The Knee Joint 

 

Knee pain is one of the most common reasons why people seek physiotherapy.  The knee is a complex joint made up of four bones and an extensive network of ligaments and muscles. Most acute knee injuries occur when twisting, changes of direction or uncontrolled falls after jumping. Unknown onset knee pain is usually a result of overuse, an abrupt change in training load or the beginnings of osteoarthritis.

There is much to say about the knee, too much to fit into a short blog, so I am going to focus on the causes and treatments.

 

What are the main causes of knee pain?

•  Imbalance of muscle strength and flexibility in the multitude of different muscle groups that extend from the lower back all the way to the foot.
• Incorrect gait and foot mechanics occurring in the joints of the ankle or foot.
• Overuse injuries such as tendinopathies, patello-femoral pain and illiotibial band syndrome.
• Traumatic ligament damage from a sporting injury or accident.
• Age-related degeneration of the joint and ligaments, such as osteoarthritis or non-traumatic meniscal tears.

Treatments

•  Physiotherapy evaluation to establish and correct muscle imbalances with treatments such as joint mobilisations, physiotherapy massage, dry needling, muscle energy and fascial manipulation.
• Exercises that focus on strength, mobility and flexbility of the multitude of muscles that make up the back and leg complex.
• Changing activities and training loads to reduce pressure on the knee.
• Avoiding movements and exercises that increase knee pain.
• Correct footwear and in some cases Orthotics.

So there you go, a short insight into the knee joint.

Stay warm and healthy this winter
Ryan