Woman consults with physical therapist on how to Ease Knee Pain From Arthritis Using Cold Laser Therapy

Ease Knee Pain From Arthritis Using Cold Laser Therapy

Knee pain from arthritis can be a frustrating and constant issue. Whether it’s a dull ache when you wake up or sharp pain while walking, arthritis in the knee can make even simple activities feel challenging. If you’re dealing with this type of knee pain, you may be looking for solutions to manage it and improve your quality of life. One highly effective treatment option is working with an Austin physical therapist and incorporating cold laser therapy into your treatment plan.

 

Recap: What Is Knee Arthritis?

Before diving into the treatments, it’s important to understand what knee arthritis is. Arthritis is the inflammation of one or more of your joints, and when it affects your knees, it can cause:

  • Pain
  • Swelling
  • Stiffness
  • Reduced range of motion

The most common type of arthritis in the knee is osteoarthritis, where the cartilage that cushions the knee joint gradually wears away. As this cartilage breaks down, the bones in the knee start to rub against each other, causing pain and inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis is another type of arthritis that can affect the knees, though it’s less common. This is an autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system attacks the joint lining.

 

No matter which type of arthritis you have, the pain can make it difficult to do everyday tasks like walking, bending, or climbing stairs. Fortunately, physical therapy and cold laser therapy are effective ways to manage this pain.

 

Why Physical Therapy Is Important for Knee Arthritis

When you work with a physical therapist, you are getting personalized care tailored to your specific condition. A physical therapist can:

  • Assess your knee pain and range of motion
  • Design a treatment plan to strengthen your knee muscles
  • Teach you exercises to improve flexibility and balance
  • Use manual therapy techniques to reduce pain and inflammation

The goal of physical therapy is to help reduce the pain, improve mobility, and slow down the progression of arthritis. By strengthening the muscles around the knee joint, physical therapy can take some of the stress off the joint itself, which reduces pain and helps protect the knee from further damage. At Move Empower Concierge Physical Therapy, our mission is to get you back to what you love rather that’s riding a bike, playing tennis, or even just playing with your kids.

 

Your physical therapist will likely guide you through a combination of strengthening exercises, stretches, and low-impact aerobic activities. These exercises help keep your knees moving and flexible, which is essential for managing arthritis symptoms.

Physical therapist tests a patient's knee and works on Ease Knee Pain From Arthritis Using Cold Laser Therapy

Introducing Cold Laser Therapy

One of the newer and more advanced treatments that some physical therapists use for arthritis is cold laser therapy. This non-invasive treatment uses low-level lasers to target painful areas and promote healing at a cellular level.

 

Cold laser therapy, also known as low-level laser therapy (LLLT), has been found to help reduce inflammation, ease pain, and promote tissue repair. It’s especially effective for conditions like knee arthritis, where inflammation and tissue breakdown play a big role in the pain you’re experiencing.

 

Cold laser therapy uses light to penetrate the skin and reach the affected tissues. The light from the laser stimulates the cells in the targeted area to produce more energy, which helps them heal and regenerate more quickly.

 

Here’s a simple breakdown of how cold laser therapy works:

  1. Light Penetration: The cold laser emits specific wavelengths of light that penetrate the skin and reach deep into the tissues.
  2. Cellular Response: The cells in the treated area absorb the light, which energizes them and encourages them to repair and heal.
  3. Reduced Inflammation: The laser therapy helps reduce inflammation by promoting better circulation and decreasing the swelling in the affected area.
  4. Pain Relief: By reducing inflammation and improving tissue repair, cold laser therapy helps to ease pain in the knee joint.

This process doesn’t involve heat, so it won’t burn or damage your skin. Instead, it works at a cellular level to encourage natural healing. Cold laser therapy is safe, painless, and has little to no side effects, making it a great option for people looking for non-invasive arthritis treatments.

 

Benefits of Cold Laser Therapy for Knee Arthritis

You might be wondering what makes cold laser therapy so effective for knee arthritis. Here are some of the key benefits:

  1. Non-Invasive Treatment: Unlike surgery or injections, cold laser therapy is completely non-invasive. There’s no need for needles, cutting, or anesthesia, which means no recovery time. You can receive the treatment during a physical therapy session and continue your day without any downtime.
  2. Pain Reduction: Cold laser therapy directly targets the source of your knee pain — whether it’s inflammation, muscle strain, or cartilage damage. By promoting healing in the tissue, this therapy reduces pain and helps improve mobility in the knee. For many people with knee arthritis, this means relief from constant discomfort.
  3. Reduced Inflammation: Inflammation is a big contributor to knee arthritis pain. Cold laser therapy reduces inflammation by improving circulation in the treated area, allowing your body to flush out inflammatory cells and deliver oxygen and nutrients to the damaged tissues.
  4. Faster Healing: Cold laser therapy speeds up the body’s natural healing processes. When the light stimulates your cells, it encourages tissue repair and regeneration, which can help prevent further damage to the knee joint and slow the progression of arthritis.
  5. Improved Range of Motion: By reducing pain and inflammation, cold laser therapy can help you regain range of motion in your knee. With less stiffness and swelling, you’ll find it easier to bend, walk, and carry out daily activities without discomfort.
  6. Safe and Painless: Cold laser therapy is completely safe when administered by a trained professional like a physical therapist. The treatment is painless — you might feel a slight warming sensation, but there’s no discomfort. This makes it an appealing option for people who are wary of more invasive procedures.
Physical therapist uses cold laser therapy on patient's knee to help Ease Knee Pain From Arthritis Using Cold Laser Therapy

Combining Cold Laser Therapy with Physical Therapy

While cold laser therapy is effective on its own, it works even better when combined with physical therapy. This is because cold laser therapy addresses the inflammation and pain in your knee, while physical therapy focuses on strengthening the muscles and improving joint mobility.

 

Here’s how this combination can be highly beneficial for easing knee pain from arthritis:

  1. Addressing the Root Cause of Pain: Cold laser therapy works to heal the damaged tissues and reduce inflammation, while physical therapy strengthens the muscles around the knee to prevent further damage. Together, they address both the symptoms and the underlying cause of knee pain, providing longer-lasting relief.
  2. Improved Mobility: Cold laser therapy helps reduce stiffness and pain, making it easier for you to participate in physical therapy exercises. By improving your range of motion, the therapy allows you to move more freely and get the most out of your physical therapy sessions.
  3. Faster Recovery: By combining cold laser therapy with physical therapy, you can speed up your recovery. Cold laser therapy promotes tissue repair, while physical therapy helps you regain strength and flexibility. This means you’ll be able to recover more quickly and get back to your regular activities sooner.
  4. Customized Treatment Plan: When you work with a physical therapist, they’ll create a treatment plan that’s tailored to your specific needs. They’ll evaluate your knee pain, range of motion, and arthritis progression, then determine the best combination of therapies — including cold laser therapy and specific exercises — to help you achieve the best results.
 

What to Expect During Cold Laser Therapy

Cold laser therapy is simple and straightforward. Here’s what you can expect during a typical treatment session:

  1. Initial Consultation: Your physical therapist will assess your knee pain and discuss your treatment options. If cold laser therapy is right for you, they’ll include it as part of your overall treatment plan.
  2. The Procedure: During the session, the physical therapist will use a handheld cold laser device to target the area around your knee joint. The device will emit light, which penetrates your skin and stimulates the cells in the affected area.
  3. Time: Each session typically lasts between 5 to 20 minutes, depending on the severity of your pain and inflammation.
  4. No Downtime: After the treatment, you can go about your day as usual. There’s no recovery time required.

You’ll likely need several cold laser therapy sessions over the course of a few weeks to see the best results. Your physical therapist will work with you to create a schedule that fits your needs and helps you achieve relief from your arthritis pain.

 

Who Is a Good Candidate for Cold Laser Therapy?

Cold laser therapy is a great option for many people dealing with knee arthritis, but it may not be the right solution for everyone. Here’s who can benefit from this treatment:

  • People with mild to moderate arthritis: Cold laser therapy works well for those with mild to moderate knee arthritis who are looking for a non-invasive treatment option.
  • Those who want to avoid surgery: If you’re not ready for knee replacement surgery or other invasive procedures, cold laser therapy can help manage your pain and delay the need for surgery.
  • People looking for natural pain relief: If you’re looking for a drug-free and non-invasive way to manage your knee pain, cold laser therapy is an excellent choice.

However, if your arthritis is very advanced or you have severe joint damage, cold laser therapy may not be enough on its own. In these cases, your physical therapist may recommend additional treatments or refer you to a specialist.

 

If you’re struggling with knee pain from arthritis, you don’t have to live with constant discomfort. Contact a physical therapist at Move Empower Concierge Physical Therapy today to schedule a FREE discovery session to see if cold laser therapy is right for your knee pain treatment.

 

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