How to Prevent Knee Pain: The Best Natural Home Remedies

Did you know that over half of Americans take an average of 4 prescription medications regularly?

Although pills are effective at treating all kinds of health conditions, long-term use can pose a lot of serious risks like liver damage.

Do you want to learn how to prevent knee pain naturally? Keep reading for 10 simple remedies that can help you live pain-free.

1. Visit a Chiropractor for Knee Relief

Visiting a chiropractor is a great first step for people who don't know what to do for aching knees. Not only will a chiropractor give you an adjustment to alleviate your pain, but they can also educate you on different stretches and exercises you can do at home to feel better.

Since chiropractors can listen to your symptoms and assess your problem areas, they can develop a treatment plan that's catered to your unique needs.

2. Follow RICE for Knee Pain

One of the best home remedies for swollen knees is RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation). Resting, icing, and keeping your knees elevated will encourage healing and wearing compression sleeves can offer more support when you move.

While icing your knee can help with inflammation and swelling, applying heat can also work wonders for people who want increase their mobility. Since both methods are effective at treating pain, you can experiment and see which helps you feel the best.

3. Adopt an Anti-Inflammatory Diet

We've all heard that food is medicine, but do you know what you should focus on eating to reduce inflammation? As a general rule of thumb, a whole foods plant-based diet can help anyone achieve optimal health. Whole grains, legumes, fruits, vegetables, and nuts provide your body with an abundance of vitamins and minerals.

One easy way you can reduce inflammation is to start seasoning your food with more spices. Turmeric, garlic, ginger, cinnamon, rosemary, and cayenne are just a few of the many spices that can help alleviate your pain.

4. Buy Supportive Shoes

Every time you take a step, your knees absorb most of the shock that comes with carrying your weight. To take some of the strain off of your knees, you can buy shoes that are heavily cushioned and support your arches. Avoiding shoes with heels can also keep your feet in a natural position to lighten the load on your knees.

Although comfortable shoes are getting more glamorous with advancements in design, some people can't wear supportive shoes at all times. Whether you have to give a presentation or go to a formal dinner, bringing two pairs can minimize the amount of time you have to wear shoes that aggravate your knees. Wear your comfortable shoes for as long as possible, then slip into your fashionable pair only when you need to.

5. Tone Your Leg Muscles

When your knees hurt, the last thing you'd feel like doing is exercise. It's important to avoid injuring your knees further with excessive physical activity, but not moving your knees at all can also lead to stiffness. One great way you can treat your knee pain and prevent it from recurring is to focus on exercises that strengthen your leg muscles.

The stronger your leg muscles are, the less pressure is placed on your knee joints. If you follow these knee strengthening exercises, you should start to notice a difference in no time.

6. Try Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medicine that's been used to treat all kinds of health issues for centuries. This treatment involves placing tiny needles in the body to stimulate certain acupressure points that promote healing. The good news is that these needles are so small that even people who have a fear of needles can hardly feel a thing when they're being inserted.

If you're skeptical, there are studies that show acupuncture can be more effective at treating knee pain and inflammation than medication.

7. Consider CBD

There's a reason why CBD has taken the world by storm these past few years. Although more research is needed to understand this medicinal compound, what we do know is reassuring. Plenty of studies and anecdotal evidence suggests that CBD can be a powerful tool to treat chronic pain naturally.

Since CBD comes in many different forms, you can choose a product that suits your needs. Some of the most popular ways people use CBD to treat pain are sublingual drops and topical creams.

8. Use Herbal Ointments

Aside from CBD cream, there are many other herbal ointments that can give you pain relief. One study discovered that an ointment made out of ginger, cinnamon, mastic, and sesame oils was as effective as standard over-the-counter pain creams. If you take your time massaging the ointment into your skin, you can also reap the benefits of increasing your blood flow and alleviating any tension.

9. Lose Weight to Protect Your Joints

Losing weight isn't the quickest treatment for knee pain, but it can make a huge difference in the long run. If you're overweight, your knees have a harder time supporting you. As time goes on, your body becomes more susceptible to wear and tear injuries.

Your diet is the most important factor for losing weight, but exercising can help you get results faster. Low-impact activities like swimming can help you burn fat and tone your muscles without putting more strain on your knees.

10. Do Gentle Exercises

Gentle total-body exercises like yoga and tai chi are great for helping your entire body feel better. Another benefit of these types of exercises is that they also focus on healing your mind. Since stress can trigger inflammation, keeping calm is crucial for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Learning How to Prevent Knee Pain Is Important

Now that you know how to prevent knee pain using natural remedies, you can live your life to the fullest.

Are you ready to say goodbye to your knee pain? If so, Carolina Active Health Chiropractic would love to help anyone who lives near Greenville, SC. Contact us so you can book your first appointment.