Many people don’t realize how hard their knees work until they begin experiencing knee pain. The feeling of grinding, bone-on-bone, inflammation, and constant pain can truly impact your quality of life and often controls what activities you can and cannot do. Contrary to popular belief, knee replacement surgery isn’t the first and only option for treating knee pain. In fact, most people who experience knee pain can avoid surgery by exploring new, innovative treatments that promote natural healing in St. Louis MO.

Practice Healthy Living in St. Louis MO

Your joints, especially your hips and knees, are designed to carry and support your body’s weight. Over time, the joints of people who are obese will experience more damage from daily living than someone who remains at a healthy weight. The excess pressure can wear down the cartilage at a higher rate, causing the bones of the legs to rub against one other and reducing the amount of protective cushioning that cartilage offers.

Even dropping 10% of your body weight can have a positive effect on your knee health, as can drinking plenty of water and eating a healthy, well-balanced diet. Don’t forget the effects that proper footwear can have on your knees, as well. Wear good shoes with proper support, and your knees will thank you down the line!

Alternative Treatments for Arthritis of the Knee

Treating knee pain for osteoarthritis may be different than treating someone who has hurt the knee in an injury or accident. Gentle flexibility exercises can help preserve the range of motion that arthritis suffers have and keep the knees from stiffening up.

Alternating heat and cool on the joins can help reduce the swelling and inflammation. Other natural ways to treat knee pain for OA can include a diet low in processed sugar and alcohol, both of which can inflame tissues and cause more pain. On the other hand, eating foods that have a low glycemic index and anti-inflammatory properties, like lean meat, colorful fruits, and leafy green vegetables, can have a positive effect on your knee health due to their anti-inflammatory properties.

Physical Therapy for Knee Pain

St. Louis Back and Knee Center offers one of the most effective comprehensive systems for treating knee pain that allows our patients to recover and improve their quality of life without resorting to knee replacement surgery. Our passion is to help individuals suffering from unnecessary pain. While surgery can sometimes be appropriate, it is always worth first exploring non-surgical treatments that work.

Part of our knee program includes physical therapy, combining both in-office treatment and at-home exercises for the patient to do. Many of these exercises are designed to maintain flexibility while working to increase the strength of smaller, stabilizing muscles on either side of the knee. Depending on your particular condition, bracing may also be recommended.

Another component of our comprehensive knee pain system includes a specialized injection treatment that promotes natural healing within the body. Upon reviewing your medical history and condition, our physicians will provide you with our recommended treatment plan - which is as unique as your condition is.

Tired of aching knees? Want to get back to the activities you love? Visit St. Louis Back and Knee Center or give us a call to schedule your free consultation today!