Knee pain is the second most common form of chronic pain that affects Americans. It affects millions of Americans every year. About 15% of men suffer from chronic knee pain at some point in their lives, and it affects 20% of women. Since knee pain is such a common issue, there are many treatments available.
One treatment for knee pain that many people choose is physical therapy.
Reasons you should see a physical therapist when you have knee pain
Physical therapists are licensed health care professionals who treat many conditions that cause knee pain. At Advent Physical Therapy in Walker, Michigan, we frequently treat people with knee pain related to:
- Arthritis
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears
- Meniscus tears
- Bursitis
- Tendinitis
- Fractures
You may be wondering why you should visit a physical therapist if you have one of these conditions. There are other treatment methods, so why would you want to choose physical therapy? Well, physical therapy offers several advantages when it comes to treating knee pain, including:
- Physical therapists treat pain at the source — Unlike medication that can usually only mask the pain, physical therapists can treat pain at the source. Stretches, exercises and other physical therapy methods can help reduce knee pain by reducing pressure off the knee joint. This helps prevent knee pain from developing again in the future.
- Physical therapists help improve your range of motion — Pain and stiffness in the joint limits your ability to bend or extend your knee. Physical therapists can guide you through exercises and use manual therapy to improve the range of motion in your knee. This helps you retain your ability to walk independently and perform other daily tasks.
- Physical therapists lower your need for medication and surgery — One of the drawbacks of taking medication for knee pain is it frequently comes with undesirable side effects and can cause addiction. Then there’s surgery. Surgical procedures are invasive and come with the risk of infection, blood loss and other complications.Treating your knee pain with physical therapy can achieve the same objectives as medication and surgery but without the risks of side effects, addiction or surgical complications.
Visit Advent Physical Therapy in Walker, MI, for knee pain treatment
Knee pain can prevent you from getting out and doing the things you love with the people you love. If you suffer from knee pain and would like treatment from a physical therapist, come visit Advent Physical Therapy in Walker. Contact our team today for more information about knee pain treatment or to schedule an initial appointment.