Does your knee pain stop you from going shopping?
Is your discomfort making it difficult to meet with friends?
Does your knee pain prevent you from taking the dog for a walk?
Whilst we mostly treat knee pain in older adults (over 55 years old), it affects all age groups. There are many different causes, such as:
- Strains and sprains of muscles and ligaments
- Inflammation of joints and tendons due to overuse
- Osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis
Patients may feel concerned that their knee pain will curtail their activities on an ongoing basis and hope that treatment can help them go back to their hobby or sport. Older people sometimes worry that their knee problem is a sign that they are getting old, losing their independence. If their pain makes walking and driving difficult, isolation and anxiety may become issues.
Treating Your Knee Pain
Pain in your knee or knees can be due to the knee joint itself or referred from your muscles and joints either side. Here at Shefford Osteopathic Clinic we undertake a thorough case history and examination of the knee, and also your body above and below the point of pain. This enables us to determine the potential cause of the pain and create a tailored treatment plan for you.
Treatment for knee-related pain will be a combination of:
- Hands on treatment (incorporating the knee and or whole body)
- Advice for getting you back to everyday activities
- Stretches and or exercises to increase strength and stability
- In some cases, referral to GP for medication or further investigations
How quickly you recover will depend on the cause of the pain. Many of our patients see great results in just a few sessions. For patients with long term conditions, such as arthritis or recovering from surgery, regular maintenance treatments are often beneficial.
As well as treating and alleviating your knee pain as much as possible, our team can also offer lifestyle advice to help your recovery.
This article was written by Melissa Thorpe, a Registered Osteopath in the Shefford Osteopathic Clinic team.