Knee Pain When Bending? Causes and treatments
You’re all dressed for work and about to head out the door when suddenly your keys drop to the floor. You bend down to pick them up and it sends a surge of pain through the knee. Sound familiar? Whether it’s a new development, or something you’ve been dealing with for years, knee pain when bending is extremely common.
Understanding knee pain is crucial for treatment and this means knowing the cause and how to stop it happening again in the future.
Why do I get knee pain when bending? Causes
Knee discomfort can be triggered from a wide range of issues however some of the most common reasons for pain when bending are;
- Arthritis
- Tendinitis
- Baker’s cyst
- Bursitis
- ITB (iliotibial band) issues
In cases where the pain goes away fairly quickly after bending, it’s normally nothing serious.
However, if you find the pain is quite heavy and stays around, or you’re having other symptoms with it like swelling, stiffness or numbness, it’s important to see a doctor to check for a more serious underlying issue.
Knee pain treatments
No matter the main cause, there are a range of ways to treat knee pain caused by bending. Below are a couple of the most effective:
1. Compression
Compression garments help stabilise the muscles, reduce swelling in and around the knee joint and help with muscle pain.
Compression increases the supply of oxygen to the working muscles of the knee. This increased oxygen supply helps to improve muscle endurance and decrease muscle fatigue after exercise. The controlled compression also improves the knee’s ability to maintain maximum movement stability during sporting activities.
In cases where there is arthritis or particularly bad swelling, using a knee brace that unloads the knee as well as compresses is highly effective at treating the pain and core issue.
Try the GenuTrain S hinged knee brace.
2. Stretching
Tightness in the muscles and ligaments can often exacerbate knee pain so keeping the knee flexible will help to reduce strain on the joint and allow you to move more freely without pain.
3. Yoga and Tai-chi
Engaging in exercise activities like Yoga and Tai-chi have dual benefits.
While they have a clear physical benefit of reducing pain, building up flexibility and movement in the joint, they’re both shown to effectively reduce stress, which can cause muscle tightness.
Learn more: Protect the knees by understanding the kinetic chain
4. Anti-inflammatories
Over the counter medications like ibuprofen can help to manage swelling in the joint itself when the pain is particularly bad, however this should only be done when necessary, and if you’re using them a lot, speak to your doctor.
Using natural anti-inflammatories like ginger, turmeric and garlic in your diet is a healthier and more effective long-term solution.
5. Swimming
Swimming is an excellent way to stay in shape, exercise your muscles and relieve pain.
What makes it particularly good for knee pain is that it’s very low-impact, so there’s virtually no strain on the knee joint while you’re doing it.
6. Massage
A therapeutic massage on the knee and leg can help relieve tension and relax the muscles, getting blood flowing into the joint and soothing inflammation.
7. Physiotherapy
In cases where it’s more chronic or severe, knee pain can be well treated by a physiotherapist.
They’ll work with you to find the right exercises for your knee to build up long-term strength and flexibility to minimise the knee pain.
Do you have private health? Most private health extras will cover Bauerfeind Products, check to see if yours is included. Bauerfeind Private Health Insurance Inquiry.
Bauerfeind products are developed at our innovation and manufacturing facility in Zeulenroda, Germany. Based on years of scientific research, our award-winning braces and support garments are highly recommended by medical professionals and athletes worldwide.
For assistance selecting the right product for your needs, book a video consultation with a Bauerfeind expert: Book Video Call, or call us on 1300 668 466.
