Why does my knee hurt?

So your knee hurts and your not sure what’s causing the pain… Or worse, you’re listening to someone complain about their knee pain and they are doing nothing about it. At Compass Physio (Tullyallen, Co Louth & Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny) we treat a lot of knee problems and get people back to their best, whether it’s on the sports field or just getting in and out of the car. So let’s talk about what could be causing the knee problems.

Ligament:

The knee is supported by four main ligaments. MCL (Medial Collateral Ligament) and LCL (Lateral Collateral Ligament) prevent the knee from buckling sideways. The ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) and PCL (Posterior Cruciate Ligament) prevent the knee from giving way. A ligament injury can be classed into three grades (Gr 1, less than 50% fibre damage, Gr 2, greater than 50% fibre damage, Gr 3 – complete rupture (may require surgery)), Physiotherapy intervention can help with all three injury types. A ligament injury is usually associated with a traumatic event, such as a fall or a awkward tackle in sport. If you’re knee is giving way and doesn’t feel supported then their may be ligament damage and it’s best to get a Physiotherapy assessment.

Meniscus:

Meniscus: There are two menisci — C-shaped pieces of cartilage that act like a cushion between your shinbone (tibia) and your thighbone (femur). Meniscus injuries can be associated with a twisting injury where there is a sharp change of direction with a sudden deceleration. This can also be combined with a ligament injury. Meniscus may also be damaged as a result of wear and tear (getting old) – Yes don’t expect to get to 60 years old without some wear and tear in your joints. A torn meniscus causes pain, swelling, stiffness, locking sensation or a block to knee motion. You may also experience pain going up and down stairs or with a deep squat.

Patella (Knee cap):

Patella (Knee cap): Patella pain is also a common complaint, which is caused by wear and tear where the knee cap meets the femur. It’s supposed to slide up and down the groove easily but maltracking of the knee cap in the grove of the femur can cause degeneration and excessive swelling. The cause of wear and tear is mechanical in nature with poor control of your hip muscles (mainly gluts) or poor foot position (over pronation) often being the main culprits to blame. Physiotherapy can help address any acquired biomechanical issues and advice on rehabilitation and exercise modification to help manage the condition.

Tendons:

Tendons: Tendons attach muscles to bones and the knee is a major junction point for tendons with attachments above and below the joint line. The quad, hamstring, calf, groin and ITB muscles all have tendon attachments around the knee. Overuse or poor biomechanical issues can lead to overloading the tendons causing them to become inflamed and painful. This results in poor performance and function of the knee joint. A Physiotherapy assessment can assess where the dysfunction is coming from and advise on an appropriate treatment plan.

Other issues:

Other issues: Osteoarthritis, bakers cysts, patella dislocation, fracture or referred pain from the lumbar spine can all be causes of knee pain. A Physiotherapy assessment with any of our highly qualified therapists at Compass Physio will be able to give you a plan to put in place to help with your rehab. We can also discuss options of further investigation such as MRI or X-ray and referral to orthopaedic surgeons if necessary.

How Can Physiotherapy Help?

If you are finding it hard to complete regular exercises due to pain, fatigue or simply time schedules speak to us at Compass Physio.

Exercise is for everybody. At Compass physio we will complete a full physical assessment and will help identify any possible underlying causes that may limit your exercise regime.

Our chartered physiotherapists will help you to build strength and strategies which will help tackle any problem.

At Compass physio we will help you succeed and reach your goals.

To find out how Compass Physio can help, call 046 954 9456 (this number covers all clinics), click here to book online.

You can also email any questions to info@compassphysio.ie

Paddy Mulligan – MISCP Chartered Physiotherapist Compass Physio