Struggling with knee pain? You’re not alone–it’s actually one of the most common musculoskeletal complaints in Canada! It can stem from various injuries and chronic conditions; in many cases, physiotherapy’s non-surgical knee treatment programs are enough to resolve it completely.
Many people immediately think of arthritis when they think of knee pain, especially osteoarthritis, which occurs when the cartilage in the knee deteriorates over time, leading to pain and stiffness. Other people may think of acute injuries such as ligament tears or meniscus tears, which can also result in significant knee pain (and frequently require surgery).
However, there’s also a highly overlooked source of knee pain: overuse injuries. Conditions like patellar tendinitis (often called “jumper’s knee”) or knee bursitis develop when tissue in the knee joint becomes inflamed from repetitive movements and prolonged pressure on the knees.
At Newcastle Physiotherapy and Sports Rehab, our team understands the various causes of knee pain–as well as the importance of providing appropriate treatment for each one. We’ll assess your symptoms and provide a a customized non-surgical knee treatment plan to help you find relief.
But what exactly is included in those treatment programs? Keep reading to learn more!
Treating Knee Pain the Non-Surgical Way
Our first order of business is conducting a comprehensive evaluation to help us assess your symptoms and determine the reason for your knee pain. We’ll take a full health history, discuss any injuries you might have suffered recently, and perform some simple movement screens assessing your strength, mobility, balance, and biomechanics.
This information helps us select the best interventions for you. While every plan is different based on your symptoms, the cause of your knee pain, and your abilities and activity levels, they may include the following:
Manual Therapy
- This hands-on treatment involves manipulating the muscles and joints to reduce pain, improve mobility, and facilitate recovery. Techniques include manipulating the tissue around the knee joint or guiding your knee through its current range of motion.
Taping and Bracing
- In some cases, taping or bracing the knee can provide additional support to the joint as an injury heals. This helps stabilize the joint and prevents further injury during activities.
Additional Pain Management
- We offer several non-invasive pain management techniques that can help with acute discomfort and make working through your program easier. Options include hot or cold therapy, ultrasound, laser therapy, and more.
Mobility Work
- Targeted stretches help improve mobility and can ease knee pain. Stretching the muscles in the legs helps maintain joint function and reduces stiffness.
Targeted Strength Training
- Strengthening your quadriceps, hamstrings, calves, and other muscles around the knee provides additional support to the knee joint and helps prevent future injuries (especially overuse injuries).
Biomechanics Adjustment
- Overuse knee injuries often develop due to faulty movement patterns or muscular imbalances. We’ll pinpoint these issues and tell you how to improve them.
Find Knee Pain Management With Non-Surgical Treatment
The Newcastle Physiotherapy and Sports Rehab physiotherapists have comprehensive knowledge of various non-surgical knee treatment options. By identifying the cause of your knee pain, we can find a treatment program that works for you.
To get started, schedule your initial assessment at our Newcastle, ON clinic today!
