Knee Pain Treatment: Return to Movement with Non-Surgical and Modern Methods
Knee pain is a common problem that can make itself felt while climbing up and down stairs, walking or even just sitting, seriously affecting the quality of life of individuals of all ages. The knee joint has a complex structure consisting of menisci, cruciate ligaments, tendons and muscles. Strain, injury or wear and tear in any of the elements that make up this structure manifests itself as pain. Knee pain treatment, The focus should be on correctly identifying the source of pain and restoring the function of this complex structure without the need for surgery.
What are the Main Causes of Knee Pain?
Knee pain is usually divided into three main categories:
- Traumatic Injuries: Meniscus tears, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures and cartilage damage caused by sports activities or accidents.
- Overuse Syndromes: Problems due to repetitive loading such as runner's knee (patellofemoral pain), IT band syndrome or tendonitis.
- Degenerative Diseases: Osteoarthritis (osteoarthritis) caused by wear and tear of the articular cartilage with age.
All of these causes lead to biomechanical deterioration, muscle imbalances and loss of function in the knee joint.
Modern Physical Therapy Approaches in Knee Pain Treatment
The aim of treating knee pain is not only to relieve the symptoms (pain, swelling), but also to restore normal knee motion. In most cases that do not require surgery, successful results are obtained with modern physical therapy methods:
- Manual Therapy It is used to correct movement limitations of the knee joint (patellofemoral and tibiofemoral joint) and surrounding joints (hip, ankle). Manual mobilization techniques restore joint mechanics and reduce pain.
- Dry Needling (IMS): It targets tense muscle bands (trigger points) that surround the knee and cause pain. In particular, it relieves spasms in the quadriceps and hamstring muscles, relieving the abnormal load on the knee.
- Therapeutic Exercise: It is the most important and permanent part of the treatment. Individualized exercise programs are designed to strengthen the muscles supporting the knee (especially the VMO - vastus medialis obliquus) and to stabilize the hip and ankle muscles.
- Kinesiologic Taping: It can be used to support the painful area, increase circulation and help the kneecap to move correctly.
These treatments are planned individually for the patient. therapeutic exercise programs is supported with These exercises strengthen the muscles around the knee, reducing the load on the joint and ensuring that the problem is solved permanently and does not recur.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are two main departments you should consult for your knee pain complaint: Orthopedics and Traumatology or Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation (FTR).
Orthopedics and Traumatology: It is generally preferred for sudden injuries (fall, sports accident, ligament rupture, suspected meniscus tear) or conditions that may require surgical intervention (such as knee replacement).
Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation (PTR): It is a specialized department for chronic and mechanical pains that can be treated with non-surgical methods such as arthritis (gonarthrosis), tendonitis, muscle strains, pain due to posture disorder.
Conclusion. The vast majority of knee pain and even diagnosed arthritis or meniscal tears can be successfully managed with non-surgical (conservative) methods. Physical therapy, exercise, weight control, manual therapy and intra-articular injections (PRP, hyaluronic acid, etc.) are usually the first choice treatment options. Surgery is usually considered in patients who do not respond to these methods or where the structural disorder is very advanced (e.g. advanced arthritis, complete ligament rupture).
The following symptoms ("Red Flags") may indicate a serious problem and you should seek medical advice immediately:
Inability to step on the knee at all, inability to put weight on it.
Significant swelling, redness and increased temperature in the knee (may be a sign of infection).
Pain accompanied by high fever.
The knee is "locked", unable to bend or fully extend.
A sudden feeling of "emptying" or "slipping" in the knee (sign of ligament injury).
Persistent pain that does not go away with rest and lasts longer than 2-3 weeks.
This depends on the cause of the pain:
Ice (Cold) Treatment: Usually acute (new) It is preferred in situations. Ice should be applied after a sudden injury, fall, sprain or if there is swelling (edema) in the knee. Ice reduces swelling and inflammation by constricting the vessels (3-4 times a day, not exceeding 15-20 minutes).
Heat Treatment Usually chronic (old) is preferred for pain and muscle tension. The heat relaxes the muscles and accelerates healing by increasing blood circulation in the area (such as arthritis pain or muscle stiffness).
Knee pain can be caused by a wide variety of reasons:
Osteoarthritis of the Knee (Gonarthrosis): It is one of the most common causes. It is the wear of joint cartilage with age.
Meniscus Tears It occurs especially as a result of sudden rotational movements or trauma.
Ligament Injuries: Sports injuries such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears.
Tendonitis Tendon inflammation due to overuse or strain on the knee.
Overweight Excess body weight increases the load on the knee joints many times over.
Patellofemoral Pain: Mechanical problems in the kneecap bone (patella).
Proper exercise does not increase pain; on the contrary, it is the most important part of treatment. Strengthening the muscles around the knee (especially the quadriceps - the front of the upper leg) reduces the load on the knee joint and stabilizes the joint. However, exercises that are performed incorrectly, that put stress on the knee (such as squatting, jumping) or that are forced despite pain can be harmful. It is essential to have a physiotherapist to provide you with a personalized plan. therapeutic exercises should be done.