5 Mistakes Women Make When Treating Knee Pain (And Why Shockwave Therapy May Be the Answer)
Resolve Knee Pain
I just received an email yesterday from Cheryl, 58, in Carlsbad, California. She asked me a question that really stuck with me, and I wanted to share it with you today—because I know so many women reading this have been in a similar situation and can relate.
Here’s what Cheryl wrote:
"Dr. Andalon, I'm really starting to get frustrated with some knee pain that I've had for the past several months. I feel like I've tried everything. At first, I tried exercising through the pain at the gym. When that made it worse, I searched online and found stretches to try, but they didn’t help either. Then I saw a chiropractor who taped my knee and had me wear a brace, but the pain still didn’t improve. My doctor finally told me to take prescription painkillers and rest. Now my knee feels worse than ever. Am I doing something wrong, or is there something else I should try?"
Now, I can completely understand how frustrating this feels. You try to follow advice—whether it’s from a doctor, chiropractor, or something you read on Google—but instead of relief, you’re left even more discouraged.
So, I want to share with you the 5 most common mistakes I see women (and women like Cheryl) make when dealing with knee pain, and what you should be doing instead.
1. Exercising Through the Pain
Ladies, I get it—we don’t want to slow down. But pushing through knee pain often makes it worse. Over time, it wears down cartilage and tissues surrounding the joint. That doesn’t mean you can’t exercise—it just means you need to do the right type of movement for healing.
At Revive PT & Pilates, we help women discover what movements to avoid temporarily and which ones to modify so you can safely recover without giving up the activities you love.
2. Believing Everything You Read on Google
Advice online is not personalized. What worked for someone else’s knee pain may not be what your body needs. Knee pain has many causes—from arthritis, to old injuries, to muscle imbalances. That’s why the cookie-cutter “stretch this muscle” solutions rarely work long-term.
3. Relying on Braces or Taping
A brace or kinesiotape may give temporary support, but they don’t solve the underlying issue. If you’re not actively strengthening the muscles around your knee and hips, the pain will come back (often worse). Think of it this way—braces mask the pain, but strong muscles protect your joints.
4. Reaching for Painkillers
Yes, they numb the pain—but painkillers don’t fix the problem. They can actually keep you stuck in the cycle of pain because they mask the warning signs your body is giving you. And over time, they wreak havoc on your stomach and overall health.
5. Too Much Rest
This is a big one for women over 40. We’ve been told, “If it hurts, stop moving.” But resting too much leads to stiffness, tight muscles, and even weaker joints. Gentle, low-impact activities like walking, swimming, Pilates, or cycling help maintain circulation and mobility—so your body can heal.
So What Actually Works?
Here’s the good news: knee pain does not have to control your life. At Revive PT & Pilates, we use a proven approach that combines hands-on physical therapy, Pilates-based strengthening, and advanced treatments like Shockwave Therapy to target the root cause—not just the symptoms.
Shockwave Therapy: A Game-Changer for Knee Pain
If you’ve never heard of Shockwave Therapy, it’s a non-invasive treatment that uses sound waves to stimulate healing in damaged tissues. Unlike cortisone injections—which may give short-term relief but break down cartilage over time—Shockwave Therapy actually helps your body repair itself.
Benefits of Shockwave Therapy for Knee Pain:
Increases blood flow and stimulates natural healing
Breaks up scar tissue and calcifications that limit mobility
Reduces chronic inflammation without medication
Strengthens collagen fibers in tendons and ligaments
Promotes long-term pain relief—without injections or surgery
Many of our clients, especially women struggling with arthritis or overuse injuries, have found Shockwave Therapy to be the missing piece after trying “everything else.”
Find out more about Shockwave Therapy by booking a call HERE!
