Knee pain
Runners knee
Patellofemoral pain syndrome, sometimes also called “runner’s knee,” is the most common of all running ailments, accounting for 16.5% of injuries according to one recent study. It’s characterized by a dull pain that is “behind” or “around” the top of the kneecap. Typical aggravating motions include squatting, running (especially downhill), descending stairs, and prolonged sitting. If you have patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS), you will also likely have pain when resisting leg extension, and possibly tenderness if you push against the kneecap itself. This is one of the most common knee conditions we see, our first objective is to establish why you have preenting with these symptoms which can be due to bad foot wear, poor biomechanics (weakness or tightness in certain muscles causing an altered gait). Our therapist will aim to alliviate your pain before putting together a bespoke rehab plan for you to get you active again.
Cartilage pain
Cartilage structures and functions can relatively easily be harmed, often resulting in damage. Cartilage damage often occurs due to trauma or an associated medical condition. The most common cartilage damage is caused to the knee. If surgery is recommended (ie. Shoulder repair, back surgery) it is often advisable to strengthen the muscles around the joint before the date of surgery as this will speed up the recovery time after surgery. Our physical therapists regularly work with patients pre and post cartialge surgery to aliviate pain, restore range of motion and strenghen the muscles around your knee.
Illiotibial Band/ IT Band/ ITB
Pain from the ITB commonly occurs on the outside of the hip and above and outside the knee. The ITB is a long tendon like tissue which runs along the outside of the hip to the outside of the knee. Runners commonly get conditions associated with tight ITB and this is known as runners knee. Our therapists can tackle tight Illiotibial Bands and address the underlying conditions which cause it enabling people to run and walk pain free.
Cruciate Ligament damage and repair
You have four main stabilising ligaments in your knee. The anterior cruciate ligament is an important, internal, stabilizer of the knee joint, restraining hyperextension. It is injured when its biomechanical limits are exceeded (over stretched), often with a hyperextension mechanism. Formerly, this occurred most often in a sports contact injury, when other structures were frequently involved. A particularly severe form of the contact injury is called the"unhappy triad" or "O'Donaghue's triad", and involves the anterior cruciate ligament, the medial collateral ligament, and the medial meniscus.
Presently, ACL injury is more commonly a non-contact injury from a sudden changing in direction while sprinting. Both forms occur more frequently in athletes than in the general population and are prevalent in GAA, football, rugby, basketball martial arts, and artistic gymnastics. It is also known to be about three times more common in women than men.
The consequences of the injury depend on how much the stability of the knee is affected, and the extent to which other structures have been involved, and this can vary on a case-by-case basis. If instability is evident, particularly rotatory instability, then the menisci will get injured, sooner or later, setting the scene for progressive, degenerative, arthritis of the knee. It is our job in South Dublin Physical Therapy to prepare patients with the best strength work pre surgery to encourage more rapid rehabilitation post surgery where we will work to reduce the swelling, encourage greater range of motion and reestablish your knees strength and balance into your daily activities.
Clinic opening times:
Monday to Friday
8.30am to 8pm
All services are strictly by appointment only
0863658815 / 0877982803