One of the most common injuries treated by physical therapists is knee pain. From elite runners to sedentary individuals, one third of Americans report experiencing knee pain at some time in their life. Most people assume they have something wrong with their knees; however hip weakness may be the cause of their pain. Hip weakness mainly in the gluteus medius, which controls the position of your femur bone, can cause increased knee valgus leading to degeneration of the meniscus along with patellofemoral pain. Strengthening of the gluteus medius along with addressing any pelvic malalignment issues can prevent many spontaneous and overuse injuries in the knee.
Assessment of the entire body, in conjunction with the knee, allows physical therapists to treat not just the symptom but the cause of the pain. Whether it is knee pain or another symptom, the root cause of the dysfunction may be originating elsewhere in the body. Proper diagnosis of the original dysfunction is the key to treating and resolving the pain. The take away message, for anyone experiencing knee pain or treating patients with knee pain, is to be sure to look further up the chain and assess the hips as well as the knees to provide the best possible outcome.
”Most people assume they have something wrong with their knees; however hip weakness may be the cause of their pain.
Krista ClintonD.P.T.
