Knee caps are a bad idea! Know why

Knee pain is a prevalent issue that is found to be very common among people of all ages. This type of issue may arise due to an injury, overuse of the muscles, or could be a chronic disease like arthritis. It impacts one's life drastically in terms of movements or daily life activities. To overcome or deal with the issue, kneecaps are suggested and are often used as a prevalent remedy. However, we need to be vigilant and cautious when dealing with knee pain because knee caps or braces can only provide immediate and temporary relief to the pain. Hence, we must always be careful while dealing with any joint pain in our body and take the best approaches.

Are Knee Caps Really Necessary?

Knee caps are usually termed as an immediate or quick solution to provide pain relief. It stabilises and reduces the pain and keeps it from swelling. They are considered necessary for the following reasons-

• Immediate Relief
• Accessibility
• Ease of use

Causes of Knee Pain

For an in-depth understanding, we must have appropriate knowledge and insight into what can cause knee pain so that we are always careful. We know knee pain can arise from any source ranging from an injury, medical condition, body weight, complex joints, etc. For an effective treatment, we must understand the knee pain causes: 

Injuries

• Ligament Injuries: There could be a tear in the anterior cruciate ligament (centre of the knee),  in the medial collateral ligament (from the upper shin to the inner surface of the bottom thigh), in the posterior cruciate ligament or in the lateral collateral ligament. 
• Meniscus Tear: This occurs due to twisting motions, or sudden turns
• Patellar Tendinitis: Inflammation of the tendons

Medical Conditions

• Arthritis:  mainly of two types:

1. Osteoarthritis: It causes stiffness in the knee because of the wearing away of the knee cartilage.
2. Rheumatoid Arthritis: Causes inflammation in the joints, including the knee.

• Gout: Due to the accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joints, knee pain can occur.

Mechanical Conditions       

• Dislocation: Knee swelling and pain are the results of the dislocation of the kneecap.
• IT Band Syndrom: Tightness of the iliotibial band (a thick bunch of fibres) can cause pain on the outside of the knee.
• Misalignment: Incorrect positioning of the hips, feet, or legs can cause knee pain.

Knee Pain Treatments 

To deal with knee pain as an issue, it is important to understand its underlying causes and the origin of it, in order to treat the knee pain rather than just alleviating the symptoms. 

1. Medications

• Medicines: Anti-inflammatory drugs like NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)

2. Injections

• Hyaluronic Acid Injections: Improves mobility, due to the lubricant released in the joint. 
• Corticosteroid Injections: Releases inflammation and gives temporary pain relief.

3. Surgery 

• Arthroscopic Surgery: Done to remove or repair damaged tissue.
• Partial or total knee replacement: Removing the part or the whole of the knee joint may be necessary in severe cases of arthritis.

Knee Pain Relief Exercises

Regular knee pain relief exercise is always considered good and healthy for the mobility of the body. This would eventually help the muscles around the knee to be healthier, and flexible and cause less pain. Various effective exercises for knee pain are:

1. Straight leg raises- In this exercise, one lies on one's back on the ground, keeping one knee bent and one leg straight. Raise the straight leg towards the ceiling and hold for a few seconds. 
2. Quad sets- an exercise involving sitting with the legs straight and then tightening the thigh muscles.
3. Steps ups: stepping on a sturdy platform while bringing the other foot to join in and then stepping down.

You can check out our blog on the top 5 exercises to deal with knee pain, recommended by in-house physiotherapists at Granimals.

Physiotherapy For Knee

It is a way of getting a personalised or customised treatment for the type of knee pain an individual may deal with. Physiotherapy for the knee is an effective way to manage knee pain because of the physiotherapist, who develops a personalised treatment plan.

• Exercising Programs: 

1. Strengthening Exercises: these focus mainly on keeping the activeness in the joints which supports the knee joint hips muscles etc.
2. Flexibility Exercises: to reduce stiffness and increase the mobility in the joints.

• Manual Therapy: this is done mainly to improve the functioning of the knee joint by giving it a massage or a mobility exercise. Thus, this decreases its pain.

• Education: having knowledge about a topic or having only a little information about anything has never been wrong. Thus, learning about the body's functioning, mechanics or posture can help prevent problematic issues like knee pain.

Why Knee Caps May Not Be The Best Solution

Knee caps or braces are said to be effective or the best solution only for immediate pain relief, while it is considered to be not the best solution for a long term treatment of an issue. The reasons for the same are:

• Hiding of the problems: when the long-term chronic illness cannot be detected due to knee caps constantly providing pain relief to the joint, the diagnosis can be delayed, and the condition may worsen.

• Decreasing mobility: as said exercises are crucial and a very important part of the recovery of the pain, knee caps do the opposite. It makes the joint lose its mobility while making it difficult to do everyday activities.

• Dependency: if kneecaps are used constantly, there might come a situation in the future where the knee caps being a temporary supporter, becomes a requirement. Then it brings no room for development in the working of the knee.

• Muscle weakening: the development of the knee has no chance in the situation where the brace or knee cap is used every time. This is so because the knee is not involved in any of the activities and could worsen the normal knee pain into something severe.

• Discomfort: rashes, skin irritation, or discomfort are very common factors of the usage of knee caps for prolonged periods thus leading to allergies or any other skin disease.

• Not a cure: it is always stated to be cautious rather than using the wrong remedy for the treatment of the underlying serious issues. The use of knee caps does not cure the real issue of knee pain but gives only temporary relief. 

Conclusion

Knee caps are not considered to be the ultimate solution for knee pain. It should only be used for temporary purposes as they provide support, and don’t do much to heal the underlying condition. The underlying cause for the knee pain can only be known if diagnosed properly by the doctor or the assigned professional personnel. Hence, the physiotherapist then makes a customised treatment exercise for knee pain. It is also said that the kneecap should not be used constantly as it causes knee damage or no improvement in the muscles of the knee. Quick mobility exercises are always helpful to keep your body strengthened and active. Making correct lifestyle choices will always be helpful in not experiencing something like joint or knee pain. Consulting a professional healthcare provider is always recommended since they will always provide one with a personalised treatment. 

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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q1- Can we wear kneecaps daily?

Ans: No, we cannot wear knee caps daily because they can cause severe skin problems, mobility issues, and weakening of the knee muscles.

Q2- Is knee cap pain serious?

Ans: It is always advisable to visit the nearest healthcare centre when experiencing joint pain. Knee caps are generally used only for temporary purposes; hence, if you are experiencing constant pain, visit the doctor.

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