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KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS PHYSICAL THERAPY

September 12, 2013 by admin Leave a Comment

Our knees get a lot of wear and tear, so here are some exercises and information about osteoarthritis in the knee by Ashley Misitzis PT, DPT. If you have any questions, come to San Diego Sports Physical Therapy today for help!

Knee osteoarthritis is one of the leading causes of disability among adults.

Osteoarthritis, known as OA, is characterized by degeneration of cartilage and bone, which cases pain, stiffness, decreased motion and weakness that can lead to difficulty with daily activities. There is no cure for OA, but effective treatment involves managing symptoms and addressing functional limitations. Physical Therapists are licensed health care professionals who are experts in the way the human body moves. Physical therapy uses researched treatment techniques to improve mobility, reduce pain, restore function and prevent disability. Want to improve your health? Learn more about LIVESTRONG.COM’s nutrition and fitness program!

RANGE OF MOTION
According to the CDC, Approximately 80 percent of patients with OA have some degree of movement limitation. Normal knee range of motion is zero to 135 degrees, though there is some variation from person to person.

Your knee must get all the way straight for typical walking mechanics, and must bend normally to allow for sitting and going down stairs. A Physical Therapist will improve your range of motion through direct measures, such as bending and straightening your knee, and will give you home exercises to focus on movement. Indirectly, helping to decrease pain and restore normal joint mechanics also improve your range of motion.

STRENGTHENING
When your joint is damaged, your body needs as much support as it can get from muscle strength. The first step is making sure the muscles directly surrounding the affected knee joint are strong. If you only have arthritis in one knee, then it is also important to strengthen the muscles in the other leg to help support the injured side and to prevent excess force on the healthy knee.

Your hip and ankle strength is also important to provide support to the knee with OA. During your physical therapy evaluation, your physical therapist will determine what muscles need strengthening. The earlier you seek treatment, the less likely you will have muscle strength changes, which improves the outcome.
STRETCHING
Many muscles in the leg cross over the knee joint, so ensuring they are flexible is an important part of the physical therapy process. When pain causes a decrease in your range of motion, it is normal for your body to change how it moves in order to compensate for weak muscles or lessen the pain. This compensation can cause tightness in muscles surrounding the knee including the calves, hamstrings, and quadriceps.

Other muscles may also need stretching depending on what the physical therapist finds during her evaluation.
MANUAL THERAPY
Manual therapy is a physical therapy treatment that involves skilled, specific hands-on techniques that mobilize the joint. These can be used to decrease pain, increase range of motion, lessen soft tissue swelling and improve tissue extensibility. In recent studies, the addition of manual therapy to an exercise-based physical therapy program resulted in dramatically improved function and less pain.
MODALITIES
According to the Arthritis Foundation, both heat and cold treatments are effective for pain management. Heat is best before an activity or in the morning to increase blood flow and decrease stiffness. Use cold treatment after exercise or at the end of each day to lessen swelling and pain. Use each modality for 10 to 15 minutes at a time.

REFERENCES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Osteoarthritis Arthritis Today: Osteoarthritis: Using Heat and Cold for Pain Relief Move Forward PT: Facts Annals of Internal Medicine: Article by Deyle, G. American Academy of Family Physicians: Physical Therapy and Exercise for Osteoarthritis of the Knee
Article reviewed by Helen Holzer Last updated on: Aug 16, 2013

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/178813-knee-osteoarthritis-physical-therapy/#ixzz2e88YONSq

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: bone, cartilage, daily activities, disability, exercise, exercises, fitness, knee, knew, mechanics, motion, nutrition, osteo, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, pain, physical, physical therapist, physical therapy, range, range of motion, san diego, stairs, strain, techniques, tendon, tissue, treatment, walking, weakness

Heat vs. Ice

August 20, 2013 by admin Leave a Comment

You have an injury, but you’ve heard to both heat and ice it? So which is better? Take a look at this article by Lindsey Balint, PT, DPT, featured on Sports Physical Therapy Institute to find out which will be more beneficial to you!

Ice and heat are common modalities used to help heal orthopedic injuries but how do you decide which is best to use? There are several things to take into consideration when deciding which modality will best help achieve your treatment goals.

Is the injury Acute or Chronic?

Acute: Recent onset of an injury (< 48 hours). During the acute phase of an injury the body's inflammatory response is active and ice is the preferred modality to prevent swelling that can cause pain. During the first 24-48 hours following an injury, the RICE principal should be followed and is described later in this article.
Chronic: Injuries that continue for a long period of time. During the chronic phase of an injury both ice and heat may be used depending on the treatment goals. Typically heat would be used prior to exercising to loosen tissues and prepare for activity. Ice is typically used after exercise to decrease inflammation following the activity.

What is RICE?

RICE is an acronym to help you remember what to do following an acute injury. RICE stands for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation.

REST: Immobilize to limit motion, and decrease the amount of weight you put through the injured body part.
ICE: Apply the cold modality of your choice to help reduce swelling, and decrease pain.
COMPRESSION: Apply a compressive bandage to reduce swelling to the area. When applying a compressive bandage it should be snug but not tight. Applying a compressive wrap too tightly can cut off blood supply and cause further damage.
ELEVATION: Raise the injured body part above the level of the heart. This will help the body decrease swelling to the area.

What are the goals of treatment?

Ice Heat

Decrease Swelling/Inflammation X
Decrease Pain X X
Increase Tissue Extensibility X
Decrease Stiffness X
Decrease Muscle Spasm X X
Increase Joint Range of Motion X

Are there any situations in which heat should not be applied?

Over an open wound
Over areas of skin where there is decreased sensation
Areas where circulation is impaired
Over tumors
Acute injuries

Are there any situations in which ice should not be applied?

Over an open wound
If you have hypersensitivity or intolerance to cold
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Over areas of skin where there is decreased sensation
Raynaud's disease

How long should heat or ice be applied to an injury?

Ice and heat can be very helpful in treating orthopedic injuries but overuse of these modalities can be too much of a good thing. Apply heat or ice for only 10-15 minutes at a time to prevent burning or frostbite. If you have any additional questions about when to use heat versus ice, feel free to contact the physical therapists at Sports Physical Therapy for additional information.

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Proper Lifting Technique

August 13, 2013 by admin 1 Comment

Having proper technique is important in order to avoid injuries. Here’s an article from MoveForwardPT about how to lift heavy objects with proper form.

Improper lifting technique can cause neck, shoulder and back pain and possibly even more serious injuries. Learning the proper way to lift will help you minimize the risk of pain and injury.

Plan ahead before lifting heavy objects. Make sure you have a clear path. This will help you avoid any awkward or sudden movements that can strain your muscles.
Test an object’s weight before lifting by pushing it with your foot. If it seems too heavy, ask for help.
Lift with your legs, not with your back. Don’t lean over an object to lift it. Face the object you intend to lift and avoid twisting. Instead, stand close to the object, bend your legs and keep your back straight, then lift.
Keep feet shoulder-width apart and maintain your balance by distributing the object’s weight equally on both sides of your body.
If a back injury does occur, seek help from a physical therapist. What starts as a minor back injury can progress to a chronic condition without early intervention.

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KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS PHYSICAL THERAPY

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