The knee is a vulnerable joint. It is basically just two long leg bones held together with ligaments and muscles. Problems develop when you put too much stress on the joint. The common knee problems are:
1) Strained or sprained knee muscles or ligaments usually occur when the knee is twisted in a direction that it does not normally go. Sometimes knee ligaments are torn and when this happens knee cartilage (meniscus) may also be damaged.
2) Kneecap pain (patellofemoral pain) occurs around or behind the kneecap (patella) when you run downhill, go up or down stairs or after you sit for long periods of time
3) Patellar tendonitis, also known as jumper’s knee, is an inflammation of the tendon that attaches the kneecap to the shinbone (tibia). It is common among basketball and volleyball players.
The best way to prevent knee problems is to strengthen and stretch the leg muscles, especially those in the front and back of the thigh (quadriceps and hamstrings). Avoid the following: deep knee bends, running downhill unless you are fully conditioned, wearing shoes with cleats when playing contact sports wearing high-heeled shoes. Wear shoes with good arch supports. Replace running shoes every 300 to 500 miles.
If you injure your knee, apply ice to your knee, reduce at least 50 percent of your activities that cause pain and/or wear a brace, an elastic or neoprene sleeve or a band with a hole for the kneecap that holds the kneecap in place to help ease pain during activity. Stretch the front and back of your thigh muscles when they are warm after exercise.
You need to see a doctor if you have the following symptoms: the knee “gives out,” you felt or heard a “pop” in your knee, the knee begins to swell within 60 minutes of an injury, you have signs of damage to the nerves or blood vessels, such as numbness, tingling, a “pins-and-needles” sensation below the injury, or pale or bluish skin, the knee looks deformed; the knee won’t bear weight, you are unable to straighten or bend the knee, or the joint “locks,” the knee turns red, feels hot, swollen, or painful to touch, you limp due to the pain, or it does not improve within two days.
Try Chinese Meridians Massage to relax muscles, tendons and joints so as to keep their normal range of motions.
Acupuncture and herbs promote energy flow, improve blood circulation and reduce inflammation, therefore relieving the pain.
Multi-purpose herbal bags will reduce inflammation within the first 72 hours of use ice herbal bag, after 72 hours use herbal bag as a heating pad to speed up natural healing process.
For more information please call Dr. Lu at 661-513-9265 of Ping’s Acupuncture.