The Role of Physical Therapy in Knee Injuries
When there is a direct impact to the knee (as commonly seen in sports injuries), the knee joint can twist or stretch beyond its normal capacity causing ligament tears (or sprains), muscle tears(or strains), or cartilage injuries. Inflammation of protective cushioning in the knee joint (meniscus), or fluid-filled sacs inside the knee joint (bursitis), can also occur as a result of excessive wear and tear in the knee.
Knee injuries may be associated with joint swelling. This makes simple activities like bending the knee or putting weight on the leg difficult and painful. Sometimes, there is very little swelling and localized pain on one side of the knee, and the individual is able to walk without pain.
Physical therapy can help reduce pain, regain function and restore strength in the knee. If you suffer from knee pain, you may benefit from attending two to three physical therapy sessions a week over the course of several weeks, depending on the severity of the injury.
Healing Hands physical therapists are trained health care professionals who can design a comprehensive rehabilitation program for the knee and an effective injury prevention program. The goal of physical therapy is to restore mobility to your knee as quickly as possible.
A Safe and Effective Treatment Plan
Your Healing Hands physical therapist is a coach, mentor, and caregiver for the patient. The goal of your therapist is to help you recover from pain and get you back to normal mobility as quickly as possible. One of the treatment objectives is strategic strengthening of the muscles around the knee to make the joint more stable, while protecting sensitive tissues during the healing process.
Depending on the results of your evaluation, the physical therapist may use heat to warm up the area, and ice to cool down muscles and reduce swelling. Cold Laser Therapy may also be used to help rehabilitate the knee. This treatment uses cold laser light to facilitate healing and improve blood flow to the tissues. The therapist may also use Deep Muscle Stimulation, if appropriate. This modality sends an electrical current the affected area to stimulate muscle contraction.
We’ll Stand Beside You
Your Healing Hands physical therapist is trained to recognize biomechanical deficiencies in the body. This allows your therapist to design a program to help you move and use muscles more efficiently. Your physical therapist can identify areas of weakness and poor mobility around the knee joint and design an exercise program to restore muscle balance between the quadriceps (muscles that extend the knee) and hamstrings (muscles that flex the knee).
At the initial visit, your therapist will ask to see your medical history. It’s important to discuss prior injuries, since this will help the therapist plan your treatment and intensity of exercises. It’s also important to discuss your tolerance for pain and your future goals.
As the preferred physical therapists in the CSRA, we’ll stand by you and help you recover quickly – just reach out to us. Your Healing Hands therapist will guide you every step of the way if you’ve ever had, or are at risk for, a knee injury. There’s no reason to live with knee pain; we are trained to help you get back on your feet, regain mobility, and return to your daily activities as quickly as possible. Call us today at 800-401-1306 to set up an appointment. We are standing by to serve you!