Knee Arthritis Symptoms Pain in the knee that can be worsened by certain movements and exercises, including prolonged walking or standing. Stiffness of the knee joint, which makes it difficult to bend and straighten the knee.
For OA in general, the most helpful advice is to maintain an ideal weight, avoid overusing joints that are damaged and follow a plan of exercise that strengthens the muscles supporting the joint. Your doctor or physical therapist should be able to help you with any of these.
Too much activity. You're feeling good, so you overdo it, and then you end up with an arthritis flare. “Osteoarthritis often flares after overexertion of the joint or joints that are involved,” Dr. Ashany says.
For mild symptoms, topical medications applied to the knees such as diclofenac gel relieve pain and have few adverse effects. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen and naproxen are the most effective oral medications for osteoarthritis.
If you have arthritis in your knee, walking can be a great way to relieve pain, stiffness and swelling. Moving your legs at even a gentle pace allows the muscles to stretch, which can help reduce arthritic knee pain.
Exercise Is a Natural Treatment for Arthritis
Gentle weight training plus aerobic exercise is a great combination natural treatment for arthritis that can strengthen the muscles around the affected joint, providing it with greater support and helping it stay healthy.
Use these basic self-care strategies to manage your symptoms: Apply ice or heat to help ease stiffness, pain and swelling. Lose weight (if necessary) to help reduce stress on the knees. Keep moving with activities like swimming, biking or walking.
Research shows diclofenac is the strongest and most effective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine available.10 Diclofenec is sold under the prescription brand names Cambia, Cataflam, Zipsor, and Zorvolex. It is also available as a topical gel, Voltaren, which is available over the counter.
Untreated arthritis will add to the degradation of the structures in and around the joint leading to more and more pain and a loss of function. The progression of arthritis may lead to requiring a total joint replacement.
The worst exercises for people with bad knees are full-arc knee extension (using the machine at the gym), full-deep lunges, deep squats, and Hurdler's stretches. HIIT exercising (high intensity interval training) is an effective way of getting fit, fast but there are potential risks that go hand in hand with it.
When lying on your back, place a pillow or rolled up blanket beneath your knees and possibly another under the small of your back. When sleeping on your back, place pillows beneath your knees. When sleeping on your side, place one or more pillows between your knees.
Osteoarthritis of the knee happens when the cartilage in your knee joint breaks down, enabling the bones to rub together. The friction makes your knees hurt, become stiff and sometimes swell. While osteoarthritis in the knee can't be cured, there are many treatments to slow its progress and ease your symptoms.
Over-the-counter medications — such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve) — may help ease knee pain. Some people find relief by rubbing the affected knee with creams containing a numbing agent, such as lidocaine, or capsaicin, the substance that makes chili peppers hot.
Most forms of arthritis are thought to be caused by a fault in the immune system that causes the body to attack its own tissues in the joints. This may be inherited genetically. Other forms of arthritis can be caused by problems with the immune system or by a metabolic condition, such as gout.
Never force a movement if you're experiencing sharp pain or more discomfort than usual in a joint. If you have rheumatoid arthritis, balance rest and exercise carefully: rest more to reduce inflammation, pain, and fatigue when your condition flares up, and exercise more when it calms down.
Knee arthritis can affect mobility, but exercises such as leg lifts and kick-backs can strengthen the muscles around the joint and help a person stay active. Swimming and elliptical training are also suitable options.
Stay active, when you can
People with arthritis should aim for 30 minutes of low-impact aerobic activity on most days, strength training activity twice a week, and balance exercises 3 times a week, if your arthritis puts you at higher risk of falling.
To reduce inflammation and get effective temporary relief from knee pain, use Voltaren gels. Learn more about which product is right for you here. Voltaren helps you get back to your daily routine, and can be used in conjunction with a longer-term solution.