The bending of your knee makes movements like walking or sitting down in a chair possible. However, many of us don’t pay any attention to such movements until they begin causing pain. 

Pain in a stiff knee when bending it can be linked to a number of causes. However, it’s vital that you determine what’s causing your knee symptoms before treating them. Otherwise, your treatment has a lower chance of reducing the symptoms. Physical therapists can help you learn about common issues that could be causing your knee pain.

Three issues that can cause pain in stiff knee when bending it

Deciding to see a physical therapist for pain in your stiff knee when bending it is a smart choice. One reason is that these specialists can help pinpoint the root cause of your symptoms, and three issues that commonly cause these specific symptoms are: 

1. Knee osteoarthritis — It’s estimated that 10% of men and 13% of women 60 years old and older have knee osteoarthritis. A physical therapist can evaluate you to determine if this is the source of your knee symptoms. They can also offer effective treatment for knee osteoarthritis. In fact, one medical study reports that physical therapy led to a 52% improvement in symptoms for the participants who received it. 

2. Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PPS) — This condition is commonly referred to as “runner’s knee.” It involves a softening or wearing away of cartilage around the patella or kneecap. PPS tends to cause increased pain when bending the knee. A review of medical studies on physical therapy for PPS reports that 10 of the 10 studies reviewed reported significant improvements in PPS symptoms. 

3. Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries — The ACL is a ligament that helps provide stability to your knee joint. Injuries to the ACL are very common in athletes; it’s estimated that up to 200,000 ACL injuries occur annually. One study reports that therapeutic exercises after ACL surgery led to a 38% improvement in knee range of motion. 

Find out how Continuum Wellness can help treat pain in your stiff knee when bending it

Do you feel pain in your stiff knee every time you bend it? Our team at Continuum Wellness can help you treat the source of your pain. We offer free screenings designed to reveal the root cause of your stiffness and pain. With this cause in mind, our team can build you a personalized therapy plan to treat it. 

Don’t wait to start getting our help with your stiff, painful knee. Contact our team today for more knee pain treatment information or to schedule a free screening.