What Exercises Should You Avoid if Knee Pain is Your Symptom?

Do you have knee pain? If so, you know just how this pain can interfere with your everyday life, your exercise routine, and even how you sleep at night. If your symptoms persist and don’t go away with a few days of rest, then it’s time to make an appointment with Dr. Bart Atencio and our team at Texas Spine and Sports Therapy Center. In this article, we’ll discuss the exercises you should avoid if you experience hurting knees, along with the common causes and some of the treatments we offer. 

If so, these are the exercises that you should avoid. Additionally, we’ll discuss what the cause of your knee pain could be and when you should make an appointment with Texas Spine and Sports Therapy Center.

Exercises to Avoid

Your pain can come and go, but it can also be chronic. If knee pain is your symptom—which means you’re experiencing pain for more than three months without any other symptoms like fever or swelling—then these are the exercises that you should avoid:

– squats 

– leg extension machines 

– step -ups 

– knee extension exercises done at the gym on weight machines or with free weights 

Further, if you are experiencing any knee pain, it might be a good idea to stop running for the time being, too. Self.com explains that any small amount of pain is a signal to your body that there is likely a vulnerability, like a weakness elsewhere contributing to poor body mechanics. If you don’t address your symptoms, a relatively small pain from something like runner’s knee can lead to a more problematic, acute injury like a ligament tear. 

When to See a Doctor

Knee pain can point to more serious knee injuries, which is why you should have your knee examined by a physician. If left untreated, knee injuries like tendonitis and arthritis could become chronic (longer than three months) knee problems that require knee surgery.

– knee pain in women 

– knee injuries that could lead to arthritis or tendonitis over time 

At our clinic, we offer effective treatments such as:

• A schedule for rest to ensure your knee can heal
• Soft massage to reduce tenderness and increase blood flow
• Guided movements and calibrated stretching that relieves muscle stiffness
• Joint injections to eliminate inflammation for months at a time
• Recommendations for supplements that can improve joint health overall

Causes of Knee Pain 

Two of the most common knee injuries are osteoarthritis and patellofemoral syndrome (runner’s knee). Patellofemoral pain usually occurs when there is a problem with how your kneecap slides across the groove of your thigh bone. This causes extra pressure on the knee which results in swelling, tenderness, knee pain, and stiffness.

Runner’s knee is common among athletes who do a lot of high-impact activities like running or jumping. If the muscles surrounding your knee are tight it can cause runner’s knee because they pull your kneecap out of place causing irritation to the cartilage under the kneecap. This chronic condition can be treated by knee strengthening exercises, physical therapy, or orthotics. 

Symptoms of Knee Pain 

Knee pain can be a result of an injury, such as tendonitis or bursitis. However, arthritis is also common and it occurs when the cartilage within your knee joint breaks down over time. The symptoms associated with knee swelling are due to this breakdown in cartilage that happens naturally through aging. Symptoms include: hurting when walking, knee stiffness in the morning, knee swelling during or after activity.

Knee Pain Exercises 

If your pain is so severe that it limits you from being able to exercise, then there are alternative solutions for getting in a workout. One example of this would be pool exercises which helps with joint movement and reduces your pain. Healthgrades explains that swimming 30 minutes at a time, three times a week, can help keep your knees healthy. Another alternative would be to use an exercise bike as it allows you to pedal with knee motion and reduces knee strain, which can cause knee pain. 

When Should I Make An Appointment? 

If your knee pain is chronic or severe enough that the exercises above don’t work for you, then we recommend making an appointment with Texas Spine and Sports Therapy Center. When knee pain is your symptom, make an appointment to visit us right here in Austin, Texas. We’ll discuss the best treatment options for you. Our clinic specializes in sports medicine, which means we are equipped to treat knee injuries like knee osteoarthritis, patellofemoral pain syndrome (runner’s knee), meniscus tears, and torn ACL. To learn more, contact us today.