We know how frustrating pain from knee arthritis can be.  Due to pain and lost mobility, each year hundreds of thousands of people undergo knee replacement surgery.  But surgery is not for everyone.  If you are looking for an alternative, manual therapy is proven to decrease pain in people with knee arthritis.

Manual therapy is a specialized form of physical therapy.  Treatment is delivered by your therapist’s hands.  When done by a skilled therapist, it reduces pain, improves joint mobility, and restores normal walking patterns.

Manual Therapy: Proven to Alleviate Pain from Knee Arthritis

The U.S. Army and Baylor University studied 134 people with painful knee arthritis.  Half of the participants performed a home exercise program for 4 weeks.  The other half performed the same home exercise program combined with 8 sessions of manual therapy.

Manual therapy was performed by a licensed physical therapist.  All manual therapy sessions lasted about 30 minutes.  Each participant then performed stretching, and strengthening exercises and rode a stationary bicycle.

After 4 weeks, the manual therapy group improved their pain and function by 52%. The home exercise group improved their pain and function by only 26%.  Also, 1 year later those receiving manual therapy were less likely to be taking pain medication and were more satisfied with their treatment.

3 Manual Therapy Techniques That Decrease Knee Pain

Physical therapists use clinical reasoning and their hands to apply pressure on muscles and manipulate joints.  This restores movement and decreases pain caused by muscle spasms, muscle tension, and arthritic joints.

Therapeutic touch is applied in a skilled fashion.  This calms or facilitates your body’s nervous system.  Often, you experience an immediate decrease in pain, improved muscle function, and improved mobility.

Mobilization and manipulation consist of movements of joints and muscles. All of these treatments are pain-free.  Below are 3 examples of knee joint mobilizations that help restore joint mobility and decrease pain.

Manual therapy treatment usually lasts 15 to 20 minutes.  Your therapist then prescribes 3 to 4 specific exercises targeting your unique problem.  For pain relief to last, you must perform these exercises at home.

See Your Physical Therapist for an Initial Evaluation

Before applying any manual therapy treatment, your physical therapist must thoroughly examine you.  All people with knee arthritis do not receive the same treatment.  Therefore, your program is always personalized.

If you are having knee pain, the sooner you see your physical therapist the better your outcome will be.  The longer you wait the stiffer, slower, and weaker you become.  Also, your brain is good at compensating for how you move to avoid pain.  You don’t want to develop bad habits that are hard to break.

Call your physical therapist and schedule an initial evaluation.