Knee pain? Here’s why the team at MyoFit Clinic says a physical therapy-first approach is the best way to avoid orthopedic surgery

By Dr. Adam Cramer, PT, DPT; MyoFit Clinic

The knee is one of the most used joints in the body and can easily take the repetitive stress of day-to-day use. When the knee is pushed beyond its limits, or turned in a direction it isn’t meant to, it can cause pain and injury. When this happens, physical therapy is the best first option for treatment.

What Can be Done About Knee Pain?

For many, the first step following a knee injury is to consult with a surgeon, even though the individuals with knee pain prefer not to have surgery. Yet, an orthopedic surgeon’s specialty is surgery, and he or she has never made anyone walk again themselves, so there is limited appreciation for the process of helping someone walk again conservatively without pain.

If you’re having difficulty with walking because of pain, consult a specialist who focuses on improving walking and reducing pain themselves, such as an independently owned physical therapy provider, which should be the first point of contact for pain and especially knee pain.

By consulting with an independently owned physical therapy provider, there is no conflict of interest. In orthopedic surgical groups and hospital systems that have their “own” physical therapy clinic, there is the ethical dilemma of referral for profit, prioritizing high-cost surgery versus low-cost, effective physical therapy. You will not have success in that environment because its model is designed so you ultimately end up having orthopedic surgery.

Independent physical therapists focus only on low-cost, low-risk physical therapy treatment, and not high-cost, high-risk surgical procedures. No referral is needed for physical therapy in the state of Ohio, and your medical insurance will cover the cost of treatment. This is your best option to fully avoid orthopedic surgery.

MRIs and X-rays are not needed to diagnose injuries, especially knee pain, when we all have abnormalities within our joints. Imaging can produce false positives resulting in unnecessary surgeries. Steroid injections and other injections offered by orthopedic surgeons have demonstrated ineffectiveness by not properly addressing the functional limitations (lack of motion and strength) that an individual with knee pain has. Based on available evidence, steroid injections can actually deteriorate tendons, promote cartilage loss and create bone fractures under the cartilage in your joint.

Physical Therapy for Knee Pain
All the invasive procedures mentioned above do absolutely nothing to correct the underlying problem in the first place. They’re just treating the symptoms. The underlying problem with most joint pain is lack of motion and strength. It’s quite simple. If you work at improving how well you move, you will move better. Cartilage in joints is like a sponge. When it is used it will soak up all the nutrients around it while getting rid of waste products in the joint that can degenerate cartilage further if the joint is not exercised. Movement is the key.

By focusing on the structures that make us move, such as muscles, you will undoubtedly move better with fewer symptoms. When the knee is stressed through exercise, it promotes strength, blood flow increases, and oxygenation and ultimately healing occur.

Physical therapy treatment for knee pain will include hands-on treatment to promote blood-flow, healing and range of motion. Dry needling will help reduce pain while promoting healing and muscle contraction. Therapeutic exercise will promote strengthening and stabilization of the knee joint to reduce excessive shearing/rotational forces that can lead to further damage of the joint. You will have a thorough understanding of how to maintain and treat your symptoms independently.

By first seeing an independent Doctor of Physical Therapy, who is not affiliated with a hospital or surgeon, you will reach your goals fast and avoid surgery.

Adam M Cramer, PT, DPT, is a licensed Doctor of Physical Therapy and the founder of MyoFit Clinics in Chardon (440-286-1007), Middlefield (440-632-1007) and Ashtabula (440-993-1004). Call now to schedule your appointment. Visit MyoFitClinic.com.