Knee pain is a common condition often accompanied by stiff and swollen joints. It can affect people of all ages, typically caused by a foot injury or excessive wear and tear of the joint.
Overview
The knee is a vulnerable joint subjected to significant strain from everyday tasks and high-impact activities. The joint plays a significant role in supporting your body weight when you stand or move. Any pain felt in the knee joint can reduce mobility and movement.
Knee pain may originate in any part of the knee joint, including the kneecap (patella), cartilage, tendons, and ligaments. The problem occurs after injuries or excessive wear and tear targeted at a specific area or throughout the joint.
The causes of knee pain vary, but its debilitating effects and symptoms are similar in most cases. The risk of getting knee pain increases as you age. When left untreated, knee pain may lead to inflammation, joint damage, or knee infection. Severe cases can result in long-term disability.
Symptoms
The symptoms of knee pain include:
- Mild to severe knee pain, often localized at the point of collision
- Difficulty bearing your weight when you walk
- Limping
- Inability to walk up and down steps due to ligament sprain
- Redness and swelling around the knee
- Immense pain with movement, especially when extending the knee
- Inability to bend the knee
- Frequent shifting of body weight to the opposite knee and foot
- Weakness
Causes
- General wear and tear from everyday activities, such as standing, walking, lifting, and bending
- Age-related weakening and degeneration of the knee joint
- Injuries, such as torn cartilage, a fractured bone, or damaged ligament
- Complications from medical conditions, including arthritis, gout, bursitis, tendonitis, and knee infection
- Athletic activities and sports injuries during long jumps, falls, or quick pivoting
- Weakened muscles or a dislocated knee cap
- Osgood-Schlatter’s disease (a condition in which the bony lump below the kneecap swells and causes pain during and after physical activity)
- Patellofemoral pain syndrome (a condition that causes pain behind and around the kneecap)
- Obesity
- Foot pain or hip pain
- Poor footwear
Diagnosis
We conduct a thorough physical assessment to determine the severity of your condition and its impact on movement, gait, and flexibility. We also review medical history, physical activity, and lifestyle routine to identify the primary cause of your symptoms.
Our physical therapists will devise a customized treatment plan to reduce your knee pain, swelling, and stiffness based on the diagnosis.
Treatment of knee pain
Generally, pain in the knee joint improves when you rest. Yet, lack of physical activity can cause stiffness and rigidity to increases over time. Due to this, physical therapy is many times an essential part of your recovery process.
Depending on your condition, we engage in gentle stretching exercises and strength training. These movements improve muscle coordination, promote joint flexibility, and reduce stiffness. In turn, the overall benefits restore lost range of motion and functional levels.
These physical activities are accompanied by passive therapy sessions, including manual manipulation, electrical nerve or muscle stimulation, and meniscus tear physical therapy, among other NJ knee treatments. These techniques alleviate symptoms and reduce inflammation by helping your muscles to relax. Whether you are experiencing a dull ache or excruciating discomfort, we advise you to get proper treatment.
If you feel these symptoms match what you’re feeling and would like an initial consultation to figure the cause of your symptoms, call 201-773-8851 or contact us to book an initial consultation.