Osteoarthritis is a common degenerative condition occurring in over 19% of the American population over 45 years old (Del Amo, 2022). The condition frequently affects the knee joint in the body resulting in pain, weakness, stiffness, swelling, and reduced range of motion (ROM).
How Do You Know If You Have Osteoarthritis?
A diagnosis of Osteoarthritis is made through the combination of radiographic evidence, X-ray or MRI, and patient symptoms (mentioned above). Conservative treatments such as physical therapy are often prescribed to treat osteoarthritic conditions before surgical methods, such as knee replacements, are implemented.
How Does Physical Therapy Help?
Physical therapy interventions have proven to reduce pain, increase joint motion, and return strength. Therapeutic interventions can be used to delay and potentially avoid surgery allowing you to return to your favorite activities pain free.
A new study has examined the benefits of backwards walking and the effects it has on individuals with knee osteoarthritis.
The study examined the benefits of supervised backwards walking 3 times per week for 6 weeks. The authors of the study discovered that a backwards walking program decreases pain significantly more than the forward walking and usual care group, while also increasing strength of the quadriceps muscle significantly more than the other 2 groups (Alghadir, 2019). Increasing quadriceps strength is an important aspect of any knee rehabilitation program in improving range of motion to facilitate many everyday activities such as walking, standing up, and sitting down.
In addition to a personal exercise program, manual therapy, muscular re-education, modalities, and more can be used by our therapists to reduce pain and restore motion.
What is The Next Step?
If you are experiencing knee pain that is consistent with the symptoms above, contact the Respire PT Team today by phone at 703-671-1871 or click here to request an appointment with a Physical Therapist. Let us help you get back to your favorite activities without being slowed down by knee pain.
References
- Cristina Del Amo, Arantza Perez-Valle, Leire Atilano, Isabel Andia. Unraveling the Signaling Secretome of Platelet-Rich Plasma: Towards a Better Understanding of Its Therapeutic Potential in Knee Osteoarthritis, Journal of Clinical Medicine, 11, 3, (473), (2022).
- Alghadir AH, Anwer S, Sarkar B, Paul AK, Anwar D. Effect of 6-week retro or forward walking program on pain, functional disability, quadriceps muscle strength, and performance in individuals with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial (retro-walking trial). BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2019 Apr 9;20(1):159. doi: 10.1186/s12891-019-2537-9. PMID: 30967128; PMCID: PMC6456984.
Tags: alexandriava, Respire Physical Therapy, fallschurchva, physical therapist, ptworks, health and wellness, painfreeliving, knee pain, movementismedicine, osteoporosis, pt education, Natural Pain Relief, choosept, arlingtonva, Physical Therapy
