Don’t view knee pain as just wear and tear. Only by finding the right cause can proper treatment be provided. The main reasons are:
1. Osteoarthritis
This is the most common cause of knee pain. This is a condition in which the cartilage between the bones in the knee wears down as we age. This causes the bones to rub against each other and cause severe pain.
2. Obesity
When the body weight increases, the knees have to bear the full brunt of it. When we walk or climb stairs, the pressure of many times our body weight is felt on the knees. This causes rapid wear and tear.
3. Ligament Injuries
This is something that is seen in athletes and people who work too hard. Damage to the ligaments that connect the bones in the knee (such as the ACL) can cause severe pain and weakness in the knee.
4. Increased uric acid (Gout)
When the level of uric acid in the blood increases, it accumulates in the joints in the form of crystals. This can cause sudden severe pain, redness, and swelling in the knees.
5. Rheumatoid Arthritis
This is a condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the joints (autoimmune disorder). This causes chronic swelling and pain in the knees. Severe stiffness when waking up in the morning is a symptom of this.
6. Using the wrong shoes
Wearing shoes that do not provide proper support changes the way you walk and puts excessive pressure on the joints in the knees. Wearing high heels for a long time can also cause knee pain.
3 simple ways to reduce knee pain:
Lose weight: Controlling your weight can increase the lifespan of your knees.
Strengthen your muscles: Doing exercises that strengthen the muscles around your knee (Quadriceps) can help reduce pain.
Heat and cold: Applying ice packs if there is swelling and applying heat to the area can help relieve pain caused by wear and tear.