Self-Care – Pain Along Inside of Knee on Steps

Falls and Youthful Challenges

This condition is more serious when you are older. Take extra care when descending steps. Also, avoid those unexpected adventures that you haven’t done in years. I’ve treated many people over 50 who tried to prove they can still do it. Keep challenging yourself. It’s essential for longevity. Just be measured and careful.

Avoid kneeling. Especially hard surfaces. Avoid gardening, laying tile, party games, or other activities that may have you squirm around on your knees.

Common in Children. Really.

Even if you’re younger, be measured in your challenges. Surprisingly, this is one of children’s most common trigger point problems. If you fall or have a misstep, get professional help before it becomes worse.

Pain Patch

Feel for the tight fibers a little above and to the inside of your knee cap. Place the patch over those fibers. It’ll be more effective than putting on the pain in your knee. Don’t worry. I know you’ll probably try both. These patches from Amazon are affordable and about the right size. They’re also available in most drug stores and grocery stores.

These patches are particularly useful if this pain awakens you. The patch is more likely to reduce odor during sleep and keep the cream out of fabrics.

People tend to prefer patches to avoid the cream’s scent, although there are creams with less odor. In addition, people prefer the cream on areas with lots of movement. Otherwise, the patch comes off easily. Also, the adhesive on the patch can irritate the skin, especially after a few days.

Stretch. Gently.

This trigger point can respond very well to gentle, repetitive stretches. Use the tips below to be more effective. If you like this standing quad stretch, keep the knees together.

This approach will free up the joint. A little pop while gently stretching the knee can be a great thing. If it pops on every repetition, have a professional check it.

Not just your Quads

Quads are often a problem because of imbalances in the hip. The most common problem is that the hamstrings are too strong and short. As a result, those hamstrings overwork and aggravate other thigh muscles.

In fact, balancing the hip can really help. See the yoga section below.

10 Tips to Improve Your Stretching

These tips make your stretching:

• easier
• more effective
• longer-lasting
• take less time

This is a relatively short post and can make a huge difference. If you find stretching painful, difficult, time-consuming, or less effective, take a few seconds to read this.

Take Care of Your Feet

If you’ve tried the stretches above and it keeps coming back. Look to your feet.

I’ve relieved this in many patients with foot massage. When friends have called, I suggest they get a couple of foot massages over the next week. This does the trick more often than you’d think.

Morton Foot Structure

Some feet have a bone structure that creates more instability than others. This foot rocking can perpetuate foot, leg, and hip pain. A more stable foot and gait can dramatically reduce pain in the lower extremity, especially the hip, and knee.

This condition can remain mild or lead to expensive treatments and even surgery. If you have this structure and some of its symptoms, take a look at this overview.

That post offers practical suggestions to reduce pain and increase stability on the foot. There are simple self-care suggestions, like inexpensive foot pads from Amazon. You can prevent advancing that foot problem, which can perpetuate the trigger points described here.

Balance Your Pelvis

Don’t just open your pelvis; balance it.

Focus on lengthening the shorter ranges of motion. Then, if needed, strengthen those hypermobile ranges. Often, practitioners think that a greater range of motion is better. Research like this study would offer a different perspective. Often, I find it challenging to get people out of pain who are hypermobile, especially in just one direction.

Quadriceps and knee joints have more trouble when the quads and hams are not balanced. Either can be too tight or overstretched. Additionally, poses like warrior or pigeon help to evaluate adductors and abductors.

Cranio Cradle Cup

This mug has classic, colorful illustrations of the craniosacral system and vault hold #3. It makes a great gift and conversation piece.