Knee Pain-Weakness

Knee Pain Causes and Chinese Medical Diagnosis

There are many causes of knee pain according to Chinese medicine. The most obvious cause of knee pain is when one hurts the knee in an injury or traumatic accident. However, many people find that they develop knee pain and/or stiffness without experiencing an injury; simply walking or bending causes a sharp twinge, or their knees begin to ache for no apparent reason. Even more disturbing, the knees may begin to simply give-out from under a person with no warning. Alarmingly, these symptoms appear to accelerate as we age. For best outcomes using self-care, combine associated Aroma Acu-Sticks® to acu-points, topical remedies, and good lifestyle practices.

Acupressure to Strengthen Knees

Learn techniques for applying acupressure linked here!

Apply the Water Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Kidney 3
Apply the Earth Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Stomach 36
Apply the Wood Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Gallbladder 34
Apply the Metal Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Large Intestine 4
Apply the Wood Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Liver 3

Self-Cupping for Knee Pain

Cupping is another adjunct Chinese medical modality that can speed healing, reduce inflammation, and combat inflammation. Directions for using cupping and contra-indications linked here.

Steps for Using Cupping for Knee Pain:

Choose the appropriate acupressure points by the location of the pain.
Apply our Circulation Cupping Solution™ to the area of the knee pain.
Attach medium to large size silicone cups to areas of pain

Common acu-points associated with knee pain:

Symptoms and Diagnostic Patterns Causing Knee Pain

Kidney Deficiency

In Chinese medicine, the knees are governed by the Kidney energetic organ system; therefore, Kidney Deficiency is implied with all knee problems. Even injuries to the knee implicate the Kidney energetic system for a couple of reasons:

Kidney Deficiency may have made the knees more susceptible to injury in the first place
The Kidney energetic organ system must be re-enforced for knees to fully heal following an injury

Kidney Yin Deficiency

Knee pain at night is one indication of Yin Deficient-type knee pain as symptoms worsen at night time with Yin Deficiency. Other symptoms that would imply Kidney Yin Deficiency would include afternoon-night sweats, incessant thirst, dry skin and brittle hair.

Kidney Yang Deficiency

Knees may seem cold to the touch with Yang Deficiency and symptoms may worsen in cold temperatures and improve with the application of heat to the knees. Knee weakness or knees that give-way under the weight of the body suggest a combination of Kidney Yin and Kidney Yang Deficiencies.

Knee Pain from No Cause

Our vital Essence that is stored in the Kidneys is consumed as we age and we can become more susceptible to Kidney Deficiency resulting in aches and pains. We can also have a genetic pre-disposition to Kidney Deficiency lacking abundant Ancestral Qi which can make us vulnerable to knee issues at any age.

Trauma-Sports Injuries Resulting in Knee Pain

According to Chinese medical theory, Blood and Qi Stagnation must be present for pain to develop. From the onset of an injury it is important to manage trauma correctly and break up Blood and Qi Stagnation so that arthritis and long-term stiffness do not develop. Natural therapies for sports injuries and traumas detailed-link here!

Tendon, ligament, and meniscal tears occur when the tenacious collagen that makes up these taught, stretchy structures is violently impacted. Again, it is important to manage injuries correctly from Day-1 so that these structures have fresh, nourishing Blood bathing them so that they can heal correctly. Tendons attach the bones to the muscles and sometimes become inflamed and cause sudden sharp knee pain when walking or bending.

Knee surgery or setting a bone due to a fracture would be considered trauma; following surgery, during long-term recovery, it is equally important to use the correct natural therapies to heal quickly and correctly.

Location of Knee Pain and Acupressure Points

Six primary acupuncture channels traverse the knees and acupressure points can be chosen by where these meridians are located making for an effective acupressure treatment.

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References

Li J, Li YX, Luo LJ, et al. The effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis: An overview of systematic reviews. Medicine (Baltimore). 2019;98(28):e16301. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000016301

Sun N, Tu JF, Lin LL, et al. Correlation between acupuncture dose and effectiveness in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review. Acupunct Med. 2019;37(5):261‐267. doi:10.1136/acupmed-2017-011608

Chen HY, Liu NY. Analgesic Effect of Sinew Acupuncture for Patients with Soft-Tissue Injuries: A Pilot Trial. Chin J Integr Med. 2019;25(8):613‐616. doi:10.1007/s11655-019-3061-3

Ramlall Y, Andrion JJD, Cameron HU, Sawhney M. Examining pain before and after primary total knee replacement (TKR): A retrospective chart review. Int J Orthop Trauma Nurs. 2019;34:43‐47. doi:10.1016/j.ijotn.2019.04.001

Cheung DST, Yeung WF, Suen LK, et al. Self-administered acupressure for knee osteoarthritis in middle-aged and older adults: a pilot randomized controlled trial. Acupunct Med. 2020;38(2):75‐85. doi:10.1177/0964528419883269

This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.