3 Common Knee Injuries & How to Heal them Naturally

Knee pain is not all the same! Knee pain can happen to almost anyone; whether they are nine or ninety. Knee pain and injury is very common because the majority of us use our knees every day. At first all knee pain may appear to be the same, but, there are actually many different causes of knee pain. Each of these different causes of knee pain result in slightly different kinds of pain that can require very different types of treatment!

Pain Behind the Knee:

A common type of knee pain is caused by inflammation of the cartilage behind the kneecap (Chondromalacia Patella). Inflammation behind the cartilage results in a deep, dull, ache behind the kneecap. This pain tends to be much worse when using the stairs and after long periods of sitting with the knees bent (sitting at a desk all day or sitting in a movie theater). Chondromalacia patella is most common in people between the ages of 20 and 45 years old. To help eliminate the pain of chondromalacia patella, the inflammation behind the kneecap must be removed and/or decreased. Icing the knee, topical muscle creams, and anti-inflammatories can reduce the pain, but only for a short period of time. Ultrasound is one of the fastest ways to help eliminate the inflammation behind the kneecap.

Arthritic Knee Pain:

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common causes of knee pain. Osteoarthritis is also known as wear-and-tear arthritis because it is caused by the wearing down of the cartilage in the joint. The wearing down of the cartilage is caused by improper joint function and motion. If your joint is not moving properly, it will wear out the cartilage in one spot which in turn leads to osteoarthritis.

Ligament Knee Pain and Athletic Injuries:

Athletic knee injuries are common in sports like basketball, football, track & field, and running. These injuries are usually traumatic, and occur after the foot is planted on the ground and the knee has been twisted too far. This as a result causes tears of the ligaments that support the knee…OUCH! After the injury, the knee is typically swollen, painful, and sometimes bruised. If there are complete tears of the ligaments, surgery may be required to repair the knee, however, if the ligament damage is less severe, conservative treatment consisting of icing, bracing, and rehab can be used to repair the knee.