3 benefits of doing physical therapy for your knee at home

Have you noticed stiffness, swelling and pain in your knee joints that has persisted for over three weeks? It’s possible that you’re dealing with a knee condition that needs at-home physical therapy treatment. Nearly half of all adults in the United States develop musculoskeletal conditions that persist for more than three months. Many of these conditions involve the knees. Physical therapy can be useful for treating various conditions, including most knee-related conditions. You should consider at-home PT treatment if you’re experiencing a knee problem.

Can someone with a knee condition benefit from at-home physical therapy?

Yes, at-home physical therapy sessions can significantly benefit patients with knee conditions. These benefits include:

• Building muscle strength around the knee — Strengthening the muscles around the knee joint can help protect it and reduce stress on the knee. It can also improve your knee’s functionality. Your physical therapist can help you build strength from a computer or other electronic device at home.

• Reducing inflammation — When the tissue in your knee joint has become painful and swollen, your physical therapist can guide you through gentle at-home exercises to reduce inflammation.

• Improving range of motion — Exercises led by an experienced virtual physical therapist can potentially improve your range of motion in your knee joints. Physical therapists can use strategic movements and stretches to reduce pain and inflammation. One of their primary aims is to improve how well you can move your knees. They’ll work toward improving your knee flexion and extension for maximum joint functionality.

What knee conditions might necessitate at-home physical therapy?

There are a variety of knee conditions that at-home physical therapy treatment can help. These are some of the most common:

• Osteoarthritis — Osteoarthritis is a condition that involves the degeneration of the knee joint over time. It usually occurs in older adults but can result from frequent overuse and injury. For osteoarthritis patients, the knee cartilage begins to wear down until the bones in the joints rub against each other. It causes pain, inflammation and stiffness in the knees. Over time, it becomes more serious. At-home physical therapy is often helpful for osteoarthritis patients with advanced osteoarthritis. Virtual physical therapists can improve strength, pain and range of motion while you’re at home.

• Meniscus tear — A torn meniscus is a knee injury that usually results from sports games or physical activity. The tear results from sudden twisting movements. The meniscus is the cartilage in the knee joint that exists between your tibia and femur. When this cartilage becomes torn, it can cause knee instability, popping sensations, joint locking, stiffness, and pain or discomfort. Physical therapy treatment is usually a helpful course of action for patients dealing with meniscus tears. This is because therapists can use exercise to strengthen the muscles around the knee joint while teaching you how to avoid exacerbating your tear. A virtual physical therapist can provide this treatment at home for patients with busy schedules or limited transportation.

• Plica syndrome — Plica syndrome is when the plica membrane that protects the knee becomes inflamed. This condition can result from a traumatic injury and frequent overuse. When a person develops plica syndrome, they’re likely to experience symptoms including pain, swelling, limited range of motion, a catching sensation in the joint, and trouble bending the knee without pain. 

Improve your knee condition with Agile Virtual Physical Therapy

Our Agile Virtual Physical Therapy team knows that getting to and from regular in-person physical therapy sessions can be time consuming. PT can be a big time commitment and may be especially difficult for patients with knee problems that limit their mobility. In-person physical therapy isn’t convenient for everyone. Fortunately, there is an alternative to in-person PT. Virtual physical therapy can be just as effective as in-person therapy and may be what you need to relieve your knee condition.

Virtual PT can be done from the convenience of your own home. It requires nothing other than a stable internet connection and a device with a video camera. You will meet with a licensed physical therapist who will guide you through each at-home session. You can get the right treatment for your knee without giving up any time outside of your session. The at-home care you need for your knee pain is here. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Agile Virtual Physical Therapy offers more than 400 licensed clinicians. We provide services in 45 U.S. states and free virtual screenings. 

Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment today.