Read about the Most Frequently Asked Questions We Get About Knee Pain
Why does my knee pop/crack when I perform certain movements?
- There are a few reasons why someone experiences cracking/popping in the knee. When ligaments and tendons catch as they go over a body surface aka cavitation. Typically this is painless.
- Possible meniscus tear
- Crepitus from Osteoarthritis
- Other injuries including Chondromalacia patella or Patellafemoral Syndrome
My last therapist told me “No pain, no gain.” If it hurts doing my exercises, should I push past the pain?
- Not necessarily. In order to see true strength changes, there will be muscle soreness and fatigue while doing your exercises especially early on. There may be some discomfort during exercise which is ok; however, you do not want to grit your teeth and “push through the pain” to get results because more damage can be done especially if done incorrectly. Our goal is to introduce exercises in a manner a patient can perform safely and effectively.
Can Physical Therapy help with the arthritis I have in my knee?
- Yes. Arthritis cannot be cured by Physical Therapy; however, it can be prevented from getting worse. Your therapist will guide you through exercises to help improve strength and stability around the arthritic joint as well as teach you proper body mechanics during functional movements .
I have a lot of scar tissue built up from a previous injury/surgery that causes pain and stiffness. Can this be treated?
Yes. We utilize a variety of different techniques including ASTYM, scar tissue mobilization, stretching, active release technique, and dynamic exercise to break up scar tissue and help remodel new healthy tissue.
Will getting an injection in my knee help with the pain?
Maybe not. Injections do not help everyone; however, they can provide temporary relief and are used in conjunction with Physical Therapy. Injections can help with pain and inflammation temporarily; however, it does not address the root cause and will require skilled interventions from a therapist for long term relief.
We treat patients of ALL ages who experience knee pain ranging from athletes participating in sports, post-op rehabilitation (TKA, ACL, meniscus), chronic knee pain from arthritic joints & many other conditions.
Treating your knee pain will be specific to you depending on what the Physical Therapist diagnoses in the evaluation. They will set up a plan of care tailored to what needs to be done to meet your goals. A typical treatment session consists of hands on manual therapy, massage, ASTYM (if applicable) joint mobilizations and stretching to decrease muscle tightness and improve joint and tissue pliability. You will then be guided through exercises to help restore strength and stability. We conclude treatment with electrical stimulation (if applicable) and heat/ice. Most patients will be given 1-3 exercises/stretches on their first or second treatment to begin doing at home. We frequently make changes throughout the POC to the HEP based on patient’s progression.