KNEE PAIN OVERVIEW
The knee is the largest joint in the human body and functions as a “hinge joint”… it’s where the major bones of the upper body and lower body meet. Injury and pain can be due to bio-mechanical problems, ruptured ligaments (ACL or MCL), torn cartilage, irritation/inflammation of the knee joint caused by overuse, arthritis, osteoporosis, and gout.
The knee is notorious for getting very poor circulation, so if you have knee pain or an injury, it can take a long time to heal. Increased blood flow to the knee and healthy circulation are therefore absolutely critical for not only healing a knee injury and eliminating chronic pain fully and properly, but also helping you remedy with these issues much faster too! Take a look at the image below for a more detailed look at the anatomy of the knee…
It is also important to remember that the knee is a stabilizing joint. In contrast, the ankle and hips are mobile joints and have control over the knee (that’s why I call the knee a dumb joint- it does what the other joints tell it to do). So, it is important to have healthy and functional ankles and hips in order to allow the knee to do it’s job (stabilization). But, if the ankle and hips are not mobile and healthy, the knee can begin mobilizing too much and since it has very limited range of motion, the ligaments around the knee can tear, if pushed too far.
And since most people have very tight hips, calves and ankles, it should not be surprising that up to 70% of ACL and MCL tears are non-contact. In other words, 7 out of 10 people get serious knee injuries, because of their own bodies, not because pressure was placed on them by outside forces.
SYMPTOMS
Common symptoms of knee pain include swelling, discomfort when walking or squatting, inability to bear weight on the knee, stiffness, weakness, redness and warmth around the knee, instability and reduced range of motion in the affected leg, and unusual sounds (popping, clicking, crunching) when moving the knee.
TREATMENT
Research has shown that rehab is the most effective way to heal a knee injury and eliminate chronic pain. Not only do you have to deal with the pain in the knees, you also have to deal with the hips and calves/ankles, if you want to properly heal the knees and eliminate pain. So, a high quality rehab program eliminates knee swelling and pain quickly, then dramatically improves strength, stability and healthy range of motion, which significantly reduces the risk of re-injury. (American J. of Physiology, J. of Med. & Science in Sports, J. of Athletic Training).
If you are ready for rehab, then it should be of tremendous help. The MALIN METHOD is an easy way to naturally eliminate knee pain at home, in 3 easy steps, guaranteed. If you want to learn more about it, please click here: Knee Pain System or go see an excellent physical therapist.
But, don’t wait… The longer you wait to address that knee injury, the longer it will take to heal.
The main goal is to fully heal the knee, so it gets back to full strength, with healthy range of motion and stability. That way, you will be able to move with speed and power, but safely and with natural protection from future knee injuries and you won’t need restrictive equipment like braces or wraps.
