Knee Arthritis

Knee Arthritis physiotherapy
 

What Is Knee Arthritis?

Knee arthritis is a common problem and one we treat a lot of at The Physiotherapy Place. Arthritis literally means joint inflammation and this happens when the cartilage within the knee joint becomes degenerated leaving less protection for the underlying bone. This can result in swelling and inflammation and the joint can become stiff and painful. There are 3 main compartments of the knee - the medial and lateral aspects of the knee joint, and the patellofemoral joint where the kneecap meets the thigh bone, and all of these compartments can be affected by arthritis. Some factors that can lead to more likelihood of this happening are

  • age

  • previous surgeries to the knee

  • activity levels throughout life e.g. playing a lot of football

  • weight

What Are The Symptoms Of Arthritis In The Knee?

  • pain in and around the knee joint, sometimes radiating into the shin

  • knee stiffness - this is often felt after rest i.e. if you have been sitting for a while and then go to stand up or first thing in the morning when you get out of bed

  • once you get moving the pain can ease somewhat but then it can get sore again if you are putting a lot of impact through the knee such as with walking up and down stairs

  • as arthritis becomes more severe you will tend to lose range of motion in the knee

  • sometimes you will feel a crunching or grinding noise in the knee

Where Does The Knee Hurt With Arthritis?

Most often pain will be felt towards the inner aspect of the knee. This doesn’t necessarily mean that it is the medial part that is damaged, it’s just where we tend to feel the pain. You can also feel pain on the outside or at the back of the knee. Some routine tests should clarify which part of the knee the arthritis is affecting.

Can Knee Arthritis Be Treated?

This is a question I often get asked and the answer that I give is: although we can’t reverse cartilage damage in the knee, we can almost always reduce the pain and dysfunction that is associated with knee arthritis. The vast majority of people with degenerative changes in the knee are asymptomatic, that is they have no pain or stiffness. So just because you have been diagnosed with knee arthritis doesn’t mean that you can’t do anything about it.

Is Walking Good For It?

If you can walk pain-free or with very little pain then yes it is good to do. On the flip side, you shouldn’t walk through pain as this can lead to further inflammation and damage.

What Exercise Is Best To Do For It?

Generally speaking a low impact form of exercise is best such as swimming, cycling, gentle walking, or stretching. You can find some good exercise advice and stretches here. Because the knee stiffens up with rest, it is good to try to regularly move the knee if you are sitting for a while to avoid it hurting when you get up.

What Should I Avoid Doing?

Any exercise that causes pain in the knee. This is typically higher impact exercise such as walking up and down hills or stairs. If walking causes pain then you should try to limit that to only what you need to do until the knee settles and it feels comfortable again. Quick twisting movements when the foot is planted can also put strain on the knee so care should be taken when you are turning round to move your feet in a controlled manner.

What Will A Physiotherapist Do?

A physio will diagnose the exact cause and location of the degeneration in the knee so that an effective treatment plan can be put in place. I always look at the whole lower body as any imbalances that lead to additional stress on the knee can be contributing to the problem and preventing it from settling down. I find that a combination of treatments is best to settle the knee down:

  • exercises to mobilise and strengthen the knee

  • I always use some manual therapy to facilitate joint lubrication and improve the knee range of motion

  • soft tissue release to relax tight muscles around the knee

  • acupuncture or Gunn IMS is great for releasing muscle spasm and reducing pain around the knee

This combination of treatments will usually give you good relief from your pain and stiffness, with the aim of you continuing to manage it with a home exercise program.