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Brooklyn Pain Doc

Physical Therapy For Knee Pain

Updated: Jul 29

The Washington Post; wrote a story indicating that physical therapy is far more effective than surgery for knee pain. “Don't rush into knee surgery. Consider physical therapy as a treatment for your knee injury. Therapy isn't a cure-all but it does help.


Studies have shown that patients who stuck to physical therapy improved within six months." Read More



Types Of Knee Pain


Patellofemoral pain.


Also called: anterior knee pain syndrome. This condition typically causes a dull, throbbing pain in the front of the knee that’s made worse by repetitive daily activities, such as squatting, walking up or downstairs, or standing up after sitting for long periods of time. The pain is caused by irritation of the cartilage underneath the lower thigh bone.


Chronic degenerative meniscal tears.


When one or both pads of cartilage that cushion each of your knee joints deteriorates or tears, you may feel pain and a sticking or locking sensation. Brooklyn pain management doctors usually first recommend physical therapy to help build up the muscles around the knee to take the pressure off the joint and reduce discomfort. *There is evidence suggesting that degenerative tears in older patients without mechanical symptoms can be effectively treated non-operatively with a structured physical therapy programme as a first-line.


* Mordecai SC, Al-Hadithy N, Ware HE, Gupte CM. Treatment of meniscal tears: An evidence-based approach. World J Orthop. 2014;5(3):233-241. Published 2014 Jul 18. doi:10.5312/wjo.v5.i3.233


Osteoarthritis.


Years of wear and tear can break down the cartilage in the knees, leading to chronic joint inflammation. A past injury may also lead to arthritis. While nothing can reverse these physical changes, you can reduce pain by building up the muscles around the knee as well as in the pelvis and core. Strong muscles act like scaffolding, taking some of the pressure off the joints. Stretching to increase flexibility can help the joint function properly.


*The main purpose of knee OA pain management is to alleviate joint pain, improve daily function and quality of life by increasing muscle strength, physical activity, and emotional functioning.[11] Knee OA pain relief often involves a mix of[12] surgical treatment (joint replacement, arthroscopic surgery, and osteotomy[1315]); pharmacological treatment (NSAIDs and opioid analgesics[16,17]); and nonpharmacological treatment (physical therapy and self-management education[1820]). However, the global development trend regarding pain management for OA has not been well studied yet. Thus, it is needed to summarize the current status of pain management in OA and to predict promising keywords and trends.


*Nonsurgical Management of Osteoarthritis Knee Pain in the Older Adult: An Update.

Taylor N Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2018 Aug; 44(3):513-524. [PubMed] [Ref list]


Treatment of a meniscus tear FAQ:

Can you heal a meniscus tear with physical therapy?

Physical therapy is often the go-to treatment in managing the pain and lack of function that may come with a knee meniscus tear. Your pain management doctor can help you return to normal motion and strength and a better quality of life pain-free. Feb 24, 2022

What does Physical Therapy do for a torn meniscus?

What causes torn meniscus?

What are the symptoms of torn meniscus?




Brooklyn PMR
Brooklyn PMR

Got Knee Pain? Physical Therapy Can Do A World Of Wonders For Healing.


731 Flushing Ave

Brooklyn, NY 11206




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