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
Common causes of knee pain:
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.
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