It’s a lovely, breezy evening, and you’ve just finished dinner. You’d love to go for a leisurely stroll around your neighborhood, but unfortunately, you’ve been dealing with knee pain while walking for the last several weeks.
Walking-related knee pain can be incredibly frustrating. Even mild discomfort can keep you from staying active and performing day-to-day activities. Fortunately, the physical therapists and chiropractors at Sterling Physical Therapy & Wellness can help you understand the cause of your knee pain–and provide several solutions for lasting relief.
Why Does My Knee Hurt While Walking?
Several factors can contribute to knee pain while walking, and the first thing our team will do is identify the underlying cause of your pain. That way, we can create an effective treatment plan that targets your pain at its source.
Here are some potential culprits:
Osteoarthritis
- This degenerative condition affects the cartilage in your knee, leading to pain, stiffness, and swelling, especially during movement.
Patellar Tendinitis
- Also known as “jumper’s knee,” this condition involves inflammation in the tendon connecting the kneecap to the shinbone, resulting in pain during activities like walking.
Meniscus Tears
- The meniscus is a cartilage cushion between the bones in your knee. A tear can happen from sudden twisting or heavy lifting and can cause pain when walking.
IT Band Syndrome
- This condition occurs when the iliotibial (IT) band, a ligament that runs along the outside of the thigh, becomes tight or inflamed, leading to pain on the outer side of the knee.
Improper Gait or Other Biomechanical Issues
- An improper gait or misalignments in your lower body can strain your knee, causing pain to develop over time.
How Sterling Physical Therapy & Wellness Can Help Relieve Walking-Related Knee Pain
The good news is that our team of physical therapists and chiropractors can work with you to create a customized treatment program to address the specific cause of your knee pain. When you visit us for the first time, we’ll perform a comprehensive assessment that includes a detailed health history, an overview of your symptoms, and a detailed physical exam focused on pinpointing any biomechanical problems, muscular imbalances, mobility concerns, or other issues that might explain why you’re experiencing knee pain while walking.
From there, we’ll pull from several treatment options to create a care plan that suits your needs. Here are some of the techniques we might suggest:
Manual Therapy
- These hands-on techniques target the knee joint and surrounding soft tissue to help reduce pain, improve mobility, and promote healing in the knee area.
Spinal and Knee Adjustments
- Misalignments in the spine or lower body can put pressure on the knee, leading to pain. Chiropractic adjustments restore proper alignment to relieve that pressure (and your symptoms).
Targeted Exercises
- We’ll design a custom exercise plan that focuses on mobilizing and strengthening the muscles around your knee, reducing strain on the joint.
Gait Analysis
- If your walking pattern is contributing to your pain, our physical therapists can assess your gait and show you how to correct it to reduce knee stress.
Posture Corrections
- We’ll assess your overall posture and body mechanics, offering tips on how to move and walk in ways that reduce knee pain.
Ready for Your Evening Stroll? Schedule An Appointment!
If you’re tired of dealing with knee pain while walking, it’s time to schedule an appointment with Sterling Physical Therapy & Wellness! Our chiropractors and physical therapists will help set you on the path toward a healthy, active lifestyle!
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