- Home treatment for knee injuries
- To combat knee pain and swelling
- To facilitate knee movements
- When to go to the doctor
When, for some reason, the knee or any joint is injured, it is advisable during the first 48 hours to place cold compresses on the injured area to relieve pain and inflammation. In addition, it may be useful to apply an arnica ointment to combat the symptoms, but if the pain remains for more than 5 days or is very severe, it is recommended to go to the doctor to perform tests such as x-rays or MRIs to detect and diagnose the degree the damage caused.
At the consultation, the orthopedist will be able to indicate the use of anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of an ointment or pills, in addition to physiotherapy sessions that will be very useful to combat pain, restore muscle strength and range of motion, thus improving quality of life. person's.
Home treatment for knee injuries
It is possible to treat knee injuries caused by injuries in a football game or fall, for example, through simple measures that can be done at home and that aim to relieve symptoms and improve knee movement.
To combat knee pain and swelling
To combat pain, swelling in the knee is important to discover its cause, so that the most appropriate treatment can begin. However, the PRICE protocol can be useful in this situation to reduce inflammatory symptoms and improve movement, requiring protection, rest, use of ice, compression and elevation.
The ice should be applied 3 to 4 times a day for 15 to 20 minutes and should be wrapped in a sheet of paper towel or a thin diaper to avoid a burn on the skin. After the ice, the knee can be bandaged with a compressive bandage to decrease the movements and contain the swelling and keep the leg elevated, lying in bed with a pillow under the knee and the heel. In this way, it is possible to relieve the symptoms of the injury.
To facilitate knee movements
After the first 48 hours, it is advisable, then, to leave the ice and begin to apply hot compresses, as the heat relaxes the injured joint or muscle, giving greater flexibility during the recovery phase. The movements must be carried out to the point of pain and it may be necessary to do daily physiotherapy sessions to recover the knee movement, and the time of the physiotherapeutic treatment can vary from weeks to months according to the type and severity of the injury.
To do this exercise just lie on your back and bend your leg by dragging the heel over the surface to the point where you can perform the movement without pain, repeating this exercise 10 times in a row. Another exercise that can be useful to improve movements with this joint is to sit at a table with your legs dangling and then stretch your leg until the leg is extended or until the pain limit. This exercise can also be performed 10 times in a row, however it is important that the exercises are indicated by the physiotherapist, as they may vary according to the person's need.
When to go to the doctor
It is recommended to go to the orthopedist or physiotherapist when the person cannot move the knee without feeling pain or when other signs and symptoms appear, such as:
- The knee pain is very severe, if you can't bend your knee; if you walk with a limp; if you have a fever or if your joint feels hot; if your knee looks deformed.
In this case, it is recommended to go to the orthopedist to perform tests that can identify the cause of the pain and dysfunction, through specific tests and imaging tests such as X-rays or MRI, for example.
Watch the following video and see other tips that can help relieve knee pain:
