Do you ever ask, “How can I reduce my knee pain?” or, “Am I making my knee pain worse?” Anyone who has ever been in knee pain knows how debilitating it can be. Even carrying out day to day activities can seem like a chore since knee pain can limit your movement and make you drop things you love doing.
Here are the most common triggers of knee pain. Ask yourself whether you are taking the right steps to reducing your knee pain.
Running on Hard Surfaces
Running on hard surfaces can stress the knees. Depending upon your level of damage and pain, you may consider alternative exercises. If you want to give up running, choose running on softer tracks instead of cemented tracks.
Too Much Rest
Rest is important if you are recovering from a knee injury. But do not forget to exercise if your doctor or physical therapist tells you to. Too little movement can make your muscles weaker. You could try low-impact exercises, swimming or cycling to maintain general fitness while increasing strength and range of motion of your knees.
Too Much Weight
If you are overweight, imagine the impact on your knees every time you take a step. Being overweight puts you at high risk factor for developing osteoarthritis and musculoskeletal conditions. Losing weight can slow the progression of arthritis.
Wrong Shoes
Wearing flip-flops when you go for a walk is not a good idea. Shoes that provide proper support, such as athletic sneakers, are best for walking.
