Common Causes of Knee Discomfort | How Exercise Can Help You Manage Knee Pain
The National Institutes of Health report that approximately one of every four American adults suffers knee pain that limits their function or mobility. Reports also indicate that the number of total knee replacements has gone up dramatically. What are the common causes of knee pain? What types of exercise regimens are available to effectively treat knee pain without surgery?
Common Causes of Knee Pain
The knee joint involves four different types of connective tissue: ligaments, cartilage, tendons, and muscles. It’s the workhorse joint of your lower body, involved in virtually any type of activity, from walking or bending to running, lifting, and simply standing. As a consequence, it’s subject to both traumatic injury and long-term wear and tear.
Knee pain stems either from aging, overuse, or traumatic injury. The condition most often associated with aging or overuse is osteoarthritis, a degenerative condition involving the deterioration or loss of cushioning (cartilage) in the knee joint, leading to pain, inflammation, and loss of range of motion. The common traumatic injuries that lead to knee pain include:
- Sprains and tears of ligaments—Your knee has four ligaments that control its movement. A tear or sprain to any one of those can cause instability and significant pain.
- Tears to the meniscus (cartilage) that provides padding between the bones in your knee
- Tendonitis, where the tendons that connect muscle to bone are strained or pulled, most often due to overuse but also through overextension of your knee
- Muscle sprains, strains, or tears
Can Exercise Help You Alleviate Knee Pain Without Surgery?
Yes. Studies show that properly managed exercise can provide a wide range of benefits when you’re experiencing knee pain:
- Exercise can build strength in the muscles around your knee, improving stability and reducing stress on the entire joint.
- Exercise can release endorphins, which can enhance your mood and minimize pain.
- Exercise can reduce inflammation, often a source of discomfort.
- Exercise has been shown to help prevent deterioration of the meniscus.
- Exercise can improve your range of motion, which can in turn reduce your pain levels.
Contact Core Medical Center Today To Learn How We Can Help Alleviate Your Knee Pain
Are you suffering from knee pain? Is it keeping you from doing the things you love or participating in day-to-day activities? At Core Medical Center, we have the knowledge, experience, skill, and resources to accurately and quickly evaluate any type of knee injury and identify care options to keep your pain from ruling your life. To learn more, contact Core Medical Center online or call our offices in Overland Park, Kansas at (913) 386-5581.
