Our knees are likely the joints we rely on the most for everyday movement, so things can become uncomfortable in a heartbeat if you begin to develop pain in one or both of your knees. Obviously you want to put the knee pain behind you as quickly as possible, but that doesn’t mean that a treatment regimen advertised as a “quick fix” is actually your best bet. In today’s blog, we explain why a few of the quick fix solutions for knee pain aren’t typically your best option for putting knee pain behind you.
Don’t Rely On These Quick Fixes For Knee Pain
We’re not saying that the following techniques should never be pursued, because oftentimes they can actually be helpful when used in conjunction with other active techniques. However, if you’re relying on these quick fixes to solve your knee pain on their own, don’t be surprised if pain lingers or eventually returns.
- Painkillers – Painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications help you manage some of the symptoms of your knee condition, but they won’t do anything to target the underlying issue. They can make other activities more bearable, but they aren’t going to address underlying stability issues or joint deterioration. Use painkillers to make active treatments like physical therapy more bearable, not as a stand-alone option for discomfort.
- Rest – Again, rest absolutely has a critical role as part of a comprehensive treatment plan, but oftentimes just getting off of the knee for a while won’t solve the underlying issue. It may help in the short term, but once you start increasing your activity, pain can follow. Rest should be paired with targeted exercise or strength training techniques so that your knees can better handle stress and aren’t overworked as easily.
- Knee Braces – Knee braces can help to protect an area, but sometimes patients think that these braces are all the protection they need, and that can actually put them at an increased risk for injury. Knee braces can help to stabilize the area during activity, but you still need to consider a physical therapy program alongside the bracing technique. You wouldn’t drive recklessly just because you’re wearing a seat belt, and you shouldn’t overdo it when it comes to athletic activity and movement simply because you’re wearing a knee brace. Braces can also provide too much protection and weaken some of the soft tissues around the knee, which is another reason why you don’t want to over-rely on a brace.
- Internet Advice – Don’t get us wrong, there is plenty of helpful medical advice on the internet. Heck, this blog we’re writing right now is considered online medical advice. However, the internet usually isn’t the best source of information for highly individualized problems like knee pain. Arthritis, tendon tears, cartilage damage or knee joint instability all require different courses of treatment, so there’s a chance you could end up doing more harm to your knee if you search for the wrong quick fix online. As we always say, getting a diagnosis and a comprehensive treatment plan from a specialist who can see you in person is the best way to speed up your recovery.
If you want to connect with a physical therapist who can help you quickly and effectively put an end to your knee pain, reach out to the talented team of specialists at OrthoRehab Specialists today.
PT of Costa Rican National Soccer Team for 2007 World Cup in Victoria, CAN. Clinical Instructor for University of Minnesota Doctor of Physical Therapy Affiliations
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