Knee injuries, pain and osteoarthritis
How do I know if my knee pain is serious?
Knee pain can be a symptom of many different conditions and can vary from mildly uncomfortable to severely painful. Knee pain that is associated with trauma/an obvious injury may be serious and should be investigated further if you experience:
- Popping/cracking noises during the injury
- Obvious deformity
- Marked swelling that arises quickly
- Difficulty bearing weight on your leg
- Feelings of instability/giving way
- Difficulty bending or straightening your knee
- Fevers in addition to redness, pain and swelling in the knee
Who can I see about my pain?
These signs and symptoms can be associated with damage to the knee joint structure itself and may require an assessment from a physiotherapist. Our physiotherapists can perform specific tests to assist in identifying the cause of the pain and the structures that have been affected, and can provide pain management strategies as well as education/advice regarding further steps for treatment such as imaging and orthopaedic involvement.
Other causes of knee pain of a less serious although still important and valid nature, such as osteoarthritis, can be managed effectively with physiotherapy treatment.
Knee osteoarthritis
Comparing a healthy knee and a knee with osteoarthritis
Knee osteoarthritis is a chronic disease that occurs when the cartilage that lines the knee joint begins to degenerate and currently affects 1.2 million Australians. Cartilage is a strong yet flexible connective tissue structure that functions to protect joint surfaces by acting as a shock absorber, and reducing friction between bones, enabling smooth movement. As the cartilage slowly thins, the protective space between bones decreases and the joint surfaces become frayed and rough, leading to increased bone contact and sometimes the production of painful bone spurs.
This can lead to symptoms such as:
- Knee pain, stiffness and swelling
- Difficulty bending and straightening the knee
- Creaking, clicking or grinding noises (crepitus)
- A feeling of weakness or buckling in the knee joint
How is knee pain assessed and treated?
During a physical examination, your physiotherapist will observe for any joint swelling or changes in knee alignment in standing and while walking or performing other tasks you report difficulty in, and will assess the amount of active (self-directed) and passive (assisted) range of movement of the knee joint as well as the strength of the muscles surrounding the knee. Treatment will usually consist of education, thermal modalities (e.g. cold therapy, heat therapy), massage, stretching and strengthening exercises. At Empower Health NQ, our physiotherapists are passionate about providing you with hands-on treatment, education/advice and exercises that are centred around you and your goals.
