[toc]Knees are one of the most complex joints in our body and also most prone to injury. During our daily course of bending, kneeling, walking and jumping we barely give thought to our knees which take the maximum brunt of all our strenuous activities.
However, we tend to ignore them till the time we start suffering from the effects of all that wear and tear. The fact is that we can prevent knee pain and other knee problems by doing certain daily activities in the right manner and also by including some simple exercises in our daily routine. These will act as a natural cure for knee pain.
5 Natural Cures For Knee Pain
Lose Weight
If you are overweight you are putting extra burden on all the joints of the body. Extra weight is particularly tough on the knees because at every step you take you are exerting a force equal to one and a half times your body weight on the knees.
This force is even more intense when you run or jog. For instance if you jog when you are 20 pounds overweight, you are exerting 100 pounds extra force on your knees with every step you take. A healthy diet and proper exercise can help you maintain an ideal weight which will act as a natural cure for knee pain or at least prevent it.
Avoid Overpronation
Overpronation or the rolling inwards of the feet is a common cause for knee problems. Some amount of pronation is normal, but in excess it throws the knees out of alignment and hence causes knee problems.
This problem can be corrected by supportive shoes meant to prevent pronation or special shoe inserts called orthotics. These orthotics can be bought over the counter or can be custom made by an orthopedists or sports medicine specialist.
Avoid High Heels
Wearing a heel higher than one inch can throw the body forward and stress the knees. Hence you should wear the lowest possible heel. The part of the shoes that cups the heels should also be stiff to provide stability to the heel which will in turn reduce the pressure on the knees.
If you indulge in sports activities, you should wear shoes that are specially designed for these activities.Remember to replace your shoes as soon as they get worn out as this will act as a natural cure for knee pain.
Change Surfaces
If you walk a lot or run, try to walk on the flattest part of the road. Hard surfaces like asphalt and concrete stress the knees so choose softer surfaces like grass, forest pathways or a running track. However, you should avoid sand that is prone to shifting because it can stress the knees.
Do Mixed Exercises
If you keep repeating one kind of movement it will strengthen some muscles while others will become weak due to disuse. Hence cross training is the best method to mix up exercises that will exercise the whole body and hence be less harsh on the knees.
Doing the following exercises can act as a natural cure for knee pain. – Hamstring stretch, Quadriceps stretch, Calf stretch, Hip extensor strengthener, Hip abductor strengthener etc.
