Control your weight: Remember, your knees support almost all of your weight. Every extra cupcake and order of fries may seem to go to your belly or thighs, but in reality, the weight goes to your knees. Eat right and try to stay as close to your ideal weight as possible and keep the strain off of your joints, ligiments and tendons. Obesity can even lead to the development of osteoarthritis.

Get in shape: As a compliment to the previous suggestion, keeping your muscles strong and flexible is a great way to stave off the effects of chronic knee pain. Weak muscles are the leading cause of knee injuries, so instead of lounging in front of the TV, head to the gym for a workout or go for a brisk walk, your knees will thank you in the end. Also, try to incorporate flexibility into your workout regimen. Make sure you stretch before any workout, no matter how benign it might seem.

Exercise the right way: If you already have chronic knee pain or arthritis in your knees, you need to tailor your exercise regimen around your current situation. Remember, even if you have chronic knee pain, it's not an excuse to not be active, you just have to be active in a way that will help your situation, not hurt it. Things like swimming or water aerobics can be just as helpful and are low-impact compared to jogging, or playing a game of basketball. If you love a game of hoops, try playing less often and doing other low-impact activities more frequently. The most important thing is to stay active.

Know your shoe size: This one seems like a no-brainer, but a startling large amount of people don't wear the correct size shoes. Or they chose the wrong type of shoes for the activity they are participating in. Shoes designed for running aren't made for the sharp pivots and turns that are common in basketball, while shoes designed for tennis are. They say the shoes make the man, and in this case, the shoes can make or break the health of your knees.

Kneepads and braces: Make sure you utilize these joint-saving pads when you need them. If you're playing a sport that causes a lot of trauma to the knee, like basketball or volleyball, wear a knee brace. If you're on your knees hooking up a computer or laying carpet, wear knee-pads. And believe it or not, most shattered kneecap injuries happen in auto accidents, so wear a seatbelt, and protect your knees as well as your life.

Your body knows all: Plain and simple, if your knees hurt, relax and read a book. The likelihood of injuries to your whole body, knees included, rise dramatically when you're tired or if your joints are fatigued.

Remember, your knees can take a beating but you only get two. Treat them right and they will be there to treat you right.