5 Common Causes For Your Knee Pain

Knee pain is a common complaint among people of all ages and activity levels. It can range from a minor annoyance to severe, disabling pain that significantly limits one’s quality of life. Regardless of its severity, knee pain should be taken seriously and you should address it as soon as possible.

Delaying the treatment of knee pain often results in further damage to the joint, leading to more intense symptoms and longer-term effects. Early diagnosis and treatment can lead to improved outcomes and a better long-term prognosis.

Common causes of knee pain include arthritis, bursitis, overuse injuries caused by repetitive strain or activities such as running or jumping, ligament tears from sudden traumatic injury, or cartilage damage due to an infection or abnormal growth.

When attempting to refrain from knee pain, lifestyle modifications can help reduce symptoms and minimize further damage. Treatment approaches may include medications, physical therapy, injections, or in more severe cases, surgical intervention.

In this blog, we will discuss common causes of your knee pain and also discuss why physical therapy is a great option when it comes to treating pain. We can help you avoid painkillers, injections, and surgery and give you a more natural way to treat your knee pain if you come to see us.

5 Common Causes For Your Knee Pain

1. Osteoarthritis: This is a common cause of knee pain that occurs when the cartilage between the bones in the joint begins to wear away, leading to swelling and inflammation. Physical therapy treatment for osteoarthritis typically includes stretching exercises, strengthening exercises, and aquatic therapy to help reduce pain and improve range of motion.

2. Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS): This type of knee pain is caused by an imbalance of muscles around the kneecap. Physical therapists can use manual therapy techniques such as massage or joint mobilization to reduce tension on the kneecap, as well as prescribe specific exercise programs tailored to strengthen weakened areas and address any muscular imbalances that may be causing pain.

3. Tendinitis: This is an inflammation of the tendons around the knee joint, which can cause pain and stiffness in the knee area. Physical therapists may recommend eccentric exercises to strengthen the tendon and help reduce pain, as well as stretching exercises to increase the range of motion.

4. Meniscus Tears: This type of injury occurs when one or more of the cartilage discs between your thighbone and shinbone become torn or frayed. Generally, physical therapy treatment for a meniscus tear includes rest, ice/heat applications, strengthening exercises that target the muscles surrounding your knee joint, and manual therapy techniques such as joint mobilizations to restore normal movement patterns.

5. Patellar Instability: This condition occurs when the kneecap moves out of its normal position, resulting in pain and instability. Physical therapy treatment for patellar instability includes strengthening exercises to target the hip and thigh muscles that are responsible for keeping the patella (kneecap) in place. Manual techniques are able to address any tightness or restrictions in the knee joint itself, as well as stretching and balance training to help improve overall stability.

While these are common causes of knee pain, your knee pain could be a number of different things. Each case of knee pain is different and how you treat each case is going to be different as well.

How Can Physical Therapy Help With Your Knee Pain

Physical therapy is a proven method for helping reduce and manage knee pain. It can be used to help strengthen the muscles around your knee and improve mobility, thus enabling you to move more freely. This leads to decreased stiffness and discomfort, while also allowing you to perform activities of daily living with greater ease.

Physical therapy also teaches proper technique when performing exercises or activities that place strain on the joint, so as to prevent further injury or damage from occurring. As such, it can help you avoid the need for injections, painkillers, or surgery in some cases.

By working with a physical therapist, they will design a custom treatment plan specifically tailored to your needs and goals. This may include strengthening exercises, stretches and joint mobilization techniques that we tailor to your specific condition.

Additionally, physical therapists will also often provide advice and education on how best to manage your pain, as well as activities or lifestyle modifications that may help reduce discomfort.

All of these techniques can work together to improve overall knee health and function while helping you avoid the need for injections, medication or surgery.

In summary, physical therapy is an effective way to address knee pain and should be considered if other methods such as rest or over-the-counter treatments have not been successful. It helps you find relief while avoiding more invasive interventions.

Is Knee Pain Keeping You From Enjoying Life?

Do you have knee pain that is keeping you from doing the things you love? Then make sure to visit us so we can get you on the road to recovery!

Nobody likes to live in pain, and we know that you are looking for answers when it comes to knee pain that just won’t go away. If that sounds like you and you are ready to start the conversation on treatment for your pain, then visit us and take advantage of our knee pain assessment!

We work with many patients that suffer from knee pain and have gotten no answers on what could cause it. We recommend that you seek treatment as soon as possible to help you identify the problem and get back to your life pain-free.

To find out how our rehabilitative experts utilize a variety of physical therapy techniques that can help you overcome your pain and stay active, schedule a time to come see us by completing our online contact form in under 30 seconds or call our friendly team on (425) 252-3908.

Unsure whether we are right for you?

We understand that you may not have visited a Physical Therapy clinic before and be unsure whether it’s going to help you deal with knee pain. That is why we invite you to come in for a Knee Pain Assessment.

Arrange A Knee Pain Assessment at one of our five locations (Bellevue, Everett, Factoria, Kirkland and Lake Stevens) today!