What is osteoarthritis?

When the cartilage that cushions your knee wears away, you get osteoarthritic knee. Your knee's bones rubbing against one another as a result might cause pain and make activity difficult. Pain, stiffness, and swelling is common. It often affects older adults, and it may worsen if you have a history of knee problems or are overweight.

Symptoms and Signs

1. Pain : Usually occurs after an activity or when you move.

2. Stiffness : Especially after a long period of sitting or in the morning.

3. Swelling : You might observe a puffy or swollen knee.

4. Difficulty Moving : It may be difficult to fully bend or straighten your knee.

5. Grinding or Clicking : Your bones may grind against one another audibly or visibly.

Now lets see what causes osteoarthritic knee ?

1. Aging : Cartilage naturally wears out as we get older.

2. Injury : Previous injuries to the knee such as ligament tear, fractures, meniscal damage can lead to arthritis later.

3. Obesity : Extra weight adds stress on the knees, causing more wear.

4. Overuse : Repeated activities can damage the cartilage over time.

5. Genetics : A family history of arthritis increases the risk.

6. Weak Muscles : Weak muscles around the knee can put extra strain on the joint.

7. Inflammation: Ongoing inflammation in the body can harm cartilage.

So What Benefit Can Physiotherapy Offer for Knee Pain?

1. Pain Relief:

1.1 Cold packs: Cold packs help decrease inflammation and swelling in the knee joint, which helps in reducing pain.

1.2 Electrotherapy: To assist in controlling pain, we can either use

1.2.1. IFT (interferential therapy)

1.2.2. TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation)

1.2.3. Ultrasonic therapy

1.3 Hands-on techniques: The therapist will assist in reducing discomfort and improving movement by mobilizing your knee.

2. Enhancing mobility and flexibility

1. Stretching: Performing stretches regularly reduces stiffness by maintaining the flexibility of the tendons and muscles which also helps to improve range of motion of the knee.

2. Joint Movement: Different techniques are used to improve the range of motion in your knee.

3. Correct Body Mechanics: Being able to move with proper form can help avoid further strain.

4. Exercises at Home: You'll be given exercises to perform at home in order to maintain the flexibility of the knee.

 3. Strengthening muscles

A tailored exercise program that focuses on low-impact activities and specific strength training. Therapists often recommend exercises like  straight leg raises, heel slides, and static quads to target the muscles around the knee, improving stability and support to knee joint.

To help you perform better regularly, we may incorporate workouts where in a phase-wise treatment plan is used, where exercises are progressively added or modified to help strengthen the muscles surrounding the knee.

 4. Preventing Further Injury

Strength and balance exercises can help reduce the risk of falls and accidents.

Conclusion :

When the tissue called cartilage in the knee wears down, it can cause osteoarthritis, which can cause pain, stiffness, and restricted movement. It's usually associated with ageing, and risk factors include injury and being overweight. Physiotherapy relieves discomfort, strengthens the knee muscles, increases range of motion, and teaches safe movement techniques to lessen strain. Additionally, it addresses how to manage pain at home and avoid being injured repeatedly.