Knee Pain Physiotherapy at Home in Ghorpadi, Pune

The knees of Ghorpadi residents are tested at doorways. The steps at the building entrance, the half-flight to the first landing, the kerb outside the gate, the climb into an auto: these small changes in level add up to hundreds of loaded bends every day. When a knee hurts, it is usually the stairs that people mention first.

The general causes and treatment are described in our knee pain physiotherapy guide. This page covers what that looks like in Ghorpadi and how a visit deals with it.

Steps, kerbs and lanes

• Older buildings without lifts. A first- or second-floor home means a staircase a few times a day, often with steep steps and a rail on only one side.
• Entrance steps and kerbs. Many gates have a raised threshold, and lanes have uneven edges where a knee can twist.
• Standing in queues. Time spent at the bus stop or the crossing keeps the knee loaded without movement, which stiffens it.
• Evening strolls. People walk in the quiet lanes of Sopan Baug or along the compound paths, and a sudden increase in distance causes pain the next day.
• Getting down to a mat. Prayer, yoga and sitting on the floor to play with children take the knee into deep bend.

What happens at a home visit for knee pain

The physiotherapist asks about the onset, the movements that hurt, the pattern of swelling, stiffness in the morning, and any previous injury or surgery. The examination covers how far the knee bends and straightens, the strength of the thigh and hip muscles, the alignment of the legs and how you walk. In your home you can be asked to go up and down a few steps and sit and stand from your own chair, which shows what a clinic couch would not.

Treatment generally includes gentle mobilisation to ease stiffness, strengthening for the thigh and hip, balance work, and advice on pacing, footwear and weight management. When the knee is very irritable, rest periods and ice or heat may be advised for a time. Older adults with arthritis often benefit most from regular, modest exercise, which is explained further in our arthritis physiotherapy guide. The back pain page for Ghorpadi describes the sister problem, as the hips and back often share the load.

Looking after the knee between sessions

• Take stairs one step at a time, leading with the stronger leg going up and the painful one going down.
• Walk on the flattest lane at a calm hour, with a bench or a wall to rest by.
• Do your strengthening exercises on the planned days even when the knee feels better.
• Use a chair of normal height, or add a firm cushion, rather than dropping into a low seat.
• Avoid kneeling or deep squatting until the physiotherapist says you may.

The article on why knees hurt on stairs gives more explanation.

A knee that needs a doctor soon

See a doctor quickly if the knee becomes hot, red and swollen with a fever, if you cannot bear weight after a fall, if the joint is visibly out of shape, or if the calf swells and aches. A knee that locks in a bent position also needs medical review before any exercise.

Book in Ghorpadi

Use the booking page and mention the floor, whether there is a lift and how the stairs look. Read the Ghorpadi area page for the localities covered, and the post-surgery page if you have had a joint replacement.