Knee pain is a common issue for people of all ages and can occur because of a variety of things, including exercise, health conditions, and even just standing up. Knee pain can vary from mild discomfort to chronic swelling, and compression therapy can be an effective way of managing your pain.
Can compression therapy work for knee pain?
Compression therapy can be used on the knees, which involves a tight sleeve compress being wrapped around the joint. This can increase blood flow, which in turn will reduce inflammation, improve proprioception (a sense that lets us perceive the location and movement of our body parts), and prevent fluid from building up around the knee.
Knee pain often comes directly from the swelling, so being able to manage this with compression therapy is often a great way to reduce the pain you’re feeling. Depending on the severity of your swelling, compression therapy could be an effective pain relief option that lasts multiple hours, days, or even weeks.
What makes compression therapy an effective treatment for knee pain?
Compression therapy can be used before, during, and after intense exercise
If you’re finding yourself suffering from knee pain and swelling after intense exercise, the good news is that many physiotherapists recommend wearing compression garments while exercising. This can reduce fluid buildup and prevent swelling from ever occurring, which then can reduce post-exercise pain. However, if you find that compression garments stop you from being able to exercise as effectively, all hope is not lost. Compression therapy before and after exercise is also shown to be effective in reducing swelling and pain, making your recovery much quicker and easier.
Compression therapy can reduce fluid retention
Compression therapy goes one step further than simply wearing compression stockings or other garments, as it often uses massage patterns to move fluid away from your joints. Here at TH7, our compression therapy uses the Normatec pulse massage pattern and dynamic compression to effectively propel fluid from your knee through your limbs. This stops it from pooling in the wrong place or moving in the wrong direction, so you should be able to enjoy less swollen legs right from your first session.
Compression can eliminate muscle toxins
As compression moves fluid from your knee, it will also flush out toxins that have accumulated here from your muscles, helping to remove them from the lymphatic system. Toxins that get stuck around your joints can actually promote swelling and make them feel more fatigued for longer, so being able to flush them away is an excellent benefit of this therapy. The removal of toxins can also speed up the recovery process of your joints and muscles, reducing pain much quicker than if you were to sit and wait without any therapy measures.
You can boost your range of motion and flexibility with compression therapy
One of the main contributing factors of knee pain comes from how limiting swelling can make the flexibility of your joint. The more swollen your joint gets, the harder it is to move it properly, and the harder it is to get that fluid buildup moving again. It’s a vicious cycle, but adding dynamic compression into your routine can improve blood flow, which will warm and gently stretch your knee. This can increase your range of motion and make it much easier to keep moving through your pain, which can help the swelling go down faster.
How long should you use compression therapy to treat knee pain?
Compression therapy can show effective benefits in as little time as 30 minutes per session, a few times a week. However, it really depends on what you’re using this therapy for. Athletes might find it most effective to use compression therapy both before and after intense exercise, while people with more sedentary lifestyles might find two or three sessions a week sufficient to reduce inflammation and knee pain. We highly recommend working with a healthcare provider to come up with a plan as to how many sessions you have a week. You can start off slow with just one and work your way up until you find the sweet spot, or you can book multiple for your first week and slowly begin decreasing them once you notice the knee pain getting better.
You might also want to wear a compression garment between therapy sessions as these can help you benefit from the effects for longer. Generally, compression stockings can be worn throughout the day and taken off for nighttime, but it’s important that you read the manufacturer’s instructions to make sure you’re using them correctly.
Learn more about our treatment options for compression therapy.
Compression therapy for knee pain: what does the research say?
Overall, the research into compression therapy for knee pain has been positive. One study randomly assigned 19 resistance-trained participants to either a compression tight or control group. The treatment group immediately needed to wear compression tights after combining lower extremity resistance training and electromyostimulation, which they wore for 24 hours, then 12 hours with a 12-hour break in between. The results showed that the group who wore compression tights demonstrated better strength after repeat exercise, showing that the compression works to boost recovery speeds – particularly after intense exercise with a pronounced eccentric aspect.
While studies on compression for knee pain are rather limited still, new information is coming out regularly. One 2022 study, compression bandages for knee osteoarthritis, plans to take 90 participants between the ages of 40 and 75 years old and split them into three groups. These were Compression (compression therapy on the knee for 20 minutes a day for four consecutive days), Sham (no compression, just a bandage wrapped around the knee for the same amount of time), and Control (no intervention). This will evaluate the effects of compression on pain and function in the knee, and is expected to highlight the benefits of compression therapy.
Compression therapy for knee pain: is it the right treatment for you?
Compression therapy is a low-cost and accessible option for many people, and it can be great if your healthcare professional currently has a long waiting list and can’t see you immediately. Knee pain can be debilitating and make it difficult for you to move around, so if you’re dealing with lots of pain and need a quick fix before your next workout, compression therapy might be your saving grace.
Compression therapy is also non-invasive and a non-surgical management treatment option, and it can often work within just 30 minutes. However, there are some drawbacks including discomfort, skin breakdown, and pressure injury, so it’s best to talk to your doctor before undergoing treatment if you’re worried.
FAQs
Are there any side effects of compression therapy?
While most people find compression therapy non-invasive and without any side effects, there have been some reported by others. A paper from 2020 notes that common risks and complications include:
- Skin irritation
- Pruritus (itching)
- Discomfort and pain
There are also a few very rare side effects to note, which include:
- Allergic skin reactions
- Bacterial and fungal infections
- Soft tissue damage or necrosis
- Nerve damage
- Arterial impairment
- Venous thromboembolism
- Cardiac decompensation
Who should not use compression therapy?
It’s recommended that you avoid compression therapy if you have a skin condition that affects its composition or your ability to feel, including:
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
- Skin infections
- Dermatitis
Wrongly fitted compression garments can also cause issues including skin damage, so make sure you wear the right size for you without any wrinkles.
Final thoughts
Compression therapy works to reduce swelling and boost blood flow around your joints, pushing fluid and toxins away from where they tend to pool and cause discomfort. While there is little research into compression therapy for medical use, researchers are currently looking into this and there are other studies noting the effectiveness of compression therapy for inflammation relief and muscle recovery. We recommend you talk to a healthcare provider to make sure compression therapy is the right option for you, and create a plan of how often you’ll schedule your sessions. Between therapy sessions, consider wearing compression garments to boost the effects and hopefully feel better for longer.
