Should I Stop Exercising if I Have Knee Pain?

Your knees may be trying to tell you something. Muscle pain after working out is usually ordinary and can safely be worked through, but some types of pain, especially knee pain, are a warning sign of something more serious.

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You might want to pay extra attention to knee pain:

• If you are older
• If you have been working out more than usual
• If you are overweight

Here are some ways to decide if knee pain is serious and protect your knees.

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Do You Have a Common Knee Injury?
The cause of your knee pain determines whether you can continue to exercise or whether exercise will further damage your knee. You may have one of these common types of knee injury:

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Knee Contusion (Bruise)
These mild injuries are usually caused by a fall or a blow to the knee. Although they can be painful, contusions heal quickly on a RICE program (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation).

If you notice swelling deep in the knee, or if you don’t see improvement quickly, see a health care practitioner—it’s possible you have a more serious injury.

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Knee Sprain or Strain
A sprain means you have torn or stretched ligaments, while a strain means you have torn or stretched muscles or tendons. These injuries can be due to overuse, injury, or irritated cartilage.

Sprains and strains benefit from RICE treatment, but after a week or two, you can usually resume activity. Start slowly and use extra care in your form. If you continue to have pain, get some assistance from a health care practitioner.

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Ligament Strains in the Knee
Certain movements are red flags. These conditions may signal a serious injury:

• A loose, unstable feeling in the knee
• The knee joint hyperextends or hyperflexes
• The knee buckles inward
• Unable to bear weight on the knee
• Under these circumstances, you may have damaged the meniscus or a tendon and you should see a health care practitioner to evaluate and diagnose your injury.

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Listen to Your Body

All this advice has one thing in common: Listen to your pain. Joint pain isn’t the same as muscle pain; if joint pain increases when you work out, stop and rest before you exercise again, and exercise with caution and care. “No pain, no gain” refers to muscles, not your knees.

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King Chiropractic Can Help with Knee Pain
Mild contusions and strains can be treated at home with RICE. But for any injury that leaves you wondering if it could be serious, get professional help.

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King Chiropractic can help with knee pain and knee injuries, easing soft tissue injuries and assisting the body’s cells in healing themselves. Our chiropractic care in Wilmington can help reduce inflammation and restore range of motion. Call King Chiropractic today at (910) 777-7228 and make an appointment to get your knees back in action!