Struggling with Knee Pain? Consider Laser Therapy!
There’s no denying that knee pain can have a profound effect on your quality of life. You might struggle to go for a walk, climb stairs, or spend time with your loved ones–especially if movement seems to make your knee pain worse.
Unfortunately, many don’t realize there is a wealth of noninvasive approaches for treating knee pain, regardless of the cause. At Achieve Therapy, we recently added a new treatment option: laser therapy.
Laser therapy is a cutting-edge technique that reduces pain and inflammation while facilitating the body’s healing process. While it’s effective for a range of conditions, today, we wanted to explore how it can help with knee pain specifically.
Clinic Update!
Our amazing DPT, Kacee White, is making a move! While she’s been rocking it at our EGF clinic, she’ll soon be bringing her expertise and infectious energy to our Grand Forks clinic! 💪🌟
We’re thrilled for her to continue helping our Grand Forks community with all their physical therapy needs. If you’ve been wanting to work with Kacee, now’s your chance to catch her at a new spot!
Please join us in wishing Kacee all the best as she takes this exciting step! 🙌 We’re sure she’ll be making waves at the Grand Forks clinic in no time.
Understanding Knee Pain
Knee pain can develop for several reasons. Understanding the cause of your pain is the first step in developing the right treatment approach. While these conditions present unique challenges, laser therapy offers benefits for all of them:
- Osteoarthritis: Degeneration in the knee’s tissue that causes pain, inflammation, and stiffness
- Tendonitis: Inflammation of the tendons that leads to pain, especially during movement
- Meniscus Tears: Damage to a ring of cartilage in your knee, leading to swelling and difficulty bending the joint
- Bursitis: Inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs that cushion the knee joint, leading to tenderness and pain
- Other Overuse Injuries: Repetitive strain from activities like running or squatting can irritate the knee’s structures, such as the kneecap
Understanding Laser Therapy
Laser therapy uses focused light energy to penetrate deep into the body’s tissues. This energy stimulates cell activity, facilitating healing and reducing inflammation. The treatment is generally painless, although some people feel a gentle warming sensation.
Sessions typically last 5–15 minutes, depending on the severity of your condition. Many of our patients notice improvements after just a few treatments–and some report feeling better after just one session! That said, we do recommend multiple sessions. One of our PTs will assess your condition and let you know the duration that will work best for you.
Laser therapy requires no downtime, and you can return to your normal activities immediately after treatment.
How Does Laser Therapy Work?
- Increases blood flow to the affected area, bringing oxygen and nutrients to damaged tissues.
- Reduces inflammation, which helps reduce the swelling and stiffness contributing to pain.
- Encourages the body’s natural healing processes to repair damaged tissues.
- Interacts with nerve endings to reduce pain perception, offering relief without medication.
May Workshops
Knee Pain
A Comprehensive Approach To Knee Pain Treatment
At Achieve Therapy, we typically incorporate laser therapy into a comprehensive treatment program that aims to address underlying muscular weaknesses, alignment issues, or other concerns that contribute to your pain. Laser therapy is particularly beneficial at the start of your treatment. It offers several key benefits to help you experience better results, such as reduced swelling, enhanced tissue repair, and pain management.
Additional Strategies for Knee Pain Relief
Here are some of the other treatment techniques we might incorporate into your treatment program:
- Manual Therapy: Various hands-on techniques help improve joint mobility, reduce stiffness, and relieve pain.
- Therapeutic Exercises: Strengthening and stretching exercises help support the knee joint and improve overall function.
- Gait Training: Correcting improper walking or running patterns reduces strain on the knee and improves movement efficiency.
- Low-Impact Exercise: Activities like swimming and cycling improve mobility without putting excessive pressure on the knees.
- Bracing and Support: In some cases, wearing a knee brace can provide extra stability and help prevent further injury.
Our Patients Are Getting Great Results
Achieve has wonderful people and fantastic classes!
– Kari W.
I was so happy to apply all of the exercises to help my tendon in my shoulder heal. I’ve been struggling with an over use injury off and on for a little over a year. A little over a month here and its reversed the pain by 95% and gave me tools to continue and keep it that way. This…
– William S.
Consummate professionals who get you moving again. I highly recommend.
– Catherine B.
Can I Avoid a Total Hip or Knee Replacement?
No one wants to undergo surgery. It’s often expensive, and it can bring with it a host of risks and complications. So, if you’re struggling with hip or knee osteoarthritis, you might be wondering — can I skip surgery altogether?
The short answer? It’s very possible!
Osteoarthritis has no cure. However, you can slow its progression by staying active and living a generally healthy lifestyle. In fact, surgeons won’t actually perform a total joint replacement until they’ve seen that non-invasive treatments — such as physical therapy — aren’t effectively managing the condition.
As with most degenerative conditions, the earlier you start, the better. If you already have an OA diagnosis, the Achieve physical therapists can work with you to develop a customized management program that might include the following:
- An aerobic exercise plan based on your interests and abilities
- Targeted strengthening and stretching exercises to improve joint health
- Strategies for reducing pressure on your joints
- Strategies for improving your overall health and wellness
Even if you don’t have a diagnosis, following up on joint pain is essential, especially as you get older. Our physical therapists can let you know if that pain in your knee or hip is due to osteoarthritis or some other cause, such as an injury or muscular imbalance.
Want to learn more about successfully managing osteoarthritis without surgery? Call to speak to our friendly staff today!
May Staff Anniversaries
Nicole Chine | May 15th | 18 years
Thank you for your years of service.
May Staff Birthdays
Laurie Holte | May 9th
Kacee White | May 16th
Heather Walsh | May 20th
Cliff Lafreniere | May 26th
Wishing you a wonderful birthday.
We Are Hiring for PTA and PT positions!
Interested in Joining Our Achieve Therapy & Fitness Team?
The team at Achieve Therapy, LLC takes joy in helping people in our communities Move Better, Feel Better & Play Better. If you are passionate about delivering quality care and making a real difference in people’s lives, we want you at Achieve Therapy! To fulfill our mission of helping people achieve “Performance for Life,” Achieve employs team members that are innovative, independent thinkers who have a willingness to learn and are coachable.
Is Laser Therapy Right for You?
Laser therapy is often an effective option for many people experiencing knee pain. It’s safe, noninvasive, and can be combined with other therapies for even better results. If knee pain is limiting your daily activities, schedule an appointment with Achieve Therapy to learn more about how we can help!
Recipe of the Month: Roasted Carrot Salad
Ingredients:
- 2 pounds carrots peeled and sliced diagonally
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 1 package (4 ounces) Danish blue cheese, crumbled
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 3 cups arugula
Instructions:
- Begin by preheating your oven to 400 degrees F. Mix together the carrots, almonds, and garlic on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss to coat and spread out in an even layer.
- Roast the carrots for about 30 minutes until they are soft and the edges start to turn brown. Stir them twice while roasting. Remove from the oven and cool to room temperature.
- Transfer the carrots to a large bowl. Drizzle with vinegar and honey. Toss to coat. Add the blue cheese, cranberries, and arugula. Mix gently to combine.
Meet Our Team
Kacee White
PT, DPT
Clifford Lafreniere
PT, MDT
Your Journey Your Choice
Did you know we can see you for PT with or without a doctor or other healthcare provider’s referral? One of our physical therapists will evaluate you, and customize a treatment plan to reduce your pain and get you moving better. Refer yourself or someone you care about! Get started today!
