Knee Pain Relief: Holistic Solutions

Knee Pain Relief:

Holistic Solutions

By Ashley Redford

MA, HHE, CSMT, CAMT, CAYT, CWHP

 It brings me great joy to live in a body that is fifteen years older and no longer limited 

by moment-to-moment pain.

Get a tennis ball and place it in between your knees. You can be seated in a chair, on your bed, or on the floor. Keep your feet together and press your knees into the tennis ball. The exact starting point is 4 fingers-width above your knee cap on the edge of the inner thigh muscle/vastus medialis. Should it hurt? Yes! If it doesn't, move the tennis ball until you feel the acupressure point. You will notice a healthy pain/release relationship if you are on the point itself rather than just the muscle. Stay on this point while you read the article and then notice how your knees feel when you get up and walk around.

No one likes pain. It doesn't seem to matter where in the body pain occurs. It simply is no fun. Every time I see someone limping, walking stiffly, or getting in and out of a chair with great difficulty, I remember the chronic pain I used to experience each day and I cringe. 

Recently my pastor spoke about the challenges of his knee pain and I had to sit their watching him without being able to do anything. I have had sore knees that have been swollen and wouldn't bend and where sitting on the floor in a single position for more than a minute seemed impossible. With the cold setting in, many of my clients and students are finding their knees stiffer and more painful than usual. So what is the answer? Is surgery the next step? What about a cortisone shot or taking glucosamine/chondroitin? Should a knee brace be worn or do I get orthotics in my shoes? Will a massage or physical therapy be helpful? Can't I just take some Aleve and hope that it will all just go away!

These are all options, but not all options are for everyone. Over the past fifteen years of working with clients and students in pain from injuries or illnesses, I have tried and suggested individual solutions and multiple solutions. All have worked differently for each individual. The key is in learning about your body and figuring out which solutions will work best for you during each season and with the requirements expected for your body to function. Modifications are often a necessary part of implementing solutions and obtaining successful outcomes. I usually work from a building up from stepping down approach rather than having to step down from building up too fast.

So what are some good "holistic" options. Here are a few.

Point Release™ Technique

Self-Acupressure

Micro and Macro-Stretching

Micro and Macro-Strengthening

Soft Tissue Release/Therapeutic Bodywork

Magnet Therapy

Posture Awareness

Joint Openers

Ice/Heat Therapy

Elevation of Legs

Topicals such as: TigerBalm, Biofreeze, Arnica, Sombre, Zheng Gu Shui

Warm Baths with Epsom Salt

Jacuzzi

Steam Room (wet or dry)

Gentle Swimming

Low Impact Stationery Bike

Walking

Readjusting current workout program

Modifying cleaning routine

Changing hobbies

Get help from family with physical responsibilities

Okay! So now that we have a long working list that does not include surgery or medications, we can start narrowing down which one/s will be best for you and your body. Try one option at a time and see how your knees respond. I will come back to this blog tomorrow and unpack this further. For now keep the tennis ball on your Sp10 acupressure point and notice how much core you need to engage to keep your legs firmly against the ball while remaining in an upright position. 

Double bonus!

You can visit my Pinterest board: Get on the Ball! and check out other acupressure points for the legs in my Lower Body Routine. I'm still pinning photos, so stay tuned. Or you can contact me at: ashleyredford134@yahoo.com

Now get up and walk around. If your knees feel more open, pain free, or mobile, let me know. If you like this blog, share it with others in your network so they can also benefit.

Take Care!

Disclaimer: The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available on this blog is for general information purposes only. You agree that your use of this blog is at your sole risk. Consult your physician before beginning any stretch, exercise or self-acupressure suggestion. By using this site, you are agreeing to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Ashley Redford against any and all losses, expenses, damages and costs resulting from using the information contained within this blog.