5 ways a knee specialist near you can help with pain and injury

Maybe you were walking, playing a sport or working when something happened to your knee. You were distracted by pain, stiffness, tension or weakness. Maybe it happened all at once, like a sudden injury, or the problem developed gradually.

No matter what is affecting your knee, it could be holding you back. It might make you uncomfortable when you walk, run, use stairs or stand up from a seated position. The problem may even make some of these actions difficult or impossible. Working with a knee specialist near you at KC Rehab may help you become more mobile again.

They can provide specialized assistance with knee problems like:

• Osteoarthritis

• Patellofemoral pain syndrome (runner’s knee)

• Patellar instability

• Tendon or ligament injuries

• Torn meniscus

They can also help you recover from a knee injury that has been treated by a physician, like a fracture or dislocation. If you have had knee surgery, they can help you regain mobility and begin returning to your regular life. They may be able to help you reduce postsurgical pain.

What can a KC Rehab knee specialist do for you?

At KC Rehab, our physical therapists draw from a doctorate-level education in physical therapy and extensive experience. Here’s what they can do for you:

1. Take a nonmedication approach to pain relief

Dealing with knee pain can be a challenge. You may be taking over-the-counter or prescription medication to ease the pain. Whether you take pain medication or not, a physical therapist uses techniques to help minimize your pain.

At KC Rehab, we can also provide dry needling as a specialty service. This is an acupuncture-like treatment in which a professional uses thin, sterile needles to target trigger points.

2. Assess your knee’s strength, stability and mobility

When you’re dealing with pain, instability or limited mobility, you might not feel comfortable testing your knee’s strength. A physical therapist can use gentle exercises and stretches to measure things like your knee’s range of motion.

With this information, you and your physical therapist can plan a treatment approach. You can also define your goals together, like returning to an activity you enjoy or continuing to play a sport. They may help you build greater mobility.

3. Provide exercises that target knee pain or injury

Your physical therapist can identify ways to reduce your knee pain, including gentle stretches. They may build a routine of rehabilitation exercises. They may also recommend things that you can do at home to ease pain, like using a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) device.

To support your knee while you recover from an injury, your physical therapist may show you strengthening exercises. They can also tailor exercises to increase your range of motion, helping you move more comfortably or improving your gait. They may provide balance exercises to reduce the risk of future injury.

4. Help you return to a sport or occupation

Do you play a sport like soccer, competitively or for fun? Do you run or ride a bicycle? Your knee problem may be keeping you from participating. A physical therapist can help you prepare for a confident return with a sport-specific program.

They can help you get ready for a physically active occupation, too. Whether you need to move quickly, spend long periods on your feet or carry heavy items, a physical therapist can tailor their work to your occupation. They can provide work hardening and conduct evaluations as well.

5. Discuss preventing a pain or injury recurrence

If physical therapy reduces your pain or helps you recover from an injury, what comes next? You may want to keep your problem from coming back. A physical therapist may help you work toward this goal.

They may help you improve your knee’s health for future comfort and injury resistance. They can also provide education, teaching you how to protect the health of your knee throughout your daily activities.

Ready to begin treating your knee? KC Rehab can help

Treatment can begin when you reach out to KC Rehab. One of our licensed physical therapists can go over your current knee issue, your medical history (such as previous injuries or surgeries), and your concerns about your knee. They can answer any questions that you have, help you understand your knee problem and discuss a treatment plan to reduce pain and improve the health of your knee.

Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.