Arthritis in your knees is painful and limits your ability to enjoy physical activities. Fortunately, there are treatments that can help reduce pain and improve your range of motion. One treatment that helps many people is physical therapy.
Physical therapists have several methods they use for treating knee arthritis. At Panther Physical Therapy in Wexford, Pennsylvania, our team develops personalized treatments for each patient to help them reach their individual recovery goals. These treatments often include:
1. Exercising
Weak and stiff muscles around your knees can contribute to the pain and stiffness caused by arthritis. Without enough muscular support, the knee joints take on more pressure from your body weight, which makes your arthritis feel worse.
Physical therapists can guide you through safe and gentle exercises to help rehabilitate the muscles and improve support for your knees.
2. Stretching
Stretching the muscles helps improve their flexibility. This is beneficial for reducing pressure off the knee joints and improving your range of motion, so you can return to some of your favorite activities.
3. Manual therapy
Manual therapy, also known as hands-on therapy, aims to reduce pain and improve range of motion in the soft tissue and joints. Manual therapy includes methods that make use of your physical therapist’s hands to guide your knee into positions that reduce tension in the muscles and improve range of motion in the joint.
These methods also help break down scar tissue that may be contributing to pressure and stiffness in the knee.
4. Posture education
Your posture when standing or your gait when walking may be contributing to your knee pain. Physical therapists can monitor your posture and gait to identify any corrections you can make to help reduce pain and stiffness.
Visit Panther Physical Therapy in Wexford, PA, for knee arthritis treatment
Are you tired of knee arthritis keeping you from enjoying a higher quality of life? Our team at Panther Physical Therapy in Wexford is ready to help you reach your recovery goals. Contact our team today for more information about treating knee arthritis or to schedule an initial appointment.