While osteoarthritis is commonly known as the disease that causes severe knee pain, pain in the knee can be the result of an injury as well. Many people suffer from knee pain caused by making a sudden movement, suffering trauma to the knee, and osteoarthritis. When knee pain is the result of an injury, the most common diagnoses are tears of the cartilage, tears of the ligaments, or strains to these crucial parts of the knee.
When a person suffers knee pain, the movements are restricted, the strength of the muscles within the knee area is weakened, and control of the muscles is decreased. Having the pain can severely limit a person’s daily functions. If a person has osteoarthritis, the knee cartilage slowly wears away, swelling occurs, and the pain can be quite intense.
Physical therapy can help reverse knee damage if performed consistently and on a regular basis. If a person requires physical therapy for conditions of the knee, a physical therapist will review the physician’s diagnosis and put together options for treatment. The physical therapist will meet with the patient and ask a multitude of questions concerning how the knee was hurt, what hurts the most in terms of mobility, and other questions about the injury or symptoms related to osteoarthritis. As every knee injury is different, the therapy is tailored to each person’s specific condition. The therapist will also have the patient perform different tasks using the knee to get a clearer idea of when it hurts the most.
Methods of treatment can include strength training, endurance and function training, stimulation via electrical currant, and other exercises which the physical therapist deems necessary. These methods help increase strength to the muscles, reduce the pain, reduce stress on the knee joint, and stimulate healing. For patients suffering from osteoarthritis, physical therapist will focus on building up specific muscles, performing manual therapy on the knee, and special exercises to help increase the range of motion.
In addition to the therapy, the physical therapist may recommend exercises at home and will also communicate to the patient what activities need to be limited, at least for the short term. The patient, with consistent, repetitive therapy, will begin to experience marked improvement in the knee area.
“Knee Pain.” American Physical Therapy Association. Move Forward, 2011. Web. 29 May 2016. <http://www.moveforwardpt.com/symptomsconditionsdetail.aspx?cid=b92021cb-a1ec-4f20-8b7e-37d62bc1a52e>.