How are your knees? If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance they hurt. Many people ignore it. Until it gets to a point they can’t. How do you deal with it? You shouldn’t be suffering. Knowing what it’s from is step one. Then, you can deal with it. It could be a simple fix. But it might require professional help. Let’s take a look. So you can alleviate nagging knee pain for good.
These Are the Top Causes of Knee Pain
Here’s the thing. There are countless reasons for knee pain. At least 25% of adults experience it regularly. If you want to deal with it, you need to understand why it hurts. Knee pain is never normal. The body is designed to support you. Not work against you. Here are a few things that could be to blame.
1) Natural Wear and Tear
The biggest reason for knee pain? Arthritis. This happens from regular wear and tear as you age. Osteoarthritis is very common. It happens over time, as cartilage in the knee wears down. It’s typically seen in people over 50. Post-traumatic arthritis is another culprit. You won’t feel it right away. More like years after the injury. Maybe you experienced a slight tear skiing 10 years ago. Or a fracture when you were younger that didn’t heal correctly.
2) Injuries
It seems obvious. But injuries often result in knee pain. It could be from something simple. Bending your knee too far in the wrong direction. This can cause a tear in the ACL or MCL. Both are super common. These tears typically occur in sports with sudden changes in direction. Or quick stops. Meniscus tears are another one. The meniscus cushions the knee joint. Twisting wrong can cause this C-shaped cartilage to tear. Tendinitis can also lead to knee pain. It happens over time. This causes inflammation in the tendons from repetitive motion. Like cycling. Running.
3) Blunt Force Trauma
Ever experience a hard hit to your bones? Or muscles? This can cause major pain. Maybe you twisted your ankle. Had a hit to the leg while playing sports. This blunt force is no joke. It can lead to serious knee pain. Seeking prompt medical attention is crucial. You could have a break or a fracture. And not even know it.
3) An Injury That’s Not Your Knee
The body is designed beautifully. Everything is connected. Meaning an injury somewhere else in the body can result in knee pain. Remember the old song “Dem Bones” from childhood?
The knee bone’s connected to the thigh bone,
The thigh bone’s connected to the hip bone,
The hip bone’s connected to the backbone
The backbone’s connected to the neck bone,
The neck bone’s connected to the head bone,
The finger bone’s connected to the hand bone,
The hand bone’s connected to the arm bone,
The arm bone’s connected to the shoulder bone…
A minor toe injury can cause knee pain! That knee problem could be from a totally unrelated issue. Say you hurt your toe. Or have a crick in your neck. This can throw off how you move. Alter your gait. Because you’re favoring your injured toe. This makes the leg rotate incorrectly. Making the knee work harder. Or throwing it out of alignment.
4) Being Overweight
Get this. Just 5lbs of excess body weight can affect your knees. Being overweight increases the load on your knees. This leads to inflammation. Wear and tear on the cartilage. Every step you take puts more pressure on the knees. It’s also a major risk of developing osteoarthritis. If you’re inactive, excess weight will weaken the muscles surrounding the knee. All of it leads to pain.
Dealing with Knee Pain at Home
You can 100% deal with knee pain at home. Simple things help. Tremendously. Watch for inflammation. It’s a sign of trauma. If your knee is inflamed, don’t ignore it. Try the R.I.C.E. method. Rest. Ice. Compress. Elevate. Apply a cold pack to your knee. It helps reduce swelling. This also helps reduce pain. Put a tight compress around the knee. An ACE bandage wrapped around the knee for 5-10 minutes restricts blood flow. Elevate your leg. Above the heart. This increases blood flow to the heart. What if this doesn’t help? Or the pain persists after a couple of weeks? See a medical professional. Immediately.
Stretching could help. Tight muscles lead to knee pain. Reducing it can be as simple as stretching regularly. Hamstring stretches. Quads. Calves. Hips. All support your knees. Stretching is an easy way to deal with knee pain. Take a yoga class a few times a week. Start light. Meet yourself where you’re at. But stay consistent. Your muscles will allow for more intensity with time. And your knees will thank you for it.
Pay attention to your habits. Your lifestyle. It helps determine the root cause of your pain. Any expert would ask about these details. In the chance you need to see a professional, it will come in super handy. Try writing down your symptoms. Your day-to-day activities. In the end, this will help you figure out what’s causing your knee pain.
When to Get Help for Knee Pain
If your knee constantly hurts, there’s a good chance it’s not going away by itself. You could need professional help. Does your knee go numb? Do you experience shooting pain? How about not being able to bend your knee after sitting? Seek medical attention. Even seeing a chiropractor could help.
As holistic chiropractors, we see people with knee pain constantly. Chiropractors are trained to deal with knee pain naturally. We know how your body works. Meaning, we can determine the main cause of your discomfort. Our approach is gentle. We practice a technique called Network Spinal Analysis in San Diego. There’s no cracking. We’ll never pop anything back into place. Instead, we use gentle touches along the spine. Knee pain can be from something as simple as misalignment. Poor posture. Sitting at a desk all day. If this is the case, spinal manipulation could be the perfect solution.
Deal With Your Knee Pain Once and For All
Preventing joint pain completely isn’t realistic. The body supports everything you do. This means you’ll likely experience knee pain at some point in your life. You can still reduce its impact. Try some of the things mentioned here. If your pain doesn’t subside, don’t ignore it. Knee pain will only get worse. And can lead to serious issues down the road. There’s zero reason to suffer with long-term discomfort.