Knee Arthritis is a very common condition that we treat here at Loudoun Sports Therapy. Arthritis in this joint actually impacts every age group. Even younger athletes deal with arthritis. Arthritis is the break down of the cartilage between the bones in a joint.
Given how much wear and tear our knee joints undergo throughout our lifetimes, it might not surprise you that arthritis is most common in these joints. Knee arthritis can cause a lot of problems such as pain, limited range of motion, weakness, swelling and difficulty performing daily and functional activities. There are different types and causes of arthritis that can cause these symptoms. However, the end result is breakdown and inflammation of the joint. The most common complaint patients have is difficulty ascending or descending stairs this is due to the inflammation in the joint causes the muscle to weaken hence more pain as the muscles are no longer stabilizing the joint.
If knee pain due to arthritis is not taken care of, this can cause further dysfunction above or below the knee such as the ankle or the hip joint. That’s because of the compensation you have made such as; you change your gait or the movement pattern to perform your daily activities such as prolonged walking or negotiating steps to avoid the pain. This is why it’s important to see a Physical therapist to better understand your dysfunctions and the appropriate way of treating your symptoms.
So what causes knee arthritis? Knee arthritis can stem from a number of factors including:
- Age
- Heredity
- Weight
- Repetitive stress injuries
Physical therapy is a very effective treatment method for arthritis in the knee. Physical therapy can help decrease pain and inflammation, decrease muscle tightness and improve knee stability by strengthening the knee stabilizers. By improving your pain and stability of the knee joint it will restore your ability to return to prior level of function. Call Loudoun Sports Therapy Center TODAY and schedule your full evaluation at 703-450-4300.
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