How physiotherapy helps with knee pain

The path to a pain-free knee with physiotherapy

Physical therapy can help sufferers on the path to a pain-free knee with targeted interventions: Physical therapy, chiropractic, manual lymphatic drainage, fango and, of course, self-exercise. When the knees hurt, there is still no reason to panic or ignore it. Those affected should take this as a warning sign and consult an orthopedist to clarify the exact causes in each individual case and, if necessary, seek physiotherapeutic treatment. Targeted physiotherapeutic exercises can bring great relief to sufferers.

Which structure causes pain? This question is difficult to answer and usually requires a thorough evaluation by an orthopedic surgeon or physical therapist. Possible explanations include:

• The patella is in the wrong position due to the incorrect leg axis. Friction or bruising occurs.
• The affected person puts too much strain on the joint (through excessive sport or unaccustomed work). This leads to inflammation, which can last for a long time if not treated properly.
• Strain, weakness or imbalance in the thigh muscles can cause the knee to move in a way the body is not used to.
• The groove that guides their kneecap is anatomically too shallow.
• Exercise therapy (physical therapy) is almost the most important conservative strategy for restoring long-term health to a diseased joint. If it remains inactive for a long period of time, the muscles responsible for it atrophy, the blood supply to the joint is reduced. It also becomes or remains unstable, and swelling and pain do not subside. Osteoarthritis, for example, can worsen.

Exercises are individually composed and designed in such a way that the joint is subjected to as much load as possible and, above all, is moved to the right degree. Different degrees of load can be achieved with connected training equipment.

Joints that are forcibly restricted in their mobility, e.g. due to shortening of tendons, muscles or capsular tissue (contracture), can be moved passively manually or mechanically and become more flexible (mobilization). Then the treatment can move into practice. However, if the contracture can no longer be corrected with physical therapy or if it is bony, it must be corrected surgically.

For physical therapists, active movement therapy is often preceded by massage to first relieve muscle tension. The muscles are then stretched and finally actively tightened and strengthened in exercise sequences. In addition, those affected receive information and practical instructions on how to safely handle the knee in everyday life. Physiotherapy in the broadest sense also includes manual therapy or chiropractic.

Different treatment and therapy approaches

Physiotherapy knows many different treatment and therapy approaches. In addition to traditional physiotherapy, the therapist can use manual applications to relieve pain. There are also physical therapy methods such as electrotherapy. Here is an overview of some of the applications of physiotherapy:

• Physiotherapy, i. e. B. Mobility exercises.
• Physiotherapy, i.e. iontophoresis, ultrasound therapy
• Applications, e.g. massages and lymphatic drainage

Individual procedures and measures can be combined with each other. Ideally, surgical and conservative measures are combined with physiotherapy. For example, the treatment plan should take into account activity phases during sports therapy treatment. Targeted preparation before surgery helps to better withstand the operation.