Pregnant women often experience body aches and pains. As pregnancy progresses, your body weight increases and the bone joints become softer in preparation for childbirth at later stages. All these factors may contribute to knee pain in pregnancy. In addition, your growing baby bump exerts pressure on the pelvic floor muscles, uterus, and joints and ligaments, especially of the lower extremities. Read this post as we explain the various causes and complications of knee pain in pregnant women and give you a few tips on managing it.
What Are The Causes Of Knee Pain During Pregnancy?
Knee pain occurs in most women, but there are different reasons for knee pain during pregnancy.
Are There Any Complications Associated With Pregnancy Knee Pain?
If knee pain is not treated on time, it might lead to certain complications in the future.
Osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease, will develop in the later stages. This will lead to joint stiffness, pain, and locking of knee joints (7). Damage in the protective cartilage and ligament around the knee joints could lead to difficulties in walking, running, and bending in the future (8).
Managing knee pain becomes essential to make pregnancy a comfortable time for the mom-to-be.
How To Manage Knee Pain During Pregnancy?
Here are a few ways in which you can try to alleviate knee pain during pregnancy (9).
Exercise: Low-impact exercises such as moderate walking and swimming will strengthen your quadriceps and offer support to your knees. They might, therefore, prevent knee pain.
Give some rest to your feet: Do not strain your feet too much and rest more as you start to gain weight while pregnant. It will help ease your knee pain.
Get right shoes: Use shoes that are well-cushioned for proper arch support. The cushions act as shock absorbers and prevent knee pain during early pregnancy.
Manage your bodyweight: Try maintaining your weight as gaining weight too quickly is bad for the joints. On average, you can put around 15 to 25 pounds throughout pregnancy.
Use knee braces: Wear a knee brace that comes with a doughnut hole in the center when you are walking or indulge in other physical activities. They offer support to the loose ligaments and tendons around the knee and help to control the pain.
Hot and cold compress: Take a hot water bath or apply a heating pad to the knees, followed by an ice pack. This alternative therapy will reduce the pain and swelling around the knee joints.
Massage therapy: Getting a massage therapy will help in relieving joint pains and stiffness. They also help in improving the range of motion.
Improve your diet: Include a balanced diet of all essential nutrients. Increase the intake of omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, and vitamin D to relieve joint pains and stiffness.
Rest well: Take enough rest as it helps ease the joint or knee pains.
If the above measures do not work and the pain worsens, you need to visit your doctor for proper medical treatment.
Treatment For Joint Pain During Pregnancy
The safest over-the-counter medicine your doctor would prescribe is acetaminophen (paracetamol) that helps relieve mild joint pain. Take only small dosages, or as prescribed by the doctor, since excessive use is associated with liver damage (10) ( (11). Avoid soothing creams and ointments that contain methyl salicylate as they can cause a burning sensation on the skin (12).
Can You Prevent Knee Pain During Pregnancy?
You can’t prevent knee pain unless it is due to a fall or injury. Try and maintain your weight as increased body weight leads to sore knees and causes knee pain. Give enough rest to your body to avoid joint pains and include foods rich in calcium and omega-3 fatty acids after consulting your doctor.
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title: “Knee Pain During Pregnancy Causes And Ways To Manage It” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-20” author: “James Maxwell”
Pregnant women often experience body aches and pains. As pregnancy progresses, your body weight increases and the bone joints become softer in preparation for childbirth at later stages. All these factors may contribute to knee pain in pregnancy. In addition, your growing baby bump exerts pressure on the pelvic floor muscles, uterus, and joints and ligaments, especially of the lower extremities. Read this post as we explain the various causes and complications of knee pain in pregnant women and give you a few tips on managing it.
What Are The Causes Of Knee Pain During Pregnancy?
Knee pain occurs in most women, but there are different reasons for knee pain during pregnancy.
Are There Any Complications Associated With Pregnancy Knee Pain?
If knee pain is not treated on time, it might lead to certain complications in the future.
Osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease, will develop in the later stages. This will lead to joint stiffness, pain, and locking of knee joints (7). Damage in the protective cartilage and ligament around the knee joints could lead to difficulties in walking, running, and bending in the future (8).
Managing knee pain becomes essential to make pregnancy a comfortable time for the mom-to-be.
How To Manage Knee Pain During Pregnancy?
Here are a few ways in which you can try to alleviate knee pain during pregnancy (9).
Exercise: Low-impact exercises such as moderate walking and swimming will strengthen your quadriceps and offer support to your knees. They might, therefore, prevent knee pain.
Give some rest to your feet: Do not strain your feet too much and rest more as you start to gain weight while pregnant. It will help ease your knee pain.
Get right shoes: Use shoes that are well-cushioned for proper arch support. The cushions act as shock absorbers and prevent knee pain during early pregnancy.
Manage your bodyweight: Try maintaining your weight as gaining weight too quickly is bad for the joints. On average, you can put around 15 to 25 pounds throughout pregnancy.
Use knee braces: Wear a knee brace that comes with a doughnut hole in the center when you are walking or indulge in other physical activities. They offer support to the loose ligaments and tendons around the knee and help to control the pain.
Hot and cold compress: Take a hot water bath or apply a heating pad to the knees, followed by an ice pack. This alternative therapy will reduce the pain and swelling around the knee joints.
Massage therapy: Getting a massage therapy will help in relieving joint pains and stiffness. They also help in improving the range of motion.
Improve your diet: Include a balanced diet of all essential nutrients. Increase the intake of omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, and vitamin D to relieve joint pains and stiffness.
Rest well: Take enough rest as it helps ease the joint or knee pains.
If the above measures do not work and the pain worsens, you need to visit your doctor for proper medical treatment.
Treatment For Joint Pain During Pregnancy
The safest over-the-counter medicine your doctor would prescribe is acetaminophen (paracetamol) that helps relieve mild joint pain. Take only small dosages, or as prescribed by the doctor, since excessive use is associated with liver damage (10) ( (11). Avoid soothing creams and ointments that contain methyl salicylate as they can cause a burning sensation on the skin (12).
Can You Prevent Knee Pain During Pregnancy?
You can’t prevent knee pain unless it is due to a fall or injury. Try and maintain your weight as increased body weight leads to sore knees and causes knee pain. Give enough rest to your body to avoid joint pains and include foods rich in calcium and omega-3 fatty acids after consulting your doctor.
