According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 19 percent of Americans experience frequent and lasting knee pain. Untreated knee pain can interfere with daily life and your ability to get around effectively. Furthermore, continuing to place demands on the affected knee while neglecting treatment can eventually result in serious or permanent injury. Fortunately, there are many ways to get treatment for knee pain and get back to your life.
Reduce Inflammation
Inflammation causes more pain and makes a joint stiff and vulnerable, so taking steps to reduce it makes sense. Ice is a classic in the treatment of knee pain, but you’ll have to limit your movement for at least ten minutes after to avoid injury. Bromelain, an enzyme derived from pineapple, also fights inflammation and pain while accelerating healing.
R&R
When it comes to your knee pain treatment, staying off your feet for a while can make a huge difference. Without adequate rest, the joint will never be able to start recovering, and you may just worsen it in the long run.
Knee Brace
In some cases, wearing a knee brace can help stabilize the joint and minimize pain. These are especially good to wear if you have an active lifestyle. Beware of depending on it too much, though. Prolonged use can prevent the muscles surrounding your knee from strengthening, causing them to atrophy and weaken. This puts you at a significantly higher risk of injury.
Low-Impact Exercise
Many instances of knee pain are caused by strain injuries to the muscles, tendons or ligaments, which often results from poor knee strength. It’s important to strengthen the knees during knee pain treatment in order to prevent re-injury. For this, choose low-impact exercises like yoga, swimming, cycling or using an elliptical trainer.
Massage
Massage is becoming a popular tool in the treatment of knee pain. Because it relaxes muscles, reduces inflammation and improves blood flow, massaging a painful knee can speed healing and minimize discomfort.
Knee Injections
Many times, home remedies just aren’t enough. While they may work well for mild cases of knee pain, heavier duty treatment is often required. When pain is chronic and severe or doesn’t respond to simpler measures, consider making an appointment at KneePainDoc.com for a corticosteroid knee injection or our viscosupplementation injection (knee lubricant). These injections are common, safe and effective treatments for knee pain.