Knee issues are common, particularly in older people. With age, it may become increasingly difficult to climb steps, walk, or get out of or into a chair. Your joints may get swollen and cause intense pain. Your knees play a significant role in maintaining proper mobility, as they are the largest joint present in the human body. Your knees experience tremendous wear and tear over time. Injury, osteoarthritis, excess weight or obesity, and also lack of strength in your muscles may lead to knee problems and pain. One of the most effective ways of staying healthy is preventing injuries. Moreover, you should take proper care of the knee joints to ensure pain-free and smooth mobility.
Knee Issues: Some Common Symptoms
- Weakness
- Swelling
- Stiffness
- Redness
- Popping sounds whenever you move
- Pain
- Failing to straighten your knee completely
Medical conditions, knee injuries, etc. play a critical role in impacting overall knee health. Common injuries like a torn meniscus, ACL injury, bursitis, fracture, and tendinitis adversely affect knee health. Osteoarthritis is a condition involving cartilage deterioration in your knee joint. It is a condition that impacts more women, as compared to men, and occurs with age. You may contact QC Kinetix (Westover Hills) for effective regenerative treatment to alleviate knee pain. You may follow the map provided below:
What Causes Knee Pain?
There are a number of potential causes of knee pain, and it can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint the exact cause. Some common causes include:
-Arthritis: Arthritis is a common cause of knee pain, particularly in older adults. There are a variety of different types of arthritis, but all involve inflammation of the joints, which can lead to pain and stiffness.
-Bursitis: Bursitis is an inflammation of the bursae, which are small fluid-filled sacs that act as cushions between bones and tendons. When the bursae become inflamed, they can cause pain and stiffness in the affected joint.
-Injury: Injury to any of the structures around the knee (including the ligaments, tendons, or cartilage) can lead to knee pain. This type of pain is often seen in athletes who participate in contact sports.
-Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis is a degenerative form of arthritis that occurs when the cartilage that cushions the joints breaks down. This can lead to pain, stiffness, and inflammation in the affected joint.
Tips to Maintain Knee Health
Knee pain may be severe. It may adversely impact your usual way of life and hamper daily activities. Here are a few tips to minimize the stress and risk of injury to your knees. Follow these tips to safeguard your knees with age.
Avoid Obesity or Overweight
It is crucial to focus on maintaining a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese may lead to arthritis, injury, and trigger pain. Due to being overweight, there is excess pressure or stress on your knees. This may lead to complications like increased inflammation. Effective weight loss may help reduce the load and stress on your knees. Maintaining an ideal weight is best for your knee health and your overall wellness.
Exercises/Stretches for the Knee
One of the best exercises you can do for your knees is to simply straighten and flex them regularly throughout the day. This helps keep the joints mobile and lubricated, which reduces wear and tear on the knee joint.
Another excellent exercise for knee pain relief is bicycling. Bicycling puts minimal stress on the knees, making it an ideal form of exercise for people with knee pain. Swimming is another great low-impact activity that can help reduce knee pain.
If you have arthritis or other degenerative conditions affecting your knees, there are several specific exercises and stretches that can help reduce pain and improve range of motion. For example, doing gentle range-of-motion exercises like leg lifts can help keep the joints mobile. And stretching exercises like Hamstring curls can help lengthen tight muscles around the knee joint, which reduces stress on the joint.
Opt for Biking or Walking to Stay Healthy & Active
Once the knees’ cartilage becomes worn or damaged, you may experience intense pain, stiffness, and issues moving. Biking or walking and other low-impact exercises may assist in strengthening the legs and rebuilding the joints. Moreover, walking is best for losing weight and staying fit and active. You may try exercising or walking for 30 minutes daily many times a week for strengthening your knees.
Try Regenerative Medicine for Pain Alleviation
According to the National Library of Medicine, some conservative treatments and lifestyle modifications are recommended to manage mild knee osteoarthritis or KOA. Fortunately, KOA patients now have the opportunity of availing some promising treatment alternatives with the advent of regenerative medicine. PRP or platelet-rich plasma and MSCs or mesenchymal stem cell injections may be used for effective pain alleviation, tissue repair, and restoring functionality in KOA patients.
Conclusion
You may focus on improving your posture since poor posture may lead to joint pain. Stretching your muscles can be best for loosening your muscles, reducing stress on the knee joints, and boosting mobility and flexibility. Do not neglect pain. Address pain and other health issues at once by seeking expert medical intervention.
