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How Can A Physical Therapist Help With Knee Osteoarthritis?

Your physical therapist will design an individualized treatment program specific to the exact nature of your condition and your goals.

Range of Motion

Often, abnormal motion of the knee joint can lead to a progression of OA when there is more contact between, and wear on, the bones. Your therapist will assess your motion compared with expected normal motion and the motion of the knee on your uninvolved leg.

Muscle Strength

Strengthening the muscles around your knee will be an essential part of your rehabilitation program. Individuals with OA who adhere to strengthening programs have been shown to have less pain and an improved overall quality of life. There are several factors that influence the health of a joint: the quality of the cartilage that lines the bones, the tissue within and around the joints, and the associated muscles. Due to the wear and tear on cartilage associated with knee OA, maintaining strength in the muscles near the joint is crucial to preserve joint health. For example, as the muscles along the front and back of your thigh (quadriceps and hamstrings), cross the knee joint, they help control the motion and forces that are applied to the bones.

Strengthening the hip and core muscles also can help balance the amount of force on the knee joint, particularly during walking or running. The “core” refers to the muscles of the abdomen, low back, and pelvis. A strong core will increase stability through your body as you move your arms and legs. Your physical therapist will assess these different muscle groups, compare the strength in each limb, and prescribe specific exercises to target your areas of weakness.

Manual Therapy

Physical therapists are trained in manual (hands-on) therapy. Your physical therapist will gently move and mobilize your muscles and joints to improve their motion, flexibility, and strength. These techniques can target areas that are difficult to treat on your own. In patients with knee OA, the addition of manual therapy techniques to exercise has been shown to decrease pain and increase function.

Modalities

Your physical therapist may recommend therapeutic modalities, such as ice and heat, to aid in pain management.

Bracing

Compressive sleeves placed around the knee may help reduce pain and swelling. Devices such as realignment braces are used to modify the forces placed on the knee. These braces can help “unload” certain areas of your knee and move contact to less painful areas of the joint during weight-bearing activities.

Activity Recommendations

Physical therapists are trained to understand how to prescribe exercises to individuals with injuries or pain. Since OA is a progressive disease, it is important to develop a specific plan to perform enough activity to address the problem while avoiding increases in stress on the knee joint. Activity must be prescribed and monitored based on type, frequency, duration, and intensity, with adequate time allotted for rest and recovery. Your physical therapist will consider the stage and extent of your arthritis and prescribe an individualized exercise program to address your needs and maximize the function of your knee.

What if I Need Surgery?

In some cases of knee OA, the meniscus (shock absorber of the knee) may be involved. In the past, surgery to repair or remove parts or all of this cartilage was common. Current research, however, has shown in a group of patients who were deemed surgical candidates, 60-70 percent of those who participated in a physical therapy program, instead of surgery, did not go on to have surgery. Further, after 1 year those outcomes were unchanged. This study suggests that physical therapy may be an effective alternative for those patients who would like to avoid surgery.

Sometimes conservative management strategies are not successful. When these strategies fail surgical intervention such as arthroscopy or a total knee replacement, may be recommended. There are many factors to consider when determining the appropriate surgical treatment, including the nature of your condition, and your age, activity level, and overall health. Your physical therapist will refer you to an orthopedic surgeon to discuss your surgical options.

Real Life Experiences

Luke is a 50-year-old businessman who has just moved his family to the city so he can start a new job. For the last 2 months, Luke has been working hard carrying heavy boxes and moving furniture up and down stairs. He has also worked late into the night installing appliances.

After starting his new job last week, sitting through numerous orientation sessions and meetings, Luke notices that his right knee is really hurting. He is used to occasional knee discomfort, but this is the worst it has felt in a long time. During his junior year at college, he suffered a significant knee injury while playing basketball, which required surgery.

These days, Luke coaches his son’s Little League team, works out several times each week, and plays pick-up basketball with his friends. But occasionally, particularly after long road trips, his knee pain flares up, and he has to resort to medication, icing, and rest. These bouts are starting to occur more regularly. Luke decides it’s time to find a physical therapist.

During his first appointment, Luke’s physical therapist asks him questions regarding his medical history, prior injuries, current symptoms and complaints, and goals for physical therapy. She examines his knee motion, strength, balance, and walking mechanics. She also uses special tests and measures to determine the nature of Luke’s pain, ruling out any other possible conditions.

Based on her findings, Luke’s physical therapist determines his current knee pain is a result of post-traumatic osteoarthritis. She explains that his history of significant knee injury in college puts him at risk of developing OA at a young age. The recent increased demand on his knee joint during his move is likely responsible for the current flare-up of pain and swelling.

Over the next 6 weeks, Luke works with his physical therapist 2 times a week to decrease his joint pain and improve his knee motion and full-body flexibility. She uses manual therapy techniques to improve the mobility of his knee joint. She prescribes a progressive exercise program to strengthen the muscles of his hip, knee, and core. She tailors this program so that Luke can complete it daily based on the equipment available at his office gym facility.

Six weeks later, Luke is able to climb and descend stairs, squat, and jog without pain. He can sit through a full day of meetings without noticing stiffness or swelling in his knee. On his last day of therapy, Luke’s physical therapist provides him with a detailed home program and suggestions for maintaining the improvements he has made. With the summer approaching, he’s preparing to coach his son’s baseball tournaments — and take his family to the beach!

Source: moveforwardpt.com

Chautauqua Physical & Occupational Therapy is pleased to announce the next Helping You Help Yourself free seminar: Hip and Knee Arthritis Treatment Strategies including Replacement. This event is scheduled for Thursday, December 8, 2016 from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm. The program is presented by: Dr. Peter Tomasello, DO, Orthopedic Surgeon, Great Lakes Physician Practice/JAMA Orthopedics & Dr. Patrick E. Green, PT, DPT, MS, Cert. MDT, Owner of Chautauqua Physical & Occupational Therapy.

The event will address how a properly designed therapy program impacts pain, the details and benefits of a variety of options and more about how to proceed to manage life with osteoarthritis.

Please call 488-2322 to register. This is a free event and light refreshments will be served. Chautauqua Physical & Occupational Therapy, Riverwalk Center, 15 S. Main St., Suite 220, Jamestown, N.Y. Reserve your space now as seating is limited.

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