Having pain or stiffness in our knee can cause quite a few problems:
- Difficulty walking
- Pain going up or down the stairs
- Pain squatting
- Difficulty standing up from a chair
- Inability to kneel
Most likely those with knee problems will also have trouble lifting, pushing or pulling objects. Stiffness in the knee can cause pain in the morning, difficult moving after sitting in one position for a long time or problems sitting. These restrictions can really limit our normal routine each day.
Think about how many times you have to do these various movements just to get around, complete errands, go to work, do various activities etc. Even minor knee pain, when not handled can lean to serious problems. The number one complaint for knee patients is pain that is under or around the knee cap. This pain can greatly limit your functional mobility. Some people also experience stiffness in and around the knee causing difficulty moving the joint and generalized weakness in the affected leg.
How do knee problems start?
Knee problems can stem from many different causes. The most common cause of knee pain and dysfunction, is weakness of the muscles that surround the hip and the knee because these result in abnormal joint mechanics. When the knee joint is not moving properly, there is unnecessary rubbing and pressure in the joint that will cause pain and inflammation. Pain and inflammation can cause even more muscle weakness and tightness and will result in further stress on the knee joint. Prolonged inflammation will delay the healing of tissue and can start to negatively affect the tendons, ligaments and muscles that surround the knee. The longer you experience symptoms, the weaker and stiffer your knee can become, further limiting your mobility.
How to treat knee pain:
There are many treatment options for knee pain and associated mobility limitations. A majority of knee problems can be resolved with physical therapy with no need for surgery, prescription medications or injections.
Physical therapy will help will help decrease your pain and improve your mobility regardless of whether you’ve been experiencing pain for days or years. Through specific strengthening and stretching exercises physical therapy can help restore normal muscle balance in your legs and off load your knees resulting in improved mechanics and decreased pain.
Physical therapy will also teach you proper movement patterns to ensure proper alignment and resolve or prevent knee problems that are negatively affecting your life. At LSTC, we will fully evaluate your knee and associated symptoms and help restore your full function and get you back to your normal lifestyle.
At Loudoun Sports Therapy Center, our therapists will fully evaluate your knee and associated symptoms and help restore your full function. Don’t ignore your pain when you’ve been dealing with it for days, weeks or even years. Call us today at, 703-450-4300 to schedule your evaluation and start living pain free!
For more information on curing knee pain, click HERE!
