Tulsa Spine and Rehab

We see a lot of patients dealing with knee pain and stiffness here at Tulsa Spine and Rehab. These problems usually arise after sitting for an extended period of time or after vigorous exercise (especially running). There are quite a few effective treatments, but there are also many things people are doing that aren’t as beneficial as one would tend to think. Interestingly, there are actually several different kinds of knee stiffness. Whenever people come in to have their knees checked, we must first pinpoint the problem because it will help us determine the best treatments.

When a patient is experiencing knee stiffness, that means that there is an issue with the joint. In every joint in the body, there is a fluid filled sac that lines or surrounds the end of the two bones. The fluid should be thick and viscous, like motor oil. Along with the sac is cartilage that lines the ends of the bones. Cartilage acts like a bumper—its job is to distribute load over a large area whenever pressure is applied to the joint. When the cartilage in the knee gets soft or rough, there will be a response in the fluid in the knee. It will get more watery than it is supposed to, which leads to knee stiffness.

We see a lot of patients dealing with knee pain and stiffness here at Tulsa Spine and Rehab. These problems usually arise after sitting for an extended period of time or after vigorous exercise (especially running).

Causes

The first and probably most common situation that results in knee stiffness is spending prolonged periods sitting down at a desk. After getting up and walking around, it may take 15 to 20 steps before you notice the knee gets lubricated and starts to feel better. The other kind of situation that results in knee stiffness is when people exercise too hard (walking or running, for example) or they have been standing for an extended period of time. Afterwards, they will end up with a stiff, achey knee that is often swollen for two to three days.

Should I get my knee stiffness checked?

If you experience stiffness without pain that goes away after a short time, it is still something that must be paid attention to. This means that you are starting to experience some changes within the joint itself. If knee stiffness and pain lasts for multiple days, you definitely need to get some help, because that will likely lead to osteoarthritis over time. More severe procedures such as arthroscopy can become necessary, and this is completely avoidable if it is addressed early.

Aren’t my knee issues just a natural part of aging?

These ailments are not just a result of aging. It is similar to the old wive’s tale where a person says that they can feel the weather coming in because of their knee. While there may be some truth to that, there are also 18-year-olds with the same complaints. Knee damage could be the result of sports, having a child, or working at an office. While there are more instances of knee issues in older people, it is not something to blow off. There are treatments and solutions available to help with knee issues no matter what age the patient is.

What treatments are available?

At Tulsa Spine and Rehab, we have different disciplines such as physical therapists, chiropractors, massage therapists, yoga, or personal training as some treatment options. One of the biggest mistakes that is often made is doing muscular type training. When people experience knee injuries, they might think they need to do activities like weight lifting or other classic gym exercises. The problem is, the joint is sensitive to pressure. Overloading will make the problem worse.

Quitting exercise entirely is also a mistake. Since exercise might have caused the knee to hurt to begin with, people will often decide to rest completely in order to heal. Instead, we have special tools such as the AlterG and Total Gym. The joint needs low-load, highly repetitive motion. That means that we want to put light pressure through the joint and do thousands of repetitions throughout the day. Some examples of ways to do this would be using a stationary bike, elliptical or recumbent bike, or getting in the pool and doing 20 to 30 minutes of light, easy motion every day. The knee stiffness should then come down over the course of a couple of weeks. Then you can begin exercising again safely, most of the time with more classic gym exercises. If you try these things on your own, stay away from high impact exercises like a treadmill, running, or squatting. If your knee still doesn’t get better, come in to get help.

If you’re experiencing knee stiffness, effective solutions are available. Contact Tulsa Spine and Rehab today.

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