What is Knee Pain?
Pain in or around the knee is called knee pain. It commonly affects people in higher age groups but can occur in anyone. The knee is crucial as it bears all the body weight and facilitates motion in numerous everyday activities like kneeling, walking, or jogging. It consists of three crucial parts: the tibia, femur, and patella. Knee pain can result from conditions affecting the joint or the surrounding tissue.
Types of Knee Pain
Common types of knee pain and injuries include:
- Sprained or strained knee ligaments or muscles
- Torn cartilage or menisci
- Tendonitis
- Arthritis
Causes of Knee Pain
The most common causes of knee pain include:
- Sitting in a constrained area
- Sitting on the knee regularly
- Excessive physical activity
- Arthritis
- Gout
- Infection
- Fracture
- Bursitis
- Tendinitis
- Obesity
- Low flexibility or strength in the muscle
- An injury like a disrupted ligament
Symptoms of Knee Pain
Signs and symptoms of knee pain include:
- Swelling in the knee joint
- Stiffness affecting mobility
- Redness and warmth to the touch
- Weakness
- Lack of stability
- Crunching, popping, or clicking sound when moving the knee
- Lack of range of motion
Home Remedies for Knee Pain
Self-care measures and home remedies for knee pain include:
- Cardio exercises
- Weight training
- Avoiding sitting in crossed leg position for long hours
- Using RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation)
- Weight loss if obese
- Using a crutch or walking stick
- Using knee splint and caliper if causing instability
- Herbal ointment application
- Stretching before physical activity
- Using Epsom salt
- Using warm or ice packs
Treatment of Knee Pain by Electrical Therapy
Treatment methods for knee pain include:
- RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation)
- Ice pack application
- Hot pack application
- TENS (Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation)
- Ultrasonic therapy
- Continuous Passive Motion (C.P.M.)
Physiotherapy for Knee Pain
Physiotherapy exercises for knee pain include:
- Hamstring Isometrics
- Quadriceps Isometrics
- Leg extension
- Hamstring curl
- Half Squat
- Quadriceps Stretch
- Alternating side lunge exercise
- Alternating Forward lunge exercise
- Strengthen inner thighs
References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5851371/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3612336/
https://ard.bmj.com/content/59/9/700
Dr. Garima Singh
Physiotherapist
BPT and DPTR.