Knee arthritis (osteoarthritis) one of the leading causes of disability in our country. Affected individuals report significant levels of pain and loss of function including both daily and recreational activities. Although initially associated with older adults this condition can also occur in a significant percentage of younger adults. Thankfully most knee arthritis cases can be...
Previous research has shown exercise has a protective effect on knee cartilage and the development of osteoarthritis. Cartilage is a metabolic tissue dependent on loading and movement to improve its’ tissue health. Authors have found both sedentary individuals and high frequency marathon runners to be at an increased risk of osteoarthritis, but importantly active individuals...
Research continues to be published highlighting the importance of exercise for the treatment and prevention of knee arthritis. Our previous blogs have described active participants in weekly exercise have a lower risk of knee arthritis compared to their sedentary peers. This latter group has the greatest risk of symptomatic knee arthritis due in part to...
Our understanding of knee arthritis has changed significantly over the last 10 years with greater research on knee cartilage as well as the process of arthritis. Knee arthritis remains one of the most common diagnoses we see in our Boulder Physical Therapy and Lafayette Physical Therapy clinics. We have moved away from the old “wear...
Knee arthritis is one of the most common knee pain conditions treated in our Boulder Physical Therapy and Lafayette Physical Therapy offices. Physical Therapy remains the gold standard of care for the conservative treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Multiple research studies support the utilization of manual therapy and exercise for patients with this condition. Including articles...
Hip and knee osteoarthritis are some of the most common orthopedic conditions affecting middle to older aged adults. in our Boulder Physical Therapy and Lafayette Physical Therapy offices we successfully treat these conditions with a combination of education, manual therapy, and exercise. Research has shown exercise remains one of the most effective interventions for patients...
Manual therapy and exercise remain the key conservative treatment interventions for patients with knee arthritis. In our Boulder Physical Therapy and Lafayette Physical Therapy clinics we successfully treat knee pain and lost function associated with knee arthritis. In some individuals conservative interventions are not enough to improve function and they may elect to undergo a...
Total knee replacements are the final treatment for end stage, severe cases of knee arthritis. They remain one of the most successful orthopedic surgeries for their ability to reduce pain and disability associated with this condition. In our Boulder Physical Therapy and Lafayette Physical Therapy clinics patients often ask if the knee replacement has a...
Arthroscopic surgery remains a common procedure for patients with knee arthritis and degenerative meniscal tears despite medical evidence questioning its’ utilization. Previous research papers have not shown a clinically significant benefit for this procedure and some have shown it has not outperformed a placebo surgery for these conditions. The increasing evidence has led to medical...
The vast majority of musculoskeletal conditions and diagnoses are not life threatening or time sensitive and allow for conservative treatments, including Physical Therapy, to be utilized prior to surgery. In our Boulder Physical Therapy practice we commonly see outcomes consistent with the current research on the utilization of Physical Therapy instead of surgery for common...