When knee pain becomes a constant bother, sports rehabilitation can help. Knee pain treatments can increase comfort and mobility in the joint, empowering you to get back to your sport of choice. Better yet, surgery is not always required to yield results. A healthcare provider can assist in finding a non-invasive knee pain treatment that works for you.
Playing sports can injure the knee in several ways. The one most people think of is a traumatic injury, such as a torn ligament or cartilage, muscle or ligament strain, or kneecap fracture. Another common example is knee dislocation.
However, repeatedly putting stress on the knee can also lead to pain in the form of tendonitis, an inflammatory condition that affects the tendons. When it affects the patellar tendon in the knee, it is called jumper's knee. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, jumper's knee can result from sports like basketball, running, and cycling.
Within the same vein, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis may cause knee pain that makes it hard to participate in sports. Knee osteoarthritis occurs when the joint's cartilage wears away from repetitive use. On the other hand, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks tissue in the knee (or other joint), wearing it down.
Sports rehabilitation can assist with knee pain even if the root cause is unrelated to sports (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis). The healthcare provider, such as a chiropractor, will curate a treatment plan that alleviates knee pain by reducing pressure on the joint and restoring its strength and mobility. It may be time to consider sports rehabilitation if knee pain:
While knee surgery is sometimes the only option, many patients are pleasantly surprised to hear that there are plenty of effective non-invasive treatments. Common non-invasive knee pain treatments used in sports rehabilitation include:
Medication can reduce pain and discomfort in the knee joint. While prescription options are available, over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers, like acetaminophen and ibuprofen, may provide sufficient relief so patients can gradually ease back into their sport of choice.
A healthcare provider can discuss whether prescription or OTC pain management would be helpful. Which they recommend will depend on the root and severity of the knee pain. For instance, ibuprofen can be enough for a minor strain, but prescription drugs like duloxetine may better help with chronic knee pain from osteoarthritis.
Non-invasive treatments will rely on improving joint support and mobility through targeted exercises and stretches. For knee pain, the healthcare provider will recommend low-impact exercises to avoid causing further stress to the joint. Examples include cycling on a stationary exercise bike, calf raises, and leg extensions.
This facet of treatment may also involve realigning the spine with chiropractic adjustments so that the patient's weight is more evenly distributed between both knees. The overall goal is to align, strengthen, and support the knee so that it can move as it used to.
It is sometimes necessary to brace or splint the knee to protect it as it heals. The knee brace will cushion the joint and provide much-needed support, but it also works to shift the joint into proper alignment slowly. Healthcare providers will tailor the brace to the patient, creating a comfortable fit.
Several types of injections can act as part of a knee pain treatment plan. Cortisone or steroid injections can ease inflammation around the knee, making them an effective solution for knee pain from arthritis, osteoarthritis, or tendonitis. This treatment can also help with osteoarthritis specifically, viscosupplementation is often recommended. This is an injection of hyaluronate, a thick fluid that increases lubrication in the knee joint.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is another option. With PRP therapy, the healthcare provider draws blood from the patient and centrifuges it to separate its components (plasma, platelets, and white and red blood cells). Once the platelet-rich plasma has been collected, the provider injects this fluid into the tissue around the knee. Since platelets help tissues repair themselves, the idea is that the PRP will promote tissue healing in the knee.
Surgery is not the only way to restore your knee and regain an active lifestyle. There are many non-invasive knee pain treatments to consider. Contact our Ooltewah office to speak to a member of our team today.
Request an appointment here: https://sjrm-tn.com or call Spine & Joint Regenerative Medicine at (423) 424-1529 for an appointment in our Ooltewah office.v
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