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Knee Pain Treatment

Knee pain is a common condition that will affect a lot of people. It is a very common problem that Osteopaths treat. There are many different reasons that cause knee pain and there are many different types of knee pain. Knee pain can range from a dull ache to sharp shooting pain. It can refer up and down the leg.

 

Some of the common causes of knee pain include:

  • Tight muscles

  • Weak muscles

  • Hip problems

  • Foot problems

  • Sports injuries

 

The above causes will generally lead to functional pain that is related to stress and strain being put on the knee and causing general musculoskeletal pain. This would be considered general knee pain. Most of the causes above are factors in people’s everyday lives, which over a period of time will lead to dysfunction and pain.

 

Some injuries and trauma including falls can cause more serious problems that may require an assessment by a doctor.

 

Symptoms of knee pain and knee related issues can vary. The most common symptom is pain in the knee, this pain could be an ache or a sharp shooting pain, it could be constant or intermittent. Symptoms of pain can refer up and down the leg. Numbness, tingling and pins and needles are all symptoms that can be caused by issues of the nerves in the back.

 

Osteopaths can assess your knee and the surrounding areas to diagnose the cause of your back pain. This involves not only looking at the knee but also looking at the lower back, hip and feet. An assessment will involve taking a case history to understand the nature of the problem. Your posture will be checked and you will be put through a range of motion test which involves moving your knee to see how it moves from one side compared to the other. An assessment will also involve palpating the area, which involves feeling the muscles and joints to work out which are tight and restricted.

 

General musculoskeletal knee pain is pain that relates to the muscles, joints and some nerve related issues. The most common types of musculoskeletal knee pain are:

  • Patellofemoral pain syndrome

  • Osteoarthritis

  • Tendinopathy

  • Muscles strains

  • Meniscus tears

  • Ligament strains

 

All of the above problems can be treated by Osteopaths. Osteopathic treatment is a form of manual medicine, which involves hands on techniques to help relieve pain and symptoms. This is achieved by loosening the tight muscles, strengthening the weak muscles, and helping to get restricted joints moving better. This will restore function to the knee.

 

Knee pain treatment generally involves the following:

  • Massage

  • Stretching

  • Mobilisation

  • Manipulation

  • Exercises

 

A common question when it comes to knee pain treatment is whether the treatment is painful. Generally, most of the techniques won’t cause pain, but treatment of a painful area will be sensitive for most people. You should always let your Osteopath know if the treatment is painful, but sometimes you may need to go through a small amount of pain to get better.

 

Other forms of treatment that can help with knee pain include:

  • Pain medication

  • Anti-inflammatories

  • Heat pack

  • Ice pack

  • Massage

  • Acupuncture

 

If you suffer from knee pain or any other symptoms that may relate to issues in the knee, you should get yourself assessed by an Osteopath.

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