Expert Insights from Dr. Leon Popovitz, Orthopedic Surgeon at New York Bone & Joint Specialists
Longevity isn’t just about living longer — it’s about staying strong, mobile, and pain-free as you age. And if there’s one part of your body that holds the key to that freedom, it’s your joints.
In this blog, Dr. Leon Popovitz, top orthopedic surgeon and co-founder of New York Bone & Joint Specialists, breaks down how joint preservation directly impacts your long-term health and mobility, and the latest innovations in treatment that are changing the game.
Whether you’re recovering from an injury, navigating arthritis, or simply trying to stay active, this guide will give you the knowledge to protect your joints for life.
Why Joint Preservation Matters More Than You Think
Preserving your joints is about more than comfort. It’s about preserving your entire quality of life.
Each joint, whether it’s your knees, hips, shoulders, or spine, is lined with cartilage, the smooth, eggshell-like tissue that allows bones to glide across each other painlessly. Once cartilage begins to wear down or tear, bone grinds against bone, leading to arthritis, chronic pain, stiffness, and loss of motion.
🧠 The takeaway? The longer you can protect your cartilage, the longer you’ll be able to move freely and avoid major surgery.
Top Joint Preservation Strategies That Work
✅ 1. Control Your Weight
Excess weight increases joint compression, especially in weight-bearing joints like the knees, hips, and spine. Every extra pound adds unnecessary strain, speeding up cartilage breakdown.
A healthy weight helps reduce torque, inflammation, and wear and tear on your joints.
2. Stay Active — But Choose the Right Activities
Movement is essential, but high-impact sports or excessive strain can damage your cartilage.
Low-impact exercises like walking, cycling, swimming, or Pilates are ideal for long-term joint health. They stimulate circulation and protect cartilage without grinding it down.
Avoid overtraining, especially if you have existing joint conditions. Always prioritize core strength. Your core supports spinal alignment and reduces pressure on hips, knees, and back.
3. Minimize Inflammation Naturally
Inflammation accelerates joint degeneration, and much of it comes from what we eat.
🛑 Avoid:
- Processed foods
- Refined sugars
- Seed oils
- Packaged snacks and meats
✅ Eat more:
- Leafy greens
- Broccoli (studies show it may reduce joint inflammation!)
- Fatty fish
- Berries
- Avocados
- Turmeric
These natural anti-inflammatories nourish your joints from the inside out.
Understanding Cartilage Damage and Joint Injuries
The Meniscus & Cartilage Connection
In the knee, the meniscus acts as a cushion between the femur and tibia. When it tears (either from trauma or degeneration) it stops protecting the articular cartilage that lines your bones. Once the meniscus is damaged, cartilage begins to flake and break down, eventually leading to arthritis.
There are two types of meniscus tears:
- Traumatic tears (from sudden twisting or injury)
- Degenerative tears (from age-related wear and tear)
When is surgery needed?
- Traumatic tears in young, active patients may require surgical repair to prevent long-term damage.
- Degenerative tears typically respond well to conservative treatment like physical therapy, anti-inflammatory meds, and sometimes injections.
Surgery isn’t always the right first step, though. Preserving the natural structure often leads to better long-term outcomes.
What About Meniscus Root Tears?
One critical area of concern is the meniscus root, where the meniscus attaches to bone. A root tear, even without trauma, can cause the entire meniscus to become ineffective, which can rapidly accelerate cartilage loss and arthritis.
In these cases, early surgical repair is often recommended, especially if cartilage is still intact. Fixing the root can stop degeneration before it starts.
Should You Fix an ACL Tear?
When a younger, active person suffers an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tear, the joint becomes unstable. This instability can lead to meniscus tears and cartilage damage, increasing the risk of arthritis.
Dr. Popovitz typically recommends ACL reconstruction in these cases to:
- Restore stability
- Prevent long-term cartilage damage
- Allow for return to active living
Traditionally, ACL reconstruction uses a graft from another part of the knee (often the patellar tendon). This procedure has helped millions of patients avoid arthritis and regain active lifestyles.
New Advances in ACL Repair
Recently, orthopedic surgeons have begun using advanced ACL repair techniques, especially for younger patients with proximal (high) tears near the bone. If the remaining tissue is healthy and viable, repairing the ligament (instead of replacing it) may preserve more of your original anatomy.
It’s not for every patient, however. But in the right case, ACL repair is an exciting option that combines innovation and preservation.
How About Shoulder Dislocations?
Repeated shoulder dislocations, especially traumatic ones, can tear the cartilage lining of the shoulder joint, leading to long-term instability and arthritis.
In cases of recurring dislocation, surgical stabilization may help prevent future episodes and preserve cartilage, protecting long-term joint health.
The Rise of Regenerative Orthopedics
As medicine advances, the trend is shifting away from surgery and heading towards regenerative treatments that help your body heal itself.
Here are some groundbreaking options:
🩸 Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)
- Uses your own blood, spun to concentrate healing platelets
- Injected into damaged tissue or joints
- Shown to improve pain, reduce inflammation, and promote healing
- Great for: degenerative meniscus tears, tendonitis, early arthritis, partial rotator cuff tears
🦴 Stem Cell Therapy
- Stem cells harvested from your bone marrow or fat tissue
- Injected into damaged areas for powerful regenerative healing
- Often used for advanced joint degeneration, tendon injuries, and cartilage loss
These in-office treatments are non-invasive, safe, and are helping patients avoid surgery and extend the lifespan of their joints.
Our Philosophy: Treat the Cause, Preserve the Joint
At New York Bone & Joint Specialists, our mission is clear:
✅ Preserve your joint.
✅ Extend its function.
✅ Avoid unnecessary surgery whenever possible.
We only recommend surgery when it will truly extend the longevity of your joint- like ACL reconstruction or meniscus root repair. Otherwise, we lean into physical therapy, anti-inflammatory protocols, and the powerful effects of regenerative medicine.
Our goal isn’t just pain relief; it’s preservation, prevention, and empowering you to live fully and freely, without limitations.
Final Thoughts: Movement is Natural Medicine.
The best thing you can do for your joints? Keep moving.
Whether you’re 25 or 75, movement helps circulate fluid, strengthen muscles, and keep joints flexible. You don’t need to run marathons to get the benefits. Just walk, stretch, and stay active daily. Because when you move more, you live better. And the better you care for your joints, the more likely you are to stay strong, stable, and independent for years to come.
Want to Learn More or See a Joint Specialist in NYC?
📍 Visit us at one of our convenient New York City locations
🩺 Book an appointment today to discuss joint pain, sports injuries, or preventative care options with our team of orthopedic and sports medicine experts.
