Got A Knee Injury? Consider Physical Therapy
A bad knee injury can really throw a wrench into your plans. It becomes harder to walk, climb stairs, and participate in your favorite sports or other recreational activities. Many people assume their only option is to mask the discomfort with pain medication–or undergo surgery. In reality, there’s a third choice: physical therapy.
Physical therapy provides an effective, evidence-based alternative for many knee injuries that can help you recover strength, mobility, and function. At GTS Physical Therapy, we’ll work with you to develop a treatment program that addresses your knee injury directly–that way, you can get back to living your life without going under the knife.
Hometown Strong
We’re excited to announce that Maddie Lindsey is the winner of the HomeTown Strong $500 giveaway for February! Maddie has generously selected the Flippin High School Golf Team to receive the $500 donation, supporting a cause close to her heart.
Congratulations To Our $500 Sweepstakes Winners!
We are thrilled to announce that Robert Elstner is the lucky winner of the $500 Sweepstakes as part of the GTS Physical Therapy Strive for Five featured in the Baxter Bulletin.
Additionally, we are excited to recognize Jarod Lung as the winner for the GTS Strive for Five featured in the Daily Quill. Both Jarod and Robert’s names were drawn from a pool of entries, and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate their wins. We hope this prize helps both of them continue their journey toward better health and wellness.
At GTS Physical Therapy, we are committed to supporting our community in achieving their goals—whether through physical therapy, education, or fun opportunities like this sweepstakes.
Thank you to everyone who entered, and stay tuned for more exciting promotions in the future!
Some of the Common Knee Injuries We Help Treat
There’s more than one way to hurt your knee. Here are a few of the injuries we frequently see at our clinic:
Ligament Injuries
- Your knee contains four main ligaments, and damage can range from mild overstretching to a complete rupture. While severe ligament injuries will generally require surgery to regain full function, mild injuries respond well to physical therapy. In both cases, our team is here to help you stabilize your knee joint and regain lower body strength.
Meniscus Tears
- A meniscus tear occurs when the cartilage in the knee joint is damaged, often from twisting or sudden movements. Like ligament tears, a severe meniscus tear may require surgery. However, physical therapy can strengthen the surrounding muscles, improve joint stability, and reduce pain, making it a non-surgical option for many cases.
Jumper’s Knee
- Jumper’s knee (or patellar tendinitis) is an inflammation of the tendon connecting the kneecap to the shinbone. Targeted exercises and stretching can reduce symptoms while preventing further injury.
Runner’s Knee
- Runner’s knee (or patellofemoral pain syndrome) is a condition where pain develops around the kneecap, often due to overuse or misalignment. Physical therapy focuses on correcting imbalances, improving knee alignment, and strengthening the leg muscles to relieve pain and enhance function.
Why Is Physical Therapy a Good Choice for These Injuries?
Physical therapy focuses on natural healing by using the body’s mechanisms. Instead of masking pain or removing damaged tissue, it encourages muscles, ligaments, and tendons to rebuild strength and function.
Three Benefits of Physical Therapy Over Surgery or Pain Medication
It Has Fewer Risks
- Surgery is hard on your body, and it brings with it a host of risks, from blood clots to long-term complications. Medications can cause unwanted side effects or, in some cases, dependency, making them riskier as well. Physical therapy’s all-natural approach sidesteps these concerns.
It Provides Personalized Care
- We tailor our physical therapy treatments to your specific injury. Your first session will consist of a comprehensive assessment in which we review your symptoms, health history, and recovery goals. We use this information to craft a one-of-a-kind treatment program.
It Takes a Holistic Approach
- Physical therapy’s emphasis on targeted exercises and its whole-body approach to treatment can help improve your overall health and well-being. In fact, our ultimate aim is to address the underlying causes that contributed to your injury in the first place, helping to minimize your risk of future injuries.
What To Expect From Your Treatment Program
Our team pulls from several techniques to ensure you get the care you need. After your initial assessment, here’s a general overview of what you can expect:
Pain Management
- Techniques like manual therapy and treatment modalities like hot or cold therapy can help reduce your pain while facilitating your body’s healing processes.
Mobility Work
- Improving your knee’s range of motion is an essential early step. It helps you move better, preventing falls and making it easier for you to move through treatment.
Strengthening Exercises
- Strengthening the muscles around your knee provides additional support and stability to the joint, helping to reduce pain and your risk of another injury.
Balance Training
- A knee injury can affect your balance and gait. These specialized exercises will keep you on your feet.
Functional Training
- Finally, we’ll work with you to improve your ability to perform day-to-day tasks, like climbing stairs. We’ll also provide you with a return-to-activity schedule to get back to what you love.
Sources: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12178-020-09678-0
Call Today To Get Started
Choosing physical therapy for knee injuries is a proactive step toward recovery. Schedule an appointment with GTS Physical Therapy to learn more about what physical therapy offers!
Exercise of the Month
Standing Knee Flexion
Start by standing up straight with the back of a chair in front of you to hold on to for balance. Slowly raise the heel of the leg you wish to work towards your butt by bending at the knee. Do not move the upper portion of your leg. Slowly lower your foot back to the floor. Repeat as directed by your provider. Repeat 3 sets of 10 reps each, and hold.
Staff Spotlight
Zoe Dunn, PCC/Tech
Zoe has been a valued member of the GTS team since March 2024, serving as a dedicated Patient Care Coordinator. Since joining us, Zoe has consistently demonstrated exceptional care, attention to detail, and a true passion for ensuring that our patients receive the best possible experience.
Her ability to connect with patients, ease their concerns, and provide support in every step of their journey has made a lasting impact. Zoe’s positive attitude, professionalism, and commitment to excellence have not gone unnoticed, and she is truly deserving of this recognition.
Thank you, Zoe, for your hard work and dedication. We are lucky to have you on our team, and we look forward to all the great things you will continue to achieve here at GTS!
Tony said “Zoe works very hard and is always a help around the clinic when I ask for it. Her decorating skills for the holidays and patient interactions are impeccable and everyone loves her. I can truly say our clinic wouldn’t operate without her and I feel like she deserves to be recognized for this.
