Troubled By Knee Pain While Walking Or Running? Here’s How Walk in Clinic Washington DC Can Help

With today’s increasing emphasis on health and a rapidly growing number of people taking up regular exercise, there has been a steady rise in people approaching doctors with knee pain. The causes of this musculoskeletal issue are often varied and range from injuries and overstrain to obesity and arthritis. However, the symptoms of all these conditions are almost similar – swelling, soreness, pain, stiffness, and limping – and capable of causing considerable discomfort and difficulty in walking. 

Unlike most other joints in the body, the knee is a rather complex one that can bend, rotate and twist to enable the body to perform various functions such as walking, dancing, crouching, and sitting. A sophisticated system of bones, tendons, cartilage, and ligaments works in sync to help the human body in these functions. Inflammation, injury, dislocation, or wearing away of any of these parts can lead to knee pain. 

Understanding PRICE therapy

When knee pain first strikes while walking or running, you are likely to ignore it, assuming that it will go away on its own. If the pain persists, it is best to visit your physician or a specialist at a walk in clinic Washington DC. Patients complaining of knee pain are most often advised to follow a PRICE regimen for a few weeks to combat inflammation and prevent any further injury.

Here’s what PRICE means:

• Protect: Use kneecap or knee padding to protect the knee from further injuries.
• Rest: Proper rest is crucial to help the knee heal and prevent injury due to repetitive activities.
• Ice: Swelling in the knee area can be controlled by icing the affected spot two times a day.  This method is ideal for acute as well as chronic knee pain.
• Compression: Sometimes, doctors at walk in clinic Alexandria VA may recommend using a knee wrap to aid in the healing process.
• Elevate: Elevating the knee while sitting is another effective way to reduce swelling and prevent fluid accumulation in the knee area.

In combination with painkillers prescribed by doctors, PRICE therapy helps control inflammation and swelling in the knee to prevent aggravation of an existing injury and promote faster healing.

When to seek specialist help

If the knee pain does not subside even after trying the PRICE regimen for a week, it is time to consult a specialist at your nearest walk in clinic Washington DC. The specialist doctor will typically begin with questions to understand the precise nature of the knee pain. This will be followed by a physical examination during which the doctor will evaluate the condition of ligaments and tendons in the knee area. If the doctor suspects fractures, you may have to undergo further tests such as X-rays or CT scans.

Protecting and caring for the knee

Once you have received a diagnosis regarding your knee pain, it is important to follow the advice of your doctor at the walk in clinic Washington DC and stick to the treatment regimen. Staying active, maintaining body weight in the optimal range, and improving muscle flexibility will go a long way in keeping knee pain away. It would also be a great idea to shift to low-impact exercises such as swimming that will provide you ample exercise while giving your knee time to heal.