What to expect from physical therapy for knee pain

Walking your dog. Biking through the park with your family. Sitting down at your desk. These are just some of the times when having knee pain can make things more difficult for you. 

Unfortunately, there are far too many people who are dealing with knee pain. Medical researchers estimate that 1 in every 4 adults experiences frequent knee pain. Physical therapy is one option that can be helpful for treating knee pain. One reason it’s so effective is that your physical therapist can use many therapy techniques to address your pain. 

What physical therapy techniques can be used for knee pain treatment?

A physical therapist can bring a range of techniques to bear on your knee pain. First, your physical therapist will perform an assessment of your knee before choosing the most effective therapy methods for you. Your evaluation could also include questions about your medical history or lifestyle. 

Most therapy plans don’t rely on only one therapy technique. Rather, they’re designed to combine multiple techniques into the most beneficial possible treatment program. Some of the therapy techniques your physical therapist could include in your treatment plan include: 

• Manual therapy — The techniques that make up the manual therapy category all involve therapists using their hands. They use them to apply therapeutic pressure to soft tissue. Their hands can also be used to manipulate painful joints. One study shows that patients who had manual therapy for knee osteoarthritis had a nearly 18-point decrease in their pain scores. 

• Therapeutic exercises — Your physical therapist may also include various exercises in your therapy plan. Some of these will be designed to stretch muscles around the knee. Others are intended to build strength in knee-supporting muscles. One medical study shows just how effective such exercises can be for knee pain — in the study, patients who did four weeks of            therapeutic exercise had nearly half as much pain as those who didn’t. 

Advent Physical Therapy can help you find treatment for your knee pain

Ready to find physical therapy that can reduce your knee pain? Our team at Advent Physical Therapy is ready to help you get the therapeutic care you’re looking for. We offer complimentary screenings intended to pinpoint the source of your pain. In addition, our physical therapists are adept at creating personalized therapy plans to decrease knee pain and improve knee mobility. 

Can’t come into one of our therapy clinics? No problem! Our physical therapists can come to you thanks to our at-home care and virtual therapy services. We can even help you begin treating your knee pain if you don’t have a doctor’s referral. 

Contact our team today for more information about our knee pain treatment options or to schedule an initial appointment.