Many of my patients ask me what are the best osteopathic treatments for knee injuries in Bristol, and as this is a common issue I work with I thought I would share some thoughts on visiting an Osteopath for a knee injury.
Why use a Bristol Osteopath for a knee injury?
Any professional and experienced Bristol Osteopath should be well-placed to treat a variety of different knee conditions. We don't just treat back and necks!
If you are also suffering from back pain, however, please visit here.
Osteopaths in Bristol are trained to diagnose, treat and rehabilitate all parts of the body, including knees.
The osteopathic treatment approach critically centres upon looking at the whole body, which means that as a BS6 Osteopath I will look at all the body systems including the affected knee, to see what might be predisposing or maintaining a knee injury in a patient.
The site of an injury is not always the actual source of the problem.
What are the different types of knee injuries?
Knee injuries come in different forms and can vary hugely in their severity.
Different types of knee injuries that patients I see in Bristol include:
Ligament strains and sprains, right up to severe ligament tears
Cartilage injuries and tears of different severity
Mild wear and tear of the knee joint, right up to advanced arthritic changes in the knee
Muscular injuries to the muscles that support and stabilise the knee
Knee cap (Patella) mechanical issues - such as tracking and rubbing/friction injuries of the patella itself.
Knee injuries often present as a combination of the above, and can often be related to more distant areas of the body such as feet, ankles, hips, pelvis and back.
How important are the muscles around a knee?
Most of the stability and support in the knee comes from the muscles that support it.
Successful rehabilitation of a knee injury at my Bristol Osteopathic clinic requires exercises to stimulate and strengthen the muscles around the knee.
These integral muscles can be weakened from a knee injury and often need work to re-establish their strength, integrity and full function.
How can a knee injury be treated?
Early, accurate diagnosis and professional intervention can radically improve prognosis, as well as more rapidly aiding the treatment of a knee injury.
Young people can also suffer with knee issues during growth and development. It is important to identify and carefully manage this to avoid issues later in life.
An Osteopath in Bristol will examine and diagnose a knee injury and also look at other areas of the body in any patient, young or old.
Rehabilitation of a knee injury is the key to the long-term health of this area.
Visit here to get my top tips on building core strength and flexibility.
A good Bristol Osteopath will give specific exercises to a patient, to help to strengthen and stabilise a knee and other areas of the body after a knee injury.
Read this patient case study to see how I helped them with their knee injury.
What happens after a Bristol Osteopath examines a knee injury?
It may be that after an examination, a Bristol Osteopath may feel that the knee injury is not appropriate for Osteopathic treatment.
It may require referral to a knee surgeon or for further investigation, including an MRI scan and possibly surgery.
Examples of this include significant cartilage damage or severe ligament injury.
For the majority of the patients I see, Osteopathic treatments for less severe knee injuries will allow the knee and other areas to repair and strengthen over time, enabling them to enjoy good health once more.
If you would like to discuss how my osteopathic treatments for knee injuries in Bristol could help you, please book a consultation with me online here.
It may also be worth booking in for one of my preventative, Maintenance Osteopathic Treatments as we head out of Summer and into colder, wetter weather than can impact knees.
My Henleaze osteopath clinic is fully open so if you’re looking for osteopathic treatments, please read this news post to find out about the measures in place at my Henleaze osteopathy clinic for all patients.
To find out more about the full range of osteopathic treatments that I provide in Bristol, please visit here for details.