How to stop chronic knee pain without painkillers, injections or surgery
There are many different causes of knee pain at ALO Physiotherapy Clinic we help to identify the cause of the symptoms you are experiencing.
Tips if you have knee pain:
- Take pain relief – paracetamol or ibuprofen – if the pain is impacting your everyday activity and/or sleep.
- Use a heat or ice pack – for 5-10mins for pain relief. Ensure the pack is wrapped up to avoid damaging the skin.
- Reduce activities which are provoking the pain
- Get an assessment from a professional – there are many different causes of knee pain, so it is important to get the correct diagnosis, in order to know what treatments will help the most.
How a physiotherapist can help
Assessment
We will ask you in detail about the symptoms and assess the biomechanics of how you move. We will test the function of the structures which may be affected by the pain eg. the ligaments, tendons, muscles, joints.
Diagnosis
We will then diagnose the cause of the knee pain, this may include identification of a number of factors which have contributed to the pain starting.
Treatment
We will then formulate a treatment plan and discuss this with you. Treatments will first be targeted at reducing pain and then rehabilitation to maximise functioning of the affected area. Treatments may include:
- Manual Therapy
- Rehabilitative exercise
- Acupuncture
- Electrotherapy
Resources:
Knee pain advice and exercises – Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
Common causes of knee pain
Torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a very common knee injury and is often the result of playing contact sports and overstretching or tearing the ligaments. It can cause pain and swelling and the inability to put weight on the leg.
Patellar Tendonitis is an injury caused by overuse and can be a significant problem in athletes or runners. Often nicknamed “jumpers” knee it is irritated by repetitive movements which eventually cause pain and tension from the knee to the shinbone.
Meniscus Injuries are frequently caused by tears to the cartilage meaning people struggle to get up and move around, walk or even sleep. Meniscus injuries cause pain, swelling and stiffness to the knee and often happen during activites that put pressure on or rotate the knee.
Patellarfemoral Syndrome or runner’s knee is a result of problems between the knee cap and the femur. The imbalance of the patellar causes pain and a scratching and grinding feeling within the knee.
