How to Reduce Knee Pain

Knee pain is a common complaint among the general population who actively engages in physical activity. Not only in the active population, the elderly age group also seems to be vulnerable to various knee related symptoms and pain has shown to be one of the major contributors to the wide array of such complaints.

Knee pain could arise from many components of the knee and these could be from the bones, cartilages, ligaments, muscles, bursa or else from tendons. All these structures will support the movements and the stability associated with the knee joint and they will work under huge stressors as this would be one of the main joints or the regions that bears the maximum load in many postures as in standing, walking, running and jumping. Ergonometrically, the knee does not allow multi directional movements, but, would be strictly adhering to certain types of movements that will govern the movements that were mentioned before. But, if the joint is subjected to strong stressors in different or odd directions, or if these stressors are overwhelming and inconsistent, there is a possibility of causing injury to the knee joint. This could also occur with prolonged use as in wear and tear injuries.

The result of such injuries and insults would be the provocation of the inflammatory system and thus generate an inflammatory reaction in the injury site. Apart from these inflammatory reactions, it is possible to stimulate the pain sensing nerve endings as well. Both these mechanisms will cause pain and any method in order to reduce the knee pain needs to address the inflammation, direct nerve stimulation as well as to prevent further injuries to the affected region.

Some of these methods in reducing knee pain would be,

Rest, rest and more rest

Resting the knee joint would mean that further insults to the knee would be eliminated and thus allow time for the injuries to recover. It will further help in reducing the inflammatory response and thus to relieve the pain fast as well as effectively.

Cooling the knee

Using ice packs to compress the knee at intervals, for at least the first 24 – 48 hours would help to reduce the inflammatory process and thus to ease the pain.

Splinting and knee support

Both these methods will focus on joint stability as well as to prevent stressors applied in odd direction and thus cause injuries. Therefore, these would be good ways to prevent insults to the knee joint as well as to prevent accumulation of fluids which can distend the region and thus lead to pain.

Anti-inflammatory medications

These will have a direct effect on the inflammatory reactions and can be used as applications or medications that will affect through systemic circulation.

Physiotherapy

In patients who suffer from knee pain associated with arthritic conditions or else due to prolonged immobility, it would be prudent for them to be introduced to gradual physical activity to gain full range of motions with negative pain response.