PHYSICAL THERAPY FOR KNEE PAIN
Your knees are the hardest working joints in your body, which is why it’s so prone to injuries and chronic conditions that cause knee pain. Knee pain is very common and can result from trauma, disease, or overuse.
In runners, the knee is the part of the body that is injured the most. In addition, age-related changes (osteoarthritis) commonly occur in people over the age of 50. Throw in thousands of steps, squats, and twists to the knee over a long life, and you’ve got a recipe that can cause changes to cartilage and other parts of the knee.
The main causes of knee pain are:
- Sports injuries
- Ligament sprains and tears
- Meniscus tears, damage to the cartilage
- Arthritis, joint pain
- Bursitis, extra liquid in the joint
- Tendinitis, inflammation of the tendons
- Recovery from knee surgery
Knee pain can be mild or severe and can make it hard to walk, climb stairs, rise from a chair or participate in activities that we love. Physical therapists are trained to pinpoint and treat knee pain to help restore movement and diminish pain. They also work together and team up with your other doctors in your health care plan.
Physical therapists are movement experts who use a variety of methods to help strengthen your muscles and make your body feel better. Sometimes it’s all you need for treatment and may not even need surgery. If you do have an operation, your doctor will likely suggest at least a few weeks of therapy afterward to help you recover.
Some things you might need are:
- Stretches and exercises
- Ice and heat
- Ultrasound massage
- Electrical nerve or muscle stimulation
During your first visit, your physical therapist will look at your leg to see how well it bends, straightens, and moves, and will determine any muscle weaknesses around the knee joint, and the front and the back of the thigh which supports the knee. He/she will then come up with a treatment plan just for you. You’ll start to work on making your leg muscles stronger, which takes some of the stress off your knee and cut your pain. Your therapist will give you exercises to do at home and show you how to practice them safely.
Knee pain is a common ailment that affects over 18 million adults each year. Your physical therapist can help you select the exercises that are safest for you. They can also recommend modifications based on your knee pain and the underlying cause getting you back on track and doing what you love.
Schedule an Appointment with Our Chiropractor in Edison
A complete chiropractic plan of care helps patients become stronger, relieve stress, manage pain and enjoy the highest possible quality of life. Let our chiropractor in Edison help you achieve your health goals. Call Backsmart Wellness Center today at 732-661-1121.
