Written by a physical therapist, this book uses simple, effective do-it-yourself treatments for knee pain, backed up by several drawings and illustrations that clearly show the correct way to perform the exercises. These focus on the four crucial abilities every knee must have: muscular strength; flexibility; responsiveness (proprioception); and endurance. A chapter is devoted to each of these four abilities, showing what it's role is in maintaining movement and knee health, and why it is essential. The last chapter is a "master plan" that pulls together all the concepts and exercises into a time-efficient exercise program. Other chapters include: If You Strengthen Just One Knee Muscle, Make Sure It's This One; How to Get a Flexible Knee; Simple Ways to Increase Your Knee Endurance; and Some Things You May Not Have Thought About (Stress).