Knees take a beating in life, particularly if you have played sports in your youth, run or jogged for exercise, or had knee injuries, such as ACL tears (anterior cruciate ligament tears). The cushioning of the meniscus in the knee joint gets worn down or damaged with age and use. Lubrication, called synovial fluid, dries up.

So - what are you to do about exercise if you have knee pain?

First, see a good orthopedic specialist, who has a sub-specialty in sports medicine, for an evaluation. You need to know from an expert exactly what you are dealing with. You can only devise a good exercise program when you know just how much to push and just how much to limit your activity. Ask your physician for specific recommendations about what you can and cannot do when you exercise.

Paradoxically, some knee pain will lessen with mild to moderate exercise. Ask your orthopedic doctor to prescribe several sessions of physical therapy to get you started with some knowledgeable supervision. Then you can continue on your own.

It was a surprise that Louise, who was severely overweight and had massive damage to her knees, benefited from physical therapy. Strengthening the supporting muscles and ligaments around her knee joints with certain specific, limited exercises helped take some of the pressure off of her damaged knees, while she waited for knee replacement surgery.

Hopefully you are not in that category. For most boomers it is a matter of engaging in and enjoying non-weight bearing exercise. For instance it may be time to give up the basketball court for the swimming pool. It may be time to replace your jogging time with a bicycling time to take the pressure off of your complaining knees. They are complaining for a good reason.

Keep in mind that the leg muscles above and below your knee, front and back, must be stretched regularly to help your knee joint remain in alignment and flexible.

Stretch your hamstrings by sitting on the floor, steps or a low chair and bend slowly from the waist.

Stretch your quadriceps muscles, the muscles on the front of the thigh, by pulling your foot up behind your buttocks - gently and slowly.

Stretch your calf muscles by standing on something, like a book or a step, so that you heel is lower than the ball of your foot.

See your doctor if you have knee pain and get it evaluated. Then you can trust that your exercise is helping, not hurting, your knee joints. It is most important to keep on exercising in the best way for your body's well being.