Keep Knee Pain At Bay

Knee pain is a common problem that can be difficult to manage.

You may feel like you’re doing everything right, but your knee pain persists. It’s easy to become discouraged when the source of your pain seems impossible to find and treat.

Archer St Physiotherapy Centre is here to help. We specialise in the treatment of knee pain and have a variety of solutions that can help you get back to your life. From manual therapy and knee braces to post surgery rehabilitation, we’ll work with you until you’re pain-free.

Know More About The Knee Complex

One of the most stressed joints in the body is the knee. Because of its size and function, it is susceptible to injury. Knees are hinge joints that allow the body to bear weight and move. The knee is composed of bones, menisci, ligaments, and tendons.

BONES
The knee joint consists of three bones. The fit of these bones in the joint is quite shallow, therefore, the knee joint relies heavily on other structures, like the muscles and ligaments, to maintain its stability.

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Femur. The thigh bone is the strongest and longest bone in the body. It transmits all of the weight of the body above the pelvis to the knee joint.
Tibia. The shin bone is a prominent bone in both the knee and ankle joints. It receives the weight from the knee joint and transmits it to the ankle and foot. It is the larger of the two bones in the lower leg.
Patella. The kneecap is a triangular-shaped bone located in the quadriceps muscle at the front of the knee. Its cartilage lining is quite thick since it endures a great deal of stress.

CARTILAGE
There are two types of cartilage in the knee:

Meniscus. This is a crescent-shaped disc that acts as a cushion for the bones of the knee, allowing them to move through their range of motion without rubbing against each other. Each knee has two menisci: the medial (inner & larger) and lateral (outer) menisci.
Articular cartilage. It is a thin, shiny layer of cartilage found on the femur, the top of the tibia, and the back of the patella. It is a shock absorber and allows bones to move smoothly over each other.

Ligaments

Ligaments are tough and fibrous tissues that link bones together, preventing excessive motion and promoting stability. There are four ligaments in the knee:

TENDONS
A joint’s stability depends on these tough bands of soft tissue. Like ligaments, they connect bones to muscles instead of connecting bones to each other. The patellar tendon is the largest tendon in the knee, covering the kneecap, running up the thigh, and attaching to the quadriceps.

MUSCLES
Although not technically part of the knee joint, the hamstrings and quadriceps are responsible for extending and flexing the knee.

Causes

Typical Causes Of Knee Pain

Musculoskeletal knee pain can be caused by injuries and mechanical problems. An injury to your knee joint can involve one or more ligaments, tendons, or fluid-filled sacs (bursae) around the joint, as well as the bones, cartilage and ligaments that make up the joint itself.

Here are some of the more common knee injuries:

ACL injury. Basketball, soccer and other sports that require sudden changes in direction are common causes of ACL injuries.
Fractures. During falls or car accidents, the kneecap (patella) can be broken. A person with osteoporosis can also sustain a knee fracture just by stepping incorrectly.
Torn meniscus. You have a tough, rubbery cartilage between your shinbone and your thigh bone called the meniscus. A torn meniscus can occur if you suddenly twist your knee while bearing weight on it.
Knee bursitis. Occasionally, knee injuries lead to inflammation of the bursae, the small sacs of fluid that cushion your knee joint and allow your tendons and ligaments to glide smoothly over it.
Patellar tendinitis. A tendon is irritated and inflamed by repetitive stress. Injury to the patellar tendon, which connects the kneecap to the shinbone and gives you the ability to jump, run, and kick, can cause inflammation.

Knee pain can be caused by mechanical problems such as:

Loose body. Sometimes injury or degeneration of bone or cartilage can cause a piece of bone or cartilage to break off and float in the joint space.
Iliotibial band syndrome. The iliotibial band (tough band of tissue connecting hip to knee) becomes so tight that it rubs against the outer surface of your thigh bone. Iliotibial band syndrome is common in distance runners and cyclists.
Dislocated kneecap. A patellar dislocation occurs when the triangular bone covering the front of your knee (patella) slips out of place, usually to the outside of your knee. You may see the dislocation if the kneecap stays displaced.
Hip or foot pain. To spare your painful joint, you may change the way you walk if you have hip pain or foot pain. However, this altered gait can cause more stress on your knee joint and cause knee pain.

Common Symptoms Of Knee Pain

Knee pain may vary in location and severity depending on its cause. The following symptoms may accompany knee pain:

Treatments

Physiotherapy Treatments For Your Knee Pain

01.

Hydrotherapy

Allow exercise without traumatic joint impact by performing it immersed in water.

02.

Sports Taping

Support injured body segments to improve healing time.

03.

Ultrasound Treatment

With the deep heating delivered with this treatment, there is relaxation of soft tissue, like muscle, ligaments, and tendons.

04.

Dry Needling

Enjoy speedy pain relief and a subsequent return to regular daily life. This treatment is especially effective for chronic pain.

05.

Heat Therapy

Allow better reception of therapeutic treatments when using heat to improve tissue extensibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ's about Knee Pain

What are the risk factors associated with knee pain?

You are more likely to have knee problems if you have the following factors:

Excess weight.
Even walking or using stairs becomes more difficult when you’re overweight or obese. By accelerating the breakdown of joint cartilage, it also puts you at risk for osteoarthritis.
Lack of muscle flexibility or strength.
Lack of flexibility and strength can make knee injuries more likely. Flexibility in the muscles can help you achieve a full range of motion, while strong muscles stabilise and protect the joints.
Certain sports or occupations.
Certain sports put more stress on your knees than others. You are also at greater risk if you work in jobs such as construction or farming that require repetitive knee stress.
Previous injury. An injury to your knee in the past increases your chances of injuring it again.

How do you know if knee pain is serious?

The knee joint allows bending and straightening of the leg. Knee pain can be caused by injury, degeneration, inflammation, and infection. Signs that knee pain may be serious include:

Extreme pain
Swelling
Large wounds
Knee deformity
Feeling or hearing a popping when injured
Joint instability
Inability to bear weight on the injured leg
Inability to straighten the injured leg
Knee buckling during walking

Can walking alot cause knee pain ?

The pain in the knee can be ‘acute’ when direct trauma has occurred, such as a fall that sprains a ligament or crushes the knee. It can also be caused by chronic problems with unknown causes that come and go (usually with activity) and the cause cannot be pinpointed.

Your feet may have problems such as hypermobility, fallen arches or overpronation which may alter the way you walk. When you walk in a different way, it can be difficult to keep your balance. Physiotherapy can also help if you have any of these problems.

How do I keep my knees healthy?

Adopting these lifestyle habits will help protect your knees regardless of your age. If you are new to exercise, check with your doctor first.

Strengthen your upper and lower leg muscles.
You should concentrate on exercises that target your hamstrings, quadriceps, gluteus, hip flexors, and psoas muscles.
Stretch those same leg muscles.
Try incorporating yoga into your stretching routine to support your full range of motion.
Maintain a recommended weight.
Overweight knees are especially vulnerable. Losing some excess weight can make a huge difference.
Choose low-impact exercises.
Cardiovascular activities such as cycling and swimming can keep knee cartilage healthy and prevent future damage.
See a medical provider.
A swollen knee can indicate damaged cartilage.
Be cautious when playing sports.
Activities that require you to abruptly start, stop or pivot, like basketball or football, cause great amounts of stress to the knees.
You should always stay active.
Physical activity can prevent stiffness and muscle atrophy, as well as protect your knees from future injuries.
Vary your exercise routine.
Knee problems can be caused by repetitive movements that put too much stress on them.

Will knee pain go away on its own?

It depends on the situation. Pain from arthritis knees tends to wax and wane over time. While it may not completely disappear, it often feels better. When you suffer from an injury, you may feel pain at first, but if you have a sore joint, you may not be able to do certain activities.