Massage Therapy for Knee Pain

Do you have Knee Pain?

Our lower extremities are complex and support the weight of our body. This gives much opportunity for injury as we move through life. Most common injuries of the knee are :

Anterior Criciate Ligament injury
Meniscus Cartalege Tears

Massage Therapy Can Help!

At Advanced Alternatives, we understand that your Knee pain can be extremely painful and mentally challenging…and we’re here to help!  Our massage therapists are skilled in Medical Massage, Sports Massage, &  Myofascial Release for pain relief. You can count on us to locate, evaluate your symptoms and treat the cause. We Get Results! Our Goal is Your Wellbeing!

What is an ACL Injury?

The anterior cruciate ligament is located within the capsule of the knee and connects the femur (thigh bone) to the tibia (shin bone).

Pictured is a front-on view of the bones, tendons and ligaments that make up the knee. In the middle of the picture there is a ligament called the "Anterior Cruciate Ligament." It is this ligament, most commonly referred to as the ACL, which is damaged in an ACL injury.

The ACL is responsible for restraining excessive forward movement of the tibia and limiting rotational movement at the knee joint.

Symptoms of a Torn ACL

• There may be an audible pop or crack at the time of injury.
• A feeling of initial instability; may be masked later by extensive swelling.
• This injury is extremely painful, in particular immediately after sustaining the injury.
• Swelling of the knee, usually immediate and extensive, but can be minimal or delayed.
• Restricted movement, especially an inability to fully straighten the leg.

Cause of an ACL Tear

As with any sprain, an ACL injury is the result of excessive stretching or tearing of the ligament.

An ACL injury most commonly results from:

• A sudden stop or change of direction.
• A twisting motion at the knee joint.
• A blow or sudden impact to the front of the knee.

Athlete's involved in sports that require a lot of running and change of direction and speed; (especially contact sports) are most susceptible to ACL injury.

Preventative Measures: The following guidelines are for information purposes only. Seeking professional advice before beginning rehabilitation is recommended.

Although it is important to be able to treat ACL injury, prevention should be your first priority. So what are some of the things you can do to help prevent an ACL injury?

• Warm up properly 
  A good warm up is essential in getting the body ready for any activity.
• Rest and recovery 
  Rest is very important in helping the soft tissues of the body recover from strenuous activity. Be sure to allow adequate recovery time between workouts or training sessions.
• Stretch and strengthen 
  To prevent ACL injury, it is important that the muscles around the knee be in top condition. Be sure to work on the strength and flexibility of all the muscle groups in the leg.
• Footwear 
  Be aware of the importance of good footwear. A good pair of shoes will help to keep your knees stable, provide adequate cushioning, and support your knees and lower leg during the running or walking motion.

Massage Therapy
Since the damaged ligament lies within the joint capsule deep inside the knee; it is unavailable for massage palpation. However, there are a number of beneficial secondary effects resulting from Medical Massage. It is quite common to see various levels of muscle spasm in the surrounding muscles of the knee joint. Massage treatment to these muscles will be helpful to normalize the biomechanical balance around the knee. The Medical Massage Specialists at Advanced Alternatives Massage Therapy have training and expertise in sports related injuries and can offer assistance in alleviating the pain associated with this condition.

What is a Meniscus?

The menisci are made of tough cartilage and conform to the surfaces of the bones upon which they rest. The meniscus functions to distribute your body weight across the knee joint. Without the meniscus present, the weight of your body would be unevenly applied to the bones in your legs (the femur and tibia). This uneven weight distribution would cause excessive forces in specific areas of bone leading to early arthritis of knee joint. Therefore, the function of the meniscus is critical to the health of your knee.

Symptoms of a Torn Meniscus

Individuals who experience a meniscus tear usually experience pain and swelling as their primary symptoms. Another common complaint is joint locking, or the inability to completely straighten the joint. This is due to a piece of the torn cartilage physically impinging the joint mechanism of the knee. The most common symptoms of a meniscus tear are:

Cause of a Torn Meniscus

The two most common causes of a meniscus tear are due to traumatic injury (often seen in athletes) and degenerative processes (seen in older patients who have more brittle cartilage). The most common mechanism of a traumatic meniscus tear occurs when the knee joint is bent and the knee is then twisted.

Preventative Measures:

The following guidelines are for information purposes only. Seeking professional advice before beginning rehabilitation is recommended.

Your physician can use information about how the injury occurred and physical examination tests to determine the likelihood of a meniscus tear.

Almost any knee injury can initially be treated acutely with ice packs, rest, and immobilization. These simple measures will help to decrease swelling and pain in the joint.

Massage Therapy
Just as with ACL injuries, massage treatment considerations for meniscal damage will primarily focus on the restoration of biomechanical balance around the joint. The Quadriceps and various other muscles may be hypertonic in an effort to compensate for the injured knee. Sports Massage techniques performed by the therapists at Advanced Alternatives Massage Therapy may be helpful to speed injury recovery and reduce pain associated with this condition.

Why Choose Advanced Alternatives?

The following guidelines are for information purposes only. Seeking professional advice before beginning rehabilitation is recommended.

We can help relieve your Knee pain no matter what the cause.

Advanced  sports massage performed by our skilled therapists at Advanced Alternatives Massage Therapy have the specialized training needed to address your knee pain by softening scar tissue, assessing  how your patella (knee cap) is moving and will check your muscles for imbalances.  We’ll review your posture and help assess the actual cause of your pain, then suggest a treatment plan to get you feeling better fast!