Conclusion: Meta-analysis showed that low-frequency and high-frequency whole-body vibration had additional positive effects compared with strengthening exercises alone on pain, knee extensor muscle strength, and physical function in individuals with knee OA.
Research seems to suggest that massage therapy can positively affect pain levels, stiffness, and overall day to day function in individuals dealing with osteoarthritis in their knees. 2 This seems to be especially true in the short term when dealing with a flare-up of pain.
Vibration therapy works by stimulating muscles and ligaments to increase blood circulation, ultimately helping reduce pain and inflammation, promote immune response, and improve joint strength and flexibility, among other benefits.
Massaging the knee can be very beneficial if you are experiencing stiffness, pain, or swelling in your knees. Whatever the cause of your knee injury may be, massaging the knee can provide relaxation and take pressure off any nerves that may be causing you pain.
A study of patients diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis looked at the effects of massage. Those who received a 60-minute Swedish massage once or twice a week for two months reported less pain and improved knee function. The researchers concluded that "massage therapy seems to be efficacious."
Don't jar your joint(s).
High-impact exercises can further injure painful knees. Avoid jarring exercises such as running, jumping, and kickboxing. Also avoid doing exercises such as lunges and deep squats that put a lot of stress on your knees. These can worsen pain and, if not done correctly, cause injury.
Vibration can cause changes in tendons, muscles, bones and joints, and can affect the nervous system. Collectively, these effects are known as Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS). Workers affected by HAVS commonly report: attacks of whitening (blanching) of one or more fingers when exposed to cold.
Vibration therapy can offer soothing relief from arthritis and other ailments. Millions of Americans live with arthritis, inflammation and other problems that affect the bones or joints.
Previous studies have also demonstrated that massage can relieve the related symptoms of knee osteoarthritis by promoting the blood circulation around the joint, improving the tension of the muscle as well as increasing the flexibility of the joint.
A handful of studies, including a 2018 study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, have found massage to be beneficial for people with knee osteoarthritis.
But high-impact activities can make knee pain worse. Exercise like running, kickboxing, or high intensity interval training (HIIT) can jar your joints and make your knee pain worse. Some stretching exercises, like squats and lunges, can put extra pressure on your knees as well.
Do walk. Moderate walking is recommended for people with knee pain because it's a low-impact activity. If your joints are painful and stiff, start slowly and work up to 20 minutes of walking per day, recommends Stuchin.
Walking as a form of exercise has enormous benefits, particularly for older adults. It's easy on the joints and helps boost heart health and improve circulation and balance. And new research now suggests that taking a walk can reduce and prevent knee pain related to osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis.
Deep Heat topical products are also a great way to relieve joint pain such as Deep Heat Extra Strength can be used to provide fast-acting pain relief to joints and works by increasing blood flow to the affected area.
Voltaren helps alleviate joint pain due to arthritis in the hands, wrists, elbows, feet, ankles, and knees. Apply Voltaren gel to the skin over the affected part of the body. Do not use on more than two body areas at the same time.
How to find it: Measure about 4 finger-widths down from the bottom of the kneecap. From there, measure 2 finger-widths from the front of the tibia (shinbone), toward the outside of lower leg. Directions: Using the thumb or tip of fingers, press on the point and apply firm downward pressure on the muscle.
Genicular nerve radiofrequency ablation is a minimally invasive treatment for knee pain due to osteoarthritis of the knee, and can significantly reduce pain, especially for adults who are 50 and older.