There are many reasons for pain in the knee. You may have a disorder in the muscle, tendon or ligament of your knee, or it could be caused by a leg deformity. A complete evaluation of the function of your knee and lower extremities is required in physical therapy for knee pain. Your PT will be able to identify the root cause of your knee pain and recommend the appropriate exercises and modalities. It can also help with knee pain and improve your functional mobility.
Which type of knee pain do you have?
The first step in physical therapy for knee pain is to determine if it is chronic, acute, or subacute.
Acute Pain
This is the most severe type of pain that occurs within the first one to seven days after injury. It is not recommended to exercise at this point. Instead, you should rest and elevate the injured area.
Subacute pain
This is the pain you feel after two to six weeks. It is when you can gently move your knee and do gentle exercises to regain mobility.
Chronic pain
This is a pain that lasts more than 8 to 12 weeks. Your healthcare provider should be able to provide special care.
Role of a Physical Therapist in knee pain
If you have persistent knee pain, you may be referred to a physical therapist for knee pain. During the first visit, a physical therapist will conduct multiple tests and ask many questions to assess your problem. Then, a plan of treatment will be created. There are several tests that make up the examination.
- Gait evaluation: A physical therapist will evaluate your gait and note any slight changes in your knees when you walk or turn your knees.
- Your physical therapist may also touch the knee with the hand in order to detect any abnormalities or structures that cause pain.
- Your range of motion is also assessed by the doctor. They will examine how far your knee joint bends or extends.
- The knee joint is connected to many muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Therefore, a physical therapist may also check the strength of your knee joint during an examination.
- They will also do assessments to check your pain and balance so they can design a treatment plan for you.
After evaluating all of these factors, a physical therapist will devise a series of exercises and modalities that will increase your range and mobility, reduce pain and swelling, and improve your functional mobility in the knee so that you can do your work effectively
