Knee pain
Why is my knee sore?
The knee joint is one of the largest and most complex joints in the body. It is constructed by 4 bones and an extensive network of ligaments and muscles. Its shape mainly allows for flexion and extension (and a small degree of rotation).
Knee pain can be the result of an injury, medical conditions like arthritis, gout, infections or overuse. The most common causes of knee are:
- sporting injuries: meniscal tear, ligament sprain or tear (most commonly anterior cruciate ligament /ACL, but also posterior cruciate ligament/ PCL, medial or lateral collateral ligaments
- overuse injuries causing tendonitis or bursitis in the knee - patellofemoral pain syndrome ("runner's knee" or "jumper's knee"), kneecap bursitis, iliotibial band syndrome, adolescent anterior knee pain
- Osgood-Schlatter Disease
- patellar dislocation
- chondromalacia patellae
- Sindling-Larsen Johansson syndrome
- juvenile or rheumatoid arthritis
- osteoarthritis
- Baker's cyst
How can knee pain be treated? Will Physiotherapy help to resolve my knee pain?
Treatment of knee pain varies depending on the exact cause. Ice, rest, medication, injections, bracing / knee support , surgery or physiotherapy are all different treatment options that can be used to deal with your knee problem.
Physiotherapy is an important part of whichever medical intervention is decided on to treat the cause of your knee pain. The correct physio intervention will help you to get better regardless if you need surgery or conservative treatment. Physiotherapy will help to:
- strengthen your weak muscles and release tense or shortened muscles and tendons
- increase range of movement
- improve weightbearing through the knee and improve gait pattern
- get you ready to return to sport or work
- ease of the symptoms of inflammation like pain and swelling
- get you going after knee surgery
Based on the assessment a treatment session with us might include:
- tailored exercise program to strengthen the weak muscles and stretch the tight / shortened muscles
- work on specific functional deficits to get you back to work, sport or any leisure activity
- soft tissue work / myofascial release
- neuromuscular therapy
- DNS technique
- electrotherapy or ultrasound
- hydrotherapy
- dry needling
- kinesiotaping
- scar therapy (if post surgery)
- gait re-education including correct use of mobility aids as Zimmer frame, walker, crutches or walking stick
- advise on footwear and / or orthotics
Physiotherapy after knee replacement
Physiotherapy plays an important part of rehabilitation after knee replacement, although having couple of sessions before the surgery will also help with faster recovery.
The main goals of rehabilitation after the total knee replacement are:
- gradually increase the strength in your leg
- safely increase your range of movement
- wean you off walking aid and make sure you are walking correctly
- making sure your scar is healing well and if needed work on it to prevent adhesions and fibrosis; tight scar after the knee replacement is often one of the reasons why you can't bend the knee as much as you would like to