The knee joint is one of the largest joints of the human body and is mostly designed to support the entire weight of your body. It will help you to walk, run or even dance. Damage to any possible structure in the knee joint can impact normal movement. Knee pain is one common issue affecting people of all ages, whether young or old.
Knee pain can be the result of injuries like ligament tears or damage to the menisci. It can also be age-related, like ortho-arthritis. It can also be encountered in a myriad of conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or result of the accumulation of the metabolic products within the joint spaces or gout.
Getting the proper treatment is necessary and from the initial stages only. So, when you see some signs of stiffness or swelling taking place, visiting a physiotherapist for help is the smart move. On the other hand, there are medications and surgery available, but only if the knee swelling gets out of hand and physiotherapists to fail to cover the issue. During such instances, the physiotherapist will provide you with the suggestion.
During a physical exam, the doctor will inspect the knee for pain, swelling, warmth, tenderness, and visible bruising. They will check to see how far you are able to move the lower leg in multiple directions. The push-on or pulling of the joint will evaluate the integrity of structures within your knee.
The imaging tests will also help the doctor to determine the issue in knee pain. Some of those exams are:
The doctor will recommend an X-ray to detect bone fractures or any degenerative joint disease.
CT scanners with X-rays will create cross-sectional images to view the problem from multiple angles. It helps in diagnosing the bone issues and some subtle fractures.
This technology will use sound waves to produce some real-time images of the soft tissue structures around and within the knee. It will help doctors to see knee from various positions for specified problems.
MRI will use radio waves and a powerful magnet for creating 3D images of the inside of the knee. This is useful for revealing injuries to some soft tissues like tendons, ligaments, muscles, and cartilage.
Lab tests:
In case the doctor suspects any inflammation or infection, you will have to go for blood tests and a procedure called arthrocentesis. Here, a smaller fluid is removed within the knee joint using a needle and then sent to the lab for proper analysis.
The Knee pain treatment is subject to vary based on what is causing the knee pain exactly. Sometimes, doctors can prescribe medicines to help relieve pain and treating conditions causing knee pain, like gout or RA.
Strengthening the muscles around the knee will always make it more stable. For that, doctors will recommend physiotherapy or multiple kinds of strengthening exercises, depending on specified conditions causing the pain. In case you are active physically or practicing a sport, then you might need exercises for correcting the movement patterns affecting the knee and establishing good technique during activity or sport. Exercises will help in improving balance and flexibility.
Arch supports with wedges on one side of the heel can help in shifting the pressure from the side of the knee as a result of osteoarthritis. In some conditions, the physiotherapist will recommend brace uses to protect and support the knee joint. Some of the major therapies and treatments are:
It is one assessment of how you are walking. The therapists are well-trained to notice smaller changes in walking around the knee during various phases of walking.
This method will involve using hands to touch multiple structures around the knee for abnormalities or assessing if the structure is painful when touched.
After focused examination, the therapist will work to initiate correct treatment. You need to be very active and engaged in the said program. Exercises will strengthen and improve the knee’s mobility. Exercises will be your major tool for treating the pain, and those will include short arc quads, quad sets, and straight leg raises, exercises for hip strength, and lower extremity stretches. There are balance exercises performed as well.
Some passive treatments like estim or ultrasound are also proven to be effective in treating knee pain. They will make you feel good. But your main focus needs to be on PT for restoring functional mobility. For that, you must discuss the goal or every treatment to understand what to expect.
The team from PhysioTattva is well-trained to solve all kinds of knee problems, no matter how tough it might get. They will start with a complete examination first to understand the core reasons behind the treatment. Once that is done, the team will focus on the therapeutic sessions meant for your use.
Using flexible treatment plans will address the one that seems to be your perfect goal. These plans will vary from one patient to another, depending on your current condition of knee pain.
It is really very easy to book an appointment with our team from PhysioTattva. Just log online and fill up our registration form. It won’t take more than a few minutes, and you can choose the date and time as per your requirements.
Even though some might prefer heading towards a general physician for help, but it is recommended to visit a specialist or physiotherapist to get the proper treatment.
Pain in the knee’s backside is a result of strain in muscles or inflammation of the tendon.
Walking is one recommended exercise to get relief from knee pain. But, it needs to be done without aggravating the pain.
At Physio Tattva, we are committed to bring access to quality physio care through ultra-modern clinics and high-skilled practitioners to all. Our world-class therapists keep a strong focus on patient needs and deliver the highest level of care.
