Physiotherapy for knee & hip pain in Toronto

Knee or hip pain are common complaints that affect people of all ages. Apart from pain due to wear & tear and arthritis or other medical conditions such as gout or infections, pain may be the result of an injury, such as a ruptured ligament, torn cartilage, or fractures.

Minor knee or hip pain conditions respond well to self-care measures such as rest, applying heat or cold and simple stretching and strengthening exercises. Physiotherapy, medication and knee braces also can help relieve knee pain and improve function. In some cases, however, your knee or hip joints may require surgical repair.

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Knee & hip arthritis

Arthritis causes pain, inflammation and swelling in the knees or hips. Many types of arthritis can affect knee & hip joints, however, osteoarthritis is the most common cause of arthritic pain in knee & hip. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease that attacks joints including the knee & hip joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that attacks the synovial membrane that covers inside the capsule that holds the joint. Rheumatoid arthritis of the knee and hip causes stiffness and joint erosion in addition to the pain and swelling.

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What is Tendinitis or bursitis of the knee?

Tendinitis often results from repetitive strains or overuse. The common tendinitis occurring in the knee joint is called Patellar Tendinitis and it happens when the Patellar tendon is inflamed due to constant friction of the Quadriceps tendon.

Patellar bursitis is usually due to frequent kneeling or muscle weakness. Bursitis is more common in the hip joint.

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What is Tendinitis or bursitis of the hip?

Tendonitis also happens in hip muscles due to overuse or muscle weakness.

The most common hip bursitis is called Trochanteric bursitis. The pain is caused by bursitis may be severe and often occurs suddenly.

How is tendonitis or bursitis treated?

In the acute stage of tendonitis or bursitis of knee & hip, physiotherapists and doctors often recommend RICE program which is Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Manual therapy, exercise therapy, Shock Wave Therapy are common physiotherapy treatments for tendonitis & bursitis. Medical treatment usually consists of prescribing anti-inflammatory medications and pain killers. In very chronic cases, cortisone injection and rarely surgery is indicated.

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What happens if tendinitis or bursitis is left untreated?

It is important to treat tendinitis and bursitis in their acute stage. When left untreated, these conditions may become chronic and lead to the weakening of the tendon (tendinopathy) and muscles. which may result in a partial or full thickness tendon tear.

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What is kneecap (Patellar) Subluxation or dislocation?

When Patella or kneecap slips out of its normal position in front of the knee joint, it is called Patellar dislocation. The same condition is called subluxation when Patella is displaced but not quite out of position. Most frequently, Patella moves toward the outside of the knee. The condition causes severe pain and limitation of range of motion. Treatment is typically a combination of physiotherapy and bracing. RICE regimen to manage pain and swelling is advised. In recurrent patellar dislocation, the corrective operation may be necessary.

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What is ACL Injury? How does physiotherapy help?

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) sprains, partial or complete tears happen due to sports-related injuries, falls and accidents. ACL is the ligament responsible for stabilizing the knee joint during rotational movements. ACL sprains can range from mild to severe. when the injury happens, the patient may hear a popping noise at the time of the injury and they feel that their knee gives away.  Physiotherapy and rehabilitation is the first course of treatment for ACL injuries. When the conservative treatments are not enough to return patients to their pre-injury activity level, an operation to repair or reconstruct ACL is necessary. The success of an ACL reconstruction starts at the operation room but is guaranteed with proper rehabilitation and return to activity program offered by a sports physiotherapist. A successful outcome requires your commitment to an exercise program designed specifically for you to optimize your results and safely return you to your pre-injury activities.

Read more…

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What is Torn Meniscus?

A common knee injury, this condition refers to the meniscus in your knee getting torn. The meniscus is a rubbery disc that protects your knee and keeps it steady by balancing your weight across it. It can get torn by making a sudden twist or turn, especially when you have kept your foot planted and your knee bent. It can also happen as a result of wear and tear caused by age, or by playing sports or lifting heavy objects.

Meniscal tears can be minor, moderate or severe. Each category comes with its own set of symptoms. Minor tears result in slight swelling and pain. Moderate tears can cause:

• Pain in the center or side of the knee
• Swelling that worsens over three days
• Stiff knees with restricted bending ability
• Sharp pain when squatting or twisting

The symptoms of severe tears include:

• The knee popping, locking or catching
• Inability to straighten the knee
• A wobbly feeling in knee

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Total or partial knee replacement

Knee replacement, also known as knee arthroplasty is a surgery done on the knee to replace the knee joint surfaces that bear weight. This is a procedure done to cure serious knee pain or a disability. Knee replacement is commonly done on patients suffering from osteoarthritis and is also done on patients suffering from diseases such as psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Patients can be subjected to either total or partial knee replacement surgery depending on their conditions. The damaged or diseased part of the knee is replaced with plastic and metal components shaped in a way that allows motion of the knee.

Knee arthritis is one of the main reasons other than accidents that cause your knee joints to deteriorate and become weak enough not to be able to bear your weight. Under these circumstances, knee replacement is the only option. The most obvious sign of knee arthritis is the pain in the knee.

A physiotherapist will assist you before and after your knee replacement surgery by recommending some exercise to reduce inflammation, strengthen muscles, joints and lower limbs helping you recover fast.

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Total or partial hip replacement

Hip replacement is a treatment that constitutes replacing the damaged hip joint with a prosthetic hip joint. Hip replacement is done when all other methods of treating hip pain, dislocated hip joint and weakened hip joint have failed. While small damage to the hip joint can be naturally repaired, in case of severe damage to the articular cartilage, the only option is replacing the hip joint.

There are certain conditions that can lead to hip replacement

• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Hip Osteoarthritis
• Post Traumatic Arthritis
• Childhood Hip Disease
• Avascular Necrosis

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Is physiotherapy for knee & hip conditions covered by Insurance?

At Physiomobility, all physiotherapy services are provided by registered physiotherapists. If you have coverage through work or a private plan for physiotherapy, all or part of your treatments may be covered. We do not need a referral for physiotherapy. Occasionally, insurance payers may need a referral from a physician to reimburse your treatment cost. Our administrative team will assist you with direct billing to your insurance when your plan allows direct billing.

We are a licensed provider for WSIB & FSCO (MVA & Car Accident insurance providers in Ontario), so your physiotherapy treatments for injuries as a result of work or car accident are covered as long as you have an approved claim. Our administrative team is very experienced in dealing with WSIB & MVA and can answer your questions.

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When to see your doctor for knee or hip pain?

Seek urgent care or go to the emergency room if you experience a severe hip or knee pain after an injury or accident and can not put weight on your injured leg. You need to immediately see your doctor in the below situations:

• After an accident, your joint appears to be deformed
• You are not able to move your leg or hip
• You are not able to bear weight on the affected leg
• Intense pain, tenderness or heat
• Sudden swelling of the joint
• Signs of infection such as fever, chills, redness

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