Being a proponent of physical therapy, I believe it can help reduce symptoms, improve mobility and function and strength of most if not all joint pains.
The key is strengthening the muscular groups both above and below the joint. For the knee, a physical therapist will exercise those muscle groups. Usually therapy will last 3 times a week for up to 6 weeks.
The American Physical Therapy Association has many suggestions and guidelines for many different types of injuries on their website for the public at www.moveforwardpt.com
Physical therapists can aid you in improving symptoms of pain with use of ultrasound technology as well. They are always helpful and only want you to have a complete recovery. Of course, in the process of your therapy, you may feel otherwise. Their job is to exercise you, and get those muscles improved. If you stop moving, you lose muscle mass, and therefore function. In fact, laying in bed all day has considerable impact on muscle mass. Like they always say, “use it or lose it.”
My favorite knee pain exercise involves actually the hip and waist muscle groups. Knee extension puts increased pressure on the joint, so my favorite is to keep the knee straight while standing, and just raise your leg up 90 degrees or parallel to the floor. Doing 3 sets of 10 to 15 reps strengthens the quadriceps, or the muscles in your thigh.
You can do this exercise for many knee problems and even hip problems like iliotibial band syndrome. Whatever the painful condition, please consider adding physical therapy to improve your symptoms. Contact your doctor for any issues you may have.
Thanks for the emails. Be safe and healthy! Questions can go to runsinthewynd@gmail.com
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