Resources
Orthotic Inserts & Shoes
Orthotic inserts can be a helpful piece in the puzzle when it comes to managing knee pain. Orthotic inserts are insoles that can be placed into your footwear which alters the way your foot engages with the ground. By changing the way your foot interacts with the ground, the alignment and loads going through joints above the foot such as your ankle, knee and hip can also be changed.
Stem Cell Injections
Over recent years, a lot of attention has been focused on the potential for stem cells to treat osteoarthritis. This attention was largely due to claims that stem cells could regenerate the articular cartilage.
Viscosupplementation (Hyaluronan or Hyaluronic Acid)
This treatment involves a gel-like fluid called Hyaluronic Acid (HA) being injected into your affected knee. Hyaluronic Acid is a naturally occurring substance found in the synovial fluid around joints. It acts as a lubricant to enable bones to move smoothly over each other and as a shock absorber for joint loads.
Steroid Injection (Corticosteroid Or Cortisone)
The Cochrane Collaboration states that corticosteroid injections may cause a moderate improvement in pain and a small improvement in physical function, but that the quality of the evidence is low and results are inconclusive.
PRP (Platelet-Rich) Plasma
Both Autologous Concentrated Plasma (ACP) and Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) are injections that are derived from your own blood. Both processes
involve spinning or centrifuging the blood until it separates into layers.
Exercise Physiology for the knee osteoarthritic patient
EPs plan and deliver exercise-based interventions to optimise health, improve function and manage disability or age-related illness including chronic conditions. Exercise should be enjoyable and tailored to your needs, schedule, and social needs. An EP can help you to navigate your way to exercise and staying active long-term!
Radiofrequency Nerve Ablation
Radiofrequency nerve ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive procedure developed to treat pain by using high-energy radio waves to heat, and therefore destroy certain nerves that transmit painful sensations. RFA is typically only performed on sensory nerves, which are nerves that do not supply the muscles, so joint and muscle function remain unaffected.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound uses sound waves to heat and deliver energy to the structures in the knee joint. Apart from the benefits of heat (see relevant section), the sound waves are thought to create small amounts of trauma at the cellular level, stimulating a healing response.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is part of traditional Chinese medicine, and involves inserting fine needles into to specific acupuncture points around your knee and body. For painful conditions, sometimes electrical stimulation of these needles is used.
Capsaicin Cream
Capsaicin is the ingredient found in different types of hot peppers, such as chillies and cayenne peppers, that makes them spicy and hot. It is available as a dietary supplement and in topical creams that you apply to your skin.
The Psychology of Pain
Have you ever noticed that two people can have the same injury, but react to or have different experiences of it? The mind can be a powerful influence on how an injury is interpreted, processed and experienced by a person. In addition to receiving good physical rehabilitation, it’s also important to consider mental health during recovery.
Osteotomy
Osteotomy is an operation which changes the alignment of the lower limb by cutting the tibia or femur, and adding or removing a wedge of bone. It is most commonly done for arthritis which is localised to one compartment of the knee.
Exercise Physiology
Exercise Physiologist’s use exercise and physical activity for treatment and rehabilitation. For the knee OA sufferer, they will design exercise plans that achieve strengthening and functional goals, as well as a level of general fitness.
Physiotherapy
Keeping the affected lower limb and knee strong and mobile has been demonstrated to decrease knee pain, and enables the patient to exercise and maintain body weight goals which, in turn, off-loads the affected joint.
Total And Unicompartmental Knee Replacement
Overall, 90% of patients report satisfaction with their knee replacement. In approximately 90 to 95% of people, the majority of pain is relieved, deformity (crookedness) of the leg is corrected, and mobility is improved. Range of motion averages 110 to 115 degrees but patients with significant stiffness prior to surgery tend to achieve less overall movement than others.
Topical Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatories (NSAIDS)
Topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are applied to unbroken skin where it hurts in the form of a gel, cream, or spray. Topical NSAIDs penetrate the skin, enter tissues or joints, and reduce pain by blocking the production of prostaglandins. Drug levels in the blood with topical NSAIDs are very much lower than with the same drug taken by mouth. This minimises the risk of harmful effects.
ACL in Women's Soccer
IS THERE A PROBLEM?
As the Women's World Cup approaches, concerns are rising about the participation of top female football players, as many are recovering from
ACL injuries. Women's Football faces a higher risk of ACL injuries compared to men...