by Margaret Currie
Causes
- Anyone can suffer a knee injury in their normal
day-to-day activities.
- Knee injuries can be caused by a change in activities such
as prolonged kneeling when gardening or over-excercise such as unaccustomed
walking, especially on pavement. A fall, accidents or even a small twist can
hurt the knee. Osteoarthritis is a common cause of knee pain. This is a wearing
of the joint surface and thinning of the cartilage. Knee joint inflammation
can be due to injury or to any one of many kinds of arthritis.
- Even wearing a different pair of shoes can cause injury through
stress on muscles and tendons around the knee joint. Changing the way
you move to avoid pain in some other part of the body can put the knee out
of alignment which can cause injury when weight bearing. For example, a stiff
ankle or painful hip can cause increased stress and strain at the knee when
walking, so irritating the knee joint mechanism.
- Of course, inappropriate, stylish, unsupportive shoes are
recipes for back and knee problems.
Treatments
- Depending on the type and degree of the injury, the treatment
may be rest and the application of ice to control swelling. Gentle
excercises are important to regain the flexibility around the joint, to strengthen
the thigh muscles (hamstrings and quadriceps) and to encourage the scar tissue
to form itself in the proper alignment. A knee support or tensor bandage
from the drugstore is often helpful for increased stability and confidence.
- A cane held in the hand on the OPPOSITE side of the injury
will lighten the load when weight bearing. Of course being over-weight
puts an added load on the knees.
- Of course, you should consult your doctor before taking
medicines and you might be prescribed anti-inflammatories if the
joint is inflamed, swollen, hot and red, or pain-killers if there is
pain.
- In most case soft tissue injuries heal in three to six
weeks.
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