Knee Pain & Osteoarthritis Geelong
What is it?
Osteoarthritis of the knee is unfortunately very common. It occurs when the articular cartilage that covers the bones of the knee (femur, tibia) are worn down, leaving the bone underneath exposed. The bone is then susceptible to wear and tear, which leads to the development of osteoarthritis. This can result in knee pain and reduced function.
Symptoms commonly associated with Knee Osteoarthritis
Symptoms associated with knee pain and osteoarthritis may include (but are not limited to):
- Knee pain that is often worse first thing in the morning and after prolonged periods of sitting
- Loss of range of movement
- Swelling (can be intermittent or persistent)
Contributing Factors associated with Knee Osteoarthritis
Possible contributing factors to knee pain and osteoarthritis include, but are not limited to:
MODIFIABLE RISK FACTORS
– Load: Jobs and/or sports that load the knee repetitively in the same manner can potentially wear down articular cartilage or the meniscus in a way that increases the likelihood of osteoarthritis.
– Body weight: There is 3-7 times your body weight worth of force passing through the knee with normal daily activities, increased body weight will increase the chances of developing osteoarthritis.
NON-MODIFIABLE RISK FACTORS
– Sex at birth: Females are more likely than males to develop osteoarthritis. There are also some hereditary predispositions to developing osteoarthritis.
– Past injury history: Prior injury to the articular cartilage or meniscus will make a person more susceptible to develop osteoarthritis.
Considerations in the management of Knee Osteoarthritis
SHORT TERM
DIAGNOSE
Diagnosis is a vital part of managing any injury. Not only is it important to determine which structures are responsible for our symptoms, but why they have become symptomatic. Addressing the ‘why’ will ensure adequate recovery and prevention of future injury.
EDUCATION
Education regarding long term management is integral to ensure provocative activities are avoided where possible
STRENGTH AND MOTOR CONTROL
Improving strength and lower limb biomechanics can help to attenuate forces through your knee, reducing the load on affected tissues
MANUAL THERAPIES
Manual therapies such as soft tissue techniques and dry needling may be used to help improve the health of the tissues surrounding the knee
ACTIVITY MODIFICATION
It will often be advised that activities that aggravate your symptoms are modified to allow symptoms to settle
LONG TERM
STRENGTHENING
A progression to strengthening into a gym environment is often advised to ensure that you are challenged appropriately and gains can be made
REFERRAL
Referral to other health practitioners such as sports physicians or orthopaedic surgeons may be advised for interventions such as injection based therapies, or surgery
SUMMARY
If you have any questions about your knee pain or knee osteoarthritis, please do not hesitate to contact us on (03) 5229 3911, email us at info@theinjuryclinic.com.au or book an appointment to see one of our Physiotherapists in Geelong.
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