Your Knee, (k)needs a break....

You know how the tread on your tires wears off??Well something like that can gradually happen to your knee joints too.?Do you think you “kneed”?a break??

What I’m trying to get at is that a lot of us are likely to have our knee joints wear off as we grow older.?So looking after our knees before things start going downhill is a good way to ensure that you’re saved from serious knee problems in the future.

... You don’t want your mechanic to point out that the popping sounds in the car are actually coming from your knee joints when you’re applying the brakes and pressing the clutch.?So let’s look at ways to protect your knees from grave injury.

Knee tears, sprains, inflammation, arthritis and bursitis can cause excruciating pain, sometimes throbbing and continuous and especially when you try to sit, stand or walk.

Some of the most effective ways of protecting your knees are to make amends in your movements, to exercise and to incorporate ergonomics in your lives.

Let me make it easy for you, .

Here are your 7 golden rules to look after your knees.

Rule no. 1.?Take notice.?If your knees are hurting you need to see a doctor.?The more you ignore it the worse it will eventually get. Visit a trusted Ayurvedic doctor who'll have a good look at your diet, lifestyle and suggest the appropriate care for you.

Rule no. 2.?Get enough rest.?If you’re physically active and are on the go most of the times, getting enough rest is crucial if you want your knees to last longer. Check if you are getting 7 hours of Sleep.

Rule no. 3.?Squats aren’t bad for your knees.?Being overweight is.?The more weight your knees have to bear, the worse shape they’ll be in one day.?If they’ve already started hurting then they’re telling you that you need to unburden them of all the weight you’re carrying around.?Walking and cycling are both great exercises to lose weight without hurting your knees.

Rule no. 4.?Don’t overdo it.?If you strain you’ll have pain.?Do only as much as your body can take.?Excessive physical activity, strenuous workouts and even stretching yourself with routine professional and personal errands can do damage to your body.?When you exercise don’t forget to stretch and warm up before starting.?

Rule no. 5.?Know your Weights.?When you’re lifting weights make sure you squat instead of bending over or keep your feet flat and knees back, taking weight on your muscles rather than on your knees. Are you warming up before your workouts ??

Rule no. 6.??Get new shoes.?Use soft flexible shoes that will allow your feet to breathe and cushion the impact on your knees. Do you have foot insoles for your shoes for extra cushioning ??

Rule no. 7.?Probably the most important one. Check your meds.?There are actually certain drugs for cholesterol and some antacids that can cause knee pain.?Check with your doctor if your knees have been giving you trouble recently. Statins are known to have minor side effects.

Ayurvedically speaking, Knee pain is usually a function of aggravated Vata. To balance that, I suggest correcting your diet, and bringing in lubrication through the intake of oils or preferably cow ghee. One classical formula, which restores and corrects this is "Dashamoola Hareethaki Lehyam". Avoid sour foods, and increase foods which increase vata like cauliflowers, chickpeas, peas, carrots and increase foods like Turmeric, Ginger, garlic, onion and all kinds of gourds. Vata gets aggravated by spicy food, so avoid that as well.

If treated and cared for in the initial stages, knee injuries and pains can rapidly heal and disappear.?You may need to rest them and it could take some time, but if you keep taking good care of them they’re sure to serve you well for a long time to come.

Meanwhile you better get down on those knees and thank God that you still have legs to stand on.?Of course you have the important job of keeping them that way.

Namaskaram, till the next one.

Disclaimer : I am not a doctor. This article is only meant for educational purposes. This article is not intended to serve as medical advice. For medical advice, please contact a certified and registered Ayurvedic doctor.