Knee pain or sore knee is a common injury. It can often cause wear and tear in young adults, and seniors when they walk or do activities such as running or playing sports that include jumps and quick flexions. It can weaken cartilage and knee joints and increase the likelihood of knee injuries and sprains. In some cases, knee pain may occur because a person ages or has been injured.
You must get a proper diagnosis from either your family doctor by doing a physical exam or an assessment with a physical therapist.
Tell me the most common knee pain problem?
Common causes of knee pain result from the aging of the joints. The risk factors include knee arthritis. Other knee issues can be caused by a broken, meniscus tear or sudden muscle or joint strain due to repeated pressure. Typically, knee injuries include swollen or ligament injuries or muscles. Sprained or strained knee ligaments may be the result of sudden twists in the knee.
Common causes of knee pain can be a symptom of many different conditions. It includes aches and pains and difficulty walking.
Brief anatomy of the knee
Knees are vulnerable joints that are heavily impacted by daily activities, such as lifting and kneeling. The Knee consists of three parts: Tibia. These are shin bones and bigger limbs. Femurs. Usually, the leg bones are called upper leg bones. Patellas. It’s called knee caps. The bones are covered in cartilage that absorbs shock and protects the knee. It’ll be two legs that are anchored together using muscles, joints, and tendons.
What are some treatment options for knee pain, and which one is right for you?
Physiotherapy is often recommended as a treatment for knee pain. This is because physiotherapy can help to reduce inflammation and swelling, while also helping to improve range of motion and flexibility. Physiotherapy may also be used to help prevent further injury to the knee joint.
Treatment Options For Knee Pain
If you experience knee pain for more than a day, you may want to wait and see if it gets better. If the pain is prolonged, it’s recommended to seek physical therapy.
Many different physiotherapy treatments can be used to treat knee pain. These include:
– Joint mobilization: This is a manual therapy technique that involves the gentle movement of the knee joint to reduce knee pain and improve range of motion.
– Exercise: A physiotherapist can prescribe strengthening exercises that will help the muscles around the knee, which can help to reduce knee pain.
– Massage: Massage can help to relax the muscles around the knee, which can reduce knee pain and improve range of motion.
– Ultrasound: This is a therapy that uses sound waves to help reduce inflammation and pain.
– Electrical stimulation: This therapy uses electrical impulses to help reduce pain.
Your physiotherapist will work with you to determine the best treatment approach for your individual needs. In most cases, a combination of these different treatments will be used to achieve the best results.
So…Which Treatment is Right for You?
The best treatment approach for knee pain will vary depending on the cause of the pain. For instance, if your pain is caused by arthritis, physiotherapy may recommend a modality to reduce inflammation.
If your pain is caused by an injury, manual therapy and exercises may be recommended to help improve range of motion and reduce pain.
What should I expect during my first visit?
After reviewing your medical conditions. your physician or physiotherapist will perform physical examinations or an assessment for knees, hips, knees, legs, and other joints. It might be necessary to practice stretching and enhancing your strength.
Whichever physiotherapy treatment you and your physiotherapist choose, the goal is to reduce your pain and improve your knee function.
The number of visits will depend on the severity of the injury, your commitment to getting better and other factors such as your age, lifestyle, body weight etc.
How Can I Prevent Knee Pain?
Whilst you cannot always prevent knee pain, there are some things you can do to help minimize your risk:
– Keep active and maintain a healthy weight and lose weight
– Wear supportive shoes
– Warm-up before exercise
– Stretch regularly
– Use correct technique when exercising
– Avoid high-impact activities if you are at risk of injury
What You Should Do Next?
No matter the cause of your knee pain, physiotherapy can help. Book an appointment with a physiotherapist today to find out how they can help you achieve relief from your knee pain.
Pillars of Wellness, a physiotherapy clinic in Burlington provide treatment for all injuries and other services such as pelvic health, concussion management, vestibular disorders, TMJ, and neurological conditions such as MS, stroke, and Parkinson’s disease.
Our physiotherapists are all registered with the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario and are members in good standing.
We offer free consultations and accept all ages including infants. That’s right! We have a pediatric physiotherapist as well!
References
A study was conducted at UC Davis. Acute knee sprain. In: Miller MD, Thompson srs. eds. DeLee Drez & Miller Orthopaedic Sportsmedicine. Fifth edition. Pennsylvania: Elsevier — 2020: Chap. 97. Hemingway JA, Goodson SS. Hips, knee injuries. A New edition of Firestein, G. B. Budd, R. C. G. Gabriel SE, G. Koretz, J. R McInnes, I. Firestone & Kelley textbooks for rheumatology. ‘The eds of eleventh editions. Philadelphia: Elsevier. McMurray MA. Patellofemoral discomfort. Miller M. Thompson S.R., et al. (2001): The orthopedic physiotherapy team is led by Drez & Miller. Fifth edition. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: ELSE. 2024. Ch. 105.
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