Pain Archive

A 2024 study found that excess abdominal fat is associated with widespread, chronic pain, especially in women.

Muscles that support the knee—primarily in the legs and hips—need a certain amount of elasticity to work properly. That "give" allows the joints to move through their range of motion easily. If the muscles are tight, they might cause chronic knee pain. Stretching leg muscles can improve flexibility and reduce knee discomfort. Experts recommend doing dynamic stretching before workouts and static stretching afterward. One should consult a doctor if pain persists after a few weeks.

A 2024 study of people with sciatica caused by a herniated disk found that people who received acupuncture for 10 sessions over four weeks had less leg pain and better physical function, compared with people who received sham treatments.

A 2024 analysis of 137 studies involving almost 90,000 people found that older drugs called triptans are more effective at stopping migraine pain in a moment of agony, compared with newer medications such as ditans and gepants.

Hand pain or stiffness makes computer or smartphone use difficult. Strategies to combat this include stretching the hands and fingers, avoiding awkward hand positions when holding a smartphone or computer mouse, taking breaks, alternating the fingers that do the work, and taking breaks. Using certain tools can also reduce hand strain or pain. Such tools include voice-to-text features, a wide-grip stylus, a smartphone holder, gel-filled wrist rests, and a comfortable mouse (which might be bigger, smaller, or vertical) to keep hands from stretching too wide or gripping too hard.

People who experience back pain may find some relief by increasing daily activity by 20 minutes and reducing daily sitting time by 40 minutes, according to a 2024 study.

Braces help some people cope with the pain, swelling, and stiffness of knee osteoarthritis. Examples include a knee sleeve, a compressive or stretchy tube that provides warmth and might help reduce knee swelling; an unloader brace, a long frame that fits on top of the leg and helps reduce pain by redistributing pressure on the knee; and a patella tracking brace, which combines the approaches of both knee sleeves and unloader braces to reduce knee pain, swelling, and pressure at the kneecap (patella).

A 2024 study suggested that walking regularly may help stave off repeat episodes of low back pain.