Why Should Knee Pain Be Treated Quickly?

why knee pain should be treated quickly, man holding his knee

Knee pain affects almost all of us at some stage in our lives. Whether it’s a twist, sprain, or strain – they can all disrupt your daily life.

It affects millions of people worldwide. Unfortunately, finding relief and fixing knee pain can take much longer than necessary without proper care and treatment.

That’s why it’s essential to address knee issues as soon as they arise and treat the pain quickly.

Knee pain may be caused by an injury, medical condition, or mechanical problem.

Symptoms include swelling, stiffness, redness and warmth, weakness, instability, popping or crunching noises, and inability to straighten the knee.

Some of the most common underlying causes of knee pain can include:

  • ACL/PCL injuries
  • Fractures
  • Torn meniscus
  • Bursitis
  • Patellar (kneecap) tendinitis
  • Iliotibial band syndrome
  • Hip or foot pain

Various forms of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Numerous treatments are available to help alleviate knee pain and restore mobility.

The possibilities are endless, from non-invasive treatments like physical therapy and acupuncture to more advanced options like knee surgery.

Each treatment approach varies based on your condition, severity of pain, and overall health. But with the right treatment, you can return to your normal routine and enjoy an active lifestyle free from knee pain.
You want to get your life back on track and live pain-free ASAP, right?
Of course, you do.
Great.
Let’s dive into why treating knee problems quickly should always be a priority.

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Overview Of The Knee And How It Functions

physical therapist looking at man's knee

The knee is a complex joint that is essential for our mobility. The “knee” forms where the femur (thighbone), patella (kneecap), and tibia (shinbone) meet.

The femur and tibia form the main joint, with the patella protecting the front of the joint. Ligaments, tendons, and muscles surround the bones, keep them stable and allow the knee to flex, extend, and rotate.

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) prevent the knee from twisting too far and control the anterior/posterior movement of the tibia relative to the femur.

The knee works with our leg muscles to bear weight, walk, run, jump, and more while remaining despite the physical demands placed on it.

To prevent knee injuries and maintain long-term knee health, it’s important to practice good posture, use correct form during exercise, and maintain a healthy weight.

Maintaining good posture, especially if you sit often, keeps your joints and spine in alignment and prevents muscle strain or damage to the knees.

Using proper technique when strength training or cardiovascular exercise also reduces the risk of knee injury and ensures you effectively work the appropriate muscles.

By being mindful of these three key areas, you can enjoy physical activities while avoiding knee pain or injury.

What Causes Knee Pain?

Knee pain is a common issue that affects people of all ages and walks of life. You might experience discomfort in and around this joint for numerous reasons, ranging from acute injuries to underlying medical conditions.

Some of the most common causes we see include sprains, strains, and ligament tears, which can result from overuse, physical activity, or sudden movements. In addition, osteoarthritis, bursitis, and tendonitis can also all contribute to ongoing discomfort and stiffness in the knee(s).

Arthritis is inflammation of the joints that can wear down cartilage and bone over time.

Tendonitis is inflammation of the tendons connecting muscles to the knee joint, often caused by overuse or overexertion. Bursitis is inflammation of the small fluid-filled sacs that cushion the joints.

Other factors can also play a role in knee pain, such as poor posture, obesity, and excess weight, or sometimes just genetics.

Whatever the cause, it’s important to seek medical attention if you experience persistent pain or swelling in your knees. This can help you identify the underlying issue before more serious problems (that require surgery to fix) set in.

How Does Knee Pain Affect Your Daily Life?

man with knee pain affecting daily life

Knee pain isn’t just a fleeting pain that you can easily ignore. It can affect almost every aspect of your life, from simple tasks like walking to more complicated activities like exercising and sports.

It can also make activities that once brought joy, like dancing or hiking, nearly impossible. These limitations can lead to frustration, sadness, and even depression.

Knee pain can also affect your ability to work, causing financial strain and stress. But with the right treatment and management, you can lessen the impact of knee pain on your daily life. But act quickly.

Don’t ignore the issue; it can worsen over time and affect your quality of life in more ways than you ever thought possible, such as needing invasive knee replacement surgery or causing permanent disability.

Why You Should Seek Help Early

Physiotherapist doing healing treatment on patient leg. sport physical therapy concept, panoramic banner

If you have knee pain, resting and avoiding activities aggravating your symptoms is critical. Give your knee time to heal by initially staying off it as much as possible.

When resting, elevate your knee above heart level and apply ice for 15-20 minutes at a time, 3-4 times per day. This can reduce inflammation and ease the pain. But if the pain persists for over a few days, see a physical therapist immediately to evaluate what’s going on.

When it comes to our health, it’s essential to prioritize seeking help at the first sign of trouble before things get more serious.

Delaying medical care can lead to worsening symptoms and even more severe health outcomes. So, seeking help early for knee pain from a physical therapist can not only lead to quicker recovery.

It can also prevent the need for more invasive and expensive treatments late. In some cases, early intervention can be life-saving – like in the case of knee pain that is due to osteomyelitis (bone infection) that can lead to sepsis or a tumor.

So, listen to your body and address any concerns right away. In most cases, the cause will be something simple that we can fix in a few sessions.
After all, our health is our most precious asset, and taking care of it should always be a top priority. But, unfortunately, you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.

What Are The Benefits Of Physical Therapy For Treating Knee Pain?

As mentioned, knee pain can be debilitating and severely impact your daily life. But fortunately, physical therapy can offer much-needed relief and fix problems before they worsen.
There are numerous benefits associated with physical therapy when it comes to treating knee pain.

First and foremost, physical therapy can help reduce pain and inflammation, leading to increased mobility and a better quality of life. It can also help improve your balance and stability, which can affect your knees’ health (or ill health). Finally, it can also help reduce your risk of falls and further injury to the knee.

We work with you to fix the pain using an individualized treatment plan that will likely include exercises, stretches, massages, and other hands-on techniques to relax the connective tissues and strengthen your knee and surrounding muscles.

After a while, with consistent physical therapy sessions, we can usually eliminate the pain altogether, and you can get back to doing all the things you love.

How To Select The Right Physical Therapist To Fix Your Knee

A physio gives myotherapy using trigger points on athlete woman

Choosing the right physical therapist to fix your knee pain can seem like quite a task. But it’s easy, really. Do your research and look for a professional physical therapist with lots of experience treating knee pain and patients like you.

Many offer a free initial consultation. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. We’re here to help you. You need to feel comfortable to get the best results from the treatment. Consider communications skills, their overall approach to treatment, guiding philosophy, and whether they’re someone you’re going to get along with, as well as practical skills.

Reading online reviews and/or getting a recommendation from a friend or relative can be a great way to find the right person for the job. It’s your health and well-being. You want the best possible care.

It’s true; knee pain can be a significant burden if you don’t get treatment. So many patients spend weeks, sometimes even months, nursing knee pain – feeling like their knee will give way underneath them. Don’t do that. Regardless of whether the cause is trauma, overuse, or something else entirely, getting your knee evaluated is important, so we can start working on putting things right.

We provide more effective treatment for chronic pain or sports injuries than general physicians. For example, if you visit your doctor with knee pain, you’ll likely be sent away with pain pills and told to return in 6 weeks. However, our advanced training and experience in treating musculoskeletal issues and injuries enable us to perform comprehensive evaluations to pinpoint the root cause of pain or decreased function.

We then develop customized treatment plans to correct the underlying problems. This more focused approach helps you recover strength and range of motion, reduces pain, and minimizes re-injury risk.
Physical therapy is an invaluable treatment that can help reduce knee pain and improve your quality of life. You can book a free consultation with us here.

Andrew Vertson