ACL sprains and tears are among the most common types of knee injuries in the U.S., with more than a quarter million people injuring their anterior cruciate ligaments every year. Although ACL tears are more common among athletes in high-intensity sports, like football, basketball and soccer, anyone can wind up injuring their ACL — even weekend athletes and people who lead relatively sedentary lifestyles.
The most common cause of knee pain is damaged cartilage. Knee cartilage forms a thick, slick barrier to wear and tear inside the knee joint. When cartilage is healthy, your knees move effortlessly, without stiffness or painful friction. If the knee cartilage is worn or damaged, every step you take can cause significant discomfort.
Over the counter (OTC) pain relievers like aspirin, ibuprofen and acetaminophen have revolutionized the way Americans treat minor pain, but may not be ideal for long term management of knee pain.
Wave hands like clouds. Repulse monkey left and right. White crane spreads its wings. If these phrases sound familiar to you, then you’re probably a practitioner of tai chi. And if you’re not, maybe you should be — especially if you suffer from knee arthritis.
Acute knee pain is pretty common — most of us have experienced at least mild knee pain after a day of strenuous activity. In those cases, painful symptoms usually go away after a little rest and maybe an ice pack or two. Imagine having knee pain on a regular basis — or even every day. That’s chronic knee pain, and unfortunately, it’s pretty common too.
