Get Back on Your Feet: How Physiotherapy Can Help Alleviate Knee Pain
Knee pain is a common problem that can have a variety of causes and affects people of all ages. Determining the precise cause of knee pain can be challenging without a thorough assessment by a physiotherapist or other healthcare professional.
1. Assessing Knee Pain Causes and Severity
There are several ways to assess knee pain, including taking a history, doing a physical examination, and ordering imaging tests such as X-rays.
Taking a history involves asking questions about the pain, such as when it started, what makes it better or worse, and whether there are other associated symptoms.
A physical examination involves checking for signs of injury or inflammation, such as swelling, tenderness, or redness. Imaging tests can help to rule out other causes of knee pain, such as arthritis or a meniscal tear.
Once the cause of knee pain has been determined, treatment can be directed at the problem.
2. Understanding The Range of Motion and Strength
Range of motion (ROM) and strength are important factors when assessing knee pain. Understanding how these two factors interact is essential to create an effective treatment plan.
ROM is the distance a joint can move through its full range of motion. Strength is the amount of force that a muscle can generate. For example, if you can only squat halfway down, your ROM is limited. But your strength is good if you can squat down and stand back up easily.
Both Range of Motion (ROM) and strength are important for knee pain. Limitations in either area can lead to pain and stiffness. There are several ways to improve ROM and strength. Stretches and exercises are two of the most common methods. For example, if you have a limited ROM in your knees, you may benefit from doing some gentle stretches. Likewise, you may benefit from strengthening exercises if you have weak muscles.
3. Developing a Personalized Treatment Plan
After assessing your knee pain, your physiotherapist will develop a personalized treatment plan. The goal of treatment is to reduce your pain and improve your overall knee function. This plan will likely involve a combination of exercises and other therapies. Exercises are usually the key component to the treatment plan for your knee pain. As your knee progresses through the stages of healing, knowing which exercises to do is crucial for increasing your chances of progress and not experiencing a setback. A physiotherapist’s guidance through the different stages of exercise progression is very important.
4. Monitoring Progress and Adjusting Treatment Plan as Needed
Monitoring your progress and adjusting your treatment plan as needed is crucial. Your physiotherapist will help you track your progress and recommend changes to your treatment plan as required. You may need to adjust your treatment plan if your pain does not improve or you experience new or worsening symptoms.
The Take Away Points
If you're experiencing or struggling with knee pain, physiotherapy can be a great way to get relief and return you to your normal activities. A physiotherapist can help you design an effective treatment plan to reduce your pain, swelling & inflammation and improve your overall range of motion, strength, and function. A physiotherapist can provide expert guidance in the exercises you should be doing to improve the condition of your knee(s) and ensure you are not causing your knee more harm.
If you are experiencing knee pain, don’t hesitate to reach out! Call us at 576-7770 or email us at clinicadmin@actionphysio.ca to book an appointment today. Our registered physiotherapists at Action Physiotherapy will work with you to assess your knee pain and develop an individualized treatment plan that will help get you on the road to recovery!