Knee Pain
Most knee pain originates from within the knee joint (cartilage, cruciate ligaments) or from the muscles and tendons that cross the joint outside the knee capsule. There are exceptional cases in which the pain originates elsewhere, such as from the lumbar spine or the hip joint . Knee pain within the joint itself usually results […]
Most knee pain originates from within the knee joint (cartilage, cruciate ligaments) or from the muscles and tendons
that cross the joint outside the knee capsule.
There are exceptional cases in which the pain originates elsewhere, such as from the lumbar spine or the hip joint
.
Knee pain within the joint itself usually results from an injury to the ligaments and/or the cartilage that forms the joint and enables
movement.
The most common injuries to the internal part, inside the knee joint, occur on the medial, inner side, of
the joint and include:
the medial ligaments, cruciate ligaments, anterior or horizontal ligaments, and the medial meniscus (the inner cartilage).
Less common are injuries to the lateral (outer) ligaments, the cruciate ligaments and/or the meniscus, or other cartilage structures
in the joint.
Knee joint injuries can occur as a result of sudden trauma, or in adults – from degeneration of
the knee and cartilage wear.
Painful knees can also result from injuries to the muscles and tendons that cross the joint on every
aspect of it, but usually on the lateral (outer) side and at the front of the knee, around the kneecap.
The most common causes of injury to the muscles and/or tendons in the knee are repeated strain, excessive
or improper use of the joint, unsuitable footwear that is not healthy for the foot and knee, etc.
Natural treatment
Diagnosis of knee pain is done through questioning:
Is the pain acute and severe or chronic, and does it stem from trauma, degeneration or repeated strain;
Identifying the location of the pain and the structures inside and/or outside the joint that were injured.
Pinpointing the cause of the pain as precisely as possible is essential for the success of the treatment.
– Pain on the inner side of the knee often involves the Yin meridians of the leg (kidney, liver and spleen-pancreas).
– Pain on the lateral side of the knee usually involves the stomach and gallbladder meridians.
– Pain in the back of the knee usually involves the bladder meridian and/or the kidney meridian.
The primary cause of acute pain and injuries is stagnation of Qi (energy) and blood in the affected meridians.
With prolonged neglect, repeated injury or improper treatment – the condition can progress and worsen.
Body-mind connection:
The connection between the mind and the knee is less immediate and direct than in other areas of the body (for example, the neck, which often reacts immediately and directly to stress, anger and other negative emotions).
As with any chronic or severe injury that disrupts movement and routine, people may experience depression, frustration, sadness or worry. Chronic stress causes excess secretion of the hormone cortisol, which can damage the muscles
and connective tissue and negatively affect the knee. Feeling tired, depressed or in shock over time can lead
to poor posture and lack of physical activity, which over time will harm the health of the knee.
In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), painful and weak knees can be a symptom of kidney energy deficiency. Fear, despair, pessimism and depression are negative emotions often associated with kidney weakness, from the perspective of Chinese medicine – in TCM.
An emotional imbalance of anger and impatience combined with worry and low self-esteem can also manifest as an imbalance of the quadriceps muscle, where its medial – inner – side is weak and its lateral – outer – side is painful and contracted.
Treatment for knee pain:
Treating knee pain with Chinese acupuncture involves the use of gentle electro-stimulation in the affected areas.
Acupuncture combined with electro-stimulation has been shown to reduce pain, reduce muscle tension, swelling and inflammation, increase the flexibility of soft tissue and range of motion, increase and improve blood flow in the area, and improve lymphatic drainage.
Sometimes Chinese acupuncture is performed in areas that are not near the knee at all, but rather distant from it. For example, at the elbow, the ankle, the shoulder – excellent points that directly affect the pain in the knee.
Massage and the use of the GUA SHA technique
Gently rubbing the skin and tissues is used to break up adhesions of the tendons and ligaments caused by inflammation.
Exercises are given to strengthen the knee and stretch the quadriceps muscle, the hamstring muscles and the glutes,
which can help treat knee pain as well as prevent repeat injury.
Several studies have examined the effectiveness of acupuncture on knee pain and found that acupuncture significantly eased and improved the pain. The treatment was found to be effective!
Such literature can be found online on a page such as this one: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10630346
So don’t delay and let the pain and discomfort drag on – come and treat your knee!
At “Machat Ruach”, the clinic for complementary medicine and Chinese acupuncture in Jerusalem and Givatayim, treatments are tailored individually to the various types of problems
including: fertility issues, issues surrounding the menstrual cycle, back pain, knee pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, sleep problems, hormonal issues, skin problems (psoriasis, seborrhea, eczema), ear infections, colds, coughing, asthma, breathing issues, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, menstrual pain, sinusitis, stress, excess weight and more.