Knee pain is a common problem that many people experience. Though more common among the elderly, this condition can affect people of all ages.
While some people experience acute pain that goes away after a short while, others experience chronic pain that lasts a long time. The intensity of such pain may keep increasing. No matter what kind of pain your knee is in, you need urgent intervention. Here is an insightful look at one such intervention and all you need to know about it.
Knee Pain Treatment Options
There are several treatment options for those experiencing knee pain. The first and most obvious option is the use of painkillers and other medications. These may help take away the pain but the effects will not be long-lasting because what painkillers do is stop the body from sensing pain. They provide momentary relief from the pain but do not solve the underlying condition which is causing the pain in the first place.
Injections containing corticosteroids or other anti-inflammatory drugs may be administered to reduce inflammation. Supplements that improve bone health may also be injected into painful knee joints.
Surgical procedures like knee replacement surgery are required in severe cases. These procedures are usually treated as the last knee pain treatment option. It not only helps alleviate pain but also regains normal functioning of joints, muscles, and tendons. You can consult with mindnmovement.com.sg. They offer a variety of physiotherapy treatments for people with knee pain, including exercises and stretches.
Physiotherapy is yet another treatment option. This involves the use of physical exercises, massages, and other non-invasive physical methods to relieve knee pain. This method works for both acute and chronic pain.
Common Causes of Knee Pain
You must be wondering why you are experiencing knee pain. Well, pain is usually a symptom. It is not a disease on its own but rather a sign of an underlying condition manifesting in this form. The only way to identify what is causing the pain is to talk to a physician or a physiotherapist.
One way to rule out the causes is to concentrate and determine where the pain is emanating from. Pain from the front of the knee is most likely due to an injured kneecap. Pain inside the knee may be due to structures called the medial collateral ligament and medial meniscus becoming injured. These may become injured during athletic activity or be affected by inflammation in conditions like arthritis. A burning pain outside the knee may be due to overstretching of tendons and tissue. At the back of the knee, pain may be caused by a hamstring injury or a swelling known as Baker’s Cyst.
Other causes of knee issues include:
- Degeneration of bones
- Osteoarthritis
- Infections
- Fractures
- Dislocation
The Physiotherapy Approach
Physiotherapists are professionals who have studied human anatomy extensively. They understand the musculoskeletal system too well and it is with this knowledge that they help patients heal from different conditions. They use physical exercises, traction, heat, and manual treatment to relieve knee pain and help regain mobility. They can also help treat back and neck pain, vertigo, headaches, concussions, and sprains to name but a few conditions.
In knee injury and disease, a physiotherapist will examine you so as to evaluate your injury and then come up with a knee pain treatment plan. On your first visit to the physiotherapy clinic, expect to be asked several questions about the condition. You will need to describe what you feel, how long the issue has persisted, and so on.
An extensive physical examination will then be carried out. During this time you will be asked to move, stand, sit, etc. The physiotherapist will also palpate the injured knee and carry out special tests if necessary. All these steps are necessary in determining the root cause of the pain. Only by knowing the cause can an appropriate treatment plan be arranged.
The details of your treatment plan will depend on the initial investigations. Generally, physiotherapists will prescribe a series of exercises. These exercises aim at increasing the knee’s strength and mobility while relieving pain. The exercise you may need to do include those targeting hips, knee joints, legs, and even those that improve balance. Ice and heat may be applied on the injured part while massages may be performed on nearby structures.
A physiotherapist will help you perform some of the activities and supervise those that you can do on your own. You will most probably start with light exercises and advance slowly until you can regain the normal functioning of the knee.
For physiotherapy knee pain treatment to work, you need to follow all the instructions in the letter. You will be required to do some exercises at home. Adhere to the set schedule and you will keep seeing positive progress.
The Benefits of Physiotherapy for Treating Knee Pain
Physiotherapy is a good way to relieve knee pain compared to other available methods. Here are some of the benefits of this method compared to others.
- A customized recovery plan for more positive results. This is unlike medications that are issued in similar dosages.
- Frequent sessions hasten the healing process.
- A non-invasive method to treat knee issues. You may not need surgery when physiotherapy gets rid of the pain.
- Working with your doctor to ensure a permanent solution to the problem is obtained.
- Physiotherapy rehabilitates you enabling you to go back to the way you used to be before the injury. Actually, you will need physiotherapy even if you undergo surgery for relieving knee pain.
- Physiotherapy treatment can be given from the comfort of your home. No need for boring hospital trips.
When to Talk to a Physiotherapist
If you have pain, stiffness, or any other abnormal feeling in your knee, you should walk into a physiotherapy clinic. Whether the pain has been around for a while now or it just began, you better get it checked out.
You may get immediate relief from the pain and help in preventing the condition from advancing. Physiotherapy has been shown to have high success rates in treating pain in all parts of the body. Walk into a knee pain treatment clinic now and find out.
