For nearly a year, Sullivan, Mo. resident, Garnet Rutledge, 79, dealt with inexplicable pain in her right knee causing her to limp when she walked. She tried a knee brace and outpatient physical therapy, which offered temporary relief, but nothing really seemed to help get rid of the pain.

The Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital EMS Academy will offer a spring 2024 EMT-Basics Training course beginning May 6. Applications must be received by April 19 and are available at Sullivan Fire Protection District Station 5.

Our knees tend to show more wear and tear as we age, including soreness, aching, and general discomfort from simple daily movements like walking, exercising, and even standing. One of the common underlying causes of knee pain is osteoarthritis, which occurs as the cartilage in the joint deteriorates causing inflammation. Bourbon resident Mike Johnson, 52, had been battling chronic knee pain in his right knee due to osteoarthritis since around age 40. He had resorted to receiving cortisone injections while under the care of an orthopedic specialist in Washington, Mo., which helped for a few years.