How do we approach knee pain, based on a Postural Restoration understanding of the knee?
We are talking here about a gradual development of knee pain that now demands your attention, not an identifiable sport injury or accident. Your knee hurts when you walk, squat, climb stairs, run, whatever.
In addition to examining the knee for joint or muscle injury, we are very interested in finding out why there are abnormal stresses causing pain at the knee, which may have led to injury. Abnormal stress is often the result of poor alignment of the knee joint bones and muscles, and of an inefficient, poorly balanced movement pattern. We assess the low back, the pelvis, hips and feet, for position and for appropriate muscle activity.
When the cause of pain is injury, inflammation, pain and weakness must be addressed and corrected. However, even in cases of injury, it is important to include correction of postural alignment in the treatment plan in order to minimize stress to the joint, to promote more rapid healing, and to ensure healthy movement patterns for the future.
