Knee pain can be a frustrating condition that affects people of all ages and lifestyles. Whether you are an athlete, an office worker, or someone who enjoys being active, knee pain can significantly impact your quality of life if you do not treat it on time.
There are many modalities for knee pain relief in North New Hyde Park. Still, treatments at AgeWell Physical Therapy can help you reduce pain, improve mobility, and regain function most naturally.
This article will explore the various physical therapy techniques for knee pain relief in North New Hyde Park and how to prevent knee pain. Whether recovering from an injury or looking to avoid knee pain from developing, our physical therapy treatments are the most effective solution, which helps you stay active and healthy.
Please read on to learn more about knee pain relief through physical therapy.
Physical Therapy Techniques For Knee Pain
At AgeWell Physical Therapy, our physical therapist can design and implement a treatment program for knee pain. Your plan will be tailored to the specific cause of your knee pain and treatment goals. Some patients want knee pain relief, while others want to improve their performance. Physical therapists, therefore, work with each patient to develop personalized treatment plans.
Here are some techniques that can provide you with knee pain relief.
- Stretching and Physical Exercises
The common causes of knee pain are lacking leg strength, flexibility, and stability. Stretching and physical exercises can strengthen your knee muscles, increase flexibility and dramatically reduce knee pain.
Physical therapists begin with light stretches and exercises and gradually work up so the patient does not damage the knee or experience severe pain.
Examples of physical therapy stretch and exercises include half squats (instead of full squats to avoid knee overload), leg extensions, hamstring curls, and calf raises. The patient also uses her exercise machine, weights, and exercise bands to stretch and exercise.
- Knee Braces
Sometimes the leg muscles are too weak to provide you knee pain relief. You may need a leg brace that acts as an external support for your knee. Some braces can even shift weight off the injured side of the knee, making walking easier. A physical therapist can help you wear and use your knee brace properly.
- Insoles and Shoe Modifications
Similar to knee braces, shoe modifications can relieve knee pain. For example, well-cushioned shoes can help cushion the impact of your body weight when your foot hits the ground. A physical therapist may suggest an insole wedge to reduce the pressure on your heel when walking.
A therapeutic massage can also help you get knee pain relief in North New Hyde Park. It is an effective treatment for knee pain. A physical therapist can perform a therapeutic massage to ensure adequate blood flow to the knee, a key component of proper healing.
- Electrical Stimulation
Did you know that your body can produce natural pain relievers? Yes, it is true! Your body has natural endorphins through electrical nerve stimulators. Our experts at AgeWell Physical Therapists can artificially mimic this process using electrical stimulation.
- Kinesio Taping
You might have seen your favorite athletes wearing kinesiology tape if you’re a sports fan. This stretchy tape adheres very well to the skin of your kneecap.
A physical therapist uses kinesiology tape to lift and stabilize the knee. In some cases, Kinesio taping is more effective than medication in relieving knee pain.
How Can I Prevent My Knee Pain?
- Work Your Butt
Weakness in the large muscles of the hip joint can lead to knee injuries, including tears in the joint anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). It can lead to other cartilage tears and correlate with subsequent knee arthritis.
Our butt muscles are weak. Weakness in the primary muscle of the buttocks (the gluteus maximus) causes the pelvis to sag and the thigh bone (femur) to collapse inward.
You can do hip extension exercises in standing and prone positions for knee pain relief and to prevent knee pain.
- Stretch The Muscles To Support The Knee
When the butt muscles are unbalanced from sitting all day, the hamstrings and inner thigh muscles are overloaded. It puts pressure on the knee joint. Stretching these supporting muscles reduces the likelihood of them becoming tight and causing muscle imbalances.
It strengthens naturally weak muscles, such as the glutes, while lengthening supporting muscles, such as the inner thighs.
- Strengthen Your Core
Abdominal weakness causes the pelvis to tilt forward, the hips to bend excessively, and the leg bones to shift inward. You can try it yourself:
- Arch your back and notice how your legs and knees roll toward your midline.
- Next, keep your back flat and watch the opposite movement in your legs.
A strong core keeps your back in a neutral spine position and puts your knees in the best possible position. It swiftly moves your knee and puts less pressure on your joints.
Moreover, you can also consider a Pilates workout for knee pain treatment. It is designed to focus on improving your core muscles and full-body function. Other examples of core strengthening are ball exercises, yoga, and kickboxing.
- Maintain A Healthy Weight
Being overweight will increase your chance of getting osteoarthritis. You may ask why! Fat reduces muscle strength, and extra weight puts pressure on knee joints. There is a connection between body weight and quadriceps strength. So, the higher the body weight, the weaker the knee muscles. Include water aerobics or cycling in your knee pain treatment plan. It will burn extra calories to relieve knee pain.
Conclusion
You have much to gain from AgeWell Physical Therapy if you suffer from knee pain. We address the joints below and above your knee and any other factors affecting your overall functional ability through various physical therapy techniques. Our skilled physical therapists will provide a personalized knee pain treatment plan after a comprehensive evaluation. Call us at (516) 488-8808 or schedule an appointment for long-term knee pain relief in North New Hyde Park.