Discover These Knee Pain Facts

Every day, millions of people all over the world  are suffering from knee pain. A large majority of this group are the elderly mostly affected by arthritis or osteoarthritis. In some situations, knee pain can be a result of by sports injury such as torn ligaments or muscles around the knee joint. Usually, medical specialists prescribe some over the counter drugs for knee pain treatment. These medications include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS ) which can be very beneficial for knee pain treatment.

The next procedure for knee pain treatment typically includes Physical Therapy so the area affected can be addressed well and developed thus preventing recurrence of painful knee condition. In many instances, therapy also includes massage,  heat or cold treatment, elevation and some leg strengthening exercises.

Aside from physical therapy, there are other factors that must be atken into account for effective knee pain treatment  such as activity limitations. Truth is, some movements worsen the pain and delay the progress of knee pain treatment. The following activities must be avoided if posible until the knee has healed from swelling and pain.

* Squatting
* Kneeling
* Twisting and pivoting
* Repetitive bending ( going up and down stairs)
* Jogging
* Aerobics, dancing
* Playing stop and go sports ( racquet sports like tennis and squash)
The preferred exercise equipment for the knee should provide smooth motion of the knee, optimum toning of the front and back thigh muscles (quadriceps and hamstring muscles), minimal jarring and impact to the joint, and the least possible bending motions to regain  toning. These activities are acceptable substitute to the aforementioned above.

* Water aerobics * Swimming applying the crawl stroke * Cross country ski machines * Soft platform treadmill
Ice and elevation-Ice is very good in managing pain and swelling. Ice must be applied to the knee every 2 to 4 hours at least for 15 minutes specially after physical activity. A pack of ice, frozen vegetables, or a frozen towel is fine. The swollen knee should be raised above the level of the heart while cooling it.