Three issues that frequently cause nerve pain in the knees

You have nerves in almost every part of your body, and they allow signals to be sent to and from the brain. However, nerves can also be irritated or pinched, which can lead to pain. 

The knees are one area of the body that often become painful, and medical studies show that up to 25% of adults are affected by frequent knee pain. A nerve problem is one issue that can lead to pain in the knees. Fortunately, a physical therapist can help you learn about common problems that trigger nerve pain in the knees, and they can help you treat your knee pain as well. 

These three issues commonly cause nerve pain in the knees

A few issues that often lead to nerve-related knee pain are: 

1. Sciatica — This issue occurs when the sciatic nerve that runs from your lower back to your feet is pinched or irritated. The most common symptom of sciatica is a burning or shocking pain that can run down the entire length of the affected nerve. 

2. Knee ligament injuries — A branch of the sciatic nerve, called the peroneal nerve, runs around the outside of the knee. Injuring a knee ligament can lead to inflammation in knee soft tissue. In turn, the inflammation can cause the peroneal nerve to be pinched and add to the pain you feel in your knee. 

3. Common daily activities — There are other ways that the peroneal nerve could be pinched or irritated. Many of these are activities that people do every day. For instance, crossing your legs at the knee can cause the peroneal nerve to be pinched. Also, people who spend a lot of time squatting down have a higher risk of pinching this nerve. 

What can a physical therapist do to treat nerve pain in your knees?

There are many therapy methods that a physical therapist can use to address nerve-related knee pain. Some of the techniques that your therapist might use to help you include: 

• Therapeutic exercises intended to strengthen muscles around the knee and take pressure off the pinched nerve. 

• Gait evaluation designed to reveal walking or running stride issues that could be triggering your nerve problem. 

• Shoe and orthotic recommendations intended to help address gait issues. 

• Soft tissue mobilization that can help reduce tension in soft tissue around the knee. 
• Taping 

Armor Physical Therapy offers treatment options for nerve pain in the knees

Experiencing nerve pain in one of your knees? Our team of specialists at Armor PT is ready to help you find effective treatment for your pain. We can perform a free screening on you that’s designed to pinpoint the source of your knee pain. Next, our physical therapists can create a personalized therapy plan intended to reduce your pain and prevent it from returning in the future. 

Not able to come into one of our clinics because of your pain? No worries! Our team offers services you can use right from your home, including at-home care and virtual therapy. 

Contact us today for more information about our knee pain treatment options or to schedule an initial appointment.