A knee injury can cause pain and discomfort, especially during weight-bearing movement as when walking, standing up and sitting down and going up or down stairs.
This can lead the injured person to miss activities they enjoy and limit their social life. However, many injuries can heal quickly, often recovering within six weeks. But sometimes, knee injuries need longer than that.
If you have been injured and cannot bend or straighten the knee, the pain is intense; the knee gives way or your knee, foot or lower leg swelling, you should see a doctor immediately.
But if you don’t feel as much pain, you can walk/hobble on the knee; you can visit our Croydon Osteopath instead. They will be able to assess your knee using orthopaedic and osteopathic examination techniques.
If they cannot help, they can refer you further for scans or write a referral letter, but if they can help with treatment, they will be able to provide relief for your knee pain, improve movement and function and help prevent future problems.
How Does an Osteopath Treat Knee Injuries?
In modern medicine, doctors use X-rays, Ultrasounds and MRI scans to diagnose knee injuries alongside what Osteopaths will also do, which includes a consultation, physical examination and orthopaedic tests. But osteopaths also look at the whole person, including their lifestyle and diet.
Osteopaths are trained in a holistic approach to treating the person. This can detect patterns within the body that develop and can put additional strains on the knees and the surrounding muscles.
This helps to improve overall function, increasing strength and movement, leading to better mobility and improved circulation. For example, they may use manual therapy to work on the lower back. This can relax the muscles of the back and free up nerve impulses around the knee, stimulating muscles.
Osteopathic treatment is tailored to each individual patient’s needs. It can include:
- manipulation of muscles
- ligaments
- tendons
- cartilage and Joints
- soft tissue therapy such as massage
- a rehabilitation program
- a advice on lifestyle changes
- dietary modifications
- nutritional supplements
- education about safe lifting techniques
- advice on exercises for strengthening muscles around the knees
- advice on using walking aids if necessary
- advice on avoiding activities that aggravate pain or cause further injury.
The aim is to reduce pain and improve function.
What Are the Benefits of Using an Osteopath Instead of Going to a Doctor?
Osteopathy can speed up recovery time. An osteopath can usually see you within two days. This means that you won’t have to wait around for long periods. Plus, you won’t need to spend hours in the waiting room.
It can take months before you get to see a consultant, during which, Osteopathy can help you recover fully from many knee conditions and can help to reduce knee pain in others.
Another benefit of seeing an osteopath is that they can help you avoid surgery. Surgery is often necessary when treating knee injuries. But osteopathy can help you avoid surgery altogether.
Should you require surgical intervention, Osteopathy is highly beneficial for prehab (before surgery) and rehab (post-surgery), meaning you will recover quicker from any surgery. If we cannot diagnose or treat your knee, we can refer you for MRI, X-Rays or ultrasounds privately, which can shorten the time you get to see a consultant on the NHS.
It can also help you avoid or reduce any pain medication you are taking. Most medications can affect your immune system, and they can slow healing. But Osteopathy doesn’t have these side effects.
Finally, osteopathy can help you prevent future problems by identifying any imbalances, weaknesses or movement restrictions. By working out your body’s natural healing process, you can keep yourself healthy.
How Often Should I See An Osteopath For Knee Pain?
Knee pain is a common issue and depending on the cause, can be easy or difficult to treat. It also depends on the severity of your condition and your overall health and fitness.
These factors will influence whether you may need to see an Osteopath on a more frequent basis. For those with more acute overuse or imbalance injuries, it is recommended to see an osteopath at least once a week. For those with more chronic or age-related pain, it is recommended to see an osteopath at least once a fortnight.
For those with few sports injuries, who have mild twinges or the occasional ache and who do not experience knee pain regularly, it is recommended to see an osteopath every six months.
These, of course, are general guidelines, and much is based on the individual. It is also important to note that if your knee pain does not improve or respond how we would expect after following these guidelines, it might be necessary to re-evaluate or even refer you on for further diagnosis and treatment.
To Wrap Things Up
If you are experiencing knee pain, it is important to seek out professional help. Osteopathy is a system of diagnosis and treatment that uses manual techniques to treat physical problems, including knee pain. For example, an osteopath can help relieve pain caused by working in an office all day, playing sports or other physical activities, or ageing.
If you are interested in pursuing osteopathic treatment for your knee pain, you can book an appointment without needing to see your GP. We will be happy to talk with you first if you are unsure if Osteopathy is best for you.
If you have already had appointments with Orthopaedists or spoken to your GP and want to accelerate your healing and recovery, Arc Osteopathy can help with that as well.
Click here for more information on knee conditions that we can help with, or contact us for further information.