Ross Allen is a former Ireland rugby International & County Football Player. Ireland’s only dual qualified Chartered Physiotherapist & Chiropractor.
Welcome to the Physio Clinic, Naas
Ross Allen
B.Sc. (Hons) Physiotherapy; M.I.S.C.P.
B.Sc. (Hons) Chiropractic; D.C.; M.C.A.I.
Dip. Sports Injury Therapist
Sports Injury Specialist: Former underage Irish rugby international & county footballer
Knee, Shoulder & Joint Pain: Having successfully eradicated my own chronic knee & shoulder pain I understand how these conditions can be particularly responsive to appropriate treatment
Knee Pain & Arthritis
Knee injuries are very common in the ageing population. This population most commonly suffers with pain secondary to arthritis. This type of pain is characteristically worse with weight bearing activities such as going up stairs.
Arthritis usually develops due to poor biomechanics, excess weight or lack of exercise. Most patients consider arthritis as an overuse injury & are often surprised to be informed that arthritis can also develop due to lack of exercise or poor movement mechanics. In fact, despite common beliefs to the contrary, the research now demonstrates that long-distance runners do not have an increased level of knee pain associated with arthritis & indeed, running may provide some protection against the development of the condition (Cymet & Sinkov 2006).
Poor movement mechanics can lead to a joint being taken through unhealthy ranges of motion that can give rise to non-neutral loading. The old approach was to rest & avoid activities that would ‘stress’ the knee. It is of utmost importance to develop strength & control around the knee. This increased strength can help to decrease the load on the degenerative joint and can make everyday activities such as standing, kneeling or running much less painful for the arthritis sufferer.
Knee Sports Injuries
Knee injuries are very common in athletes, especially those involved in field sports that require sharp changes of direction such as soccer, gaelic, tennis & martial arts. A blow to the outside of the leg can lead to excessive movement at the knee joint & consequent injury to the joint ligaments. These injuries may also occur if the athlete pivots suddenly while the foot is planted on the ground.
A click taking place at the time of injury is a warning sign that significant damage may have occurred & in such cases the athlete would be wise to have as assessment by a physiotherapist as soon as possible. Injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament, the medial & lateral collateral ligaments or the meniscus are frequent consequences of trauma in sports people. In the worst-case scenario, all three of these ligaments may be injured concurrently.
Early diagnosis is critical in the treatment & management of knee injuries in sport. In the majority of conditions a physiotherapy rehabilitation programme will allow the individual to return to sport without any negative consequence from the injury.
References
Cymet, C., Sinkov, V. Does long-distance running cause osteoarthritis? Osteopath Assoc. 2006 Jun;106(6):342.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16790540
To find out more, contact the Physio Clinic Naas & Newbridge now on:
(045) 874 682
or email us at info@physioclinic.ie
Read more at: https://www.physioclinic.ie/conditions/knee-pain/
