Physical Therapy for Knee Injuries

Knee injuries are common and often occur due to knee overuse, sudden change in direction, and improper training. A knee injury can hinder your mobility and impair your day-to-day activities.

If you have sustained a knee injury and are experiencing pain, inflammation, limited mobility, and reduced range of motion, there’s a great chance that you will require physical therapy along with other knee injury treatments. Physical therapy plan for knee injuries is focused on relieving your knee pain and joint stiffness, reducing swelling, strengthening your knee joint and its surrounding muscles, and improving range of motion, mobility, and knee functioning.

Let’s take a look into some knee injuries that can be treated with physical therapy, what physical therapy programs for knee injuries may include, and where you can find expert physical therapists near you.

Common Knee Injuries That Can Be Treated with Physical Therapy

Your knee comprises numerous parts, including muscles, bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, etc. So, depending on the knee structure that is affected, knee injuries can be of several different kinds. Most common knee injuries that may require physical therapy include:

Knee fracture
Knee dislocation
Tendon tear
Meniscus tear
Ligament injury (collateral ligament injury or anterior cruciate ligament injury)
Knee strains and sprains

What Physical Therapy Program for Knee Injuries Involve?

Before developing a physical therapy program, your physical therapist will first do injury screening, in which your physiotherapist will assess your musculoskeletal system for strength, stability, flexibility, movement, etc. Then, your physiotherapist will develop an effective treatment plan to treat your injury and help you return to your normal activities.

The physical therapy treatment plan may include several exercises, and techniques, including

Therapeutic Exercises

These exercises are performed to decrease stress on your knees and improve your knee function, balance, and stability. Some therapeutic exercises also focus on strengthening the muscle surrounding your knee joint.

Manual Therapy

Manual therapy techniques performed by your physiotherapist include soft tissue work and mobilization. Mobilization or manipulation reduces joint pain, loosens tight tissues surrounding the knee joint, and improves flexibility. On the other hand, soft tissue work involves targeted pressure that eases soft tissue pain, increases circulation, and relaxes muscles.

Passive Therapeutic Modalities

These include electric nerve stimulation, heat and cold therapy, and therapeutic ultrasound to promote healing and relieve pain.

In addition, your physical therapy program may also include education, guidance, and functional training to improve posture and minimize flare-ups or reinjury. Your physical therapist may also recommend you a home exercise program.