Knee pain is a common occurrence. In fact, around 54 percent of American adults complain about knee pain. Furthermore, around five million Americans undergo knee replacement surgery. Surgery isn’t fun and recovery can be long and grueling. That’s why preventing surgery is ideal.
You may not think there is anything you can do to prevent painful knees, but you are mistaken. These five helpful tips can help you ease knee pain and maybe even ward off surgery.
5 tips to prevent knee pain
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Stay positive: This is a bit of an odd tip and you may not have considered it, but your mood can contribute to pain. Studies have shown that depression can worsen joint pain. Researchers suspect the two may be linked because of neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine, which play a role in mood. Researchers say that caring for your mental health can go a long way in improving your physical pain.
Eat the colors of the rainbow: Eating a variety of bright-colored foods is a great way to eat foods that are natural anti-inflammatories. This means consuming more fruits and vegetables. Remember, the more vibrant the color, the better the food is for you.
Stretch and flex: You can strengthen and stabilize your knee better by improving the surrounding muscles of the knee. This means strengthening and stretching the hamstrings, quadriceps, calves, and hips. Regularly stretching the muscles below the waist is a good way to prevent knee pain and future injuries.
Go swimming: Swimming is a great exercise because it offers gentle resistance with low-impact on the knees. This means you can become stronger without risking injury, but do avoid the breaststroke, as it tends to be harder on the knees.
Increase your fiber intake: Research has shown more fiber in the diet is linked to lower c-reactive proteins in the body. C-reactive proteins are an indication of inflammation and inflammation triggers pain and swelling. By upping your fiber, you can reduce inflammation and live with less pain.
If you incorporate these tips into your daily routine, you may enjoy pain-free knees.
Also Read: Essential oils for knee pain relief
