Knee Pain

Knee pain can be caused by any of the bony structures compromising the knee joint (femur, tibia, fibula), the kneecap (patella), ligaments, tendons, and cartilage (menisci) of the knee. The three main risk factors of knee pain are overuse, biomechanics, and excessive stress. Knee pain can be reduced by the alteration of biomechanics for a more even distribution of pressure throughout the joint – this can help to reduce the pain. If the knee pain has been present for more than a week, it’s time to book an appointment to get assessed.

Treatment Options:

1. Rest – if you are physically active, take a break / modify your normal activities to allow the injured tissue sufficient time to heal. It also helps reduce repetitive strain on the knees and prevent further damage.
2. Compression – this helps prevent fluid build up around the injured tissues as well as maintaining knee alignment and stability. You can either use a compression bandage or a knee brace (available in shops).
3. Pain relief medication such as paracetamol, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) helps with reducing pain.
4. Physical therapy – stretching and strengthening the muscles around the knees helps increase joint mobility and stabilising the knees. This also reduces the risk of recurring incidence of knee injury
5. Orthotic therapy– when knee pain is associated with abnormal biomechanics and / or conditions such as osteoarthritis, orthotic therapy can help by correcting the alignment of the foot and lower limb. Having corrective orthosis helps shift the pressure away from the sides of the knees.
6. Low level laser therapy -this helps by reducing localised inflammation and swelling. It also provides an analgesic effect on the affected sides.