Knee Pain Physiotherapy at Home in Hirabaug, Pune

Ask someone in Hirabaug what their knee does badly, and the answer is rarely a sport. It is the walk to the market, the stairs of an older building, the squat at the Indian toilet or the fold on the floor at prayer time. Knees that cope with level ground often fail at exactly these moments, which is why a plan has to be built around your real routine and not a generic list of exercises.

The page on knee pain physiotherapy covers causes such as osteoarthritis, ligament strain and kneecap pain. What follows is about treating the knee in a Hirabaug home.

Errands that load the knee

Mahatma Phule Mandai, the large retail vegetable market in Shukrawar Peth, is busiest at weekends and on holidays. A trip there means walking, standing in a queue and then carrying a full bag home. The weight of the bag adds to the load on the knee on every step, and on stairs it is added again. People often keep the habit of carrying everything in one hand, which also twists the pelvis and makes the sore side work harder.

Other common strains are the squat on an Indian-style toilet, getting down to the floor for meals or puja, and the steep stairs of older buildings where the steps are narrow and the rail is far away. In each case the knee is asked to bend deeply while holding your body weight. That is a lot to ask of a joint that is already painful.

How a home visit is planned

• Assessment. The physiotherapist checks the knee for swelling, range and stability, tests thigh and hip strength, and watches you sit, stand and walk.
• The stairs. You go up and down your own flight, and the physiotherapist notes which step height and which side of the rail suits you.
• Strengthening. Exercises for the thigh and hip start sitting or lying and move to standing and step work. The target is control of the knee, not just a stronger muscle.
• Movement. Gentle bending and straightening, with hands-on techniques if the joint is stiff.
• Pain relief. Where it helps, heat or electrotherapy is added for a short period so that exercise is more comfortable.

If your knee trouble began after an operation, the programme described under post-surgery rehabilitation in Hirabaug applies. If a parent's knee pain is part of a wider problem with balance and falls, read about elderly physiotherapy in Hirabaug.

Looking after the knee between visits

Pacing matters more than anything else. Walk on level ground for the time that your knee allows, and judge it by how the knee feels the next morning, not during the walk. If it is stiffer or more swollen the following day, the distance was too far, so cut back by a third and build up again.

Sort the shopping into smaller loads, or split it between two trips. On stairs, lead with the stronger leg going up and the sore leg coming down, and use the rail. Keep the thigh exercises going on most days, as they are the part that makes the biggest difference over time. Our article on why knee pain worsens on stairs explains the mechanics.

Knee problems that need a doctor first

A knee that becomes hot, red and very swollen, especially with fever, needs medical attention without delay. So does a knee that locks and will not straighten, gives way with a pop followed by swelling, or hurts after a fall when you cannot put weight on the leg. Calf pain and swelling after an operation or a long period in bed should also be checked by a doctor promptly.

To have the knee assessed at home, book a visit. More about our service is on the Hirabaug physiotherapy page, and the Swargate knee pain page covers the wider area.