Physiotherapy For Knee Pain

runner's knee pain

Is knee pain impacting your everyday tasks, including how you walk, run, exercise or even your performance at work?

Whether your knee injury is a sudden (acute) injury or a long-term (chronic or overuse) injury, our expert physiotherapists will work to not only relieve and treat your knee pain but also help to strengthen your knee to prevent any further injuries.

Because some knee injuries can require surgery, particularly if they are not treated early enough, it’s best to see our team of physiotherapists as soon as you can. We will determine whether we can assist and advise you if you need a referral to a surgeon or another specialist.

The severity and location of your knee injury will determine how long or intense your rehabilitation will need to be. Even if surgery is ultimately required, the right physiotherapy beforehand will prepare your knee for surgery by making it stronger and helping it to move better, also helping your recovery after surgery.

What Are The Causes Of Knee Pain?

Knee pain is very common in people of all ages and it is usually caused by injuries, mechanical problems or types of arthritis.

Ligaments provide stability to your knee joint and your meniscus cushions and stabilise your knee joint, protecting your bones from wear and tear. Sporting injuries or acute injuries, such as slipping or falling over can damage your ligaments or meniscus (knee cartilage).

Injuries

ACL injuries – An ACL injury is a tear of your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), one of four ligaments that connect your shinbone to your thighbone. ACL injuries are common in sports that require sudden changes in direction, such as football, basketball and soccer.

Fractures – Falls and car accidents can break the bones in your knee, including your kneecap (patella).

Osteoarthritis – Is a joint inflammation that results from cartilage deterioration. Without this cartilage, your bone surfaces rub against one another, causing pain.

Torn meniscus – Your meniscus is the tough, rubbery cartilage that acts as a shock absorber between your shinbone and thighbone. If you suddenly twist your knee while bearing weight on it, your meniscus can tear.

Knee bursitis – When knee injuries inflame your bursae, the small sacs of fluid that cushion the outside of your knee joint, your tendons and ligaments can no longer glide smoothly, causing knee pain.

Patellar tendonitis –. Your patellar tendon is the muscle that runs from the kneecap (patella) to the shinbone and allows you to kick, run and jump. If you run, ski, cycle or are involved in jumping sports and activities, you may develop patellar tendinitis.

Mechanical Problems

Loose body – Injuries or degeneration of bone or cartilage can cause a piece of bone or cartilage to break off and float, interfering with your knee joint movement.

Iliotibial band syndrome – Occurs when the tough band of tissue from the outside of your hip to the outside of your knee (iliotibial band) becomes so tight that it rubs against the outside of your thigh bone. Distance runners and cyclists may experience iliotibial band syndrome.

Dislocated kneecap – this occurs when the triangular bone that covers the front of your knee (patella) slips out of place, usually to the outside of your knee.

Hip or foot pain – If you have hip or foot pain it can change the way you walk, placing more stress on your knee joint and causing knee pain.

Arthritis

The types of arthritis most likely to cause you knee pain include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, pseudogout, and septic arthritis.

What are the symptoms of knee pain?

The location and severity of knee pain can vary, depending on the cause of the pain or the nature of the injury. You may be experiencing some or all of the following problems in one or both of your knees:

  • Sharp pain when you try to move your knee
  • Swelling and stiffness in your knee
  • Redness in your knee and warmth to the touch
  • Weakness or instability when you try to stand
  • Popping or crunching sounds
  • Inability to move normally or to fully straighten the knee
  • Pain along the joint

Proactive Physiotherapy Treatment For Knee Pain

Our sports physiotherapists can help relieve your knee pain in a variety of ways.

We have the equipment and experience to assess the cause of your knee pain and we work in partnership with other health professionals, such as your GP or your surgeon to prepare your knee before knee surgery and help you with recovery after surgery.

Weak muscles and muscle imbalances are a leading cause of knee injuries and our exercise classes teach you the correct techniques and movement patterns for your sports or everyday activities, helping strengthen your knee, alleviate knee pain and prevent further knee injury.

Exercises may include low-impact exercises to provide relief from knee pain, exercises to build up your quadriceps and hamstrings (the muscles that help support your knees), balance and stability training and stretching and flexibility, because tight muscles also can contribute to knee pain.

To get relief from your knee pain, contact the team at Proactive Physiotherapy today.