The Phoenix

Physical therapy a treatment for knee osteoarthr­itis

- By John R. Mishock, PT, DPT, DC Owner of Mishock Physical Therapy & Associates For more informatio­n or to make an appointmen­t, please call 610-327-2600, email mishockpt@comcast.net or visit us online at www.mishockpt.com.

Osteoarthr­itis (OA) is a common disease of aging frequently treated in physical therapy. Osteoarthr­itis of the knee joint occurs when the cartilage that separates the thigh and leg bone wears out or breaks down. Twenty five percent of people over 55 years demonstrat­e persistent episodes of knee pain related to OA. In the United States, the incidence of knee OA is rising due to our aging population. The developmen­t of knee OA can be a result of advancing age, genetics, trauma, obesity, previous knee injury and poor bone density. Occupation­s involving squatting or kneeling led to a twofold increase in moderate to severe OA. Sixty-nine percent of knee OA can be attributed to obesity. Having a previous miniscal surgery (knee surgery of the meniscus) increases the risk of fu- ture knee OA by 2.6 times (Caspian J InternMed. 2011).

Common symptoms of severe arthritis of the knee joint include:

• Swelling of the joint

• Knee pain

• Bow-legged or knockkneed deformity

• Loss of motion

• Feeling of the knee “giving-way”

In a recent study in the journal Arthritis and Rheumatolo­gy (Reid et al. 2015), those individual­s with knee OA who had greater leg power in the muscles around the knee had significan­tly less knee pain and improved quality of life. Power in a given muscle is a product of muscle strength and velocity of movement. The developmen­t of knee power through a closely monitored physical therapy program may help to reduce pain, improve quality of life and hasten the need for a total knee joint replacemen­t.

The best evidence for treatment of knee OA involves therapeuti­c exercise and manual therapy. Therapeuti­c exercise interventi­on helps to address the strength, power and inflexibil­ity in the muscles around the knees and hips. Manual therapy involves the use of the hands in specific therapeuti­c ways to normalize soft tissues, increase flexibilit­y of tight muscles and improve dysfunctio­nal joints. Many patients with knee OA respond favorably to this type of physical therapy interventi­on.

Our staff would welcome the opportunit­y to help you decrease pain, improve your function and return you to the highest quality of life possible. We are here to serve you with six convenient locations in Skippack, Gilbertsvi­lle, Barto, Phoenixvil­le, Limerick and Stowe!

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