Introduction to Knee Pain: Ultimate Guide

​The knee is a critical part of the body that supports the rest of the body’s weight and acts as a hinge joint to allow greater a range of movements than other joints. For this reason, it is prone to injury which may lead to serious repercussions.

Knee pain is a common problem that affects individuals of all ages. It’s a symptom of a variety of conditions. It could occur due to an injury such as a torn cartilage or a ruptured ligament, or a medical condition such as gout, arthritis, and infections. To deal with the knee problem, a lot of research has been done, and fortunately, a product known as ASEA Redox has shown great changes and improvements in helping the body rebuild its cells using cellular science.


Structure of the Knee

The knee is a hinge joint whose role is to bend and support the weight of the body along with the ankles and hips. It can also rotate and twist when needed. To perform these tasks without injuring yourself, your knee depends on several structures including bones, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. In this case, we have the tibia, femur, and patella (knee cap). There is also a total of twelve muscles and four ligaments that provide support to the knee.

Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of knee pain. This condition occurs when the articular cartilage which protects the inside of the femur and tibia bones, wears away gradually, leading to pain and swelling in the knee.


Common Types of Knee Pain

Knee pain can come from the knee itself or result from conditions of the ankle, hip, or lower back. It can be either acute (immediate) or chronic (long-term). Acute knee pains occur due to immediate injury or infection, while chronic knee pain is the result of injuries of inflammations such as arthritis. It can also be caused by an infection.

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Acute Knee Pain

• Sprained Ligaments and Tendon Ruptures

Your knee can be easily injured by straining ligaments, tendons, or spraining the muscles, which is the most common cause of knee pain. This may occur when the soft tissues are inflamed, overstretched, or torn from a serious blow such as being hit by an object or an accident. It may also occur when jumping or running especially when the foot lands on the ground the wrong way. Similarly, this can be experienced when the knee joint is put under lateral stress as it can force it to stretch out its usual range of movement.

• Dislocated Kneecap

Another cause of knee pain is an injury that may happen when there is a direct trauma or forceful straightening of the leg. Such can happen in sports such as tennis or volleyball when sudden changes in direction are frequent. Kneecap dislocation is common in knock-kneed people, the obese, and those in high-riding kneecaps.

• Chronic Pain

Arthritis is a long-term health problem which can cause knee pain. It can result from different causes such as knee osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, bursitis, crystalline arthritis (a joint disorder that is also known as arthropathy and characterized by the accumulation of tiny sharp crystals in the knee and other joints), and more. The condition is associated with wearing away of the cartilage between two bones which causes friction and pain when the joint is in motion. Out of these conditions, osteoarthritis is more common in the elderly and may begin as mild and progressively become worse. As a result, it may become difficult to walk long distances, climb stairs, bend and straighten the knee, or squat. With increased activity, the knee also may swell occasionally. 

Knee pain problems can also emanate from some other part of the body, especially the back or hip. If you cannot find the reason for your knee pain, then it may be worth checking into the cause from the hip and back.


Symptoms of Knee Pain

The position and the nature of the knee pain may vary, based on the main cause of the problem. Some pain may be sharp especially when there is movement or when the joint is subjected to a certain weight in a certain way. For others, it may be a slight ache that comes and goes intermittently. Some common symptoms of knee pain include:

• Swelling, bruising and stiffness
• Weakness on the joint
• Redness around the joint
• Popping and crunching noises
• Difficulty straightening the knee 

When to see the Doctor for Knee pain

A good rule of thumb when deciding whether to see a doctor for knee pain or not is the severity of knee injuries. If the symptoms don’t go away after taking over-the- counter pain medicines and therapy, you should visit the doctor or physical therapist to examine you further. Remember that this rule is only a guide. To find out more about your knee pain, schedule an appointment with the doctor.

You can also call your doctor if your experience the following:

• Prolonged knee swelling
• Pain on the knee when carrying weight 
• Difficulty extending or flexing your knee
• Pain, redness, and swelling in your knee
• Deformity in your knee or leg

How to Prevent Knee Pain

Although there is no easy way to guarantee your chances of NOT developing knee pain, there are key preventive measures that can be taken to avoid the problem. The following tips may help forestall injuries and joint accidents. 
Protect the knee: Wearing proper protection gear such as knee pads, especially in sports. If you have to drive, wear a seatbelt to prevent knee and dashboard injuries.

Maintain a healthy weight: Keeping extra pounds off is the best thing you can do to avoid knee problems. Remember, an extra pound means addition strain to the joints thus increasing the risk of getting osteoarthritis and other knee injuries.

Exercise and practice perfectly: Ensure the movement patterns you use either in sports or any other activity are what the body can handle. If you have chronic pain, engage in water exercises such as swimming. Also, listen to your body during these exercises, if it hurts or you feel fatigued, stop and change what you’re doing.

Keep fit, stay flexible: Weak muscles are the leading cause of knee injuries. Stretching and strengthening exercises help to prevent these problems. Stretching helps to prevent the knee from being too tight. Strengthening exercises directed to the quadriceps and hamstrings can help prevent further knee injury thus reducing arthritis and other knee complications.


Treatment for Knee Pain

Treatment of knee injuries depends on the cause of the pain. Here are some treatment options.

Therapy: Training the strengthening muscles, especially the quadriceps (muscles on the front of your thigh) and hamstrings (muscles in the back of your thigh), will make them stable. Also, finding a good technique to play sports or any other activities will improve balance and avoid further knee injuries.
 
Medications: For severe knee injuries, the doctor may prescribe over-the-counter meds to help relieve the pain and treat any other conditions such as gout or arthritis.

Injections: The doctor may prescribe injections directly into the joint in some cases such as:

• Corticosteroids to reduce the effects of arthritis flare
• Hyaluronic acid which is a thick fluid that lubricates joints naturally to improve mobility and reduce pain in the joints
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) which contains a variety of growth components that help reduce inflammation and induce quick healing. 

Surgery: For severe knee injuries, surgery may be recommended. But before making this decision, it is important to talk to a professional to help you consider the options of both nonsurgical therapy and surgical reconstruction and settle on what’s important to you.

​The main surgical procedures are:
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Arthroscopic surgery: The doctor may repair the knee using a fiber-optic camera and a narrow tool inserted around the knee to remove any loose substances from your joint and also repair the cartilage.

Partial knee replacement: In this procedure, the doctor will only replace the damaged area of your knee with some parts made of plastic and metal.

Total knee replacement: Here, the surgeon will completely cut the damaged cartilage and bone from your kneecap, thighbone, and shinbone, then replace it with an artificial joint with most parts made of polymers, metal, and high- grade plastics.


Wrapping Up

At this point, you have known the major details about knee pain including what you need to do to prevent knee injuries. Mauricio Munoz, a consultant for ASEA’s redoxed based technology, has had a good experience with this ASEA Redox. Being an ASEA Diamond Executive, he would highly recommend trying an alternative way to tackle the knee pain by giving your body a chance to rebuild its cells using cutting-edge technology on cellular health. You can read more about the miraculous changes and improvement the ASEA Redox has made in his life on this website or give him a call at 727-5658722.