Physiotherapy for Knee Pain

Do you experience knee pain, and the pain is so bad that over-the-counter medications just aren't helping any longer? If so, your doctor may recommend that you have physiotherapy as opposed to a surgical procedure. If you have never had physiotherapy before, you may be wondering what to expect, especially during the first visit. The first thing that the physiotherapist is going to do is ask about your medical history, particularly the history of your knee pain, what aggravates the pain, what relieves it, etc.

Then, the actual physical examination will begin. Even though you have already seen a doctor, the physiotherapist still needs to diagnose the problem themselves before coming up with the best course of treatment. Some aspects of the examination may include:

Evaluation of How You Walk

The therapist will get you to walk around the room so they can see how you walk. They can notice the tiniest changes in the knee when it is in motion, and will be able to see if you are limping, the position of the knee when you walk, etc.

In many cases, the pain is not actually caused by a problem with the knee, and originates in the feet. They will be able to tell when they watch you walk if there are problems with your feet that could be causing the knee pain, and may even recommend prosthetic devices (arch supports or special shoes) to correct the problem.

Range of Motion Testing

The physiotherapist will also look at your range of motion, or how far you can bend your knee. They will have you bend and straighten your leg, and use special tools to measure the range of motion. Throughout your treatment, the range of motion will be tested, and these tools will show if there is any improvement in motion.

Measuring Muscle Strength

Often, knee pain that is not caused by an injury is actually caused by muscle problems. The physiotherapist will measure the strength in your knee to decide if you are going to need special exercises and therapies that will help to improve the muscle strength.

Measuring Swelling

If there is swelling associated with your knee pain, the therapist will often measure the amount of swelling, both in the first visit and throughout your treatment. If there is swelling, they will often recommend ice treatments to go along with other physiotherapy treatments, as well as over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications.

Contact a company like Pro-Fit Physio & Allied Health Centre to learn more.