Have you recently hurt your knee? Or perhaps you’ve had a recent surgery on your knee? Whatever the cause of your knee pain, there are many reasons why physical therapy can be beneficial for you in the recovery process. Physical therapy can help you get moving in safe and healthy ways so that your knee joint doesn’t become stiff or more painful due to disuse. When you see a doctor for knee pain, it is helpful to discuss how you will start to incorporate certain movements back into your daily life safely.
Common Reasons for Knee Pain
One of the most common reasons for knee pain is an acute injury. Whether you were playing a sport you enjoy, in a recent car accident, or slipped and fell, a knee injury can instantly impact your quality of life. A knee injury could result in a sprain, strain, or even a tear to the soft tissues that support your knee joint. A knee sprain involves tearing the ligaments that connect the leg bones in your knee joint, which occurs most often due to a sports injury or fall. You could also strain a muscle that supports your knee joint due to a sudden injury or from overuse.
Another common reason for knee pain includes medical conditions like arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and it is a degenerative condition that is most common in older adults. If you have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis then the tissues in your knee joint gradually wear away due to general wear and tear on the body, causing pain and inflammation in the area. The knee joint is one of the areas of the body most commonly affected by arthritis.
Diagnosing and Treating Knee Pain
When you go to a doctor for knee pain, they will want to hear how your pain symptoms developed and if there was a specific reason, like a sports or car accident injury. If the pain in your knee slowly developed over time instead of all at once, your knee doctor will likely want to run some diagnostic imaging tests in addition to performing a physical examination. Diagnostic imaging tests provide your doctor with a clear picture of how the bones and soft tissues in the knee joint may have become damaged or worn down. Once your doctor has determined the cause of your knee pain, they can establish a treatment plan to help resolve your pain and also address the root cause. A treatment plan for knee pain from an injury or arthritis may involve visiting a physical therapist for support through your healing and recovery.
What to Expect with Physical Therapy
When you go to physical therapy, you will work with a licensed professional called a physical therapist who will help you rehabilitate after an injury or diagnosis of a condition like arthritis. Physical therapy is most commonly associated with something you do after surgery, but you can actually see a physical therapist any time!
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Physical Therapy
When you see a physical therapy for knee pain, there are a few tips and tricks to keep in mind so you can get the most out of your treatment.
Follow your treatment plan
Your physical therapist will develop a treatment plan that addresses your body and specific needs and is designed to work just for you. The treatment plan may involve stretches and exercises to help strengthen and better support your knee joint and to help improve mobility and range of motion in the joint. A physical therapist will be able to guide you through the best and safest ways to get back on your feet and to avoid complications like chronic pain and discomfort.
Practice stretches and exercises
Oftentimes, your physical therapist will walk you through stretches and exercises that you can continue to practice at home. This type of care will help supplement your work with the physical therapist in the office and help you recover faster and continue these safe and healthy habits for the long term.
Ask your physical therapist any questions
Physical therapists are here to answer any questions you may have and are the perfect person to discuss any uncomfortable symptoms. Physical therapy is a collaborative treatment process that depends on open communication and you letting them know when something doesn’t feel right or when you have a question.
At AICA Orthopedics, our team of physical therapists can help you through knee pain regardless of its origins. Visit one of our metro Atlanta locations near you to learn more about how our doctors for knee pain can help you get back to normal!
