Knee Pain Physiotherapy

Knee Pain

The knee is a complex joint and the largest in the human body, being made up of two joints, ligaments, bones, and muscles. The upper and lower bones of the knee are separated by two discs, often known as ‘menisci’. The bones above and below the knee are connected by a selection of ligaments, tendons, and muscles. Supporting this, the joint is covered by articular cartilage, which absorbs shock and provides a smooth gliding surface for joint movement. This complexity allows us to have full movement and mobility in our legs, as well as participate in vigorous exercises that push the limits of the body.

If the knee gets injured, it can have an adverse effect on other parts of your body, potentially causing additional injuries. These injuries are likely to occur in the leg due to the connection of the muscles and ligaments.

What Sort of Knee Injuries Can You Get?

There are many different types of injuries that you can sustain through overuse, work-related tasks, sports/recreational activities, or home tasks. It’s likely that at some point in your life, you will experience some form of knee injury, whether that is a major or a minor one. Acute injuries commonly occur as a result of twisting, bending, or falling on the knee; during this, the nerves or blood vessels may be pinched or damaged, resulting in the lower leg feeling numb and tingly.

Acute injuries can include the following:

• Sprains and strains
• A tear in the meniscus (cartilage between the femur and tibia)
• Kneecap or knee joint dislocation
• Ligament tears – ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) or MCL (Medial Collateral Ligament)
• Breaks

These injuries can occur due to either a weakened knee, sudden injury or as the result of an underlying condition such as arthritis. The injury will vary depending upon the cause and consequently, so will the treatment. Should you find that your knee has been causing you a significant amount of discomfort, get in touch with one of our physiotherapists today for a diagnosis.

How We Can Help

Knee damage can occur when repeated, prolonged pressure is placed on the knee by repetitive activities such as stair climbing, jogging or jumping. Each of these has a large impact on the knee and causes stress in the joints and surrounding tissue; leading to inflammation.

Injuries caused by overusing the knee are as follows:

• Tendinitis (inflammation of the tendons)
• Plica Syndrome (thickening/folding of the knee ligaments)
• Bursitis (inflammation of the sacs of fluid that cushion and lubricate the knee)
• Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (pain in the front of the knee caused by overuse, excess weight, or problems in the kneecap)
• Iliotibial Band Syndrome (inflammation of the band of fibrosis tissue running down the outside of the thigh)

Here at NV Physiotherapy, our trained physiotherapist will first get the full history of your knee pain, followed by a comprehensive physical examination. This will help to form an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment plan, which may consist of strengthening exercises to address muscle imbalances, soft tissue therapy, taping, or joint mobilisation.

Apart from knee pain, we also treat –

• Back Pain
• Neck Pain
• Shoulder Pain
• Acupuncture
• Sports Injuries
• Horse Riding Injuries
• Tendonitis