Severe knee pain will never go away 100 per cent. But you can make it negligible by taking the following measures:
- For most forms of knee pain, applying ice is the first step to recovery. Ice (inside a plastic bag) wrapped in a towel, acts as an anaesthetic to soothe the ache. The ice pack shouldn't come in direct contact with your skin.
- Avoid the knee bashers. Some activities, such as running and hiking over hilly terrain, put a greater demand on the kneecap.
- Berries, ginger, avocado, flaxseed, omega-3-rich fish, and soy are excellent for your knees.
- Check your shoes — avoid heels, awkward bumps and hard materials.
- If there is any difference in the lengths of your legs, ensure you get insole so your body posture is balanced.
- Muscle up your leg. To strengthen the quadriceps start with straight leg raises. Consult a physiotherapist for more exercises.
- Work your hamstrings. To rehabilitate an injured knee, it is essential to build up strength in the hamstring muscles on the back of the thigh.
- Excessive sodium should be avoided as it contributes to water retention and swelling, which puts pressure on your knees and causes pain.
- If your knee pain is caused by arthritis avoid green peppers, cayenne, eggplant, paprika, tomatoes and potatoes, all of which contain sotanine, a toxin to which arthritis sufferers may have sensitivity.
- Vitamin C is great for your knees. Ensure you stock up on this 'powerhouse' vitamin to keep your knees in shape. After all we have miles to go before we sleep!
