Knee pain treatment: A guide to how physiotherapy can provide immediate relief.
Symptoms, causes, and treatment for knee pain
What is knee pain?
Knee pain is a common complaint that affects people of all ages.
It may result from an injury, such as a ruptured ligament or torn cartilage. Also, it is often associated with general wear and tears from daily activities like walking, bending, standing, and lifting.
Athletes who run or play sports that involve jumping or quick pivoting are also more likely to experience knee pain and problems. But whether an individual’s knee pain is caused by ageing or injury, it can be a nuisance and even debilitating in some circumstances.
But how do I know if I have knee pain? And what are the signs of it?
- Popping or crunching
- Unable to straighten your knee
- A weak or unstable knee
- Swelling and stiffness
- It looks red and is warm to the touch
Depending on the severity of your condition, you may experience different signs and symptoms. However, if you have the following signs below, we highly urge that you consult with a medical practitioner immediately:
- Fever, in addition to redness and swelling in your knee
- Knee looks deformed
- You can’t stand, and your knee can’t bear weight
How does physiotherapy provide treatment for knee pain?
Painkillers only provide temporary pain relief, while home remedies are hit-and-miss. However, you are only “treating” the symptoms and not getting rid of the root cause. At Core Concept, our physiotherapists are experts in human anatomy, and well-versed in matters relating to muscles, bones, joints, tendons, and ligaments.
Physiotherapy aims to not only relieve pain but also treat your condition through non-surgical treatments, such as dry needling, manual therapy, massages, and exercises. Even though we do not use any medications, we are able to refer you to a specialist and work closely with them if necessary.
What causes Knee Pain?
Knee pain is a common complaint that affects people of all ages. Knee pain may be the result of an injury, such as a ruptured ligament or torn cartilage.
Most often associated with general wear and tear from daily activities like walking, bending, standing and lifting.
Athletes who run or play sports that involve jumping or quick pivoting are also more likely to experience knee pain and problems. But whether an individual’s knee pain is caused by ageing or injury, it can be a nuisance and even debilitating in some circumstances.
Medical conditions — including arthritis, gout and infections — also can cause knee pain.
Experiencing knee pain that is preventing you from doing the things you love?
It could result from an injury such as a torn ligament or knee muscle strained tendons. The likelihood of knee injuries increases if you participate in high-impact sports that require jumping (eg: basketball) or sports that require sudden changes in direction of movement (eg: running, skiing, soccer)
Degenerative Knee Condition
The occurrence of pain increases among the elderly due to wear and tear of the knee joint and cartilage. Osteoarthritis, a degenerative knee condition is the most common cause of knee pain, affecting almost 40% of adults.
If you’ve tried various methods for pain relief but can’t seem to find a lasting solution for your persistent knee pain – Core Concepts Singapore physiotherapy services may have your answer.
Other types of solutions such as painkillers and home remedies only offer temporary pain relief; Physiotherapy treatment can provide you with a permanent solution to your pain without medicine or surgery.
This is because we do not only treat the symptoms, but we also fix the underlying cause of your pain.
Common causes for knee pain that we treat
Knee pain can be caused by a variety of conditions, such as injuries, illness, and trauma. Below are the common causes that we treat.
It is important to seek medical advice from a physiotherapist to get an accurate diagnosis of your condition. Only then will you be able to apply the appropriate treatment methods to resolve the condition.
Knee Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition where the knee cartilage between the end of the thigh bone and the top of the calf bone wears away. As the cartilage produces a natural lubricant that allows both bones to move smoothly, the loss of it will lead to pain as they rub against each other.
Signs of this condition:
- Your knee looks swollen and puffy
- Your knee feels like it could give out, being wobbly and weak
- Your knee makes a cracking or grinding noise when moved
In our knees, there are two C-shaped cartilage, and they act as a cushion between your thighbone and shinbone. So, when you have a torn meniscus there will be swelling and pain when the affected knee is moved.
Signs of this condition:
- Difficulty straightening your knee
- Can’t move your knee and it feels “locked”
- Your knee is swollen and feels stiff
If you participate in sports that involves a lot of jumping and running, then you’re more likely to develop this. Runner’s knee is characterized by pain around your kneecap or the front of your knee.
Signs of this condition:
This condition usually causes dull aching pain in your knees, and it will aggravate when:
- Walking up or down the stairs
- Sitting or squatting for a long time
Resting, and applying ice may help alleviate the pain, but it is best to consult a doctor or physiotherapist to determine the next best course of treatment.
Also known as buckling knee, this happens when you tear your anterior cruciate ligament. Despite it being the smallest out of all four main ligaments in your knee, it is important in stabilizing your leg when you twist your body.
Signs of this condition:
- Your knee joint is swollen
- You hear a crunching or popping sound
- Your knee feels like giving way
Patella Tendinopathy is a common condition in young athletes, especially those who participate in basketball, volleyball, tennis, and other sports that require constant use and pressure on the patellar tendon. There can also be non-sports-related causes for this, such as trauma, and cell death due to apoptosis.
Signs of this condition:
- Pain when running, jumping, and walking
- Pain or tenderness around your patella tendon
- Pain when bending or straightening your leg
It is important to seek medical advice from a physiotherapist to get an accurate diagnosis of your condition. Only then will you be able to apply the appropriate treatment methods to resolve the condition.
Our 4 steps treatment process for immediate knee pain relief!
Painkillers are temporary, but physiotherapy at Core Concept is forever. We don’t treat your pain, but dig deep into the cause of it, and get rid of the source. You can say that we are like weeding, but thorough in our job, as we remove the roots too. Even after your condition is treated, we aim for you to go beyond what you can achieve before the treatment.
When you first step come through our doors, you will be our priority. Your physiotherapist will perform assessments to accurately determine the cause of your pain, and other further details of the condition.
After that, you’ll be provided immediate pain relief! Yes, from the first session itself, we will perform manual therapy, massage therapy, dry needling, or any other appropriate treatments to effectively lessen your pain.
You are important to us and included every step of the way.
Then as you continue coming back to us, we will begin a plan to provide you with long-term pain relief. As your physiotherapist draws up a personalized treatment plan just for you, your opinions and concerns will be taken into careful consideration, as with us, you are our sole focus.
We know how it feels to constantly go for treatments, be at a hospital or here with us.
It is tiring, emotional and physically. Especially if they’re long and drawn out.
Which is why our goals are to have you pain-free as soon as possible, with as little sessions as possible. We work rigorously to identify the source of your discomfort and get rid of it as soon as possible.
Yes! You’re pain free! But this doesn’t mean that the journey has ended.
We, at Core Concepts, go further beyond that. We aim to have you be better than before, for example, your knee pain could have only allowed you to walk for 500m or 10 minutes before needing to rest. We can help you to walk further with no discomfort.
Our Treatments for knee Pain
Pilates exercises
Be it because of overuse, injury, or a muscle imbalance, Pilates is a good treatment for those with knee pain. During Pilates exercises, you will perform a series of exercises under the guidance and supervision of our physiotherapists, which can strengthen the knee and other parts of the body.
Dry needling
You can relieve tight muscles and alleviate pain with dry needling. Not just for knee pain, it can also be used for neck and back pain. It is quick and effective and will have you feeling better in no time.
Facilitated Stretch therapy
Learning how to stretch properly as a “warm up” isn’t just a crucial step before performing any sporting activities, but is also important in preventing accidental injuries. Our facilitated stretch therapy works to mobilize your joints and improve flexibility, strengthening you against future injuries.
How about knee braces? Can I use them instead of getting treatment?
For avid runners, and athletes, having the possibility of an injured knee can be a nightmare. Some may have taken to wearing knee braces to alleviate the discomfort and pain, as they can reduce swelling, provide support, and lessen pain.
However, if you suspect that you have sustained an injury, and have knee pain because of it, we highly recommend that you visit a doctor or physiotherapist. While knee braces can help with your daily activities and sports, it is simply a short-term solution, and if your condition is ignored, there’s always a chance that it will worsen.
A physiotherapist will be able to determine the root cause of your pain, and tailor a personalized treatment plan for you. Come to us at Core Concepts, as we aim for you to be permanently pain free, with as little sessions as possible.
How to prevent knee pain?
Knee pain can be frustrating, especially if it prevents you from using the affected leg. So, why not take precautions against knee pain.
Maintain a healthy weight
Obesity can contribute to knee pain, as your knees have to handle a greater weight. As you take each step, two to four times of your body weight are pressuring the knee joint. Imagine carrying a heavy backpack on your back for all hours of the day! You’ll most probably be tired out easier and may collapse in extreme cases.
Have a proper posture
You’ve seen this in our sections on back pain, neck pain, and shoulder pain. Now, let us repeat once again for knee pain. A good posture is extremely important! Stand up straight and avoid slouching or hunching your shoulders. If you have to sit for long hours, stand up and move around frequently. Using ergonomic furniture will help in alleviating bad posture as well as make your work environment much more comfortable.
As your body is off balance, more strain will be placed on your joints, which can lead to them tiring out and turning into discomfort for you.
Wear proper footwear
High heels are notorious for causing all sorts of pain. And this includes knee pain as well. This is because greater pressure is placed on your quadriceps to hold your knee straight. And this leads to knee pain.
We recommend getting professionally fitted shoes to be on the safe side, especially if you’re an avid sportsman. This will not only prevent knee pain but also allow you to carry out your activities with greater comfort.
Don’t suddenly increase the intensity of your exercises/workout
Aiming high is encouraged in sports, and by us too! However, you shouldn’t suddenly increase the intensity of your exercises, but to do it gradually instead. This is to prevent injuries as you have not known how well your body can handle the sudden rise in intensity.
Risk factors for knee pain
Let’s take note of the risks that can potentially cause you to have a higher chance of developing knee pain, prevention is always better than cure!
Constant use due to work or sports
If you use your knee constantly, such as heavy lifting for work, or sports activities, then you’re more likely to develop knee pain.
Ageing
Wear and tear of the joints in your knee can easily contribute to knee pain. The best way to determine if it’s age that’s causing your condition is to speak with your doctor.
Obesity
Pressure and stress are placed on your joints every time you moved. As you lower your weight, stress on your joints will decrease.
Overuse
It is important to listen to your body and let it rest after a strenuous day. If you still feel sore the day after, we recommend that you either tone down on the activities or take an extra day of rest. If you push yourself too hard, you may have risk developing injuries.
Testimonials
“This is hands-down one of the best physiotherapy place in Singapore. Natalie at the front desk has super human efficiencey at working with your schedules and communication. i can’t recommend them enough”
Shayne Mathews
Frequently Asked Questions
There are various causes of pain that we will be unable to identify without a proper assessment. However, the common causes of knee pain are injuries like ACL injury.
An ACL injury is when there is a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament – 1 of the 4 ligaments that connect your shinbone to your thigh bone. At Core Concepts Singapore; our physiotherapist would diagnose the reason for your pain and prescribe the necessary treatment plan that would help recover you to full activity as quickly as possible.
Some of the treatments methods for pain that we employ are manual therapy, massage therapy and strengthening exercises.
Your treatment plan will be determined by your physiotherapist after conducting a full diagnostic assessment of your pain condition.
For more severe cases, surgery may be required. We can refer you to a specialist if required.
Seeking a physiotherapist as early as possible would allow an efficient recovery period.
However, you should seek a physiotherapist immediately if you have been experiencing knee pain that is severe. Also; if your movements are limited or if the pain gets worse while performing certain activities such as walking or climbing the stairs.
At Core Concepts, we are dedicated to addressing your issues and getting you back to full activity.
There are certain factors that increase your risk of knee pain without the presence of a sudden injury. Factors such as age, gender, being overweight and playing high impact sports.
All these places additional stress on your knee joint, increasing your risk of knee pain. Stress on your joint causes the wear and tear of your knee cartilage – leading to knee pain.
Women are also more prone to knee injuries due to estrogen hormones and lower bone density In order to prevent pain; one can make the choice to switch the frequency of high impact sports and participate in lower impact sports like swimming instead.
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Learn more about our other services
