Physical Therapy for Knee Pain Relief
Knee pain is one of the most common orthopedic conditions that bring patients into physical therapy. The knee is the largest joint in the human body and the most easily injured. The knee is a hinge joint made up of a complex structure of bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons. It provides mobility and stability to the leg.
The health of the knee relies on the strength and the stability of both the hip and ankle joints. If either the hip or ankle muscles have weakness or dysfunction, the knee’s stability can be affected. The knee joint also bears multiples of your body weight when running or jumping. Climbing stairs loads the knee joint 2.5 times your body weight.
What is knee pain?
Knee pain is pain that is felt behind and around the kneecap, often during activities that place stress on the knee such as stair climbing, squatting, running, or walking while carrying a heavy load. A number of factors contribute to knee pain, including knee stiffness, incorrect position of the kneecap when resting or when moving, flat feet, incorrect exercise form, and weakness of the muscles that control the hip and the knee. Knee pain is reported as the second most common cause of chronic pain in the United States.
What are common knee injuries or conditions?
Knee pain restricts movement, affects muscle control in the affected leg, and reduces the strength and endurance of the muscles that support the knee. Knee pain can result from knee injuries and conditions, which include:
Acute/Traumatic Injury due to falling, car accident, landing abnormally, or twisting or pivoting quickly
Sports Injury: knee cartilage tears such as a meniscal tear or ligament tears such as an ACL injury
Chronic, Repetitive Stress Injury over time due to poor posture or body mechanics
Osteoarthritis: a degenerative condition in which cartilage that cushions the bones wears down and causes swelling, stiffness, and pain
Runner’s Knee: an injury that occurs when there is abnormal motion of the kneecap that wears out the cartilage on the back of the kneecap
Jumper’s Knee: an injury caused by repetitive motion that originates in the patellar tendon, which connects the quadricep muscles to the lower leg through the kneecap. If the quadriceps become overloaded, inflammation of the tendon can result.
How can physical therapy relieve knee pain?
Physical therapists are experts of the musculoskeletal system and are qualified to assess and treat knee pain injuries and conditions to reduce pain and restore function. When evaluating a patient experiencing knee pain, the physical therapist conducts a test to assess whether the patient has pain or discomfort when bending or straightening the knee; tenderness at the knee joint; limited motion in the knee; weakness in the muscles around the knee; or difficulty putting weight on the knee when standing or walking. Based on the assessment, the therapist creates a customized treatment plan, which includes a set of knee exercises specific to the patient’s injury or condition to strengthen the knee without increasing the risk of injury and further damage.
Physical therapy treatment for knee pain can include:
Aquatic therapy, which allows for greater ease of movement while placing less stress on the knee joint
Range of motion exercises to improve ability to bend and straighten the knee and increase flexibility
Muscle strength training and functional exercises: increase strength, endurance, and function of leg muscles to support the knee and reduce stress on the knee joint
Specific exercises to strengthen the hip and ankle joints to improve the knee’s stability
Manual therapy techniques to decrease pain and increase function
Physical therapists also rehabilitate patients both before and after knee surgery. Pre-surgery rehabilitation increases the patient’s knee strength and motion and helps the patient recover more quickly after surgery. Post-surgery, the physical therapist creates a personalized rehabilitation program to restore function, gain strength, and help the patient return to daily activities.
