f you sustain a knee injury whether low, medium or high severity, it is best to apply ice to the injured knee immediately. Ice should be applied for 20mins on the injured area, then 20 mins off. This should be repeated for a 12 to 24 hour period.

If the severity of the injury is low, then icing, rest and gently stretching should aid in recovering the knee. If severity is medium to high then there is a chance that icing, rest and gentle stretching will not aid in fixing the knee – in these cases please seek professional advice.

The cause of the knee pain that you are experiencing will determine the treatment plan for the pain. It is thus important for you to understand the symptoms of knee pain that you have before beginning any type of treatment program. If you are unsure about the type of knee pain that you have or how severe your condition actually is, always err on the side of caution and seek out a medical opinion prior to launching a treatment program. Let’s look at some of the common treatments for knee pain causes:

• Rest. The most obvious best treatment for many knee pain causes is to allow the joint to rest, and heal. Resting the knee joint will allow for any inflammation to subside, and is often the only step that is required in order to relieve pain in the knee. For severe symptoms of knee pain, the use of crutches may also be beneficial.
• Ice and heat application. Ice packs and heat applications are often used as a first line of defense when knee pain symptoms arise. Alternating between cold and hot packs can help reduce swelling and pain in the knee.
• Stretching. Simple stretching exercises that work the tendons and muscles around the joint can help to alleviate knee pain.
• Anti-inflammatory medicines. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) are commonly recommended by doctors for knee pain relief. This is especially true for knee pain that results from arthritis, tendonitis, and bursitis.
• Physical therapy. Depending on the extent of your knee pain and knee pain causes, you may need to seek out rehabilitative therapy with a qualified professional.  Good advice on treatment can help to increase strength, regain mobility, and help you return to an enhanced level of daily activity.
• Cortisone injections. Cortisone injections are typically injected into the joint of the knee to reduce inflammation but only as a last resort.

In summary, getting to the root of knee pain causes is the best way to find the appropriate treatment for your particular knee pain.