Knee Injuries膝关节损伤

Knee Osteoarthritis (Knee OA)

Osteoarthritis is a progressive joint disorder caused by gradual wear and tear of the cartilage. Cartilage is a tough but flexible cushion covering the ends of the bones and protecting them at the joint. As it wears, bony spurs and cysts can develop and affect normal knee function.

Causes

• Osteoarthritis is degenerative in nature and occurs along with degeneration of other body tissues, which is all part of the ageing process.
• An estimated 90% of people over the age of sixty years develop varying degrees of osteoarthritis.
• While the exact causes of Knee OA vary, risk factors for developing this condition include the following:
  • Inherited abnormalities in the shape of bones that surround the knee joint.
  • Increasing age
  • Being female
  • Excess body weight
  • Previous joint or sports injury to the knee
  • Occupations that involve excess load of the knees
  • Metabolic disorder (e.g. Gout, Rheumatoid arthritis)

Common signs and symptoms

• Recurring knee pain
• Knee stiffness, especially in the morning or after a period of rest
• Knee swelling and warmth
• Reduced knee mobility and function, making daily activities such as climbing stairs, getting in and out of a car, and rising from a chair difficult
• Grinding noises in the knee
• Deformities such as bow legs and knock knees
• X-ray showing reduced joint space and degeneration

How can a Physiotherapist help?

• Research has shown the benefits of physiotherapy in managing mild to moderate knee OA. Manual therapy can improve the mobility in the knee joint.
• Depending on the severity of the condition, a physiotherapist can improve the flexibility of the muscles around the knee. This will in turn reduce the load on the joint and allow better functional performance in daily activities.
• After a thorough gait analysis, a personalized strengthening programme for the hips and lower limbs muscles can be prescribed to improve walking efficiency.
• If there are lower limb alignment issues causing abnormal loading of the knee joint, our in-house podiatrist can customise insoles to reduce the symptoms.

Iliotibial Band (ITB) Friction Syndrome

Often experienced by runners, iliotibial band (ITB) friction syndrome occurs when the ITB—the long, thin band of fibrous connective tissue running along the outside of the thigh—repeatedly rubs against the bony prominence on the outside of the knee, usually when the heel strikes the ground.

Causes

• Usually attributed to altered biomechanics, sudden increase in training frequency or intensity, or a change in sporting surface.

• Other causes include weak hip abductors, flat feet, bow legs, leg-length discrepancy, or overly tight muscles around the hips and knees.

Common Signs and Symptoms

• Pain on the outside of the knee. Usually increases with the activity even though there may be a pain-free start.

• The pain may radiate down the leg, or up towards the hip. As the syndrome progresses, there may even be pain on walking.

How can a Physiotherapist help?

A physiotherapist will be able to:

• Identify problematic areas such as muscular tightness and weakness contributing to altered running biomechanics.

• Relieve pain and restore hip and knee function through soft-tissue release, ultrasound therapy, taping, and specific exercises and stretches.

• Facilitate a graduated and pain-free return to sports within 6 weeks. The required recovery period will depend on the initial severity of the condition.

Frequently Asked Questions on Knee Injuries