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Knee Pain Treatments

• Physical therapy: Strengthening the muscles surrounding the knee through physical therapy will make the knee stronger, more stable and less prone to injury.
 
• Corticosteroids: This steroid, which is taken through injection, resembles cortisol, a hormone produced by the adrenal gland. Corticosteroids can reduce inflammation from arthritis for months.
 
• Knee replacement surgery: About 581,000 patients undergo knee replacement surgery in the U.S. each year. Doctors can perform either a partial knee replacement or full knee replacement. Either the entire knee or damaged areas of the knee will be surgically removed and replaced with parts made of metal and plastic.
 
• Arthroscopic surgery: This minimally invasive surgery may be an option, depending on the nature of the knee injury. A fiber-optic camera and small tools that penetrate the skin through small incisions are used to repair cartilage and ligaments. 

Knee Pain Home Remedies

• RICE:This acronym can help you remember these four simple ways to alleviate knee pain.
   
  • Rest: Avoiding activities that put strain on a knee that is in pain will give it time to heal.
   
  • Ice: Applying ice to the area of the knee that's in pain will reduce both pain and swelling.
   
  • Compression: A compression bandage or wrap will provide knee support and reduce swelling and/or fluid build-up.
   
  • Elevation of knee: keeping your injured knee elevated as much as possible will reduce swelling.
 
• Pain medication: Over-the counter pain medications like Advil, Tylenol or Ibuprofen will reduce knee pain. If necessary, a doctor can prescribe stronger pain medications. 

Knee Pain Exercises

Some simple exercises can help strengthen your muscles and prevent knee injuries. It is important to start off slowly and increase the amount of exercise you do over time. Start with two or three sets a day, and build up from there.

• Quadriceps Strengthening:
   
  • Leg lifts: While lying flat on your back, bend one knee to about 90 degrees, keeping your foot flat on the floor. Slowly lift your non-bent leg until it is at the height of the bent knee. Lift and lower this leg 10 times and then repeat this exercise on the other side.
   
  • Partial Squats: While standing, slowly bend your knees to about 90 degrees and move your butt back as though you are trying to sit on a chair. Be sure to keep your back straight and your knees hip-width apart. Hold this squatted position for 5 seconds. Repeat.
 
• Hamstring Strengthening:
   
  • Seated contractions: Sit upright on a chair with your knees bent to approximately 45 degrees with your heels on the floor and your toes off of the ground. Without moving you heels, pull back on them so that they dig into the floor and hold this position for about 10 seconds. Relax for 3 seconds and repeat.
   
  • Strengthening curls: While lying on your stomach, place one foot onto the back of your other heel. Slowly bend your knees and pull the lower foot toward your butt while pushing against it with your other foot. Hold this position for 10 seconds. Relax for 3 seconds and repeat.
 
• Hip Strengthening:Strengthening your hip can help stabilize you and help reduce the likelihood of injury. 
   
  • Hip adductors: To strengthen your inner thigh, lie on your right side in a straight line. Use your right elbow to prop up your head and place your left arm in front of you for balance. Bend your left leg and rest it across your body. Lift your right leg up, away from the ground and slowly lower. Do this 10 times on each side.
   
  • Hip abductors: To strengthen your outer thigh, lie on your right side in a straight line. Bend your right leg and slowly raise your left leg and hold it in the air for 15 seconds before lowering it. Do this 10 times on each side.
 
• Calf Exercises:
   
  • Calf Raises: Stand with you knees straight, but not locked, and your feet should-width apart. Raise heels off the floor slowly making sure to keep your ankles in line with the balls of your feet. Slowly lower. Repeat this motion 10 times. If you're having trouble balancing, do this next to a wall.

How to Prevent Knee Pain

• Pace yourself: If you're exercising, don't do too much at all once. Work up to more difficult exercises. Start walking before you run, literally and figuratively!
 
• Warm up and cool down: Be sure to warm up before doing vigorous exercise and cool down afterwards. Stretching can help prevent knee injuries.
 
• Get new shoes: Your sports shoes can wear out quickly. Make sure you're wearing good shoes when you exercise that have the proper support your feet need! If necessary, orthotics can be placed in your shoe to ensure proper movement and decrease the likelihood of knee injury or knee pain.

Katherine Solem is a health writer and editor living in San Francisco.

Published: July 5, 2011

See also:

• Keep track of your pain with this online pain tracker.
• Doing those knee exercises? Keep track of your exercises with this online exercise tracker.
• Get expert advice from doctors in our physical therapy expert forum.
• Have questions about knee surgery? Talk to the experts in the knee surgery forum.