By Carolyn M. Clancy, M.D.

January 3, 2012

Whether it's music, lifestyles, or a refuse-to-age outlook, Baby Boomers think of themselves as trailblazers. Now, that generation born between 1946 and 1964 can claim credit for another "first"—a dramatic increase in knee replacement surgeries.

Women and men between the ages of 45 and 64 were more than twice as likely to have had knee replacement surgery in 2009 than in 1997, recent data from the Agency...

Starting within days of the operation seems beneficial for those with new knees, but not hips

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Starting aquatic therapy within days after total knee replacement appears to improve patient outcomes, but that's not the case for those who've had a total hip replacement, according to a new study.

The number of patients having total knee and hip replacements is increasing, but there is a lack of agreement about the best type of post-surgical treatment...

Women and men ages 45 to 64 were 2.5 times more likely to be hospitalized for knee replacement surgery in 2009 than in 1997, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

AHRQ's analysis of hospital stays for knee replacement surgery from 1997 to 2009 found that:The rate for women ages 45 to 64 jumped from 16 to 42 stays per 10,000 people, while for men the same age, the rate climbed from 11 to 28 stays per 10,000 people.The rates...

By Amy Norton

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Older Americans are increasingly complaining of aching knees, and getting those knees replaced, even though X-ray evidence of knee arthritis is not on the rise, a new study finds.

Since the 1970s and 1980s, the percentage of older Americans reporting chronic knee pain has risen as much as three-fold -- both among people with visible signs of arthritic joints and those without any apparent arthritis.

Despite stable rates of knee arthritis, knee...