KNEE PAIN
Knee Pain Treatment serving the Durham, NC area
Knee pain is said to affect roughly 19% of the population with the likelihood and severity of pain both increasing with age. In other words, the older we become the more likely we are to experience knee pain that can lead to disability. Causes for knee pain do vary, but most people will be told their knee pain is due to degenerative changes. Our physical therapy in Durham, NC, specializes in healing knee pain conservatively.
Healing Knee Pain conservatively
Many of our clients are diagnosed with osteoarthritis and meniscus tears that are said to be the cause of their knee pain. However, we have learned some common problems that are present with nearly all knee pain clients.
Many people who experience knee pain will be limited with:
- Knee flexion (bending the knee)
- Terminal knee extension (5-10 degrees past full knee straightening)
- Hip internal rotation
- Spine extension (bending backwards)
- Spine rotation towards the symptomatic knee
- Ankle dorsiflexion
While we don’t expect you to know what each of these movements is, the point we want to make is that knee pain is rarely just a “knee problem”. Performing a detailed movement assessment for the spine, hip, knee, and ankle is required to find the root causes of knee pain.
Conditions we treat
Treatment Options
All of our knee pain treatments options are conservative. We begin by identifying the root causes of knee pain through a detailed movement assessment performed at the spine, hip, knee, and ankle. Then we use a variety of techniques that are designed to address the pain and fix the underlying problems. Some of these techniques are; myofascial release, dry needling, Mckenzie Method, IASTM, SFMA. and a detailed understanding of pain science which we believe is critically undervalued in traditional healthcare.
Contact Kaizen Physical Therapy today to learn more about the shoulder pain treatment options we offer to patients in the Durham, NC, area.
Not usually.
You may require an X-ray or MRI if there was a traumatic injury that caused your knee pain. For example, a sports collision, car accident, or a fall. An X-ray or MRI will be useful in this case to rule out a fracture, tear, or other condition that requires immediate medical attention.
You likely don't require an X-ray or MRI if there was no traumatic injury. If your knee pain is something that has gradually become worse over time (with no traumatic injury) then an X-ray or MRI is rarely necessary.
In fact, plenty of research shows that an X-ray or MRI, in this case, can lead to unnecessary surgical intervention trying to fix something that wasn't the cause of the pain in the first place.
A full-body movement assessment can identify what's causing the knee pain if there was no trauma.
Stretching for knee pain is typically a short-term pain solution. The muscles feel tight and the immediate assumption is that a tight muscle needs to be stretched.
However, we find that nearly all tight muscles are tight because they are weak (or somewhere nearby is weak).
This occurs because a tighter muscle is a stronger muscle.
Instead of stretching try strengthening. When done correctly, this is the solution nearly everyone needs.
Most people who have knee pain did not suffer a traumatic injury.
If there was no injury then it's very likely knee pain is caused by a combination of stiff and weak joints and muscles.
A full-body movement assessment should be performed to identify the root cause of knee pain. Many times the area that hurts is not where the root problem of the pain is occurring.
This detailed movement assessment must include:
- Lumbar spine
- Both hips
- Both knees
- Both ankles
- Single leg balance
This really depends on what your idea of a solution looks like.
If you want to avoid surgery, pain meds, and cortisone injections then a physical therapist should be your first option.
Knee pain is generally muscular if there are some movements that are painful and others that aren't.
For example, if walking hurts but standing in place doesn't. This is a sign that your knee pain is likely muscular in nature.
Muscular pain is also typically felt as a 'dull ache' unless you perform a sudden movement that is an irritant (then it can be a sharp pain).
If you feel sensations of tingling, numbness, or burning then your problem is likely sciatica pain
Wondering if our physical therapy clinic is the right approach for your problem?