Help For Knee Pain – North Adelaide Orthotics
Painful conditions of the knee can often result from poor foot function and alignment. North Adelaide Orthotics offer custom orthotic solutions for a range of painful problems throughout our local and surrounding Walkerville, Medindie, Bowden and Croydon communities.
What is Knee Pain?
As we all lead active lives, knee pain is becoming increasingly common. Knee pain most typically presents due to poor lower limb biomechanics (joint alignment and function). The pain that results is typically centred around the front of the knee, and is referred to as patella-femoral joint syndrome. The patella-femoral joint is made up of your knee cap and the underlying knee joint. When your limb is misaligned this joint does not track correctly and the two surfaces rub, causing pain at the front of your knee. The most effective way to resolve knee pain is by understanding the condition and addressing the underlying causes.
Causes of Knee Pain
Knee pain results from either a traumatic event, or may present in a more gradual manner. At The Orthotic Shop, we assist people with both types of knee pain, however the most common is the more gradual onset presentation (chronic knee pain).
Over time our bodies change, and this places increased stress on joints such as the knee. Most stress tends to come from the ground up as the weight of our entire body is accommodated by our hip, knee and foot as we walk.
The most common causes of insidious knee pain include:
- Sudden increase in activity (work, social, or sport)
- Poor foot posture (feet roll in when you walk)
- Excessive weight or sudden weight gain
- Poor footwear
- Aging and arthritis
Signs You May Have Knee Pain
The primary symptom patients identify is pain on certain activities that place increased load on the knee joint. The pain they describe is sharp and resolves quickly when activity is stopped.
Some of the activities and symptoms associated with knee pain include:
- Changing direction sharply
- Getting up from a chair
- Tender to touch
- Walking up hills or stairs
Management of Knee Pain
In order to successfully manage knee pain, it is important to address the cause of the problem rather than simply managing the symptoms. Employing the latest technology and biomechanical assessment techniques, we are able to identify those tissues under excessive load allowing us to develop a comprehensive treatment plan to address your specific needs. Typically your plan will involve biomechanical correction, self-management strategies, and modalities that address any structural imbalance.
Treatment options for knee pain include:
- Rest and electrophysical agents (cold therapy)
- Orthotics (to control foot posture)
- Soft tissue mobilisation
- Stretching and strengthening
- Weight loss
- Motion control running shoes
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Injection of corticosteroids
- Strapping
Complications
Delaying appropriate management of knee pain can lead to complications and an extended period of unnecessary pain. If not addressed these changes will continue and lead to secondary complications both locally and further up the biomechanical chain resulting in foot, hip or back pain.
Action Steps
To help improve your knee pain and ensure that you get back to your best as quickly as possible, the following steps can be taken:
- Watch the self-assessment video and analyse your foot posture.
- Consider the causes of low arches above, and determine which may be relevant to your particular situation.
- Arrange a free lower limb biomechanical assessment (valued at $79). Simply click on the free gait analysis button below to download your free voucher and start addressing your pain today.
