Your knee joint is made up of complex parts, and various factors could result in pain and damage. When these complex parts work together properly, your knee will function as expected, and you’ll be able to move and use it without hassles. On the other hand, if these parts fail to work properly, you can experience symptoms such as inflammation and pain. Knee issues can be due to many different health conditions or trauma. But why do some people develop knee pain while some don’t? And how do you know if you’re at risk for developing it?
How to Know If You’re At Risk for Developing Knee Pain
Certain factors could increase your risk of developing knee pain, with the most common ones being the following:
- Trauma or Injury – Individuals who play intense contact sports such as football, soccer, basketball, and hockey among others, have an increased risk of developing knee pain due to trauma or injury.
- Degenerative Disorders – These disorders usually occur due to ageing, but there are also other factors involved. With osteoporosis, other factors include specific genes, dietary factors, and lack of exercise.
- Obesity – Specifically, obesity can increase the risk of knee pain when you have arthritis as extra weight can put pressure on your knees.
- Gout – These kinds of disorders might be caused by genetics or lifestyle factors. Contributing factors also include obesity, dietary factors, and excessive alcohol consumption.
- Connective Tissue Disorders – Disorders like these such as rheumatoid arthritis include a history of RA in the family, obesity, smoking, and being older than 40.
- Bacterial Infections – An individual could develop cellulitis if he has a compromised immune system, is obese, has long-term leg and arm swelling, skin conditions, or take medication through needles.
In addition, other potential risk factors include genetics, overusing the joints, and age. But before you panic and go to your orthopedic surgeon in Orem for a knee surgery, you’ll be glad to know that a healthy diet and daily exercise can help lower your risk of developing the conditions above.
How to Treat Knee Pain
Depending on what’s causing your knee pain, your doctor might recommend the following treatment options:
- A specific exercise regimen that includes moves that won’t strain your knees.
- Anti-inflammatory medications to ease pain and inflammation.
- Resting your knee for a certain period of time.
- Using assistive devices to support your knee when doing physical tasks.
- Knee surgery.
Other Symptoms to Know About
Knee pain is one of the most common complaints by people of all ages, but especially in seniors. It could occur for many different reasons. Aside from knee pain however, an individual might also experience the following symptoms, depending on the specific cause of the pain:
- Warmth or redness throughout your knee
- Stiffness and swelling around your knee
- Popping noises when your straighten or flex your knee
- Weakness in your affected knee that can lead to being unable to fully extend it or stand properly
Because plenty of knee pain causes can result in the symptoms above, if you have severe knee pain or persistent pain, it’s best to consult a doctor stat.
