Knee Pain

When someone is experiencing knee pain, it is often thought the problem lies somewhere within the knee, but there are many other potential causes frequently overlooked. A tight Iliotibial band (muscle on the side of the thigh) can pull abnormally on the kneecap, causing knee pain. A tight psoas/piriformis muscle (two muscles in the hip region) can also influence the mechanics of the kneecap, causing knee pain. Another cause of knee pain can be attributed to the pelvis. If the pelvis is not properly aligned, it will affect the muscles connecting to the knee, altering the mechanics of the joint. And then there’s the spine. Nerves from the spinal cord exit the spine through the lumbar vertebrae and travel down both legs. A problem with the spine can irritate these nerves, referring pain to the knee. Understanding these mechanisms is the specialty of a myofascial trained physical therapist and may prove to be the cause of your pain.