Sitting down in a comfortable chair should be a relaxing experience, but for some people, the act of sitting leads to a stiff and painful knee.
Estimates based on medical research show that about 25% of adults are affected by frequent knee pain. Physical therapists are one of the medical professionals you can turn to for help with knee pain. These specialists excel at helping people determine the cause of their knee pain and stiffness after sitting.
Three issues that can lead to knee stiffness and pain after sitting
Physical therapists can perform an assessment to determine why your knee is stiff and painful after you’ve been sitting for a while. Such an assessment often involves asking you questions about your lifestyle and medical history. It could also include a range-of-motion test. There are three causes that your assessment is likely to pinpoint as the source of your knee symptoms, and these causes are:
- Knee osteoarthritis — The most likely culprit behind these specific knee symptoms is knee osteoarthritis. This condition occurs as the cartilage in your knee wears out naturally over time. The wearing out of cartilage can cause increased friction and inflammation in your knee, which can lead to swelling, stiffness and pain. One medical study estimates that among people who are 60 or older, 10% of men and 13% of women have knee osteoarthritis.
- Meniscus tear — The researchers in one medical study claim that about 14% of people have a meniscus tear. The meniscus is a C-shaped piece of cartilage in the knee. It acts as a shock absorber between the ends of the thighbone and shinbone. Sudden stops or changes of direction while walking or running can cause tears in the meniscus. This injury is particularly common in football, basketball, rugby and soccer players.
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury — It’s estimated that about 200,000 ACL injuries occur in the U.S. every year. Of these, about 95,000 are complete ruptures of the ACL. The ACL is one of the ligaments that stabilize the knee joint. When it’s torn or overstretched, this ligament can be the source of stiffness and pain in your knee.
Border Therapy Services can help treat stiffness and pain in the knee after sitting
Are you tired of feeling stiffness and pain in your knee after sitting for a while? Our physical therapists at Border Therapy Services are primed to assist you. We offer free screenings, and these can help reveal the precise cause of your knee symptoms. With this information, our team can then create a personalized treatment plan for your knee.
Take the next step to start getting our help for your knee stiffness and pain. Contact our team today for more information or to schedule a free screening.