More than 600,000 knee replacements are performed in the United States each year, and that number is expected to go up.
Doctors say some people are better candidates for a knee replacement than others. Experts say the average patient for the surgery these days is in their 60's, many are overweight, and people who are Caucasian and female are at higher risk for needing the procedure.
If your parents may have had a knee replacement, there's a chance you'll need one, too.
Very active people may also need a knee replacement down the road, and if you're young and overweight, you may already be a candidate.
"There's actually some data that shows that if you're obese by the age 18, your need for a knee replacement actually goes up by over 500%," said Dr. Wael Barsoum of Cleveland Clinic.
Dr. Barsoum says the number of knee replacements done each year is expected to go up significantly over the next 15 years as the "baby boomer" population ages.
