HEP: Knee Osteoarthritis
Patient Education
What’s going on?
Knee stiffness and pain is usually the result of either trauma or long-term wear and tear.
Initial pain at the knee results in your muscles to tighten up to protect the knee joint.
Knee stiffness results from a lack of movement of the two large bones of your leg, and sometimes of your kneecap.
The prolonged presence of this condition further restricts your ability to move the knee due to a further tightening of structures around your knee and will increasingly impact your ability to move.
This may result in the tightening of muscles around your hip, thigh, and calf as an adaptation.
How long will it take?
Typically, this condition will take about six weeks to improve range of motion, strength, and comfort, however, structural changes of the knee joint may limit full recovery.
How will we treat your condition at IHSM?
At IHSM, a doctor of physical therapy will perform a detailed physical examination to determine what is required to help your knee joint regain mobility and what muscles of your hip, thigh, and calf have been affected. Based on the findings, your therapist will design a specific treatment plan to ensure an optimal recovery.
This includes hands-on work by your therapist who will help stretch tight tissues in your knee.
Your therapist will also provide an exercise program: to stretch tight tissues in your knee designed to increase flexibility and to strengthen affected muscles.
Modalities such as acupuncture, ice, infrared heat or electrical stimulation may also be used to control the pain or inflammation.
Soft tissue mobilization of the muscle can be done to ensure that the scar tissue becomes as flexible as possible.
Your therapist may also work with you to help explore ways to perform bothersome activities in a more comfortable manner.
What can you do to help yourself?
Adherence to your home exercise program is essential to ensure an optimal recovery.
Attempt to reproduce the stretching sensation you have experienced during your therapy session.
In the irritable stages when it is very painful, take some weight off the limb using crutches or a cane.
Gently keep the leg moving (pendulum exercises) on an hour-by-hour basis.
You may apply ice or heat pack to your knee to increase decrease pain and increase blood flow.
Refrain from performing activities that exacerbate the pain.
Light cardiovascular exercise that requires minimal weight-bearing like recumbent cycling or aquatic therapy should be integrated into your lifestyle.
Instructions:
You may do all of these exercises right away.
About IHSM
Integrative Health and Sports Medicine, LLC is a one-stop health and wellness center. Our mission is to restore our patients to a healthy, pain-free, and productive life. By combining orthopedic physical therapy techniques, sports medicine, acupuncture, and Chinese medicine, we are able to treat conditions and achieve results in cases that have not responded well to modern Western medicine.
We are located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Please email us at info@integrativesports.com to schedule a consultation and let us help you on your journey to optimal health.