Knee Pain is one of the most common conditions we see in our Cardiff Clinic. Knee pain affects thousands of people, with osteoarthritis being the biggest cause (20% of all cases seen). To prevent any early onset of arthritis you should get your knee checked out by an expert straight away if you’re suffering in pain.
If you have knee pain or have had an injury, it can be helped with physiotherapy treatment.
The physio team at PhysioSpace Cardiff have a wealth of experience at getting to the root cause of your problem. Following a thorough examination, your physio will diagnose the cause of your pain and devise a specific treatment plan for you supported via our App.
Our Accelerated Rehabilitation Plans could be a suitable option to work with your Physio on the implementation of the treatment plan.
Physiotherapy for Knee Pain | Cardiff
At PhysioSpace We Offer Specialist Assessment, Diagnosis, Recovery Plan & Treatment for Your Knee Pain.
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Physiotherapy is available on the NHS but often requires a referral from your GP. Furthermore, waiting lists can be several weeks long and treatment options are limited due to resource constraints. Private physiotherapy services can be accessed quickly and, if self-funding, without the need for a referral. Many private providers will also accept private health insurance but a referral may be required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Types of knee pain
he most common knee conditions are traumatic injury, osteoarthritis, overload injuries such as patella tendonitis/tendinopathy, patellofemoral joint pain due to maltracking of knee cap, fractures and dislocations or rehabilitation following knee surgery.
Knee Injuries
– Ligament injuries such as ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and MCL (medial collateral ligament). It is important the physio sees you soon after your injury to avoid secondary problems such as the knee stiffening or walking awkwardly which can result in hip or low back pain. From the history of your injury, we can usually diagnose what area/structures of the knee has been injured. Starting your rehabilitation very soon after the injury has been shown to be the best and fastest way to recover. The initial aims of treatment are to reduce pain and restore the movement in your knee.
– Meniscus (cartilage) tear. This can occur during sport, usually by twisting the knee when standing on it. A tear can also occur for no obvious reason, often these are associated with age related changes. Whatever the cause, it is important to see your physio to restore your normal knee movement as soon as possible and to commence strengthening exercises for the muscles.
– Muscle injury such as a Hamstring tear and thigh strain usually occurring when participating in sport. The muscle becomes bruised, painful and swollen causing reduced flexibility. Starting your rehabilitation soon after the injury has been shown to be the best and fastest way to recover. The initial aims of treatment are to reduce pain and swelling and when appropriate to start flexibility and strengthening exercises.
Osteoarthritis
The cartilage covering the surfaces of the joint wear thinner with age. It is a natural process but may at times, cause the knee to become stiff and painful and with time, the muscles around the knee become weaker. The arthritic knee therefore has less support which will increase pain. Treatment will include strengthening exercises for the knee to do at home and more likely some hands-on treatment to assist you to regain full movement.
Anterior knee pain
There are many causes of pain at the front of the knee (anterior knee pain), such as Patella tendonitis, Chondromalacia Patella, and Osgood-Schlatter’s disease. In common with these conditions are symptoms which get worse with activities of daily living such as walking downstairs, squatting, pushing the clutch pedal down, and sitting for long periods with the knee in a flexed position, such as at the cinema.
Following Knee Surgery
Physiotherapy is nearly always a necessity before and following surgery to the knee, following procedures such as:
Total knee replacement usually performed for pain due to osteoarthritis.
Arthroscopy (keyhole surgery) for injuries such as a meniscal tear.
Reconstruction of the ACL.
The aims of physiotherapy rehabilitation following surgery is to restore the range of movement, increase the muscle strength, improve your proprioception and balance to get you back to your normal daily activities. Sport specific training may be included if indicated.
Treatment for knee pain
A physiotherapy examination will diagnose your problem so that a treatment plan can be made to reduce your symptoms, prevent the condition getting worse and help prevent problems in the future.
Depending on the diagnosis, physiotherapists have a wide range of different treatments for knee pain. For the best results, we will often use a combination of therapies for you. These can vary depending on the cause of your problem, but some examples of physiotherapy treatments we might recommend include:
– Reconditioning with exercise, particularly mobility and strengthening exercises
– Support with our individualised programming via App
– Access to our virtual Pilates classes
– Soft tissue massage
– Taping / bracing
– Biomechanical assessment / foot posture / gait analysis
– Lifestyle changes
– Proprioception / balance rehabilitation
– Sport specific rehabilitation
Ready To Book?
All of our appointments can be easily booked online. Alternatively you can get in touch with us via phone or email.
Phone: 029 2021 4067
Email: info@physiospace.co.uk
Penylan
The Old Surgery,
23 Blenheim Road,
Penylan, Cardiff,
CF23 5DS
Pontcanna
26 Mortimer Road,
Cardiff, CF11 9JZ
