Knee Pain
Knee pain that makes stairs hard, swells after a walk or leaves the knee feeling like it will buckle usually has a cause a physical therapist can find and treat. Joint Effort Physical Therapy treats knee pain in Hot Springs, Arkansas, with exercise, hands-on care and treatments such as laser therapy.
Knee pain going up stairs, squatting or after a twist
The activity that hurts usually points to the problem.
Knee pain going up stairs
Pain around or behind the kneecap on stairs or after sitting is often patellofemoral pain, also called runner's knee.
Knee pain when squatting
Pain at the front of the knee when you squat or jump can be patellar tendinitis, known as jumper's knee. Pain deep in the joint with a twist can be a meniscus tear.
A knee that gives way
Buckling after an injury suggests a ligament sprain or an ACL tear, and needs a careful exam.
Runner's knee and patellofemoral pain
Patellofemoral pain is irritation where the kneecap glides over the thigh bone. Strengthening both the hips and the knees tends to work better than working on the knee alone, so our exercises reach up the chain. Taping can ease the kneecap while you build strength.
The outer-knee ache of IT band syndrome is treated the same way, with strength and control for the hip and thigh, plus manual therapy for tight tissue.
Tears, sprains and overuse injuries
Different structures need different plans.
Meniscus tears
The meniscus cushions the joint. A meniscus tear can cause catching, swelling and pain with twisting. Many tears are rehabbed with strength and movement work, and your doctor will tell you if a repair is needed.
Ligament sprains and ACL tears
A ligament sprain varies from mild to a full ACL tear. We restore range of motion, rebuild strength and retrain control so the knee feels steady, whether you and your doctor choose rehab alone or surgery.
Patellar tendinitis and IT band syndrome
Jumper's knee and IT band syndrome come from repeated load. We adjust the load and build the tendon's capacity back up gradually.
Knee arthritis
Knee arthritis causes stiffness and aching, and strength training for the thigh and hip is one of the most useful treatments. See arthritis and joint pain.
What your knee treatment looks like
We examine your knee for misalignment or structural damage, then look at your stance, posture, gait and range of motion. From there you get targeted exercises to relieve joint strain and steady the weak tissue around it.
Plans use therapeutic exercise and strengthening, neuromuscular re-education to retrain control, gait analysis, kinesiology taping and manual therapy. Blood flow restriction training can build muscle when heavy loads are too sore, and dry needling and deep tissue laser therapy are options for painful tissue.
Knee surgery and nearby joints
Before or after ACL reconstruction or a knee replacement, strengthening and range-of-motion work matter a great deal. The specifics are on post-surgical rehab, and testing for a return to sport is on sports injury rehab.
Knee pain often travels with the hip above or the foot and ankle below, so we look at both.
See a doctor first, or go to the ER, if you have
- A knee that is locked and will not straighten
- A knee that is hot, red and swollen with a fever
- A deformed knee, or you cannot bear weight after an injury
- Calf swelling, pain and warmth after surgery or a long trip
Not sure whether your plan needs a referral? Call us. As a courtesy, we verify your health benefits before you arrive.
Knee pain care in Hot Springs, Arkansas
Joint Effort Physical Therapy treats Knee pain at our Hot Springs clinic, 1880 Airport Rd., Suite C.
Not sure whether your plan needs a referral? Call us. As a courtesy, we verify your health benefits before you arrive.
Meet the people who treat you on our team page.