Knee problems may be the result of an injury from an accident, a sports injury or a medical condition (arthritis) or from movement dysfunctions related to muscle imbalances or mal-alignment.

Knee symptoms may include:

• Swelling and stiffness
• Weakness or Buckling
• Inability to fully straighten or bend the knee
• Locking of the knee
• Popping or grinding noises

Recent research has shown that for most knee injuries, physiotherapy and non-surgical management is as effective or more effective than surgical management by arthroscopy.

The treatment by your Riverside Registered Physiotherapist would involve education, hands-on manual therapy, self-care management and exercise therapy. Other treatments such as acupuncture, soft tissue release and massage therapy may also help. Our registered physiotherapists can conduct a skilled assessment and examination of your knee problem and recommend appropriate treatment at any stage of your injury or recovery.

Common causes of knee pain

Ligament Injuries – There are four major ligaments associated with the knee that can be sprained or torn.  Tearing can occur either partially or completely.  Ligaments of the knee include two collateral ligaments (medial and lateral), and two cruciate ligaments (anterior and posterior).  Injuring these ligaments in contact sports is especially common from twisting the knee with a planted foot.

Minor (generally partial) tears will recover well with physiotherapy management maybe leaving some ligament laxity that can be compensated for with improved functional strength and proprioception.

More major (generally complete) tears may require surgery, as the amount of laxity in the ligament from the loss of stability cannot be compensated for with muscle strength. 

Once your Orthopaedic Specialist has deemed the ligament repair “stable”, referral for a physiotherapy evaluation and treatment plan may be recommended.   A specific post-operative protocol as per your surgeon and his team will be followed and progressed to ensure optimal post-surgical rehabilitation and safe return to pre-injury sports levels.

Our registered Physiotherapists at Riverside Orthopaedic & Sports Injury Clinic can provide comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation for ACL tears, including pre-surgery rehabilitation (“prehab”); to increase the strength in your knee and optimize the range of motion making sure your knee is optimally prepared for ensuing surgery and rehabilitation.

Once ready for post-operative rehabilitation we use the latest rehabilitative protocols backed by scientific evidence and in close communication with your Orthopaedic Surgeon to ensure your knee heals optimally, enabling you to gradually return to pre-injury sports- or other activities, with the lowest possible risk of re-injury.

Torn Meniscus – Injuries to the meniscus (half-moon-shaped cartilage pads on the inside and outside of your knee) are typically traumatic injuries, involving twisting of the knee with the foot planted.   However, meniscus pain or injury can also occur as result of degenerative changes (“fraying”).

In some cases, a piece of the meniscus can be detached and float around in the knee joint causing the knee to swell, lock or click during movement.

Patellar Tendon Problems – Jumper’s knee or patellar tendonitis usually develops from excessive strain/stress upon the knee tendon without sufficient recovery, resulting in pain at the front of the knee.

Runners, skiers and those involved in jumping sports and activities are prone to developing inflammation or tendinopathy of the tendon that connects the kneecap to the shinbone (“The Patellar Tendon”).  Pain can be significant during or after performing sport-activities.   The tendon may also appear larger or thicker than the unaffected side.

Chondromalacia Patella (Patello-Femoral Joint Syndrome) – Pain is located at the front of the knee or behind the kneecap. It commonly occurs in people who play a lot of sports, particularly adolescents.

It can begin from a sudden increase in training, from high-intensity jumping and knee bending or from poor patellar tracking. This results in damage or irritation of the articular cartilage underneath the patella resulting in pain when walking stairs or squatting. 

Patellar tracking problems often result from hip- and or ankle/foot dysfunctions.  Having the root-cause your problem identified before treating knee- or patellar pain is essential.   Our registered physiotherapists at Riverside Therapeutics can conduct a skilled assessment and examination of your lower kinetic chain (back-pelvis-hip-knee-ankle-foot) and initiate appropriate treatment or suggest further follow-up. 

Osteoarthritis – Knee pain from osteoarthritis can be a deep aching pain within the knee that is generally worse after exercise, walking stairs or trying to lift a heavy load. 1 in 5 Canadians will suffer significant knee arthritis, requiring treatment.

Knee joint stiffness is common, particularly in the morning but generally reduces with movement. There may be swelling in the knee, or a feeling of tightness, often accompanied by clicking or cracking noises when moving the knee.

A lot of people suffer from osteo-arthritis in the knee, but not all suffer from pain or loss of function.  Physiotherapy can help restore optimal strength, movement and function as to allow for a prolonged pain free longevity of function and movement.

Joint Replacement and Arthroplasty – In general, surgical interventions are meant only as a ‘last resort” when all other treatments (physiotherapy, manual therapy, exercise therapy, massage therapy, acupuncture, medication and/or cortisone injection) have been tried and none of it has lead to a satisfactory relief in pain or improvement in function. 

Joint replacement is an invasive surgical procedure removing and replacing the knee joint’s painful and worn-down joint surfaces with an artificial joint surface replacement.   While this won’t restore the natural efficiency of the original joint it will help reduce pain and regain a more functional range of motion; improving people’s quality of life.   

Physiotherapy Treatment

Our registered Physiotherapists at Riverside Therapeutics Orthopaedic & Sports Injury Clinic can provide comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation for post-op Knee or Hip Joint Replacements, including pre-surgery rehabilitation (“prehab”); to increase the strength in your joint and optimize the range of motion making sure your hip is optimally prepared for ensuing surgery and rehabilitation.

After surgery once you are deemed ready for post-operative rehabilitation our therapists will use the latest rehabilitative protocols backed by scientific evidence and in close communication with your Orthopaedic Surgeon to ensure your knee heals optimally, enabling you to gradually return to the pre-injury activities you used to enjoy with the lowest possible risk of re-injury.