How Physiotherapy Can Help You Recover from Knee Pain

Knee pain is one of the most common health problems, affecting millions of people around the globe. The main causes of knee pain include injury, overuse, or inflammation. There are several ways to treat knee pain, but physiotherapy is considered to be one of the safest and most effective methods.

Some common causes that can result in knee pain include:

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  • Sports Injuries
    
    Joint Pain
    
    Motor Vehicle Accident Injuries
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    Musculoskeletal Pain
    
    Stiff Muscles
    
    Muscle Spasm
    
    Disrupted Muscle Balance
    
    Soft Tissues Injuries
    
    Arthritis-Related Pain
    
    Acute Injuries
    
    Cartilage Injuries
    
    Excessive Body Weight

A trained physiotherapist will be able to tailor an individualized treatment plan for you that targets the specific source of your pain and minimizes its recurrence. In this blog post, we share some leading tips on how to eliminate knee discomfort at last.

How Do Physiotherapists Work? How Can They Help Me?

Generally, physiotherapists are health care professionals who focus on treating patients who have experienced an injury or stress somewhere in their body--like your knees!

A physiotherapist has comprehensive training and experience in assisting people to recover from injuries or strains. They might also be accredited in specific topics that make them much more capable than family doctors to deal with those conditions. In short: if you want assistance in handling knee discomfort, consider a physiotherapist!

Physio for Knee Pain and Injury

Physiotherapy can be one of the best treatment options for managing knee pain and injuries. Physio care enables you to treat your condition in a focused and effective way, often without the requirement for medication or surgery.

According to a review of studies, physiotherapy delivers higher benefits than self-management for patients with knee arthritis.

Physiotherapy offers a unique combination of physical therapy treatments and workouts that can assist you to minimize pain, restore flexibility, and return to everyday activities.

While plenty of treatments are focused on discomfort relief, they can likewise be used to deal with the root reasons for knee discomfort.

Stretching Workouts

Stretching is essential when handling knee pain, and it's a lot more crucial if you're recuperating from an injury. Studies prove that individuals who stretch routinely have lowered discomfort and increased agility compared to those who don't stretch at all.

There are two primary kinds of stretches you can do to reduce knee discomfort: static and dynamic, and your physiotherapist can prescribe the most effective ones for your special condition. 

Static stretching includes holding your muscles in a lengthened position for about thirty seconds. You may feel a gentle stretch in your muscles, but no major discomfort.

Dynamic stretching refers to as moving your muscles through a range of motion over a time period. You may feel an increased stretch in your muscles, in addition to a minor pull.

Both types of stretches have their benefits, but dynamic stretches are particularly useful for knee pain. They can help you to loosen stiff joints, enhance your overall agility and increase joint range of movement.

Strengthening Exercise

While stretching is important for minimizing knee pain, strengthening the surrounding muscles is essential for long-lasting management of the discomfort. Strong muscles offer stability and support to your joints, helping them perform better and decreasing the probability of discomfort and injuries recurring.

According to a review of studies, a mix of aerobic exercise and strengthening exercises is the most effective way of managing knee discomfort. Low-impact exercises such as swimming, biking, and using elliptical equipment are fantastic for strengthening muscles without overburdening your knees. Again, your physiotherapist can teach you the most beneficial exercises to strengthen your knee muscles.

If you've recently suffered an injury, you should avoid high-impact exercises such as running until your knee has healed. Workouts to strengthen your quadriceps (the muscles in the front of the knee) are the most effective way to lower knee discomfort.

Dry Needling

Dry needling is a type of acupuncture that involves inserting very thin needles into trigger points. Trigger points are little knots in your muscles that cause pain and lower movement in the surrounding region. Dry needling can be utilized to manage all types of musculoskeletal conditions, including knee discomfort. 

Research reveal that dry needling is just as effective as electrotherapy for dealing with knee osteoarthritis, with fewer adverse effects. Dry needling is typically utilized as a part of a diverse treatment strategy. It's not a stand-alone therapy, though it can be successful when combined with other treatments.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is another therapy that’s significantly being used to deal with knee pain. Like dry needling, acupuncture entails putting tiny needles into the skin at particular points on the body.

 Research studies reveal that acupuncture can lower pain and enhance knee joint function in individuals experiencing knee injuries. Acupuncture has extremely few negative effects and is often an excellent treatment option for managing knee discomfort. It can likewise be used in combination with other treatments.

Knee Brace

If you suffer from frequent knee pain, a knee brace is a terrific way to safeguard your knee and prevent injuries from returning. Braces can be found in a variety of forms and materials, and there are many different types to pick from. A knee brace can help ease knee discomfort and support the knee in patients who are recuperating from an injury, have osteoarthritis, or have had a joint replacement.

Taping

Knee braces are frequently the initial selection for handling knee pain, but many individuals have concerns about their use. Taping your knee is a much less invasive method of handling the pain and can be just as successful as a knee brace.

Numerous research studies have demonstrated that taping the knee can considerably reduce knee pain and improve knee function in individuals with knee osteoarthritis. It can also be used alone or in combination with other treatments.

TENS machine

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (or TENS) therapy is a non-invasive treatment that can also be utilized to reduce pain. TENS devices send out electrical pulses through the skin and stimulate the nerves. This lessens inflammation and assists you to handle pain.

TENS devices are often utilized for short-term pain relief, such as after an injury. Some research shows that TENS machines can be beneficial in managing knee pain, though more research is required to determine its long-lasting results.

Conclusion

Knee pain can be a genuine nuisance, but it doesn't have to be. By following a few simple tips, you can keep your knees healthy and pain-free.

And if you do get knee discomfort, you can use these suggestions to minimize the pain and return to your daily activities as soon as possible. In short: if you really want aid in dealing with your knees, see a physiotherapist! And keep in mind: knee pain can be treated, so do not let it rule your life!

Contact Nose Creek Physiotherapy in Ottawa today and we can start alleviating your knee pain. Now booking new appointments!