Knee pain can be a debilitating experience, affecting your daily activities and overall quality of life. At PhysioLogix, we believe in a comprehensive approach to understanding and treating knee pain, ensuring that you not only find relief but also prevent future occurrences.

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Knee Pain: A Closer Look

Knee pain can manifest for various reasons, from acute injuries to biomechanical issues. Here's a breakdown of the most common types:

• Acute Ligament Injury: Often seen in contact sports, these injuries can result from heavy impacts or sudden, unsupported movements. Athletes, in particular, can be susceptible due to the dynamic nature of their movements. Sometimes, despite the best precautions, injuries can occur simply due to unfortunate circumstances during play.

• Patellofemoral Joint Pain Syndrome: This arises when the kneecap doesn't sit well in its groove, leading to friction and pain behind the patella. Factors like hip and foot mechanics can influence the knee's position. For instance, weak gluteus medius muscles can cause the knee to drift inwards, while poor arch support can push the knee in or out.

• Tendinopathy: An overload injury affecting tendons around the knee, often due to changes in technique, muscle balance, recovery schedules, or training conditions. The dynamic between the vastus medialis obliques and vastus lateralis is crucial. If the vastus lateralis overpowers the smaller vastus medialis, it can pull the patella out of position, contributing to pain.

• Fat Pad Syndrome/Impingement: A less common but painful condition where the fat pad beneath the patella tendon thickens, causing friction and pain.

 

For younger individuals, conditions like Osgood Schlatter's (an inflammation of the area just below the knee where the tendon from the kneecap attaches to the shinbone) and Sinding Larsen Johansson Syndrome (a similar condition but affects the bottom of the kneecap) can also be sources of knee pain.

 

Why Does Knee Pain Occur?

Understanding the root cause of knee pain is crucial for effective treatment. Some common causes include:

• Biomechanical Issues: How we move can influence the position of the knee cap or overload tendons around the knee. The position of the kneecap, whether it's higher or lower, can also play a role in pain manifestation.

• Postural Challenges: Standing in certain ways, like with an excessively arched back or locked knees, can contribute to conditions like Fat Pad Syndrome.

• Muscle Imbalances: Overpowering muscles can force the patella out of its natural position or put undue stress on tendons.

 

PhysioLogix's Approach to Knee Pain

At PhysioLogix, our treatment strategies are tailored to the specific type of knee pain you're experiencing:

• Acute Knee Injuries: We focus on initial rest, hands-on physiotherapy for movement restoration, and sport-specific rehabilitation. Understanding the athlete's movement patterns helps in devising strategies to prevent future injuries.

• Patellofemoral Joint Pain Syndrome: Our approach identifies and corrects the reasons behind the patella's misalignment, from flat feet to muscle imbalances. We delve deep into the biomechanics of the hip and foot to ensure a holistic treatment.

• Tendinopathy: We pinpoint the overload causes and implement a rehab program to reverse tendon structural changes and improve load tolerance. Special attention is given to the balance between the vastus medialis obliques and vastus lateralis.

• Fat Pad Syndrome/Impingement: We identify the friction causes and use anti-inflammatories, taping, and corrective measures for relief.

 

​While this article provides insights into potential causes of knee pain, self-diagnosis can be challenging. At PhysioLogix, our trained professionals are equipped to identify the root causes of your discomfort and guide you on a path to recovery. Don't let knee pain hold you back – reach out to us today.

 

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