Understanding and Treating Knee Pain for Lasting Relief
Your knees bear about 80% of your total weight—and that’s when you’re just standing still. As you walk, run, and lift each day, your knees receive a lot of wear and tear. Engaging in sports or high-impact exercises can put even more strain on these important joints – a common result is knee pain below the kneecap. Since knees are essential to everything we do, knee pain, dull or sharp, can make even simple, everyday movements difficult. Whether you’re experiencing pain below the kneecap, pain in the middle of the knee, or even pain on top of your kneecap, physical therapy can help manage your symptoms and address the root cause.
Chiron PT can help – give us a call if you live in Aldie, South Riding, Stone Ridge, and Loudoun County
While some patients try to cope with knee pain by “pushing through it” or taking pain medication, physical therapy is the best place to start seeking relief. Our goal at Chiron is to provide you with long-term relief from your knee pain by getting to know you and your needs so that we can address your pain at the source. Don’t rely on short-term fixes—start addressing the underlying problem and CONTACT US today!
What Is Knee Pain?
This is an umbrella term that can accompany many sensations. These include:
- Swelling and redness in the knee
- Stiffness when moving
- A feeling of shakiness when standing or walking
- Pain caused by walking, running, or climbing stairs
- Creaking or popping noises when moving, or a feeling that the knee is “sticking” when you bend it
- Sharp pain in your knee throughout the day
Sometimes, knee pain is confined to only a certain part of your knee such as on top of the kneecap, in the middle of your knee, or below the knee cap. In other cases, it’s a generalized sensation that can’t be pinpointed.
What Causes Knee Pain?
Knee pain can have a wide variety of causes. A few of these include:
- The normal aging process, which causes muscles to weaken and joints to break down
- Arthritis, which can cause swelling and pain below the knee cap or throughout it
- Bursitis or inflammation resulting from overuse or excess pressure on knees over time
- Strains or sprains which result when your knee is moved in the wrong direction
- Damage to cartilage, ligaments, or bones
- Inflammation of the tendons in your knee
There are also a variety of factors that can increase your likelihood of pain including your weight, having a history of injury to your knees, or frequent participation in activities that require repetitive motion.
What Causes Knee Pain Below the Kneecap?
Patellar tendinitis is a common source of knee pain below the kneecap. People who play sports involving high-impact movements are more at risk for this condition. For instance, basketball players frequently jump on hard surfaces, which can put a strain on the tendon between the knee and shin.
What Causes Knee Pain on Top of the Kneecap?
If your pain is near the top of your kneecap, it may also be a result of patellar tendinitis. Alternatively, it may result from inflammation of the tendons that connect to your quadriceps or hamstrings.
How To Relieve and Treat Your Pain | Virginia
If you’re experiencing knee pain, physical therapy is the best place to start – especially if it’s sharp. Scheduling an appointment at Chiron will allow you to address your concerns, manage your symptoms and find the root cause. Our team are experts in the field and will design a treatment plan customized to your condition. We will target your areas of need and help you recover faster by:
- Reducing Pain and Swelling: We will use different types of treatments and technologies to reduce your pain and swelling, including noninvasive FDA-approved laser therapy, which uses your body’s own natural healing process to speed recovery, ice, heat, and/or electrical stimulation.
- Improving Range of Motion: We will work to restore normal motion and agility, improve flexibility, and decrease strain through exercise and hands-on treatment (manual therapy).
- Improving Strength: We will design a program to target muscle weakness or imbalances that may have contributed to or now exist as a result.
- Functional Training: Once your pain, strength, and motion improve, we address movements and tasks that are required in your daily and recreational life.
- Finding the Right Footwear: To support your healing process (if necessary).
Ready to Find a Virginia Therapist for Pain in or Below the Knee?
If you live in Aldie, South Riding, Stone Ridge, and Loudoun County – Chiron PT is close by!
At Chiron Physical Therapy, our team can help you get back to living your life again after knee pain – whether its above your kneecap, in the middle, or below. We are committed to YOU and we proudly serve the communities of South Riding, Chantilly, Aldie, Stone Ridge, and Loudoun County, Virginia. And you don’t need a referral to begin treatment. So why wait? Don’t stay in pain longer than you need to, especially if its pain below your knee cap. CONTACT US at Chiron Physical Therapy to get started today!