As a Bristol Osteopath, one of the most common patient issues I am asked to deal with is how to manage knee pain.
There are many reasons why patients suffer from knee pain, and it can really affect people's quality of life.
What are the main causes of knee pain?
Here are some of the most common reasons why patients have knee pain when they visit my Bristol osteopathic clinic:
-Trauma from a sport-based injury or general Accident
-Overuse-based injuries causing repeated strain to the knee
-General wear and tear or arthritis
-Referred pain from another body area such as back or hip
-Inflammatory conditions that cause systemic / body-wide issues
-Developmental/growth issues in young patients
What are the problem areas in knee pain?
The knee cap (patella) acts as a kind of pulley system, reducing friction and aiding smooth knee movement. If the mechanism and structure around the patella do not function fully and freely, this can cause friction leading to inflammation and pain.
Trauma to the knee can damage supporting and stabilizing structures such as ligaments.
Repeated injury and overall wear and tear can damage the cartilage within the knee joint and the knee becomes arthritic. In arthritic knee conditions, the cartilage has become worn over time causing pain and inflammation.
Soft tissues around the knee are subject to particular stress and strain that can also cause specific inflammation problems. For example, muscles, muscle tendons, the bursae (little fat pads that reduce wear around the knee) as well as ligaments and cartilage can all be exposed to strain and damage.
A good Bristol osteopath will help patients to manage knee pain by accurately diagnosing the problem and looking for the cause. At this point, appropriate treatment and management plans can be put in place.
How can knee pain be prevented?
Early intervention and diagnosis for any knee pain and associated issues is critical. The earlier the treatment and management plans are put into action, the swifter the recovery and rehabilitation period will be for a patient.
Osteopathic treatment has proven to be effective in treating knee problems.
Osteopaths are also skilled in identifying areas of the body that may be linked or causative to knee pain.
How can knee pain be managed?
As well as Osteopathic manual treatment, rehabilitation exercises are essential to the successful management of knee pain.
A healthy knee relies on muscular activity for long-term stability.
When a patient is injured, the stabilizing muscles decondition leaving the knee vulnerable for other problems.
Targeted exercises to restrengthen and re-stabilize the knee will help.
Can a Bristol Osteopath help all knee pain?
There are some knee conditions that a Bristol Osteopath cannot help with, and a patient may need surgical intervention for their injury.
Osteopaths are well-placed to refer a patient for further medical investigation or surgery where this may be necessary.
Please visit here to find out what a patient should expect from a good Osteopath in Bristol at all times and during any treatment.
To find out more about the full range of osteopathic treatments provided at Alex Prince Osteopathy in Bristol, please visit here for details.