How to help knee pain – a holistic approach to getting fit and healthy
/By Dr Voula Tep, Acupuncturist
With the weather getting warmer and the days sunnier, you might have decided that now is the best time to start walking or running as part of your daily exercise. That’s great until a couple of days in, when you start to notice some niggling knee pain that wasn’t there before.
Don’t be disheartened with your efforts, as we can help you with that – in a range of different ways.
Our acupuncturists may help – and we might suggest diet changes!
Firstly, you might like to book an acupuncture appointment. And you might also be surprised to find that we suggest diet changes during your appointments. Hang on, wasn’t this just about a knee problem?
Well, when there is swelling and pain around a knee with no evidence of trauma, we tend to find that the individual’s Spleen energy is not functioning quite right. This is also the case for any other type of swelling around the body, such as oedema and bloating.
The Spleen in Chinese Medicine is responsible for the transformation and transportation of nutrients from what we eat and drink. When it is under pressure from a stressful and exhausting lifestyle, it starts to dysfunction and accumulates fluid in the body. This lack of transportation and accumulation of fluid can lead to fatigue, feeling of heaviness, indigestion, diarrhoea, skin problems and joint inflammation (sound familiar?).
So how do you create a better functioning Spleen, you ask?
This comes down to changing what you eat – and also how you eat. Cutting out sugars, dairy and gluten is a good place to start, as the Spleen struggles to process foods high in sugar. The Spleen also likes nice warm things, as it’s easier to digest, so cutting out the frozen and raw things is important – think salads, juices, and ice cream.
Remember when I said the Spleen also struggles with a stressed lifestyle? This is when you need to think about how you eat, slow down and take time to eat that delicious meal you prepared. Do you really need to eat at the desk or on the go? Trust me your Spleen will thank you for slowing down.
Other ways to treat your knee pain – a holistic approach
As a clinic we like to take the holistic approach:
Acupuncture for reduction of inflammation and pain which is caused by strenuous exercise irritating the muscles around the knee joint.
Physiotherapy for assessment of hip and knee joints combined with specific strengthening exercises and stretches. This is because knee pain can be caused by leg length difference or rotation of the hips which will affect the way you walk or run.
Massage therapy for releasing tight muscles in the back, legs, ITB and gluts. When these muscles become tight, they can pull on the kneecap causing tracking problems and knee pain.
Dietitian advice for balancing the newfound exercise with the appropriate foods to fuel your body. Knee pain can be caused by an underlying inflammatory condition that would require a more anti-inflammatory diet or to aid repair in muscles a higher protein diet.
Podiatry for assessment and treatment of footwear. Knee pain can be from wearing inappropriate footwear while walking exercising due to flat feet or too much rotation of the ankle.
With a team like this, why would you go anywhere else for the treatment of knee pain? Let’s keep you active by addressing the problem early!
And one last tip - here’s an easy exercise you can do at home to help relieve stiffness and pain
Dr Voula Tep is a qualified Acupuncturist and Remedial Massage Therapist. After graduating from Endeavour College of Natural Health in 2011 as a massage therapist, Voula worked extensively in bodywork for retired athletes and corporate clientele, before incorporating manual therapy for pregnancy, work and sports injuries.
In 2015, Voula returned to Endeavour to study her Bachelor in Acupuncture. She now enjoys helping people connect their emotional and physical selves, with a particular focus in fertility acupuncture and musculoskeletal conditions.
To book an acupuncture session with Voula, head here.
