INJURIES AND CONDITIONS THAT WE TREAT
KNEE PAIN TREATMENTS
- Your knee has two “discs” inside the knee called the medial and lateral meniscus that play an important role in absorbing forces and providing nourishment to the knee. Injury to the meniscus can occur during trauma (such as a fall or twisting sport injury) or due to degeneration (such as with aging or osteoarthritis of the knee joint). Symptoms include knee pain, knee “locking” or “giving out”, “popping” of the knee, and inability to crouch or kneel down and stand back up again. Your therapist is trained in assessing the knee and providing a custom treatment plan to restore function to your knee. Learn More
- Osteochondritis Dissecans is an inflammatory process of the bone and cartilage of the knee due to loss of blood flow. The cause is mostly unknown but can be due to trauma of the knee or repetitive overuse. Symptoms include vague pain and swelling with all other causes ruled out. You may also experience sensation of stiffness, instability, giving out, clicking, and locking of the knee. Your therapist will assess your knee and create a custom treatment plan including medical referral as needed. Learn More
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- The bursa is a fluid filled sac that decreases friction. The prepatellar bursa is located between the skin and the patella (knee cap). Bursitis occurs when there is inflammation of this bursa. This can be caused by a trauma (such as falling on your knee), inflammation from other causes such as arthritis, or prolonged kneeling such as when gardening or working as a flooring installer. Symptoms include knee cap pain, swelling, warmth, and stiffness. Your therapist will assess your knee to determine the cause of your symptoms and create a custom treatment plan to address your concerns. Learn More
- The patellar tendon is located on the front of your knee. The tendon is what attaches your quadriceps muscles to your tibia (shin bone). Injury to this tendon tends to occur in athletes that involve jumping or repetitive loading of the tendon such as volleyball, basketball, dancers, etc. Pain is usually located below the knee cap and increases when jumping, squatting, doing stairs, or after sitting for a prolonged period. Pain usually goes away when the load is removed (ie. taking a break from jumping). This injury responds very well to physiotherapy. Your therapist will examine your knee and create a custom treatment plan to get your knee function back. Learn More
- Osgood-Schlatter disease is typically seen in athletic adolescents going through a growth spurt (males more than females). Symptoms include pain on the front of the knee and a bony “bump” below the patella tendon. Usually the cause is repetitive overload of the knee extensors in activities such as running and jumping. Treatment includes education to manage inflammation, activity modification, stretching of the hamstrings/quads, taping/bracing, and strengthening the leg to optimize mechanics (decrease excess stress on the tendon). Your therapist is trained to detect this disorder and will create a custom treatment plan to address your concerns and get back into your sport. Learn More
- The infrapatellar fat pad is a soft tissue structure inside the knee that can become inflamed and cause anterior knee pain. Pain in knee hyperextension can be a sign of an inflamed fat pad. Treatment includes correcting posture and gait, knee strengthening, and taping or bracing to offload the knee. Your therapist will assess your knee and create a custom treatment plan to address your concerns. Learn More
- Patellofemoral pain syndrome is a broad term used to describe pain around the knee cap. This pain tends to be worse with squatting, sitting, climbing stairs, and running. PFPS can be caused by overuse/overload, muscular weakness, imbalance, poor gait, or biomechanical abnormalities. One of the most common factors is the position of the patella (knee cap). Treatment includes exercise, manual therapy, taping, and occasionally orthotics. Your therapist will assess your knee and create a custom treatment plan to address your concerns. Learn More
- IT Band syndrome usually produces pain and tenderness on the outer knee. It is often seen in runners and is often associated with a weak gluteus medius muscle. There may also be a “snapping” sensation in the knee. Treatment usually includes manual therapy, exercise, and running technique assessment. You may also benefit from needling to the tight muscles that attach to the IT band. Your therapist will assess your knee and create a custom treatment plan to address your symptoms. Learn More
- The PCL (Posterior Cruciate Ligament) is a ligament located deep inside the knee that acts as a stabilizer and prevents hyper-extension. This ligament is bigger and stronger than the ACL so therefore not as commonly injured. The most common way to injure this ligament is a forceful blow to the front of your shin such as in a car accident or certain sports such as rugby or football. Treatment includes manual therapy, bracing, and exercises to regain your range of motion, strength, balance, gait (walking pattern), and return to activity. Your therapist is trained to detect injury to the PCL and will create a custom week by week treatment plan for your knee including medical consultation with an orthopedic surgeon. Learn More
- The MCL (Medial Collateral Ligament) is the ligament on your medial knee (inner side of knee). The MCL is the most common ligament to injure in your knee. This ligament provides stability and prevents your knee from buckling inwards. The MCL often heals very well with physiotherapy. Treatment may include manual therapy, exercises, and bracing. Your therapist will assess your knee and create a custom treatment plan to return function back to your knee. Learn More
- The ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) is a ligament located deep inside the knee that acts as a stabilizer. This ligament is often injured in sports that require pivoting such as soccer, basketball, football, etc. Treatment will include manual therapy, exercise, bracing, and possibly surgical repair. Your therapist is trained in assessing your ACL and creating a custom treatment plan including referral to an orthopedic surgeon as needed. Learn More
- A Baker’s Cyst (also known as a Popliteal Cyst) is a fluid filled swelling at the back of the knee that you can see and feel. Commonly this is a sign that there is an underlying pathology to your knee joint such as arthritis, gout, ACL tear, meniscus tear, etc. Treatment often targets the underlying cause but may include manual therapy, exercises, and education about activities to avoid. In some cases, the cyst may need injection therapy or aspiration. Your therapist will assess your knee and create a custom treatment plan including medical referral if needed. Learn More
- You may be offered a knee replacement if you have an advanced case of knee osteoarthritis. Your knee is a large hinge joint. During a knee replacement, the surfaces of the femur and tibia are replaced with a smooth synthetic surface. Following surgery, physiotherapy is a must in order to restore your gait (walking pattern), range of motion (often very stiff after surgery), and strength. New research also shows that completing physiotherapy before your surgery improves your outcome after surgery (faster recovery) and improves pain while you wait for your surgical date. Your therapist is knowledgeable in the knee replacement procedure and can create a custom treatment plan for before and after your surgery to maximize your recovery. Learn More
- Pain in the knee can have various causes including arthritis, ligament injury, meniscus (disc) injury, muscle & tendon injury, patella (knee cap) dysfunction, and more. Your therapist is trained in completing a thorough assessment of your knee to determine the cause (including screening the low back, hip, and ankle as well) and will create a custom treatment plan to get you back on your feet again. Learn More
