East Toronto Orthopaedic & Sports Injury Clinic and Trilogy Physiotherapy have partnered in order to provide you with the experienced and skilled care you deserve.
Many people complain of knee pain whether they’re an athlete or not. As people become increasingly active, the number of knee problems increases. Knee problems may be the result of an injury from an accident, a sports injury, a medical condition like arthritis, or from movement issues such as muscle imbalances or malalignment.
Depending on the cause, the location and severity of knee pain may vary. Signs and symptoms of knee pain include:
Swelling and stiffness
Weakness
Popping or grinding noises
Inability to fully straighten or bend the knee
Locking of the knee
Ligament Injuries
There are four major ligaments associated with the knee that can be sprained or torn either partially or completely, this includes the collateral ligaments (medial and lateral) and the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments
These injuries are common in contact sports but can also result from twisting the knee with a planted foot. A torn ligament can cause the knee to give way and become swollen.
Torn Meniscus
Injuries to the meniscus are typically traumatic injuries usually involving twisting of the knee but can also occur due to degenerative changes.
In some cases, a piece of the meniscus can be detached and float in the knee joint causing the knee to lock or click during movement. Meniscal injuries are typically accompanied by swelling and may also cause the knee to give way.
Patellar Tendon Problems
Jumper’s knee or patellar tendonitis is an overuse injury that causes pain at the front of the knee.
Runners, skiers, cyclists, and those involved in jumping sports and activities are prone to developing inflammation or tendinopathy in the patellar tendon, which connects the kneecap to the shin bone or tibia. Symptoms may include tenderness when pressing or kneeling on it. It may also appear larger or thicker than the unaffected side.
Patellofemoral Pain or Chondromalacia Patella
Pain is located at the front of the knee or behind the kneecap. It commonly occurs in people who play a lot of sports, and particularly in adolescent girls.
It can begin from a sudden increase in training, from high-intensity jumping and knee bending, or from poor patellar tracking. This results in damage or irritation of the articular cartilage underneath the patella. Pain is usually worse when walking up stairs and squatting.
Osteoarthritis
Knee pain from osteoarthritis can be a deep aching pain within the knee that is generally worse after exercise or lifting a heavy load. 1 in 5 Canadians will suffer significant knee arthritis, requiring treatment.
Stiffness in the joint is common, particularly in the morning, however, this may reduce with movement. There may be swelling in the knee, or a feeling of tightness, often accompanied by clicking or cracking noises when moving the knee.
Joint Replacement and Arthroplasty
This involves rebuilding the architecture of a joint to restore its proper function and reduce pain. This commonly occurs when advanced arthritis is present or severe trauma has caused traumatic damage to a joint.
Knee replacements can be in the form of a full or partial knee replacement, depending on the severity of the issue in the knee.
In Canada, joints that often undergo replacement are the knee and hip joints, and the shoulder to a lesser extent. Postoperative recovery is determined by the surgical recovery plan dictated by your surgeon. Our team of skilled physiotherapists work closely with orthopaedic surgeons to ensure full recovery after arthroplasty.
Physiotherapy Treatment
Physiotherapy has been proven to be helpful in relieving pain and speeding up recovery for acute and chronic knee problems.
Recent research has shown that for most knee cartilage injuries, physiotherapy and non-surgical management is as effective or more effective than surgical management by arthroscopy. Treatment involves education, self-care management, exercise therapy, and manual therapy are commonly used by a registered physiotherapist to knee pain. Other treatments such as acupuncture, soft tissue release and massage therapy may also help.
A registered physiotherapist can conduct a skilled assessment and examination of your knee problem and recommend appropriate treatment.
To book an appointment, Call Us today at 416-691-3943 or contact us here.
Frequently Asked Questions About Knee Injuries
Does knee physiotherapy hurt?
The goal of physiotherapy treatment for knee pain is resolve the problem. Dependent on the underlying condition, there may be some discomfort during certain goals of tretament; for example working to get back lost movement. Your physiotherapist will review proposed treatment with you, discuss risks, benefit and how a given treatment may feel, and work with you during recovery
How does non-surgical management of the knee provide the same effectivness as a surgical knee procedure?
This depends on the condition; for most cartiliage tears, the 2 year folllow up studies show that rehab is as effective as surgery. If your knee is unstable due to a ligament injury, surgery may be required as rehab alone may not restore full knee stability.
How do you know if you tore a ligament in your knee?
Signs and symptoms may be a pop or click at injury with significant force such a twist or a slip; ongoing loose feeling in the knee, or giving way
What is the most common knee injury?
Strains of the knee joint, sprains or more serious injury to ligaments, fractures about the knee and cartilage damage.
Can an x-ray show torn ligaments in the knee?
Generally no; but in association with history taking and assessment, xrays can play a role to rule out other problems.
How can you tell if your knee is sprained or a ligament torn?
Sprain indicates an injury to a ligament - which stabilises a joint; a strain is a class of injury to muscle and ligament, or other soft tissues. Seek care from one of our team to assess the knee to diagnose the difference.
Is walking good for a knee sprain?
Gentle movement is usually good for injury reccovery; walking may be helpful, but if the joint is inflamed, it may not help in recovery, or at that particular stage of recovery
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