Physical Therapy for Knee Pain

Do Life Better.®

o 8 West Dry Creek Circle, Ste. 130
LITTLETON, CO 80120

303-955-8163

o 296 W. Hampden Ave.
ENGLEWOOD, CO 80110

720-583-6425

ptoftherocDkioes.lciofme better.®

PHYSICAL THERAPISTS GUIDE TO

Knee Pain
Among American adults, approximately 25% have experienced different parts of the knee, depending on what structures in the
knee pain affecting the function of the knee. The prevalence of knee are involved.
knee pain has increased over the past 20 years, with osteoar-
thritis being the most common cause in individuals over the The knee joint is a hinge joint that connects the tibia (shin bone),
age of 50. Knee injuries can occur as the result of a direct blow and the femur (thigh bone) at the patella (knee cap). There are 4
or sudden movement that strains the knee beyond its normal main ligaments that support the knee joint. They are the anteri-
range of movement and can cause difficulty performing activities or cruciate ligament (ACL); posterior cruciate ligament (PCL);
such as walking, rising from a chair, climbing stairs, or playing medial collateral ligament (MCL); and lateral collateral ligament
sports. Physical therapists are specially trained to help diagnose (LCL). There are also 2 rings of cartilage that act as shock ab-
and treat knee pain, and help individuals return to their normal sorbers in the knee, called the medial and lateral meniscus.
activities without pain or limitation. n Anterior knee pain, also referred to as patellofemoral pain,
is pain around the kneecap (patella) in front of the knee. This
WHAT IS KNEE PAIN? condition commonly affects younger females, and may be due to
overuse injury. Pain often occurs when performing activities like
Knee pain can occur suddenly for no apparent reason or develop squats or stair-climbing.
slowly, as the result of repetitive trauma. Knee pain occurs in n Lateral knee pain is pain that occurs on the outside of the
knee. It is a type of overuse injury that commonly occurs in run-
ners when the tendon called the iliotibial band (ITB) becomes
irritated. Pain is often felt when performing activities such as
climbing stairs, or when walking or running.
n Medial knee pain is pain that occurs along the inside of the
knee when the MCL or the medial meniscus become irritated
due to direct injury or overuse. Pain is felt when squatting, walk-
ing up or down an incline, or going down stairs.
n Pain caused by a ligament tear may result from a direct
blow to the knee, or when twisting or pivoting the knee while the
foot is planted on the ground. Immediate pain and swelling usual-
ly occur, and the knee may feel unstable—like it will “give out”—
when an individual attempts to put weight on the involved leg.
n Pain caused by osteoarthritis may occur anywhere in the

cont. on pg 2

KNEE PAIN, CONT. from page 1

knee where cartilage has broken down. This type of knee pain 4 Manual therapy, or “hands-on” therapy to gently guide
may begin as mild and progressively worsen. It can become in- movement of the knee area to restore joint and tissue mobility.
creasingly difficult to walk long distances, fully bend and straight- 4 Therapeutic exercises for strengthening, flexibility, and en-
en the knee, climb stairs, or squat to sit in a chair. The knee also durance that will address your specific needs and goals.
may swell intermittently with increased activity. 4 Functional exercises designed to help you return to your
home, work, and sport activities. These may include balance and
HOW CAN PHYSICAL THERAPY HELP? coordination exercises.
4 Self-care instruction teaching you ways to manage your pain at
A physical therapist will perform an evaluation that will start home, along with a safe and effective home-exercise program based
with discussing your medical history and your symptoms, then on your specific condition. You’ll be able to continue improving long
ask questions to determine where your pain is located, if you after your formal physical therapy sessions have ended.
sustained any trauma or injury to the knee, and what functional
daily activities are painful or difficult for you to perform. WHAT IF YOU NEED SURGERY?
They will perform tests to find out if you have:
p Limited range of motion in the knee. Your physical therapist, in consultation with your surgeon,
p Pain in the knee with certain movements. will be able to tell you how much activity you can do depending
p Weakness in the muscles around your hip, knee, or ankle. on the type of knee surgery (such as total knee replacement)
p Limited flexibility in your hip, knee, or ankle. you undergo. Your therapist and surgeon also might have you
p Difficulty walking. participate in physical therapy prior to surgery to increase your
p Difficulty performing activities, such as rising from a chair strength and motion. This can help with recovery after surgery.

or climbing stairs. Following surgery, your physical therapist will design a
p Problems with your balance or coordination. personalized rehabilitation program for you and help you gain
p Difficulty controlling the knee during certain activities. the strength, movement, and endurance you need to return to
p Difficulty performing specific sports activities (for athletes). performing the daily activities you did before.
If you or someone you know is suffering from knee
GETTING PAIN FREE pain, call to make a FREE consultation appointment
and see how we can help you. Please don’t wait for
Your physical therapist will develop a customized and person- the pain to get worse.
alized rehabilitation program to ensure a safe return to your de-
sired activities. Some general treatment techniques may include:
4 Pain management with treatments using different “modali-
ties” such as ice, heat, or electrical stimulation to help decrease
pain and swelling.

CaretoShare

REFERRAL PROGRAM

Your referrals mean the world to us.

A great physical therapy experience deserves to be shared. We hope you will tell someone
you know we could help. They will thank you and so will we with a $5 gift card for every

new patient you send us. Ask for referral cards at the front desk.

Do Life Better.®

Exercises to help prevent
ACL(knee) injuries

Physical therapists recommend that athletes perform a and lower your body down until your opposite heel,
series of exercises to improve strength, flexibility, and on the hanging leg, touches the ground and then push
coordination, as well as to counteract incorrect existing back up. Keep your hips level and your hip, knee and
patterns of movement that may be damaging to their foot aligned while you execute this exercise. Do 2-3 sets
joints. These movement patterns may put them at great- of 8-12 repetitions on each foot. If you feel pain in the
er risk for injuring their Anterior Cruciate Ligaments front of your knee, select a lower step height or discon-
(ACL). tinue this exercise.
These exercises demonstrate a sample of an injury pre-
vention program and are not intended as a substitute Lunge Step:
for a treatment program designed by a physical thera- Stand with your feet togeth-
pist or other health care professional. er and step forward with one
leg, bending your knee to 90
Single Leg Balance: degrees after your foot hits the
ground. Make sure the front knee
Stand on one leg with your knee slightly bent and attempt remains over the ankle and does
to maintain your balance for 15 to 30 seconds. Keep your not go past step foot. Continue
hip, knee, and foot aligned with hip over knee over foot.
Do 1-3 sets of 8-12 repetitions on each foot. As this task moving your body forward
becomes easy, make it more challenging by increasing by bringing your back (sta-
the time you stand on your foot and by standing on a soft tionary) leg forward, then
surface, such as a pillow or foam pad. together with your step leg.
Alternate legs with each
Wall Squats: step. Do 2-3 sets of 10-15 rep-

Lean up against a wall with your back against it and your etitions.
feet 12-24 inches away from the wall. Bend your knees
and slide down the wall until your knees are direct- Single Leg Bridge:
ly over your ankles. If your knees are positioned Lay on your back with one knee bent slightly and one
over your toes, you have squatted too far. Hold leg straight. Using the bent leg as your support leg,
this position for 10 to 30 seconds and push back elevate your trunk and hips, bringing your shoulders,
up to standing. Do 1 set of 5-10 repetitions. To hips and leg in a straight line. Hold this position for 10-
increase the challenge of this exercise, 30 seconds. Do 1-3 sets of 10-12 repetitions.
increase the time you hold the squat
position and/or add a resistance Broad Jump:
band around the top of your knees.
If you experience pain in the front of Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and jump
your knee, try decreasing the depth of forward, landing on both feet. Focus on taking small,
your squat or discontinue this exercise. controlled jumps and landing with equal weight dis-
tribution on each leg. Concentrate on soft, quiet land-
Heel Touches: ings and maintaining your lower extremities in good
alignment, with your hips over your knees, and knees
Stand on one foot on a solid and over your feet. Make sure your knees do not come to-
sturdy box or a step with the other gether when you land from this jump. Over time, this
foot off the edge. With your hands exercise can be progressed by increasing the length
on your hips, bend your stance leg of the jump. This exercise should be monitored either
by a partner or with a mirror.

OUR PATIENT’S SUCCESS FPAREINE

“I am so impressed with the professional CONSULTATION
and competent physical therapy at this fa-
cility- particularly Alison. She encouraged Whether you have a new injury or an
me to do the maximum I could do but was old one that doesn’t seem to be going
very responsive to any pain I encountered. away, try a FREE pain consultation and
I feel I have come a long way since the day let one of our physical therapists take
I walked in and will be able to continue im- a look. YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIVE
proving at home with the guidance I have WITH PAIN.
been given.” — Jeannie S.

WE TREAT: $70
4 Back Pain
4 Neck Pain VALUE
4 Headaches
4 Shoulder Pain
4 Hip/Leg Pain
4 Sports Injuries
4 Vehicle Accident Injury
4 Post-op Rehab
4 Womens’ Health
Why choose PT of the Rockies?
CALL TODAY!
• Expertly trained therapists
• Focused on achieving fast results 303-955-8163
• We take the time to listen to you
• We spend time educating you on your problem 8 West Dry Creek Circle, Suite 130 • Littleton

and how to solve it 720-583-6425
• Friendly, courteous staff
• On time appointments 296 W. Hampden Ave. • Englewood
• Doctor recommended
• Experts in neck, back and orthopedic care

We gladly accept most insurances providing a great
LOW COST SOLUTION to restore your pain free movement.