Knee Pain
Knee pain is on the most common compliant we treat with critical impact on quality of life. Knee pain can hinder your ability to walk and perform everyday functions. Common daily activities such as sitting, standing, climbing stairs, exercising, getting in and out of cars can be limited if your experiencing knee pain.
The type of knee pain experienced dependent on the mechanical source along the joint or maybe referred to the knee from a secondary source, thus proper description and identification is crucial in providing you the best care possible.
Locations of knee pain:
• Patellofemoral stress syndrome – pain in the kneecap maybe related to inflamed tendon in front or side of the knee or poor movement of the kneecap.
• Medial knee pain- maybe related to any injury or strain of the medial meniscus or medial collateral ligament.
• Lateral knee pain- maybe related to Iliotibial band (ITB) or injury to other lateral structures.
• Posterior knee pain- maybe related to hamstring injury or osteoarthritic changes.
Symptoms of knee pain:
• Stiffness or limited range of motion.
• Color changes, such as redness around the knee joint
• Pain with movement.
• Pain to touch or pressure.
• Weakness in hamstrings or quadricep muscles.
• Soft kneecaps
• Warm knees
Goals of Knee physical therapy treatment:
• Improve range of motion.
• Strengthen the muscles and tendons.
• Reduced referred pain to the knee from back.
Causes for knee pain:
• Patellofemoral stress syndrome
• Osteoarthritis
• Tendinitis
• Bursitis
• Injury resulting in: Dislocations, fracture, muscular injures, ligament tears (ACL, MCL, PCL)
• Baker’s cyst
• Chondromalacia patella
• Meniscus tear
• Autoimmune conditions: Lupus, Rheumatoid arthritis, Gout, Pseudogout, Psoriasis.
• Post operative pain
• Bone tumors
• Infection
• Lower back pain referred into the knee secondary to pinched nerves