Dry Needling Acupuncture
Physical Therapy
‘Knees are like meteorological, weather forecasting monitors.’
People who suffer with ‘dodgy knees’, often report, that they can tell what the weather is going to do by ‘the state’ of their knee joints. Actually this is not such a crazy concept and scientists have actually found a link between achy joints and the weather. Atmospheric pressure changes cause additional pressure fluctuations inside of joints. Arthritic joints are particularly sensitive to barometric pressure changes, which are changes in the density of the atmosphere. Sudden drops in atmospheric pressure may effect the synovial fluid inside of the knees. This is a sticky, oily substance that is contained within the joint cavity and bathes the cartilage. It is believed that the structures inside of the joint swell slightly as a reaction to changes in temperature, humidity and pressure in the surrounding environment.
Knee pain often manifests as a deep ache behind the knee cap and along the joint line between the femur and the tibia. This is aggravated by having the knee flexed or bent for long periods of time, such as sitting watching a film in a cinema or on a car journey. The knee joint becomes stiff, especially first thing in the morning and by getting the joint moving, the synovial fluid that oils the joint, starts to lubricate the cartilage, allowing the joint surfaces to move m move freely.
Acute injuries to the knee
Skiing accidents, football tackles and road traffic accidents are some of the situations in which a direct trauma can cause an acute knee injury. An impact to the side of the knee can result in a ligament sprain as the joint is forced quickly beyond its normal physiological range of movement. This can result in a tear or full rupture to the lateral or medial collateral ligaments that support the knee joint. A sudden impact to the knee cap could fracture the patella or cause injury to the cruciate ligaments inside of the joint. The cruciate ligaments control forward and backward movement of the femur on the tibia; when these ligaments are ruptured the knee looses its stability. Complete ruptures of these ligaments require surgical intervention to treat the problem.
Acute knee injuries tend to cause a large amount of swelling and can cause the knee to ‘lock up’, especially when a part of the cartilage, the meniscus becomes torn, becoming trapped between the joint surfaces.
It is absolutely vital that a knee injury is managed and treated in the correct way. An accurate diagnosis must be made through a thorough examination, along with specific clinical tests to check the different structures of the knee joint. Further investigations such as an MRI scan maybe necessary to look more specifically inside of the joint.
Arthritis
For many people suffering from knee pain, the problem can develop gradually and for no apparent reason. Often the knees feel stiff and sore as a result of the ‘wear and tear ‘of life. There is no doubt that the knee joints take quite a pounding everyday and over a lifetime this often leads to the development of osteoarthritis, with thinning of the cartilage within the knee joints.
Treatment
Physical therapy can help to improve function and range of movement in stiff and painful knees. The femur and tibia can be manipulated, so that the joint surfaces are in better ‘relationship’ to one another. Treatment helps to encourage blood supply to the knees and to drain waste products and inflammation from surrounding structures. Mobility in the knee caps can be increased to allow the joint to move more smoothly. Soft tissue massage helps to break down adhesion’s in the quadricep and hamstring muscles.
Pricing
1hr (first session) – £60
45 min (follow up session) – £55
Related Treatments
Physical Therapy
