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Most of us have minor knee pain at one time or another, and people in Asheboro NC are no exception. Our bodies are designed to move, but the fact is that knee pain can develop from every day wear and tear or overuse, and of course from injury. Knee problems and injuries typically happen during sports or recreational activities, work-related tasks, or home projects.
Some people are more likely to have knee pain than others. Many jobs, certain sports and recreational activities, getting older, or having a disease such as osteoporosis or arthritis, increase your chances of experiencing knee pain. Knee surgery is sometimes necessary to alleviate knee pain, but common sense, appropriate care, and following the advice of sports medicine doctors at Randolph Orthopedics and Sports Medicine can help keep you enjoying your active life.
Causes of knee pain
An acute, or sudden, injury is the most common cause of knee pain. Injuries can be caused by a direct blow to your knee or from abnormal twisting, bending, or falling on your knee. Some of the more common injuries are sprains, strains, and other injuries to ligaments and tendons connecting and supporting the kneecap. A tear in the meniscus, the rubbery cushions in your knee joint, and ligament tears are also common causes of knee pain. To determine the severity of knee injuries, sports medicine doctors often use arthroscopic knee surgery, and can often repair the injury causing your knee pain during this minimally invasive procedure.
Overuse injuries happen over time with repetitive activities or with repeated pressure on your knee. Activities like stair climbing, cycling, jogging, or jumping put stress on our knees, leading to irritation and inflammation. Bursitis is caused by inflammation of the small sacs of fluid that cushion and lubricate your knee. Tendinitis is a result of inflammation of the tendons. Arthroscopic knee surgery is sometimes used to repair overuse knee injuries, as well. Another unavoidable cause of knee pain is also a form of overuse – getting older.
Knee pain and arthritis
Arthritic knee pain is the outcome of wear and tear on your knee. It happens when the cartilage of your knee joint, the rubbery, slippery tissue at the ends of bones, gradually erodes and allows the bones of your knee joint to rub together. There is no cure for arthritis, but treatment can help; sports medicine doctors may take a multifaceted approach. Weight loss, exercise, medication, alternative therapies such as physical and rehabilitation therapies, and knee surgery are some of the possible options, including knee replacement surgery.
Sports medicine
Sports medicine doctors specialize in those treating injuries causing your knee pain, and in helping you avoid a recurrence of injury. Some sports medicine doctors, like those at Randolph Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, are involved in not just the care of their patients, but in educating athletes, coaches, and community parents about injury prevention and recognition. An important aspect of sports medicine is teaching proper strength building, flexibility, conditioning, endurance, and training techniques which help minimize the risk of injuries.
If you have knee pain, seek help from the caring doctors at Randolph Orthopedics and Sports Medicine in Asheboro NC. Go to Randolph Orthopedics today, and click on their Contact Us page, or call to make an appointment with one of the sports medicine doctors to discuss treatment options for your knee pain.