Knee pain can make everyday activities uncomfortable. Whether it’s due to an injury, arthritis, or general wear and tear, knee pain can limit your mobility and affect your quality of life. When it comes to treating knee pain, physical therapy offers a range of effective solutions. One of the best PT treatments for knee pain is joint mobilization.
Joint mobilization is a hands-on technique where a physical therapist gently moves the knee joint in specific ways. This technique is intended to improve motion, reduce stiffness and decrease pain. Joint mobilization can be especially helpful for joint conditions like arthritis, which is a leading cause of activity limitations, disability and chronic pain, research shows. Learning how joint mobilization helps can highlight the strengths of this PT treatment method.
3 ways joint mobilization can reduce knee pain
- Improves flexibility — If your knee joint is stiff, it can be difficult to bend and straighten your leg properly on your own. With joint mobilization, your physical therapist can help you bend your knee through assisted stretches. This can help loosen your knee joint. Any stiffness caused by arthritis or past injuries may be reduced. You might notice your knee joint begin to move more smoothly. By improving flexibility, joint mobilization can make everyday movements like squatting and stepping easier and less painful.
- Reduces compression — Knee pain often comes from compression of the lateral patellofemoral joint. Joint compression happens when the bones in the knee press too tightly together, which can occur due to post-injury swelling, cartilage breakdown from arthritis and repetitive stress. If joint compression is the cause of your pain, joint mobilization can help. Your physical therapist may use their hands to relieve tension and reduce pressure on sensitive cartilage and nerve tissue. This can often lead to immediate pain relief.
- Supports muscle function — When the knee joint is stiff or painful, the muscles around it often weaken or tighten in response, creating a cycle of pain and limited movement. Joint mobilization helps by restoring regular movement so that muscles don’t have to work as hard to compensate. With improved joint motion and muscle function, the knee becomes stronger and more resilient against future pain or injury.
Experience the benefits of joint mobilization at REPAIR SI
If you have knee pain, joint mobilization could play a key role in your recovery. Experience the benefits of joint mobilization and a range of other great PT services at REPAIR SI. Our team is ready to help you work toward relief and long-term recovery.
Contact our team today for more joint mobilization information or to schedule an initial appointment.