Hip and Knee Injuries Can Also Affect Young People: Here’s the Right Way to Prevent Them

Joints play a crucial role in human life and mobility. Almost every body movement involves bones and joints. Therefore, maintaining joint and bone health is extremely important. Moreover, hip and knee problems are no longer limited to older adults — young people are now increasingly at risk as well.

On May 21, 2026, National Hospital introduced its newest center of excellence, the Hip & Knee Center. With the establishment of this center, National Hospital now has a specialized clinic dedicated to providing services and treatment for patients experiencing joint problems.

“The most common complaint is pain — that’s the majority of cases. Then there are sports injuries. For hip and knee issues in older adults, the pain is usually related to wear and tear or osteoarthritis (joint calcification). In younger patients, pain is more commonly caused by sports injuries or knee instability following sports-related trauma,” explained dr. Glen Purnomo, Sp.OT, Subsp.PL(K).

With today’s lifestyle trends and growing interest in sports, dr. Glen Purnomo stated that hip and knee injuries can indeed affect younger people. The risk is no longer limited to the elderly. Without proper precautions, even young individuals who are otherwise fit and healthy may experience problems in these important joints.

“For example, padel courts are now opening everywhere, increasing the risk of injuries at younger ages. Basketball clubs are also becoming increasingly popular among school-age children. These trends may contribute to the growing number of sports injuries, especially knee injuries, among young people,” he explained.

How to Prevent Hip and Knee Problems

To help prevent hip and knee problems, dr. Glen Purnomo recommends several preventive measures, including:

1. Avoiding overuse from excessive physical activity

2. Maintaining a healthy body weight and avoiding obesity

3. Maintaining an active lifestyle through regular exercise without overtraining

4. Wearing appropriate footwear

For patients who are already experiencing hip or knee problems, consultations are available directly at the National Hospital Hip & Knee Center. Doctors will provide personalized treatment solutions tailored to each patient’s condition. The available treatment options are diverse and do not always require surgery.

Initially, doctors will evaluate the patient’s complaints through physical examinations, followed by imaging tests such as X-rays or MRI scans. In addition, he emphasized that the services provided by the National Hospital Hip & Knee Center aim to offer the safest and most comfortable solutions for patients.

“Not all knee pain cases require knee replacement surgery. We first need to determine the cause of the wear or injury. For example, not every torn meniscus needs to be repaired surgically. We must consider various patient factors as well as the findings from physical examinations,” explained dr. Glen.

“Treatment must be personalized. Decisions are made based on the patient’s symptoms, physical examination findings, imaging results, and through shared decision-making between the doctor and the patient,” concluded dr. Glen Purnomo.

For more detailed information, you can consult directly with the Orthopedic & Traumatology Specialists at the National Hospital Hip & Knee Center. Registration is available through the National Hospital App or via WhatsApp at 0813-1000-517.