Knee Pain
Knee pain can affect people of all ages, and can worsen gradually, or happen suddenly following an injury. Here we’ll discuss the different causes of knee pain and how physiotherapy can help.
The knee joint plays an important role in supporting the body’s weight and keeping us moving. It is commonly injured due to it’s complexity and the large amount of force the joint has to withstand.
The knee joint is made up of the end of the femur (thigh bone) and tibia (shin bone), and is cushioned with 2 crescent moon shaped pieces of cartilage, known as the meniscus.
The patella (knee cap) sits on top of the end of the femur, in a perfectly shaped groove called the femoral or trochlear groove. As you bend and straighten your knee, the knee cap slides back and forth inside this groove. The joint between the patella and the femur is known as the patellofemoral joint, or PFJ.
Several ligaments surround and support the knee joint, and these are commonly injured through sports or road traffic injuries.
YOU DON’T NEED TO GO AND SEE A GP FIRST!
Physiotherapists can assess and diagnose the cause of your knee pain. We have much longer to help you with your knee pain than a GP does, and can help you to understand how to manage your symptoms effectively.
How can physiotherapy help knee pain?
A physiotherapy assessment aims to understand what is causing your knee pain and ensures we rule out any serious conditions. If you have had an injury, we will consider a referral for imaging such as an x-ray or MRI scan if we feel it is required. We have great links with the local GP surgeries, NHS and private hospitals and Cobalt Health.
We can usually diagnose your knee pain using a series of movements, muscle tests and specialist tests. After diagnosis, we work with you to create a tailored treatment plan. This tends to consist of a combination of rehabilitation exercises to restore movement and strength, and “hands on” techniques such as:
Massage for sore or tight muscles in the front or back of the thigh, calves or glutes
Mobilisation/manipulation to improve stiff knee joints, or to help the patella move more effectively
Stretching techniques to improve movement and pain
Acupuncture for pain and tightness in the muscles surrounding the knee
We believe that knowledge is power, and we strive to understand the root cause of your pain, so that we can give you all the information you need to prevent the problem from re-occurring.
Get on top of your knee pain today and come see us at our physiotherapy clinic in Cheltenham. Click below to book your first appointment!
Causes of knee pain
Here are just some of the things we treat in the knee:
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee causes pain and stiffness when moving the joint. It tends to occur in people over the age of 45, but it can affect people younger than this. Physiotherapy can help improve stiffness in the knee joint, and strengthen the muscles around the knee to take some of the load off the painful joint. Massage and acupuncture can often be very effective for this condition too. You can read more about knee osteoarthritis here.
Patella tendinopathy (Jumper’s knee)
The patella tendon attaches to the front of your shin bone, just below your knee joint. Jumper’s knee is caused by overuse of this tendon, usually by high impact sports such as basketball or volleyball. This can cause inflammation, and sometimes can lead to microscopic tears in the tendon which reduces strength. Physiotherapy can help to rebuild strength in the muscle and tendon, and identify any muscle imbalances which may have contributed to the condition. You can read more about patella tendinopathy here.
Meniscal injuries
The meniscus is the cartilage within the knee joint, which acts as a shock absorber when completing tasks. This can slowly wear down gradually over time with age, or can be injured suddenly, usually with a twisting motion. Some tears require surgery, but many meniscal tear symptoms can be improved with a course of physiotherapy. You can read more about meniscal injuries here.
Ligament damage
The most commonly injured ligaments are the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), the MCL (medial collateral ligament), and the PCL (posterior cruciate ligament), but there are several other ligaments which can be injured with directional forces or impact. Often these require surgery, so physiotherapy can help with pre-rehab and re-hab to improve recovery times and reduce the risk of re-injury. In some cases, rehabilitation can mean that surgery is not required as the knee regains strength and function. You can read more about ligament damage in the knee here.
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS)
This refers to pain around or behind the kneecap as it slides in the femoral groove. It is also known as Runner’s knee due to it’s high prevalence with running. The cause is often due to muscular imbalances, and so physiotherapy can identify and address these with a combination of strengthening, stretching, massage and manipulation. You can read more about Runner’s knee here.
Knee fractures and pre/post operative
The knee cap (patella), femur, tibia or fibula can all break as a result of a high impact fall or sports injury. A lot of fractures require a period of immobilisation and then a clear rehabilitation plan to get things moving again. Occasionally surgery is required with fractures, or large ligament or cartilage tears. Physiotherapy pre-surgery can help you gain as much strength and mobility as possible before having an operation, and has been shown to improve recovery times. We also help with post operative rehabilitation.
Knee Dislocations
A knee dislocation occurs when one of the knee bones comes out of place. These require relocating - sometimes the kneecap will correct itself spontaneously, but sometimes this requires a doctor to relocate the knee in a hospital setting. Physiotherapy helps to regain movement and strength after a dislocation, and identifies causes for the initial injury, to reduce the chances of re-occurrence. You can read more about knee dislocations here.
Not sure of the cause of your pain? Come to see us at our physiotherapy clinic in Cheltenham! We can diagnose you and get you started on the road to recovery. Click below to book your first appointment!