That’s a question I get asked by many of my patients, and the answer is, pretty much everything. A physical therapist (PT) is a doctor who has been trained in all facets of physical therapy – diagnosis, assessment, treatment planning, rehabilitation, and follow-up care – to help you heal.
Just because you have some pain in your knee, it doesn’t mean you don’t have any pain! Your PT needs to know exactly what’s going on with your knee to determine the best course of treatment. There are a number of different reasons why people suffer pain on their knees. knee pain can be caused by joint problems, arthritis, injured ligaments, pulled tendons, bursitis, sprains, strains, and even meniscal tears. Visit this website for more information.
The PT is able to pinpoint which problem is causing the pain, and then he or she will design a program to deal with the pain and inflammation resulting from that problem. For example, if you have torn ligaments in your knee, PT’s will stretch those ligaments and help them heal. If you have bursitis, your PT will get your bursa, or sac, out so that it can clear out and reduce the swelling. If you have arthritis, physical therapists can use occupational and exercise therapy to help you strengthen your muscles and improve your range of motion. In any case, your PT will do whatever he or she feels necessary to relieve your pain.
So what do physical therapists do for knee pain? They carefully assess your symptoms and do all they can to treat them. You’ll probably never need to use medications, but PT’s may prescribe crutches or a wheelchair if necessary. As you recover, you’ll need to gradually increase your activities until you’re back to your old activities. Of course, it’s up to you to keep doing what you’ve been doing in order to prevent further injury to your knee.
What do physical therapists do for knee pain? Many times, when you first visit a physical therapist, your first treatment will be an evaluation session in which the therapist will determine just how bad your condition is and where it is located. Your PT will then set up an individualized program to treat your specific knee pain, which will usually include some combination of stretching, strength training, and low-impact aerobic exercise. After several treatments, you should start to notice a gradual decrease in the pain and soreness.
So what do physical therapists do for knee pain? They make sure that you get the best possible treatment. In addition to stretching and strengthening exercises, PT’s may also recommend a course of anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). In severe cases, physical therapy may be recommended as well, especially if PT is unsure of the underlying cause of your knee pain.
Comments