Arthritis comes in several forms that can affect the cartilage in your knees. This makes it difficult for you to use your knees for physically demanding activities and, eventually, for simple daily tasks.
When you’ve been diagnosed with arthritis in the knee, you must find treatment. Quality treatment can help reduce the pain and stiffness caused by arthritis so you can continue to pursue normal daily activities.
Treating knee arthritis with physical therapy
Some treatment plans include medications or even surgical intervention. While these have their place, they come with many side effects and risks. Another medically proven option you have for treating knee arthritis is physical therapy.
Here are some of the techniques that physical therapists use to treat knee arthritis:
- Therapeutic strength exercises — Part of what contributes to the pain in your knee when you have arthritis is weak and stiff muscles. Insufficient muscle strength increases strain on the joint. Through therapeutic strength exercises, physical therapists aim to improve the support of your knee with stronger muscles to help reduce pressure off the joint.
- Therapeutic flexibility exercises — Arthritis can take away your ability to fully straighten or bend your knee, especially when it’s bearing weight. Physical therapists can guide you through stretches and exercises to help improve your flexibility when arthritis is affecting your knee. This may not make you as limber as you once were, but it can help you return to normal daily activities that your arthritis makes more difficult.
- Soft tissue mobilization — Physical therapists can use hands-on manual therapy techniques to reduce tension in the muscles, tendons and ligaments around the knee. This helps reduce pain and pressure in the knee.
- Joint mobilization — Another type of manual therapy is joint mobilization. In joint mobilization, the physical therapist gently guides your knee into positions designed to help reduce pressure and improve its flexibility. This is often done in coordination with soft tissue mobilization and other physical therapy techniques.
Visit Border Therapy Services for the treatment of arthritis in the knee
Do you have arthritis in your knees that makes it difficult for you to stand and walk? Our team at Border Therapy Services specializes in these techniques and more to help you improve the quality of your knees. Contact us today to talk to our team about knee arthritis treatment or to schedule an initial appointment.