Spring is right around the corner, but if you’re worried about knee pain, you might be dreading the change of season. Warmer temps mean more to do — and more potential for knee pain.
But don’t sweat it. Dr. David Wu and our team at CurePain have everything you need to keep your knees healthy and pain-free. Here are five strategies you can start working on before the flowers bloom.
It might seem like rest is the best medicine for keeping your knees pain-free, but staying active is crucial for maintaining knee health and reducing pain. Regular exercise keeps your joints flexible and muscles strong, reducing stress on your knees.
Movement distributes joint fluid in your joints, decreasing friction, which is a major cause of cartilage damage and pain.
You don’t need to run a marathon or start a strenuous workout plan — what you need is a plan you can stick with. Aim for about 150 minutes of movement every week (about 30 minutes a day). And almost everything counts, from brisk walking and gardening to strength training and yoga.
Your knees are two of our body’s most important weight-bearing joints. In fact, every step magnifies your weight by four times — if you’re five pounds overweight, your knees are actually carrying 20.
When you lose weight (even a small amount), your joints are among the first to feel the difference. A healthier weight also reduces inflammation, a trigger of knee damage.
The shoes you choose have a direct impact on your joint health. Your shoes should protect your feet and provide adequate support and shock absorption for your knees (and other joints).
If your shoes are worn out, have high heels, thin soles, or weak arch support, your knees will bear more stress and strain.
That’s why we take shoe choice seriously. One of the easiest ways to make sure you have the right footwear is to select shoes designed for your activity (basketball shoes, soccer cleats, etc.).
Otherwise, look for shoes with adequate arch support, a wide toe box, low heels, and breathable fabrics.
Did you know you can actually eat your way to less joint pain? The way you eat can tip the inflammation scale in your joints, so we recommend filling your shopping cart and your plate with:
Don’t worry about overhauling your diet overnight. Start with a few healthy swaps and do your best to avoid fast food, prepackaged foods, and processed foods that can exacerbate inflammation.
Even with the best intentions, knee pain can still happen. To keep it from becoming serious or chronic, make sure you see Dr. Wu at the first sign of symptoms. We’d rather send you home with an ice pack than have you miss the early warning signs of serious injury.
Remember: Even mild symptoms can indicate internal joint damage. Having us take a look as soon as possible means we can start treatment quickly and stop the progression of inflammation, damage, and pain.
Depending on your needs and what’s causing your pain, we can recommend activity modification, anti-inflammatory medication, corticosteroid injections, physical therapy, and even radiofrequency ablation.
Spring is the time to get moving again. If you want to do it without knee pain, follow these simple strategies and team up with our pain management expert.
Need one-on-one support? Don’t hesitate to call our friendly staff or use our online booking tool to schedule a consultation.
