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Knee pain is a widespread issue, often linked to arthritis, and can significantly impact daily life. The two most common types of arthritis affecting the knee are osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Osteoarthritis, the most prevalent, results from the gradual breakdown of cartilage that cushions the joints, leading to friction between the bones. This degeneration causes pain, stiffness, and swelling, especially after prolonged activity or rest. Over time, the knee may lose its range of motion, making it difficult to perform basic tasks like walking or climbing stairs.
Rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune condition, occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the joint lining, causing inflammation, pain, and damage to the knee’s
structures. Unlike OA, RA can affect both knees simultaneously and cause periods of flare-ups.
Knee pain is also common because the knee joint bears the body’s weight during movements like walking, running, or standing. This constant pressure, combined with age-related wear and tear, makes the knee particularly vulnerable to arthritis. Risk factors such as obesity, previous injuries, and genetic predisposition can also contribute to the development of knee arthritis, making it a prevalent and chronic concern for many.
We commonly hear from patients in the clinic about how debilitating arthritis can be. In most cases, arthritis begins with stiffness in the knee, especially after sitting for an extended period. It often takes a few steps for the knee to loosen up, allowing our patients to walk without pain.
Patients also quickly lose the ability to kneel on the arthritic knee, which is one of the quickest ways we see them unintentionally flare up their knee arthritis. Eventually, this begins to affect mobility. We notice patients walking more slowly, and pain arises if they try to walk any meaningful distance. Many patients also start having difficulty ascending and descending stairs.
There’s also social pressure that comes with this. Knee arthritis is very visible, so when patients stagger for the first few steps after standing up from a chair, they become concerned about how it looks to others and don’t want to cause unnecessary worry. Because others can notice, there’s a pressure to keep up with friends and walk the dog on long walks without being slowed down by knee pain.
Patients often fear that their knee pain is getting worse and starting to affect their mobility, wondering if their level of independence will decrease because their knee is preventing them from moving around the house or leaving home.
Many of our patients have already tried extended periods of medication, lotions directly on the knee, and steroid injections, but these treatments don’t address the root cause of the movement loss in the knee and the weakness in the surrounding muscles, which are the true drivers of the symptoms they’re experiencing.
At Essex Coast Physio, we create a diligent and robust treatment plan that often includes gentle joint manipulation to improve range of movement, specialised massage techniques, the right advice on medication use, lifestyle changes, and a comprehensive rehabilitation and exercise plan. This plan helps further improve movement and strengthen the knee outside of the clinic.
As a result, patients often achieve meaningful results quickly. Many see significant improvement as early as five to seven days after their first appointment. By the two to three-week mark, although it’s rarely curative in such a short time, patients are already seeing a return to activities they thought were no longer possible for them, activities they had given up six months, a year, or even two years before seeking our help.
If you’re ready to relieve your Arthritis Pain, here are a few options we offer to help you get started.
Download Our Free Arthritis Reports
You don’t have to accept that your pain will limit your ability to do what you love with the people you love for the remainder of your years. At Essex Coast Physio, we are passionate about providing educational resources to help you take control of your health. You can explore our social media for tips and guidance, or you can download our free pain reports to start learning how you can manage and reduce your pain.
Arrange A Free Telephone Consultation
If you want to find out more about how we can help with your specific concerns, feel free to pick up the phone or visit our website. We’re happy to offer a free telephone consultation to discuss your needs and explore how we can support you in reaching your health goals. We’re here to help you take the first step towards a pain-free life.
Arrange A Free Discovery Visit
For a more in-depth discussion about how we can assist you, we invite you to arrange a free joint health assessment. During this visit, you’ll have the opportunity to come into the practice and have an obligation-free conversation with me or one of our team members. We’ll discuss your specific concerns and how we can help you achieve your treatment goals
Simply Complete The Short Form and We’ll Email You Your FREE REPORT
Are you unsure if Physiotherapy is right for you? Would you prefer to talk with a Physio before making a decision? All you have to do is click the link below to fill out a simple form.
If you’re not quite ready to book an appointment yet and have some questions you would like answered first, click the link below to complete the form.