Chronic pain is a debilitating condition that can affect the physical and mental well-being of the patients who suffer from it. One of the most common causes of chronic pain is musculoskeletal conditions. And, among these, knee pain takes a main role. Around 15 to 20% of men and more than 20% of women suffer from chronic knee pain in the United States. These are staggering numbers that mean that millions of people have to deal with this issue every day of their lives. 

This is why the medical community has allocated time and resources to finding solutions to these issues. To assess knee pain, a physician can make use of several kinds of therapies. There are non-invasive therapies, like pharmaceuticals, to reduce pain. And there are also more invasive solutions, like knee replacement surgery, that can be complex. Regardless of the therapeutic approach, one kind of intervention is crucial for all patients: physical therapy.

What to expect with physical therapy for knee pain

Physical therapy, or PT, is a kind of non-invasive treatment that focuses on strengthening the joint and all of its tissues. There are various approaches and goals depending on the kind of condition the patient has. But, overall, PT for knee pain consists of focusing on certain weaknesses, like:

Strengthening 

The muscles that surround the knee can become weaker and unreliable with age, wear, and tear. This is why doing exercises to make it stronger allows the tissues to recover their normal capacity. Allowing for greater stability and a reduction in the bone and ligament load through movement.

Stretching

Many knee pain patients have reduced knee ranges of motion. This causes a loss of function that can lead to an increased load on certain parts of the knee. This is due to the body's need to move in certain normal patterns that the knee is not able to follow. Therefore, overloading some parts while underworking others.

Brain-muscle connection

One of the bases for balance, stability, and agility is the capacity of the brain to recognize joints and their movement through all planes of motion. Whenever someone suffers from chronic joint pain, they usually try to use that joint as little as possible. Leading to a reduction in the capacity of the brain for controlling and managing knee movements.

Through managing these weaknesses, the knee pain patient will experience a reduction in knee pain and an increase in knee function. This is why PT is used regardless of the therapeutic approach the physician decides to use with any specific patient. Overall, physical therapy improves joint health and function through work that can be done with the assistance of therapists and, eventually, from home.

Contact a local service to learn more about physical therapy for knee pain.