Knee Pain

Knee pain affects almost every single person at some point in their lives. From sprains, to cartilage issues, all the way through to posture-related injuries and muscle tears, knee pain seems to play a role in the sometimes debilitating struggle for a pain-free life. We understand how the nagging, irritating, and oftentimes overwhelming pain in your knee affects your day-to-day activities, not to mention your social life, and that’s why this post is all about knee pain: what it is, why it is, and what can be done about it. When it comes to knee pain, few people really understand its origins. This is not least because of the complex structure of the knee joint and its position in the body. In fact, the knee is one of the most important body parts. Why? Well, it not only grants the lower leg an immense amount of flexibility, but it also support and maintains the mobility of the upper leg and, finally, the torso and entire upper body. In other words, the knee is an invaluable part of the body’s mobility and stability. It is no wonder, then, that the knee joint is also the site where most of the body’s pressures and strains accumulate. From walking, to running, and even to standing, the knee is subject to an incomprehensible amount of daily pounding and weight. In truth, your knees withstand more strain than you know, and without their resilience you would probably be far less mobile. Which is why, of course, knee pain is so debilitating. As a knee experiences the constant pressure and strain placed on it by our everyday activities, it gradually starts to experience wear-and-tear, that is, muscles lose their strength and the cartilage is subsequently placed under more and more stress – hence, the pain. Quite often, if this state of affairs isn’t appropriately addressed, the cartilage might give way or tear, leading to serious injuries requiring surgery, or worse still, a complete knee replacement. Amongst these rather alarming injuries are the likes of ACL injuries, knee fractures, dislocations, PCL injuries, tears, popping, swelling, tendon injury, knee cap dislocations, and a myriad more – and, if the names don’t scare you, the pain will. In lieu of this, it is easy to see why the maintenance of a healthy knee joint is vital. Unfortunately, however, many people already suffering from knee pain turn to temporary solutions for comfort: from painkillers, to surgery, and all the way around to injections and rest, people just aren’t taking action. The issue with pain in the knee joint is that rest and procrastination, not to mention tablets, only make things worse – as you know, the pain often only increases if you try to wait it out, and in the end you’re left with an even longer road to recovery. Yet, in a world where there is so much conflicting information, what can you do? Where do you turn? And how can you get rid of this pain? Luckily, there are ways to combat knee pain and, in many cases, totally eradicate your daily discomfort, thus getting you back to the activities you love. Take a look: Exercise – All Things in Moderation We know you might be active, love golf, running, and sports. Maybe you just like walking and enjoy being outside. The good news is, activity and mobility are sure-fire ways of fast-tracking your journey to a pain-free life. Importantly, however, you need to be very sure that the exercises you do are moderate, low-impact, and do not place unnecessary or damaging strain on your knee. Movement is key… but, in moderation. That having been said, try doing exercises that strengthen your knee as well as give it extra motion. Straight leg raises, whereby the leg is slowly lifted to extend the knee joint, are really helpful. Try leg presses and balancing exercises to increase the flexibility and strength of the knee joint. In addition, why not try cycling? Riding a bike is a low-impact form of exercise and is incredibly beneficial for strengthening the muscles around the knee joint. It’s all about support: find activities that support your knee so as to get you moving and feeling stronger… all in preparation for those things you long to get back to doing. Physical Therapy While increasing the amount of low-impact physical activity you do is helpful, the best and most effective way of eliminating your knee pain – fast and safely – is physical therapy. A professional, hands-on physical therapist is able to diagnose and treat the root-case of your problem, thereby offering you a permanent solution to your knee-pain. And not only that, physical therapy gives you a set of tailor-made exercises and stretches you can do at home; this means that your road to health doesn’t stop when you leave the PT room – you’ll be able to maintain your pain-free life well beyond your physical therapy sessions. Physical therapy is so much more than just a temporary mask for your pain: it’s about your health and your happiness. We know how important your family and activities are to you, and we also know that the daily struggle you experience is about a lot more than physical discomfort. Your happiness and joy are being stolen, and we are here to help. Physical therapy gives you the opportunity to restore functionality in your knee, the tools to help rebuild and strengthen muscles, and the comfort of knowing that the range of motion in your knee is being systematically increased. We want to give you back the life you’ve been missing out on because of discouraging, frustrating knee pain. Don’t let knee-pain ruin even one more day of your life. It’s time to get back to that golf game you’ve been dying to play, that yoga class that’s been in the back of your mind for weeks, and the training for that marathon you’ve waited forever to run. Knee pain is terrible, but there are solutions. Contact

If you’re reading this, you might very well be asking yourself: “How do I get rid of my annoying knee pain?” This is a fairly commonplace question, as for those of us who suffer from knee pain it is usual to scour any source of information in order to find the answers we need just to stop the nagging, debilitating pain. The good news is, you’ve finally come to the right place… you’re not alone and there is help! In this post we look at why knee pain becomes a nagging pain, what the symptoms of knee pain are, and what can be done to alleviate the discomfort. It’s time to take action against knee pain once and for all. So, let’s dive in. When it comes to knee pain, you might be feeling like a real-life version of the Tin Man – aches and pains ruin your mobility, your family-life and work-life, and even your sleep. And yet, despite its prevalence, few people really know why they suffer from knee pain. And remember, knowing why you are in pain is often the first step in understanding how to get rid of it. So, that’s where we come in. Knee pain often has various causes, each of which is dependent on yet another set of variant conditions. What is important to know is that knee pain can affect people of all ages and can, therefore, be independent on factors such as age, for example. Take a look at some of the reasons you might be suffering from knee pain: Sports Injuries: This seems obvious, at first, but even the fittest athletes may experience knee problems. Incorrect warm-up routines, flawed routines themselves, and over-ambitious training sessions may lead to knee injuries. Hobby-related Injuries: It’s not only sports-people who may suffer from knee pain. Those of you who do even mild forms of exercise – as a hobby, perhaps – are prone to experiencing knee pain. Unexpected, uncommon stress placed on the knee can easily cause injury. Overuse: This is perhaps something you may have come to realize over time: overuse of the knee, specifically in repeated and instinctively unnatural ways, will lead to knee-pain. Arthritis: Many individuals suffering from arthritis are likely to suffer from knee pain as, being one of the largest joints in the body, the knee joint is a prime target for this specific affliction. Weight: Being overweight is a large contributing factor to knee pain. The knee joint absorbs a great amount pressure placed on it by the upper body and torso so as to reduce the risk of spinal damage. Thus, overweight individuals place an ever greater amount of strain on the knee joint, thereby increasing their risk of injury to that area. Age: Seniors, in particular, are prone to experiencing knee pain. Their joints lack the suppleness and support once enjoyed in earlier years, and therefore they are likely to experience knee pain more readily due to an incapacity to stave it off. Any of the above factors may have caused your knee-pain and, if left untreated – as you may already have experienced – can turn into a nightmare: nagging, daily, debilitating pain. And yet, how do you know if your knee pain is something worth looking at? Unfortunately, a common misconception is to ‘wait for the pain to disappear on your own’… our advice is to always have nagging pain looked at. However, if you want a little more detail, here are a few tell-tale knee pain symptoms to look out for: Weakness in the knee and leg. Joint stiffness Swelling around the knee. Popping noises when moved. An inability to extend your knee/leg. Mobility restrictions and limps: difficulty when moving, walking, or exercising. Locked knees: an inability to bend the leg. The symptoms of knee pain can be slightly difficult to read at times. We understand the frustration of trying to figure out exactly what is wrong, and yes… we know it can be really daunting. What we’d like you to know, though, is that knee injuries are due to damage related to the kneecap or ligaments surrounding the knee joint. In actuality, the forms knee injuries can take are variant both in their degree and scale. They can range from torn ligaments through to fractures or breaks. Alternately, one could be dealing with an ACL tear – a common sport-related injury – or even a dislocation. The truth is, it’s very difficult to tell which of the various injuries you might be suffering from. Don’t worry, though, that’s where we come in! Physical therapy is by far the safest, most effective way of correctly diagnosing and treating your knee injury. Not only does physical therapy treat the root cause of the problem, thereby giving you much needed answers to your ailment, but a qualified, hands-on physical therapist will be able to eradicate your pain non-invasively and effectively. In other words, physical therapy is a permanent solution to your problem… it is not a quick fix. What’s more, a professional physical therapist will provide you with tailor-made exercises and stretches that you can do at home, thereby giving you the tools to maintain a pain-free lifestyle outside of the clinic. The key to overcoming knee pain is to strengthen your muscles and to stabilize your knee, both of which a hands-on physical therapists will do. Working with one of our specialist, dedicated physical therapists will help you eradicate your knee-injury and avoid further pain or strain. Knee pain doesn’t need to become a nagging, debilitating, daily struggle. We understand the frustration of dealing with the ongoing discomfort you feel, and for that reason we invite you to give us a call today. Now that you know why knee pain can become a continuous trial, it’s time to make a change. Don’t let knee pain get you down for even a day longer. Call one of our specialist physical therapists today; we will help you get back to the life you deserve: