Knee Massager

If you have knee pain, you know that it can interfere with your ability to finish the tasks you need to complete. Around the house, you may find yourself having difficulty climbing up or walking down steps. Outside, trying to walk on uneven terrain may provoke or worsen your knee pain. Fortunately, you have options to combat knee pain, such as a knee massager. Before you purchase one, though, you should know how they work and understand how to choose one.

FAQs for Knee Massagers

Before purchasing, it helps to thoroughly understand what a knee massager is, types, potential dangers, and anything else you can gain knowledge about to help you decide if a knee massager is right for you.

Do Knee Massagers Work?

Although knee massagers aren’t for everyone, they can benefit those who have either acute or chronic knee pain. You may have less pain and better function overall when you use a knee massager regularly or when you experience swelling and knee pain.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, several studies conducted on individuals with osteoarthritis showed massage had its share of benefits on osteoarthritis. Specifically, in terms of knee arthritis, several studies showed massage has benefits in patients with knee osteoarthritis. One study from 2018 conducted on 200 patients with knee osteoarthritis found that one hour of massage could significantly improve mobility and pain after eight weeks of treatment.

Do Knee Massagers Help with Circulation?

As briefly mentioned above, the vibrations from a massager will stimulate circulation. The vibrations help blood that is moving slowly through your body to move more quickly through your knees because the massager aids in reducing congestion in the area.

As a result, more blood will flow through your knees with nutrients for healing.

Are Knee Massagers Safe?

Knee massagers are generally safe for a majority of people with knee pain. However, you want to take note and stop using the massager if you have an increase in pain when you use the device.

If you have open cuts or wounds on your knee, you should avoid using a knee massager until the wound heals. You also don’t want to use a massage if you have bruises. You’ll notice an increase in your pain. In fact, the same is true with any type of injury like a burn.

People with skin conditions that affect their knees should consult with their primary care doctor before using a massager on their knees. The motion of the massager could aggravate your condition.

Additionally, a massager won’t help if you have a broken knee cap or break in the femur or tibia. The pressure and vibration will worsen your pain and not help the area heal. It’s best to wait until after a broken bone heals completely before using a massager on the region.

How Many Times a Day Should I Use a Knee Massager?

The feeling you get after a massage may make you question how frequently you can use the benefits of massage at home. You should use the massager whenever you feel knee swelling or inflammation. For instance, if you have a day where you’re walking a great deal and notice your knee has more swelling than usual, you should definitely use your knee massager.

Use your massager after a vigorous workout. Some people find that using the device before a workout reduces their pain and helps them to perform to the best of their abilities.

You, however, should only use your knee massager so often. Typically, you want to limit the number of times you use this device on an as-needed basis on your knee to two to three times per day. And you don’t have to count the number of times you use it before or after a workout as those two to three times. Moreover, you can use the massager every day of the week if you desire.

You should consult with your physician if you have any health concerns to determine how frequently is safe for you. Moreover, if you’re recovering from an injury, heed your physician or therapist’s advice in terms of when, how long, and how frequently to use the massager.

Is It Okay to Use a Knee Massager If You Have a Blood Clot?

Popliteal vein thrombosis occurs when you have a clot in the popliteal vein, which is the vessel that runs through the back of your knee. This particular vein serves the purpose of bringing blood from your lower legs to your heart. If you develop a clot in this area, you have a form of deep vein thrombosis. It’s also possible to experience deep vein thrombosis in other parts of your legs where you have other deep veins.

With popliteal vein thrombosis, you should avoid a massager. It could cause the vein to dislodge and flow freely back to your lungs. With other forms of deep vein thrombosis, you should consult with your practitioner before using a massager on your knees.

Do Air Compression Knee Massagers Work?

An air compression knee massager targets the source of your pain and inflammation from two different angles — through compression and massage. The device fits around your knee and tightens using air. The air compresses the area to reduce pain and swelling. The massage aspect of this device helps with blood circulation, swelling, and pain.

How Does a Knee Massager Work?

Whether you have an acute injury or a chronic knee problem, a knee massager may help. The vibrations help stimulate blood flow. When more blood flow reaches your joints, the area receives more oxygen and nutrients, both of which are necessary for healing and joint function in general.

Massaging your knee can also reduce swelling by helping stagnant lymph in the body part to move and flow through the area, ultimately decreasing swelling. Additionally, knee massagers may reduce the amount of cortisol produced by the body. This hormone contributes to swelling, so with less cortisol production, you may see a decrease in your swelling.

Keep in mind that your knee is a synovial joint, meaning it has synovial fluid that lubricates it. The massage will stimulate more joint fluid to your knee to continue to lubricate your joints. As a result, your knee will be easier to move and more freely along with less pain.

The vibrations can also reduce your pain and stiffness.

What to Look for in a Knee Massager?

Determine what electricity source will work best for your lifestyle. For instance, do you plan on using it in the evenings while you watch TV, or do you plan on taking it to the gym with you? If you only plan on using it at home only, you could opt for a corded one. However, if you plan on using your massager on the go at least some of the time, a battery or rechargeable massager will work best for your needs.

Think about where you want compression or not. Some also have the air compression feature that causes the braces to bulk up and place pressure on your knee to help with the pain and swelling in more than one way.

Consider the additional features that the massager has. For instance, some emit heat, which will aid in reducing your knee pain in another way besides the massage.

Compare the devices based on how long they last before it needs new batteries or a charge if you’re opting for rechargeable or battery-operated model.

You’ll want to keep in mind the size. Some are meant for people who are smaller while others are meant for larger people. The size matters because you won’t receive the maximum benefit if you can’t feel the vibrations because the brace isn’t tight enough. On the other hand, you don’t want a brace that’s too small and uncomfortable.

When you’re comparing, you’ll notice that the knee massagers don’t all have the same vibrations. Read carefully about the modes and intensity levels of vibrations. Decide which one seems most practical to you.

As you’re deciding which one is the right one for you, price should be a consideration. You want an affordable one, but you don’t want the quality to suffer.

In addition, one factor to take into account is the ease of use. Many models have two buttons for you to use while others have multiple buttons and a range of features. If you feel like you’ll never use all the additional features, you should opt for one that’s simple to use.

While comparing, look at the design of the massager. Does it only fit on your knee, or does it fit over your entire lower leg and knee? This isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer. If you have no problems with the rest of your legs, you may one just for your knee. However, if you have sore calf muscles or suffer from recurring foot pain, the one that covers more space may be more suited for you.

Overall, when you’re choosing one for you, reviews online can you learn how the different models compare.

You could benefit from a knee massager if you have knee pain. They’re known to aid in the healing process and are safe for most people. Before you purchase one, though, you should compare your options, read reviews, and choose carefully, so you purchase one that’ll have the most benefit to you and is known to work well.