Knee Pain Treatment.
It is a joint that bears significant weight and one of the joints in the human body that sustains injuries most often. While some conditions may need surgery, knee pain can have a variety of causes, be painful and debilitating, and many of these conditions can be alleviated with the correct advice, treatment, and exercise.
The patella, or kneecap, is located in front of the knee joint, which is located in front of the femur and tibia. The menisci are two ‘c’ shaped pieces of cartilage that sit between the femur and tibia and are surrounded by ligaments, muscles, a capsule, and the synovial membrane.
What are the causes of knee pain?
Knee pain, stiffness, soreness, locking, swelling, limping, and trouble fully straightening or bending the knee are all common symptoms.
Here are a few of the most typical knee issues:
- Referral pain – Knee pain may be caused by compression of the nerves that feed the knee at different points along their route from the low back. Additionally, trigger points in muscles further up or down the leg or in the pelvic region may refer to it.
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Osteoarthritis – As we age, the knee experiences normal wear and tear, which can lead to this condition. The knee area can have pain after performing certain activities, such as ascending stairs or walking far distances, or stiffness may be felt primarily in the mornings or after resting. Joint pain might be felt inside, all around, or all at once.
There are many causes for osteoarthritis of the knee, which is frequently exacerbated by mechanical problems with the pelvis and, in fact, the foot and ankle, which can have a similar effect and put more pressure on one knee than the other, or it may be secondary to osteoarthritis.
- Sports injuries – Pain that returns after running or jumping. A typical type of ligament damage is cruciate ligament damage, which occurs in the knee joint. Tears can develop from overuse, strain, or from not balancing your weight when exercising and applying excessive pressure to the knee joint. It is also typical to sustain ligament damage on both the inside and outside of the knee and the joint capsule./
- Tears in the meniscus or cartilage line the tibia and femur (the shin and thigh bones that connect in the knee). When the knee is over-rotated, damage to these structures frequently occurs.
- Biomechanical abnormalities, such as kneecap lateral tracking (moving to the outside), are brought on by various conditions, such as lowered foot arches, knocked knees, and weak quadriceps muscles closer to the inside of the leg. Sometimes it’s due to pelvic torsions or differing leg lengths.
How can an osteopath treat knee pain?
Osteopathy is associated with the idea that a person’s health depends on their bones, muscles, ligaments, and connective tissue working together properly.
To identify the source of your knee pain, the osteopath will check the joints and muscles wholistically, paying close attention to everything, especially from the low back to the feet. After that, the issue will be gently treated using soft tissue, articulation, stretching, and manipulation as necessary. Additionally, suggestions for efficient exercises and hydrotherapy (using hot and cold packs) may be used.
Osteopathic manipulations, stretches of the muscles, and massage to:
- Increase joint mobility
- Relieve any muscle tension
- Improve the blood flow to tissues; and
- Aid the body in healing itself.
We employ a variety of treatments, and if we believe a patient requires additional treatment or surgery, we will refer them to an orthopedic surgeon or general practitioner.
How is osteopathy helpful in treating knee pain?
- Knee pain and inflammation can be reduced with osteopathy treatment. And we’ll choose the best course of action for you based on the kind of injury, how severe it is, your age, and how active you are. We’ll examine your range of motion during treatment and evaluate the soreness and inflammation in your knee joint. Kinesiology taping can also be utilised to ease pain and give the muscles more support. Although we cannot repair any damage to the knee cartilage, we can increase your knee’s range of motion and suggest strengthening activities to increase stability. Exercises that require crouching, twisting, or pivoting are likely to need to be avoided while you recover.
Book an appointment or contact us to discover how our Doctors of Osteopathic medicine can help improve your health with a wholistic approach.