This past weekend, a unique collection of people participated in a fitness class at the DP World Kite Beach Fitness Village, which was an unusual and amazing sight. At the Etisalat By E&M Main Stage, more than 200 knee surgery survivors participated in a special exercise session.
Residents with crutches and other mobility aids flocked to the village to discuss problems they had been having for some time. While some of the residents had severe knee degeneration, others who had knee replacements took part in the session to spread awareness about maximising knee health as soon as possible.
The session was attended by Emirati Mohammed Ali Abdullah and his daughter Mariam. Mohammed Ali Abdullah had his right knee replaced a few months ago after it started to deteriorate. “The session was overwhelming. Mariam supported her father as he participated in the exercise. “My father was extremely glad to have taken part and will continue with the exercises taught at the event,” Mariam added.
Since their home is far from any beaches or gyms, Mariam continued, this experience is all the more noteworthy because it “helped [her] father see the value of having strong knees and spread the word about it.” “We are honoured to support this admirable effort.”
The “Let’s Walk Again” project was being participated in by those attending the exercise class. It was started by Dr. Azam Khan, a knee replacement surgeon at Prime Hospital who is affectionately referred to by his colleagues as “Dr. Knee.” The programme seeks to raise awareness for knee osteoarthritis, a condition that affects a sizable portion of the population in the UAE.
The volunteers, who ranged in age from 10 to 80, gathered to exhibit their dedication to the cause and the benefits of regular physical activity for osteoarthritis in reducing pain and enhancing physical function.
Dr. Knee continued by saying that while many awareness campaigns exist for a variety of illnesses and conditions, there are few for knee health. The condition of one’s knees should be highly prioritised since [deteriorating knee health] can keep you paralysed [just from] daily tasks. There is a treatment for this, but that should be the last option for any individual.
He continued, “Taking care of your knees doesn’t take much work.” Exercise on a regular basis can help you save them. This programme aims to raise awareness about the importance of keeping knees in good condition to prevent osteoarthritis or knee joint wear and tear.
Leonard Eric, a 70-year-old British expat, also attended the meeting with his wife. “A few years ago, I had to get my knee replaced, and I had a pretty difficult time. “I’m here to spread awareness of the condition and to make people realise how crucial it is to take care of their naturally gifted knees,” said Eric.
“Both my wife and I found the session to be instructive. I implore young people to maintain an active lifestyle, protect their knees before they get old, and spread the word about knee health, which is undervalued in modern society.
Dr. Knee has been spreading awareness about knee health all over the world and has performed free surgeries for people with knee osteoarthritis in several nations. To highlight the significance of knee health, he has also hiked Mount Kilimanjaro and brought a patient to the base camp of Mount Everest.
