What is the best type of Knee Physiotherapy? There is no one-size-fits-all treatment when it comes to knee injuries as there are a multitude of ways to treat knee pain. Physiotherapy helps you get a diagnosis of the root cause of the pain and a treatment plan that is personalised and targeted to help you recover in the long run.
Common Knee Injuries
The knee is a complex joint made up of bones, ligaments, tendons and cartilage, which makes it prone to various types of injuries. Some of the most common knee injuries are:
- Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tear
Although ACL tears are a common injury among athletes, anyone can experience it. The ACL is one of your knee ligaments that connects your thigh bone to your shin bone. It is like a strap that connects your bones and prevents your knee from bending or rotating too much. When there is too much force on your knee to bend or twist it further than its natural limit, it can injure or tear your ACL.
- Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) Sprain
A MCL sprain is when you damage one of the ligaments inside your knee. The MCL lies on the inner side of your knee joint and connects your thigh bone to your shin bone. A MCL injury can be a partial or a complete tear, a stretched ligament, or a detachment of the ligament to the bone.
- Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Injury
The PCL connects your upper leg to your lower leg. It runs along the back of your knee and connects your thigh bone to the top of your lower leg bone. This ligament keeps your bones in place and helps your knee move smoothly. Most PCL tears occur with other ligament injuries.
- Meniscus Tear
There are two menisci, one on the inside and one on the outside of your knee. They sit between your thigh bone and shin bone and act like shock absorbers, absorbing the impact of your upper leg on your lower leg. They also help keep your knee stable. Meniscus tears are usually caused by twisting your knee, often during sports such as football or basketball. However, you can also get a torn meniscus from minor injuries like twisting awkwardly when you stand up or wear and tear.
- Patellar Tendonitis (Jumper’s Knee)
Your patellar tendon joins your kneecap to your shin bone. You can develop patellar tendonitis if you frequently play sports that involve jumping, and you can get it if you run. This injury is caused by repetitive, small injuries to your patellar tendon and when the tendon thickens as it heals, it can cause pain. This makes your tendon less able to take on weight, which affects how you walk. Patellar tendonitis has also been linked to overtraining, poor technique and playing on hard surfaces.
- Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (Runner’s Knee)
Known as the runner’s knee, patellofemoral pain syndrome is one of the most common causes of knee pain. It often develops from overuse or can be triggered by a sudden change in how often you exercise or how long you exercise for. You usually feel pain at the front of your knee, but it may be behind or around your kneecap, and the stress on the joint between your kneecap and your thigh bone causes this.
- Knee Bursitis
Bursitis is named after bursae, which are tiny sacs filled with a jelly-like fluid. Bursae are located between bones and soft tissue, and their purpose is to help reduce the friction caused by movement. Knee bursitis is a painful inflammation of the bursae that exists around your knee. This is usually caused by over-stressing o repetitive use of the areas around your joints.
- Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITBS)
Commonly known as IT Band Syndrome, this is an injury that is the most common cause of pain on the outside of the knee in runners, cyclists and other sports people. The Iliotibial Band is a thickened band of tissue that runs all the way down the length of the outside of your thigh. The IT Band works with your knee ligaments to help stabilise your knee joint. One possible theory of how IT Band Syndrome is caused is that the IT Band rubs repeatedly against the lower end of your thigh bone as it joins your knee, and this friction cause inflammation and pain.
- Osteoarthritis (Knee OA)
Osteoarthritis is recognised as wear and tear arthritis. It is the breakdown of cartilage in joints and can occur in almost any joint in the body, usually in the hips, knees and spine. Knee osteoarthritis affects both knees and causes pain and stiffness in your knee. Osteoarthritis happens when the different structures that make up your knee joint are damaged over time and you lose some of the cartilage that normally allows your bones to move against each other.
What Is The Best Type Of Knee Physiotherapy
There is no straight answer to “What is the best type of knee physiotherapy?”. The term “knee physiotherapy” is a huge umbrella term that encompasses a wide range of knee injuries. Different knee pathologies require different treatments. When seeking physiotherapy, it’s important to work with a clinic that will provide a personalised approach to your treatment. Accredited physiotherapists will first perform a thorough assessment to get in-depth information on your condition. This might include examining posture, muscle strength, flexibility and any underlying conditions that may contribute to your pain.
While it is important to alleviate pain and stiffness, it is just as crucial to address the root cause of the pain to prevent recurrence. This can look like strengthening the muscles around the knee, improving posture and providing mobility exercises that help you learn proper movement mechanics. All of this combined makes up the true value of physiotherapy: long-term relief and the tools to manage and prevent knee injuries independently.
Long-Term Pain Relief at True Physio
We’re True Physio, a team of over 45 accredited therapists across physiotherapy, rehabilitation and massage in the UK. Physiotherapy is a holistic and sustainable approach to managing and alleviating knee pain. It offers both short- and long-term value that prevents knee injuries from recurring and affecting your everyday life.
With 10 clinics nationwide, you can address the root cause of your knee pain by working with one of our skilled physiotherapists. Get in touch with us today to book a session at any of our clinics.