Exercise plays an essential role in your health, but sometimes can negatively impact your body. This is especially common in the case of heavy exercise, like long distance running or lifting large weights. One area particularly vulnerable to injury are your joints, especially knee joints which often bare the brunt of stress when exercising.
Causes
Knee strain is caused by an injury to the muscles of your knee or to the surrounding tendons that attach the muscle to the bone. Your knee joint is constantly under stress and is typically suited for carrying around your body weight. However, when you add additional heavy weight, or exercise at an intense level with running or other activities, you can damage or pull the muscle. This can cause strain on your knees. In some cases heavy exercise may also cause a sprain. A sprain differs from a strain in that it involves a stretching or tearing of the ligaments around the knee, verses damage to the muscle or tendon.
RICE Treatment
When a strain occurs, it's important to start treating the area as soon as possible to help reduce the effects of swelling. The Merck Medical Library suggests using the common RICE method. RICE is an acronym for rest, ice, compression and elevation above the heart. Each of these steps helps encourage both the reduction and draining of inflammation, allowing the area to heal faster.
Medications for Pain and Inflammation
To address immediate pain associated with a strain, start with over-the-counter pain or anti-inflammatroy medication. A wide range of options are available ranging from acetaminophen to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, or NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, naproxen or aspirin. If pain from the strain is serious enough to see your doctor, she may also prescribe a temporary prescription painkiller, anti-inflammatory or muscle relaxant.
Prevention
While knee strain is not completely preventable, there are ways to reduce the impact on your knees when exercising. It's important to build up strength in the muscles around your knees before trying to perform too heavy of an exercise. To build strength, start with smaller weights or less intense activities, and build your way up to more intense exercise. Consider adding exercises that are low-impact to your knees as well, such as swimming, using an elliptical trainer, or riding a stationary bicycle.
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