Osteoarthritis in the knee can be a double-edged sword at times. Overusing the knees can harm joint and knee health, but the less you use them, the weaker they become over time. Physical therapy can assist you in finding the right amount of movement for your knee joints while also maintaining their strength and health.
Physical therapy for knee osteoarthritis can reduce pain, edema, and stiffness while also improving knee joint function. As a result, walking, bending, kneeling, squatting, and sitting can all be made easier. Passive and active treatments are the two major types of physical therapy that might help you better manage your knee. Catch on to our therapists, as it’s their primary responsibility in passive therapies. On the other hand, active treatments require greater self-effort, such as daily workouts performed at home.
Come to have your therapy
Some of the most common passive treatments for arthritis of the knee:
Cold therapy:
Cold therapy can help reduce edema by lowering blood flow. In some cases, your physical therapist may apply a cold compress to your knee joint.
Heat therapy:
Heat therapy, which promotes blood flow to the knee joints and surrounding muscles, can alleviate stiffness in these areas. For example, if you’re experiencing pain in your knee, a physical therapist may apply a warm heating pad to the area.
Hydrotherapy:
Treatments for knee osteoarthritis include hydrotherapy (also known as aquatic therapy) and acupuncture. Hydrotherapy has various advantages. Consider doing some light exercises in the water (which won’t harm your joints). In addition, just being in warm water can aid mobility and alleviate pain and other symptoms of knee osteoarthritis.
Active Osteoarthritis Treatments:
Strengthening exercise:
Your physical therapist will instruct you on a series of exercises to strengthen your muscles at home. Strengthening your leg muscles is an ideal way to improve the stability of your knee joints. Only by building up these muscles will you alleviate knee discomfort.
Exercises to improve flexibility:
Flexibility exercises are essential because knee osteoarthritis can make it difficult to move. Regularly performing these exercises will help improve your knee’s range of motion, flexibility, and function.
You should do both strengthening and flexibility exercises because they might reduce the stress on your knee.
Learn more about our services…
Conclusion:
Knee osteoarthritis treatments may include passive and active techniques, depending on your needs and those prescribed by your physical therapist.
Your osteoarthritis in the knee may benefit from physical therapy, so make an appointment with your doctor to discuss your options. The sooner you begin treatment for knee OA, the better off you’ll be.
