Knee pain can slow you down, even stop you in your tracks. At its worst, it can be debilitating. Fortunately, there are treatment options that can help achieve your best health outcomes. Keep reading to learn how physical therapy for knee pain could minimize your discomfort and improve your quality of life.
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How PT Can Help You
Knee pain can have many different causes: injuries, wear and tear, arthritis or other stress on the joint. All these causes require unique approaches to treatment and pain management. Most treatment plans include some type of physical therapy and can benefit in a variety of ways:
- Restore mobility and balance
- Loosen tight muscles
- Correct movement abnormalities
- Strengthen surrounding muscles
- Decrease stiffness and pain
When you attend your first evaluation with a Louisville physical therapy professional, you’ll undergo a full evaluation. The therapist’s goal is to assess your knee problems, gathering as much detail as possible. You’ll be asked questions about your medical history, symptoms and current level of function.
During the evaluation, your therapist will also ask you to perform some physical tasks as you’re able: walking, reaching, grasping, stair climbing and bending, to name a few. Important data is gathered from these tests, including your range of motion, pain levels and heart rate.
Details from your evaluation help in crafting a custom treatment plan. Your therapist can judge what therapies can best improve outcomes. Most therapy plans call for two or three visits per week, but you’ll also perform exercises at home to aid in your progress.
When To Call in the Professionals
Knee pain can come on gradually, as with arthritis or a slipped knee cap. It can also happen suddenly when you sustain an injury. Both can require working with a PT. Putting off treatment and trying to manage with the pain is never a good idea. You need to see a professional if your knee pain occurred with an injury or you notice certain symptoms:
- Inflammation and redness
- Tenderness around the joint
- Fever or excess warmth
- Moderate to severe pain
If you sustain an injury, you should not delay medical attention. You may require an emergency room visit if your knee is extremely painful or you can’t bear weight on it. A deformed joint or popping sounds occurring with the injury are also signs you should seek immediate medical care.
After visiting an emergency room for your knee pain, you may be referred to a specialist. You could also be directed to see your primary care physician, depending on local policies and procedures. Be sure to schedule visits with these professionals as soon as possible, especially your physical therapy in Chenoweth, Kentucky.
PT: An Essential Part of Recovery
While knee pain can sideline you for a while, it doesn’t have to be a permanent condition. Treating this pain, along with the injury or condition that caused it, requires a comprehensive approach. Physical therapy is just of many treatments you may need, but it plays a large part in recovery and pain management.