5 Key Causes of Knee Pain and What Can be Done to Ensure a Long Term Recovery
Your knees make up a very important part of your body; they give you flexibility and the capability to walk normally. For athletes, the knees are a critical source of explosiveness and range that is necessary for optimal performance. If you want your lower body to stay in great shape, it helps to know the main causes of knee pain and available long-term recovery strategies for all types of pain. Here are the five primary reasons most people experience pain in their knees.
Swollen Ligaments
Ligaments are what connect the major bones in the knee to each other and help with flexibility. Inflammation to the ligaments in your knees can be painful and limit your range of motion, making it difficult to do even basic things like running and walking.
Bursitis
Bursae are small sacs filled with fluid. They help reduce the pressure between your joints and cushion your bones from impact. If any of the bursae around your knees become inflamed, you may experience swelling, stiffness, and pain while moving.
Osteoarthritis
Arthritis is a common cause of knee pain in those over the age of 60. There are several different kinds of arthritis, but osteoarthritis is one of the most common; it is usually caused from wear in the body, but it can also happen as a result of injury or because of genetic predisposition to arthritis. Osteoarthritis in the knees usually causes stiffness and pain, especially when walking.
Dislocated Kneecap
As the name of the ailment suggests, a dislocated kneecap is when the kneecap moves out of position. The National Institutes of Health says that dislocated kneecaps are more common for women and can happen as a result of direct trauma to the kneecap. This knee ailment will cause your knee to appear deformed and will make it difficult to keep your legs straight.
Plica Syndrome
This type of knee ailment is when the plica, a band of tissue that divides limbs into joints, becomes irritated. This issue usually comes from overuse. Like other common knee problems, Plica Syndrome can cause swelling and pain, as well as a constricted range of motion.
Ways to Help Prevent Knee Issues
Whichever type of knee pain issue you might be dealing with, it is important to understand the cause of knee pain and the available recovery options for each type. Many knee issues come about from over-use and over-training, but it can be hard for certain people to reduce their activity level, especially for athletes that depend on their knees to make a living. Tools like the Marc Pro and Marc Pro Plus can help the muscles around your knees recover by expediting the way they receive nutrients and send waste to be removed from muscles. With a sufficient understanding of the causes of knee pain and the ability to recover from knee usage effectively, you can keep your legs in excellent shape and continue to enjoy physical activity.