Whether you’ve had a serious injury or simply worked out too hard recently, knee pain needs to be taken seriously to prevent long-term damage. Your knee is a complex meeting of bone, muscle, and ligaments, without which you’d have trouble with many everyday tasks. If your knee is hurting, you’ll need to take it easy and follow these tips from a chiropractor, both for pain relief and to prevent the issue from getting worse.

Do:

See a chiropractor.

While chiropractors are commonly associated with back pain relief, they are also experts in the workings of your body’s other joints. Have your local provider examine your knee and make recommendations for rest, treatment, and strengthening exercises.

Use heat and ice appropriately.

If your knee pain is the result of an injury, take time to rest, ice, apply pressure, and elevate your leg to reduce swelling. This will offer you some pain relief, and it encourages your body to begin healing. However, if there is no swelling, you can use heat to calm your muscles and tendons before activity for reduced pain during exercise. It is best to avoid using heat after exercise as it can increase swelling if the area is already agitated.

Exercise cautiously.

After an initial period of rest, you’ll need to begin using it again carefully. Your chiropractor will likely recommend strengthening exercises to help build the tissues back up and prevent future injury.

Don’t:

Forget to warm up.

Whenever you exercise, you need to ease into it each time. Carefully warm up your muscles and joints to improve your flexibility and avoid re-injuring the area.

Run on hard surfaces.

Running on concrete puts a lot of pressure on your joints, especially your knees. Running on asphalt is better, but grass and other yielding surfaces are preferred.

Rely on knee braces.

The types of knee braces and wraps you can get over the counter provide very little support for the injured areas of your knee. They won’t protect your joint or allow you to resume normal activities without risk. Ask your chiropractor for recommended ways to reduce pressure on your knee during exercise.

 

If you have a knee injury or are beginning to experience joint irritation, visit Back to Health Chiropractic in Florence, KY, for healing and pain relief. Their years of education and experience allow them to treat a wide range of conditions, from neck and back injuries to carpal tunnel and pregnancy pain. They relieve pressure on your joints and realign your body for a healthier, more comfortable life. Visit their website to learn more about their team, and call (859) 746-2222.