Knee pain: Unraveling its mysteries
People of all ages suffer from knee pain. As many people would think, it's not just for athletes and the elderly. Knee pain is a common problem that can affect anyone, from the young athlete to the older office worker. It causes discomfort and limits mobility. Knowing what knee pain, the common causes of it, possible treatments, experts' opinions and prevention measures are can be helpful for anyone suffering from or trying to prevent it.
Understand Knee Pain Basics and Statistic
The term knee pain is used to describe any discomfort or distress felt in the structures that make up the joint, including the bones, cartilages, ligaments, muscles, and tendons. The American Academy of Pain Medicine reports that almost 20 percent of Americans experienced some type of knee pain in 2009 or 2010. The prevalence of knee pain increases with age. Over 33% individuals over 65 years old experience it.
Knee pain: Common causes and symptoms
Knee pain can be caused by a variety of factors. Some of the more common causes include:
- Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease of the joints that causes cartilage to wear away.
- ACL or other ligament tears.
- Meniscal tear: damage to the meniscus caused by twisting your knee or rotating it forcefully.
- Bursitis is an inflammation caused by pressure applied repeatedly to the knee.
- Gout is an arthritis caused by excessive uric acids.
Treatments for knee pain
Treatment for knee pain depends largely on its cause. Some common treatment options include:
- Exercises that strengthen the knees and increase flexibility.
- Pain management can be helped by using medications, such as ibuprofen and stronger prescription drugs.
- Injections: Hyaluronic or corticosteroids can be injected in the knee joint to relieve pain.
- Surgery may be required in severe cases. This includes partial or total knee replacements, arthroscopy and other surgical procedures.
Expert opinions on Knee pain
According to experts, prevention is the best cure for knee pain. A study in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy found that weight control, regular exercise and wearing appropriate shoes can reduce knee pain. Some experts stress the importance of an early diagnosis to avoid further complications.
Prevention and Natural Remedies
You can manage knee pain with natural remedies or preventive measures.
- Keep a healthy body weight to minimize stress on your knees.
- Strengthen the muscles in your knees by exercising regularly.
- Take nutritional supplements such as glucosamine or chondroitin.
- Use heat or cold on the area that is in pain to reduce it.
- Avoid knee-straining activities.