Does knee pain keep you from climbing stairs, working out, or even just spending time with friends and family? There’s no denying that persistent knee discomfort can profoundly impact your quality of life. Fortunately, physical therapy offers a powerful approach to knee pain management.
With exercises tailored to your needs and expert guidance, the team at College Park Physical Therapy can alleviate discomfort, improve mobility, and protect your knee from future injury.
Keep reading to learn more about our process!
Step 1: Identifying the Underlying Cause of Your Knee Pain
The first step in managing knee pain is determining the reason for the pain. That’s why your first appointment at our Olathe, KS, and Overland Park, KS clinic will consist of a comprehensive assessment in which we take your health history, review your symptoms, and conduct a movement evaluation to test your strength, mobility, gait, and more.
Once we know why you’re experiencing pain, we can develop a program that addresses it directly. Different causes require different treatment approaches.
Four Common Causes of Knee Pain (And How to Manage Them)
Osteoarthritis
- This condition causes the cartilage in the joint to wear down, leading to pain, stiffness, and decreased mobility. Physical therapy can improve your knee’s mobility and strengthen the surrounding tissue to better support the joint.
Ligament Injuries
- Damage to the ligaments in the knee, such as an ACL tear, usually occurs during high-impact activities or sudden twists. These injuries can be painful and make it hard to put weight on the knee. Physical therapy helps by gradually building strength and stability around the joint, helping to fully rehabilitate the injury.
Runner’s Knee
- This condition causes pain around the kneecap, often due to overuse or improper alignment–and it doesn’t just affect runners! Physical therapy addresses alignment issues and improves the strength of surrounding muscles to reduce stress on the knee.
Tendonitis
- Tendon inflammation, often caused by repetitive jumping or running, leads to pain and swelling. Physical therapy can ease inflammation and develop muscle balance around the knee, reducing strain on the tendons.
Step Two: A Customized Treatment Plan
Once we understand your specific needs, we’ll create your personal knee pain management program using a variety of approaches, including the following:
Manual Therapy
- Several hands-on techniques, such as joint mobilization or soft tissue manipulation, enhance blood flow, reduce pain, and promote your body’s natural healing processes.
Mobility Training
- We’ll show you exercises to improve your knee’s range of motion, which can help reduce pain and make it easier for you to move freely.
Strengthening Exercises
- Strengthening the muscles around the knee helps reduce the burden on the knee joint. This added strength helps stabilize the knee and decreases the likelihood of further injury.
Injury Prevention
- We’ll show you how to move safely and avoid certain repetitive movements to help protect your knee from further injury. Our guidance on proper body mechanics, posture, and movement patterns is tailored to your activities and lifestyle.
Knee Pain Management is Waiting for You at College Park Physical Therapy!
Is persistent knee pain holding you back? Our physical therapists can help you restore comfort and function with a custom knee pain management program. Schedule an appointment today to get started!
