Sore Knees? We can help!

Sure, you might joke around about it just being a sign of getting older. But knee pain affects those of all ages, and might actually be something more serious than just a little irritation now and then. Knee injuries are one of the most common reasons people visit their health practitioners.


But we’ve got good news: so many common knee injuries are easily treatable with the help of a well-trained physiotherapist. They will create a treatment plan that is uniquely yours, with a blend of hands-on treatments at the clinic, gentle exercises for you to learn and continue at home, and possibly a custom-fit knee brace. With an ideal balance of these modalities, you’ll be well on your way to a healing and happy knee again!

Knees are made up of four components: bone, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons. These four parts work in tandem, like a well-oiled machine, to make up one of the most complex joints in our bodies – even though it might seem simple to the naked eye. This means that there’s a lot of things that can go awry, due to impact, activity, aging, or just general wear and tear.  


We’ve laid out a few of the most common knee injuries, and how they can be helped. While it’s not an exhaustive list, this can a great place to start if you’ve been experiencing some knee pain lately.

Meniscus Tears 

This is usually what people refer to when they’re talking about “torn cartilage” in the knee. The menisci (you have two of ‘em!) are rubbery wedges that connect your thighbone to your shinbone. They can tear either suddenly (ouch!) or slowly over time with aging.


If your meniscus tears suddenly, you might hear or feel a pop! After that, pain, swelling, and tightness might increase over the next few days. Thankfully, regular physiotherapy, combined with specific stretches, will help dramatically ease this.

Iliotibial Band Syndrome

Sure, it sounds like a mouthful, but you might have heard this spot more commonly referred to as your IT band.


You’re at risk for pain here if you are, or have been, a long distance runner – but it can also affect anyone with an active lifestyle. It might start off as a mild irritation, then gradually build to a more severe discomfort. It happens when the IT band rubs repeatedly against the knee joint.


Along with bracing, your physiotherapist might recommend foam rolling, thermotherapy, and some strengthening exercises for you to do at home: all of these can treat pain and get you back in action.

Tendonopathy

Yep, this bad boy isn’t just in elbows! It’s also called “jumper’s knee,” and while it’s commonly found in athletes who – you guessed it – jump, it can also affect any physically active person. Swelling, pain, and stiffness might be felt underneath the kneecap.


A well-fitted knee brace will apply pressure on the right tendon to help reduce pain, or a seemingly-simple strap can offer support and absorb the shock in the knee. Additionally, your physiotherapist will likely recommend some gentle exercises and stretching for you to do regularly, as well as some good old-fashioned rest. You’ll be jumping back into your active lifestyle before you know it.  

ACL Tears

Living in a ski community, this is likely an injury you’ve heard of before! But it’s not just skiers that this all-too-common ligament tear happens to – even just quickly changing your direction can cause it.


Injuries to the Anterior cruciate ligament are graded on a scale of one to three, with a grade 3 referring to a complete tear that likely will require surgery. But even minor strains can put you out of commission for a little while, as they can be pretty painful!


Bracing is an effective solution, both for minor ACL strains and for post-op care in severe cases. The added support will ensure that the ACL heals properly, and can prevent further injury from happening.


Here at Creekside, we are proud to be custom-fitters and suppliers for both DonJoy Defiance (shown below!) and Bauerfiend – two companies that make some of the highest-quality ACL braces available.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t end there. Other knee injuries include tears to the MCL and LCL (the two sister-ligaments to the ACL!) as well as Bursitis – inflammation of the little sacs of fluid that protect the joint – fractures, and arthritis.  


If you’re experiencing one of these injuries – or something else entirely – in your knees, don’t worry: we can create a treatment plan that combines the right amount of physical therapy with exercises tailored just to you, as well as some supportive bracing if needed. You’ll be moving forward – literally – before you know it.