Should Knee Pain Stop You From Exercising?
By Sara Butler
Pain in your knees is a message from your body – it’s trying to tell you something. And what it may be trying to tell you is that something pretty serious is going on. While muscle pain after exercise can be perfectly normal and worked through safely, some types of pain can be a signal that you need to pay more attention to it. Here’s how you can know if your knee pain means you should stop exercising and seek chiropractic help.
Who Should Be Concerned
There are a few groups of people who need to be more aware of knee pain as a possible problem. Pay extra attention to your knees if:
- You are older
- If you are overweight
- If you’ve been exercising more than usual
- If you're a running back in the NFL
Paying attention to the pain helps to protect your knees from further damage.
Is it a Common Injury?
The cause of your knee pain will determine if you can continue to exercise as you have been or not. Common types of knee injuries include:
- Bruising – Mild injuries caused by a blow to the knee or a fall can be painful but are easily treated with rest and ice. Deep swelling or lack of improvement means you need to get it looked at.
- Sprain or strain – Sprains are the result of stretched or torn ligaments, while strains are the result of stretched or torn tendons or muscles. They require rest but usually only for a couple of weeks.
A Serious Issue
Some things are red flags when it comes to knee pain. Signs of a serious injury include:
- Unstable or loose feeling in the knee
- A knee that can hyper flex or hyperextend
- A knee that buckles inward
- A knee unable to support weight
These signs can mean you have damaged the cartilage in the knee or a tendon and need an evaluation by a healthcare professional, such as the chiropractor.
How Chiropractors Can Help
Mild injuries can usually be treated at home with ice and rest, but it can’t hurt to have your chiropractor give your injured knee a look. Chiropractors can help with any kind of knee injury, helping the body to do what it was meant to do: Heal itself. Chiropractic care can help to restore range of motion and reduce inflammation, too. If your knee has been bothering you, there’s no time like the present to have a chiropractor at The Joint check it out.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Los Angeles, Calif.