Knee pain can result from an injury, age, or another underlying medical issue, like arthritis. While some of these conditions may heal over time, severe pain requires medical intervention.
Consider seeking physical therapy for knee pain if you struggle with regular discomfort.
Clinicians from Comprehensive Healthcare Group explain how physical therapists assess and treat knee pain.
Types of Knee Injuries
Knee pain may occur with little or no notice. Localized pain may impact certain areas of the knee or affect the entire leg.
Medical professionals categorize knee pain in several ways, including:
- Anterior (affecting the kneecap): This pain generally occurs in athletes performing activities that shift the kneecap out of position.
- Patellofemoral (affecting the outside of the knee): Some people refer to patellofemoral pain as a runner’s knee. This condition impacts tendons that tighten or strain when jogging long distances.
- Ligamental (affecting the area below the knee): Ligament tears can create severe pain and reduce mobility. This knee injury occurs from sharp twisting motions.
- Cartilage: Certain medical conditions, such as osteoarthritis or a meniscal tear, may cause knee cartilage to dissolve over time. Without treatment, it may be painful to continue regular activities like walking or climbing.
How a Physical Therapist Can Help
Physical therapy for knee pain can significantly improve your comfort and balance.
Clinicians will assess your condition during a thorough medical evaluation and develop a custom recovery plan. Depending on your age, injury, and medical history, you may require a few weeks to several months of therapy.
You will then undergo supervised exercises to reduce pain and reinforce your knee joints. A therapist will assist you with physical support and verbal encouragement during these sessions.
Injury prevention forms an essential part of the physical therapy process. Your therapist may provide educational resources, such as literature or online recommendations, to help you prevent future injuries. Therapists may also offer home exercise programs that enable you to continue recovery between sessions.
Physical Therapy Exercises for Knee Pain
Physical therapy exercises for knee pain make safe and effective treatment options. Let’s take a closer look at the most popular methods to relieve pain:
Curls
A physical therapist will position you on your stomach and place a weight between your ankles. You will lift the weight slowly with your legs, strengthening your hamstrings. These exercises work your lower knee region and deter ligament tears.
Dips
Your therapist will support you as you balance on one leg and slowly bend your knee. Alternatively, you may do short step intervals on a soft ledge to build your climbing endurance. These exercises help you restore joint flexibility.
Lifts
Leg lifts use the weight of your own body to reinforce the tendons and ligaments around your knee. A physical therapist will gently stretch your leg on a hard surface while applying light pressure. They may also use a hands-on method and bend your knee slowly toward your core.
Squats
Squatting is a basic knee pain exercise that trains the area to handle pressure. This method is ideal for strengthening joints and muscles that run from your knee to your glutes.
You will likely start this technique without weights. A physical therapist will ask you to extend your arms and slowly squat toward the floor. Then, using your body weight, you will stand back up.
As you show signs of progress during physical therapy for knee pain, your therapist may introduce dumbbells to improve your endurance.
Passive
Lastly, a physical therapist may choose to integrate assistive devices into your exercise routine. For example, electrical stimulation technology releases muscle tension quickly so your clinician can easily access your joints.
Applying heat and ice also helps reduce inflammation of the affected areas. In addition, many facilities provide massage therapy that releases stress and encourages blood flow in the legs.
Professional Physical Therapy in Valley Stream
Those who attend physical therapy in Valley Stream or Oceanside highly recommend our services at Comprehensive Healthcare Group. Don’t just take our word for it. Dozens of five-star Google reviews prove our outstanding customer service.
We achieve incredible results for hundreds of patients who manage acute and chronic knee pain. If you have a work or car accident-related injury, our physical therapists will help. We have years of experience facilitating effective exercise and rehabilitation to patients of all backgrounds.
Our friendly office staff will answer any questions you have about physical therapy for knee pain. Additionally, we offer chiropractic services and orthopedics to improve the overall quality of your treatment plan. Our doctors accept no-fault insurance, workers’ compensation, and other insurance plans.
Book an appointment. Call Comprehensive Healthcare Group in Oceanside, NY, at 516-764-7760 or Valley Stream, NY, at 516-593-7990.
