In-line skates can be very healthy step

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Arlington resident Carol Patch gave up bicycling and jogging in her late 30s upon protests from her deteriorating knees.

Ms. Patch knew knee-replacement surgery might be her only option if the cartilage and bone continued to wear away, so she strapped on a pair of in-line skates and discovered a way to escape surgery.

In-line skating, also known by the trademarked name Rollerblading, provides a low-impact, high-aerobic activity for those tired of hiking and biking their way from point A to point B.

The sport's safety issues are a concern, since a misstep or errant branch along a trail can mean a painful tumble. In-line skaters who wear the proper gear -- pads for knees and elbows, helmet and wrist guards -- and who don't take unnecessary risks can find the sport a welcome way to keep trim.

Ms. Patch, 56, says her knees have troubled her throughout her life. When she first started in-line skating, she didn't realize what a positive impact the sport would have. The activity provided a wealth of health benefits.

"The short-term solution is strengthening the muscles that hold the knees in place without putting additional stress on the joints. Skating does that very well," says Ms. Patch, who works with the Virginia-based Skater's Quest group as an instructor.

Last year, Ms. Patch's orthopedic surgeon confirmed she didn't need surgery since her skating workouts stabilized her knees. She likely won't need the surgery assuming she keeps rolling her way to good health.

Her knees are sturdier these days, and so is the rest of her body.

"It's improved my balance significantly," she says. For women her age and older, she says, "a broken hip is a life-shortening event."

She adds that during the winter, when the elements prevent her from skating her regular three-times-a-week regimen, the pain in her knees intensifies.