Knee Pain
Knee pain can affect any of us at any age, whether it is a dull ache or a sharp pain. It may be located in one area or spread throughout the knee. Knee pain can become very debilitating and affect your mobility when walking and doing everyday tasks such as climbing the stairs or bending down.
What causes knee pain?
Knee pain can begin after an injury or develop gradually over time. This could be due to a sudden increase in demand on the knee, spending prolonged periods on your feet or simply inactivity.
The source of knee pain can be caused by a muscle strain, ligament injury, tendon pain, damage to the cartilage i.e. the meniscus, fractures, bursitis, arthritis or gout.
Understanding the Knee joint
The knee is the largest joint in the body and is responsible for supporting you in all on-foot activities. Along with the hip and foot, the knee acts as a shock absorber and provides stability and power during movements such as standing up, squatting, climbing, walking, or running.
Four bones make up the knee joint including the femur (thigh bone), tibia and fibula (shin bones), and the patella (kneecap). They are all covered in articular cartilage which helps with shock abruption and congruency. Ligaments connect the bones together and muscles and tendons enable movement in the knee.
The knee is comprised of 2 joints:
- Where your thigh and shin bone connect (tibiofemoral joint)
- Where your kneecap and thigh bone connect (patellofemoral joint)
Diagnosis of your knee pain
Understanding the cause and structure involved in your knee pain is vital to effective treatment and management of your condition.
Knee pain can be diagnosed by taking a thorough history of your recent activity and lifestyle, a review of your medical history, and a thorough physical examination.
Imaging can sometimes be useful to rule out any structural damage following injury or serious pathology. It can also be useful if you’re symptoms are not responding to conservative management. Examples of imaging are ultra-sound, x-ray or MRI.
How to manage your Knee pain
If you have acutely hurt your knee or it has suddenly become painful, sometimes short-term relief is needed such as pain medication, topical non-steroidal gels, ice or heat treatment or modification of your activity levels. If the pain persists, then seeking input from a Physiotherapist is advised.
How can Physiotherapy help knee pain?
A Physiotherapist will take a detailed case history to understand the cause and contributing factors to your Knee pain.
They will then carry out a movement screen to identify any biomechanical factors contributing to your symptoms. This may involve a combination of simple knee movements or looking at the functional tasks you are struggling with i.e. bending and a passive assessment of the area itself.
The Physiotherapist will then explain what they see and advise on the diagnosis and factors contributing to your pain picture.
Depending on your presentation and expectations of the appointment, the Physiotherapist will advise on any relevant short-term relief options such as optimising pain relief medication, manual therapy techniques i.e. soft tissue release, joint mobilisations, or acupuncture. These hands-on techniques provide short-term relief and can sometimes help to dampen down the secondary responses to pain such as muscle tightness.
The Physio will also suggest self-management advice i.e. how to modify your activities, simple movement strategies, or an exercise program to address any movement deficits. In some cases, the Physiotherapist may feel onward referral is necessary i.e. back to GP or a specialist. This will always be a shared decision-making process and often there is a lot you can be doing in the meantime.
