Knee pain can hit every once in a while. If you have osteoarthritis, it may hit a little more than you’d like. But when your body and brain are telling you to sit down and rest, you might want to stop listening.
It’s recommended to rest your sore knee joint to a point. If you’ve injured yourself or are experiencing an arthritic flare-up with mild to moderate pain, employ the RICE approach.
Advertisement
Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation can all help quell minor flare-ups of knee pain.
But staying still and immobile may only be effective to a point. To manage knee pain for the long term, activity might be the best approach. Here are a couple of active options that may help reduce flare-ups, enhance mobility, and boost your quality of life.
Tai Chi is an ancient form of mind-body exercise that may help manage knee pain in a variety of ways. It is primarily used to enhance balance and flexibility, which can contribute to pain reduction and improved mobility. It may also help limit pain by reducing stress.
The American College of Rheumatology and Arthritis Foundation recommends Tai Chi as a treatment option, and studies have shown it may be particularly useful for people with osteoarthritis.
Advertisement
Other forms of low-impact exercise may also help with the prevention and management of knee pain. Adding muscle can help take pressure off the knee joint while using the joint can help it stay warm and loose.
Resting the joint or limiting movement can have benefits in the short term. But an overall active lifestyle will likely lead to more long-term benefits.
If you suffer chronic knee pain, low-impact activity is best. This will save you from any jarring motions or pressure that can promote pain. Useful low-impact activities for sore knees may include:
- Cycling
- Swimming
- Walking (wear good supportive sneakers with a well-cushioned sole)
- Yoga
- Tai Chi
About eight years ago, Mat Lecompte had an epiphany. He’d been ignoring his health and suddenly realized he needed to do something about it. Since then, through hard work, determination and plenty of education, he has transformed his life. He’s changed his body composition by learning the ins and outs of nutrition, exercise, and fitness and wants to share his knowledge with you. Starting as a journalist over 10 years ago, Mat has not only honed his belief system and approach with practical experience, but he has also worked closely with nutritionists, dieticians, athletes, and fitness professionals. He embraces natural healing methods and believes that diet, exercise and willpower are the foundation of a healthy, happy, and drug-free existence.
