If I Have A Knee Pain, Should I Get It Manipulated?

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Anatomy Of The Knee

Whether knee pain should be manipulated is dependent on the cause of the pain. However, as a rule of thumb, most manipulative physiotherapists will not manipulate the knee.

If I have a knee pain, should I get it manipulated?

– Alex, Singapore
Common Knee Pains

The knee is a joint whose integrity is generally held by the strength of its ligaments, capsule, and muscles. This is due to the shape of the bones which make up the joint. The knee joint is two rounded condyles of the femur sitting on the flat plateau of the tibia (known as the knee joint) with a ‘floating’ bone, known as the patella over the femur (known as the Patellar-Femoral joint). The knee joint is similar to like putting 2 oranges on a flat plate, making it fairly unstable.

Thus, the stability of the knee comes from the two menisci. They act to deepen the depth of the tibial plateau (to prevent sideway movements of the femur), the ligaments and joint capsule (to prevent excessive movements) and the muscles (to control the joint movement). There is a good animation of the knee and the ligament below.

Causes Of Knee Pain

Due to the makeup of the knee, most causes of knee pain would be either strain of the ligaments, capsule or muscles, or degeneration of the patellar. Manipulation is generally used for a ‘locked’ joint and not for strains. Hence, it is not warranted. In most knee pain, mobilization is sufficient to decrease the pain together with strengthening and flexibility exercises.

However, in meniscus tears, where movement is blocked or limited and mobilization doesn’t work, a distraction manipulation might be done but with severe caution. Manipulation can also be used in a degenerated knee but would need to be done by an orthopaedic surgeon.

Video: Anatomy Of The Knee

Experiencing knee pain? Click here to find out more about physiotherapy for knee pain relief and how Core Concepts can help