What Causes the Knee Pain?

December 08, 2023
Posted by Justin T
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Knee pain is an incapacitating ailment that interferes with day-to-day activities. On the other hand, knee pain can be reduced or even avoided with proper management and prevention techniques. Fivalifitness.com will discuss a few important methods in this blog post that can help prevent and treat knee pain.

Common Causes

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common degenerative joint disease affecting the knee joints. It is characterized by progressive degeneration of cartilage at bone ends, resulting in painful stiffness and knee bulging. Risk factors that may be associated with the development of osteoarthritis include physical trauma, aging, genetics, and obesity.

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Two of the more common activities that produce repetitive knee flexion and can lead to patellofemoral pain syndrome include running and jumping. Characteristic pain in the area surrounding the kneecap, located on the front of the knee, distinguishes patellofemoral pain syndrome. Risk factors for patellofemoral pain syndrome include muscle imbalances, improper training methods, and excessive use of the knee joint.

Meniscus Tears

A very common knee injury, which might be associated with some pain, swelling, and stiffness, is a tear in one of the menisci. Menisci are pieces of C-shaped cartilage that cushion the knee joint and act as shock absorbers. These may tear due to gradual degeneration or sudden twisting or pivoting. Symptoms depend on the severity of the tear and may include pain, swelling, and limited mobility. If left unattended, a meniscus tear may result in chronic injury of the knee joint.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries

The ACL is one of the ligaments that maintain knee stability. ACL injuries are prevalent in most athletes and may be a result of direct blows to the knee as well as rapid stops and changes in direction.

Bursitis

Bursitis is due to the inflammation of the bursae, which are small sacs filled with fluid used to cushion the joint of the knee. This inflammation is typically caused by infection, trauma, or overuse. This condition results in redness, swelling, and soreness around the joint.

Prevention and Management

Strengthening Exercises: Strengthening exercises will help reduce knee pain by strengthening the muscles around the knee joint, improving shock absorption, enhancing flexibility, and increasing range of motion. Exercises that can help with knee pain include leg extensions, hamstring curls, calf raises, squats, lunges, and step-ups. These should be done with proper technique and as instructed by a physician to avoid exacerbating current knee pain or causing injury to newly recovered tissue.
Wear Supportive Equipment: Supportive equipment is another treatment strategy for knee pain. Fivali knee braces, such as the hinged knee brace, help stabilize the knee and reduce further injuries that could aggravate the condition or lead to increased pain. The knee braces will also protect the knee from undue abrasion by reducing the level of stress one places on the knee joint during physical activities.
See a Doctor: A doctor will be able to diagnose precisely what the cause of one's knee pain is and advise accordingly on a line of treatment. This may include medication, physical therapy, and surgery for extreme cases. The doctors may recommend knee braces, orthotics, or compression sleeves, and also advise on exercises or other activities that can help alleviate knee pain. This early medical intervention can help halt further damage to the knee joint and, overall, improve the quality of one's life.
Rest and Recovery: In managing knee pain, both rest and recovery play crucial roles. A reduction in inflammation and hastening of the healing process can be achieved by stopping events that irritate the knee and giving the knee time to heal.

It is also crucial to understand the root cause of knee pain for effective prevention and management. Whatever the reason may be, whether it is faulty training techniques, overuse, or an underlying medical condition, one will know what to do about one's knees.