Treating knee pain successfully
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Pain in the knee joint is unpleasant, significantly limits mobility and quality of life and causes patients to gradually despair - literally. However, many complaints can be effectively treated with targeted physiotherapy. In this article, you will learn everything you need to know about arthroscopy and why and how the associated consequences can often still be avoided.
Contents
Physiotherapy instead of arthroscopy?
Knee joint arthroscopy – fast but ineffective?
Underestimated Complications of Knee Arthroscopy
Exercise for knee pain? Postoperative treatment
Conclusion: Physiotherapy is the first choice for treating knee pain
Physiotherapy instead of arthroscopy?
One thing is certain: for some knee problems, physiotherapy can prevent arthroscopy. But what does the correct treatment look like with a physiotherapist? After the medical history and extensive palpation (feeling and feeling structures in the area of the knee joint), an individual treatment plan is drawn up. The therapist has a variety of options to choose from to relieve the symptoms. However, physiotherapy is not always considered as a solution. Often, surgical measures such as arthroscopy are quickly resorted to, but these do not always bring the hoped-for success.
Knee joint arthroscopy – fast but ineffective?
The dose of painkillers is constantly increased because the pain is unbearable without pills. It is understandable that patients grasp at every straw that offers hope of improvement. Although magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans do not reveal any signs of pathology in the knee joint, arthroscopy of the joint is often considered.
The patient often agrees to this minimally invasive surgical procedure, which promises success. Disillusionment follows quickly when the patient's knee joint continues to hurt after the completed but ineffective procedure. Many of the complaints can be treated with targeted physiotherapy, so that an arthroscopy for knee pain - whether chronic or acute - is not even necessary.
Underestimated Complications of Knee Arthroscopy
These are the risks of the surgical procedure
Arthroscopy is performed under partial or general anesthesia, which inevitably exposes the patient to various risks. In addition to possible cardiovascular disorders , life-threatening aspiration of stomach contents, allergic reactions to anesthetics or severe nausea with vomiting, there is also the risk of dizziness and memory lapses. After the procedure, there can be massive fluctuations in blood pressure , which cause the patient to simply collapse as soon as he or she tries to get into an upright position. Standing up is therefore often impossible at first. In addition, the operated leg must not be fully loaded for the first few days. The annoying and unpleasant Redon drainage, which drains the wound secretion in the joint to the outside, further restricts mobility.
More pain after knee arthroscopy – possible problems
As a result of knee arthroscopy, the patient initially becomes less active and uses the muscles of the affected leg in particular unusually rarely. These react after a very short time with temporary atrophy (wasting away), which requires targeted muscle-building training. The four-headed thigh muscle, the quadriceps, is particularly quickly and severely affected . Its responsibility is to move the knee from flexion to extension. Its main job is to stabilize the knee joint. If the thigh muscle is too weak, however, it cannot adequately protect, support and hold the knee. The result: The patient has great difficulty climbing stairs because the strength in his leg is not sufficient to extend the leg. The knee can buckle again and again and the initial pain can worsen as a result. Targeted post-operative physiotherapy is essential to counteract these secondary complaints.
Exercise for knee pain? Postoperative treatment
Every body reacts differently to surgical interventions. The most common reaction, however, is a visible edema in the surgical area. This prevents the joint from being able to move properly and causes an unpleasant feeling of tension in the knee. Manual lymphatic drainage followed by compression of the leg up to the thigh provides relaxation and relief. If the swelling has been successfully treated, physiotherapy exercises can be started.
However, if the patient is suffering from pain, the therapist will first address this and, if possible, reduce it. Often, a cold pack is sufficient, which is repeatedly applied during the treatment. The treatment begins with tension exercises and assistive movement exercises in extension and flexion up to the pain threshold. The increase in active movements, also against resistance and with the use of aids, is gradually incorporated into the therapy program. The aim is to build up and train the atrophied quadriceps muscle in order to restore stability in the knee joint or to counteract instability.
If the patient can bear the load, the therapy can be expanded to include a trampoline, tilting board or therapy gyroscope . These are used for balance training and extended muscle building training. Modern physiotherapy practices offer muscle building training with small sports medicine equipment to particularly athletic patients.
3 Options to Relieve Knee Pain
Depending on the history, it can be determined whether the pain is caused by muscle tension in the leg, overstretching of a ligament (e.g. cruciate ligament), a bruise or a soft tissue injury. In the case of muscular tension , heat applications (mud packs, red light, hot roll) and massages effectively relieve knee pain. Painless but intensive, pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory ultrasound treatment can also be used. Severe tension often occurs particularly in the area of the iliotibial tract (iliotibial band).
Treating Radiating Knee Pain
The pain can extend across the entire lateral thigh area. Radiating pain throughout the entire leg is possible. Trigger point treatment can provide significant relief. If the pain is caused by overstretching, shortening or irritation of a ligament, it can be treated with transverse friction or other methods of manual therapy . A bruise or soft tissue injury is usually accompanied by swelling in the affected area. Cold applications and manual lymphatic drainage are indicated until the edema subsides.
A stuck patella as a cause of pain
Knee problems can also be caused by a stuck patella (kneecap). If this is not mobile, this can lead to restricted movement and pain in the joint . Patella mobilization with additional soft tissue treatment is indicated in this case. An improvement in the range of motion is seen quite quickly. The longer the pain persists, the longer the healing process can take. Treatment should therefore be started promptly . All of these treatment methods show that physiotherapy can offer an effective solution for knee pain.
Conclusion: Physiotherapy is the first choice for treating knee pain
Physiotherapy often offers an effective alternative to arthroscopy to relieve knee pain and restore mobility. While arthroscopy is associated with risks and possible complications , targeted physiotherapy treatment can treat many complaints gently and effectively. It is therefore worth exhausting all conservative treatment options before undergoing surgery.
