Avoid Knee Surgery
Brad Lunsford, MPT
One of the more common conditions we see here at Empower Physical Therapy is degenerative knee pain, otherwise known as knee osteoarthritis. This occurs when the pads (menisci) and cartilage between the thigh bone and the shin bone begin to wear out.
Our knees are hinge joints which basically means all they want to do are bend and straighten. Our menisci provide space between the bones that allows us to “get away” with a little twisting or side to side motions. So when this padding wears down, we lose shock absorption which will lead to pain with loaded activities (eg walking, jogging, jumping).
In many instances, x rays may reveal that joint spacing has reduced to the point of bone on bone. Though knee replacement may be indicated, all patients present differently and potential to avoid or delay an invasive surgery should vary from individual to individual. Physical therapy is often used to improve flexibility, reduce compressive forces, and increase joint stabilization. These approaches often allow for knee pain reduction and improvement with functional abilities. So if you have been diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis and would like to try some non-invasive treatments first, physical therapy may be your answer.
