Former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan's painful knees put an end to his sporting career. But today he's pain-free and active - and wants to help the one in four of us also suffering knee problems. Abi Jackson reports.

 

When Michael Vaughan quickstepped and jived across the Strictly Come Dancing dance floor last year, he looked to all intents and purposes in great shape.

Yet four years ago, at the age of 35, Vaughan had retired from cricket due to a troublesome right knee which, despite four operations over the years, caused him immense pain.

For any sportsperson - particularly one at the top of their game like Vaughan, who was hailed the most successful England cricket captain in history with a record 26 Test wins from 51 matches in charge - being forced to quit because your body's no longer up to the job is devastating.

But knee pain isn't just a problem for professional sportspeople. A recent survey by Bupa revealed that one in four Britons experienced knee pain at some point during the past year, and a third of those (34%) have been suffering for more than five years.

More than two-fifths (42%) confessed they didn't bother seeing their GP, mainly because they believed 'nothing can be done' about it anyway.

Vaughan's ballroom boogies may not have won him a place in the Strictly final, but they did demonstrate that there is hope for chronic knee pain sufferers.

"Since doing the show and the tour after Christmas, my knee's never felt better. I don't play a lot of football but I have played a couple of matches and my knees felt as good as it did when I was 18 or 19," says Vaughan, adding that it's ages since he needed painkillers.

So what's his secret? "Lifestyle changes and training," he says. "I think one of the main problems is, when you have a knee problem or any problem, you think, 'Ah, just rest it, do nothing', sit on your chair and put a bit of ice on it. And everyone's different but I really found that being active and strengthening the muscles really helped me."

The father of three, who lives in Derbyshire, has teamed up with Bupa to launch their new online knee clinic.

The free website enables people to match their symptoms with common knee conditions and read about the treatment options available, as well as general tips and advice for coping with, and hopefully overcoming, their problem.

"There's staggering statistics about people that have knee problems and don't go and see their doctors," says Vaughan, 38. "I guess I can understand that, but this is where the Bupa knee clinic website will be crucial, because you can find out what's going on with your knee so when you go and see your doctor you can ask better questions, and you'll have more of a list of what can be done to help your knee.

"There are always things that can help, whether it's physiotherapy, lifestyle changes, right through to podiatry and injections.

"A lot of people think if they just sit on a chair it'll get better, but it generally doesn't."

As Vaughan says, for him being active has been vital. Retiring from cricket was a positive decision as he knows carrying on may have caused more long-term damage to his knee.

"I managed to get two-and-a-half years more out of my career than I thought I would after my last op, but it was more to do with when I retired, I wanted to have an active life when I finished. I don't want to be a 38-year-old dad and not able to play football in my garden with my kids," he says.

And he's achieved that, spending many a happy hour playing rounders, tennis and football with his two daughters and son, aged three, seven and eight.

"The first few months after I retired, I didn't do a great deal and my knee started to get worse. It was really sore and started to become awkward, just walking around the house and up the stairs," he explains.

"Then I started seeing a physio and trying to do a bit more on it and strengthening the muscles around the knee, and became very active. The more I did, the better I became."

Vaughan's keen to stress that he increased his activity levels with expert supervision, following the advice of his physio.

Just as ignoring symptoms can worsen knee injuries and conditions, so too can ploughing on with the wrong sort of exercise too soon.

This is another aim of the website - to advise on what people should and shouldn't be doing, and when expert advice should be sought.

"I know my limits and I know how to manage my knee," says Vaughan. "I have to be careful - I know I don't really want to go on a five-mile run because I get really aggravated by that and I don't really want to play too many games of football.

"I do lots of cycling and go to the gym, do lots of squats and rowing and I feel that's the best way I've been able to cope with it."

He's paid attention to his diet too. "Well, I just make sure I eat the right stuff," he says, as carrying excess weight can be a big factor in knee pain, due to increased pressure on the joints.

"I'm not going out on the cricket field for nine hours a day any more. I train hard when I can, but I try and eat the right things at the right times. I always have a good brekkie, very important meal and kind of a freebie in my eyes - you can put down your neck whatever you want!"

Vaughan was 15 when he first started experiencing knee pain during school football matches.

"Then I started playing cricket and when I was 18 I had keyhole surgery to trim the cartilage," he recalls. "I look back now and I think that was a little too early really to be having my first knee operation. I had four in total throughout my career and, with every one that you have, it does become that little bit more difficult to come back from."

Vaughan's far from alone as a cricketer - or indeed any type of sportsperson - who's vulnerable to knee injuries.

In cricket, bowlers tend to suffer more than batsmen, as their fast stride puts increased pressure on the cartilage, which plays a crucial role in keeping joints stable and absorbing shock. Pressure and general wear and tear can damage it, or it can be torn when twisted or pulled suddenly.

Cartilage can't repair itself which is why, without the correct treatment - often involving building up the big supporting muscles around the joint - problems can worsen over time.

In some cases, this can lead to an increased risk of arthritis, chronic pain and mobility difficulties. Muscle injuries are also extremely common.

But you don't have to be a professional cricketer to experience these injuries, or the affects of wear and tear.

"I think it's common in life. Look at the stats - one in four people struggling with knee problems, it's out there," says Vaughan. "We all need our knees! We need to be able to move around and be active so I guess it's a joint that will have its problems, but there are ways of being able to manage it and live with it."


:: For more information visit clinic.bupa.co.uk/knee