A locked knee can be a concerning and frustrating experience. If you’ve ever felt like your knee was “stuck” or unable to move properly, you’re not alone. Knee locking is a common complaint that can stem from various causes, and while it may be alarming, physiotherapy can often help resolve the issue by addressing the underlying cause and restoring proper function.
At Expert Physiotherapy and Massage, we specialize in diagnosing and treating knee problems, including locked knee symptoms. In this blog post, we’ll explore why your knee may feel locked, what could be causing it, and how physiotherapy can provide effective treatment to help restore your knee’s function.
What Does “Locked Knee” Mean?
When people refer to a “locked knee,” they usually describe a sensation where the knee either cannot fully straighten or bend. This can feel like something is physically obstructing the knee’s normal movement, causing pain and discomfort.
A locked knee can present in different ways:
- Inability to fully extend the knee: The knee feels as though it is stuck in a slightly bent position and cannot straighten completely.
- Inability to fully bend the knee: The knee may feel “frozen” in an extended position, preventing you from bending it to walk, squat, or move freely.
- Pain and discomfort: The locked position may cause pain, swelling, and even muscle weakness around the knee.
There are several potential causes for a locked knee, and understanding the root cause is essential in determining the best treatment.
What Causes a Locked Knee?
There are several possible causes for a locked knee. Some of the most common causes include:
1. Meniscus Tear
The meniscus is a cartilage structure in the knee that acts as a cushion between the thigh bone (femur) and shin bone (tibia). A tear in the meniscus is one of the most common causes of knee locking. When a meniscus tear occurs, the torn piece of cartilage can get caught in the knee joint, preventing normal movement and causing the knee to feel locked.
2. Knee Ligament Injuries
Injuries to the knee ligaments, such as the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), can result in instability or altered knee mechanics. This can contribute to the feeling of a locked knee, especially if the knee is unable to move properly due to ligament damage.
3. Joint Effusion (Swelling in the Knee)
Swelling in the knee joint, known as effusion, can occur due to an injury, infection, or inflammatory condition like arthritis. When there is excessive fluid in the knee joint, it can cause a sensation of stiffness and restricted movement, making the knee feel “locked.”
4. Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint condition where the cartilage in the knee wears away over time. As the joint deteriorates, bone spurs can form, causing joint stiffness and potentially leading to a locked sensation. This is more common in older adults but can occur in individuals with knee injuries or repetitive stress on the joint.
5. Loose Bodies in the Knee Joint
Sometimes, small fragments of bone or cartilage can break off and float freely in the knee joint. These fragments, known as “loose bodies,” can get caught in the joint, causing a locked sensation, pain, and difficulty moving the knee.
6. Patellar Maltracking
If the kneecap (patella) is not tracking properly over the femur due to muscle imbalances or alignment issues, it can lead to discomfort and a sensation of locking or catching in the knee joint.
How Physiotherapy Helps Treat a Locked Knee
While a locked knee may sound serious, physiotherapy can often help alleviate the symptoms and address the underlying causes. A skilled physiotherapist will perform a thorough evaluation to determine the specific cause of the knee locking and design a treatment plan tailored to your needs. Here’s how physiotherapy can help:
1. Pain Relief and Swelling Reduction
The first step in treating a locked knee is managing pain and reducing swelling. Physiotherapists may use techniques like:
- Cold Therapy: Ice packs can help reduce inflammation and numb the pain, especially if there’s swelling in the knee joint.
- Elevation and Compression: Elevating the knee and using compression bandages can reduce swelling and promote healing.
- TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation): This technique uses electrical impulses to block pain signals and stimulate the release of endorphins, which can help reduce pain.
2. Improving Range of Motion
Once pain and swelling are under control, the next step is to improve the knee’s range of motion. Physiotherapists use specific exercises and techniques to gently restore movement to the knee:
- Joint Mobilizations: Gentle, controlled movements applied by a physiotherapist can help improve knee mobility and reduce the sensation of locking.
- Stretching Exercises: Stretching the muscles around the knee joint can help alleviate stiffness and increase flexibility, allowing the knee to move more freely.
- Manual Therapy: Hands-on techniques, such as soft tissue massage or myofascial release, can address muscle tightness and improve joint function.
3. Strengthening Exercises
Weak muscles around the knee can contribute to instability and knee locking. A physiotherapist will guide you through strengthening exercises to improve the muscles that support the knee joint, including:
- Quadriceps Strengthening: Strengthening the quadriceps (front thigh muscles) is crucial for stabilizing the knee and preventing locking or further injury.
- Hamstring and Calf Muscle Strengthening: Strengthening the muscles of the back of the leg can improve overall knee function and reduce strain on the joint.
- Hip Muscles: Strengthening the muscles around the hips can improve overall alignment and help prevent knee issues caused by muscle imbalances.
4. Addressing Underlying Conditions
If your locked knee is due to a specific condition, such as arthritis, a meniscus tear, or ligament damage, your physiotherapist will work with you to manage these underlying issues. For example:
- Arthritis management: Physiotherapists can provide education on joint protection strategies, as well as stretching and strengthening exercises to manage osteoarthritis symptoms.
- Post-surgery rehabilitation: If you’ve had surgery to repair a meniscus tear or ligament injury, physiotherapy is essential to ensure proper recovery and restore full knee function.
5. Education and Preventative Care
A key part of physiotherapy is education. Your physiotherapist will teach you how to modify your activities to avoid aggravating your knee, such as:
- Proper biomechanics: Learning how to move and bend correctly can reduce strain on the knee joint.
- Ergonomics and lifestyle changes: If your knee locking is related to a specific activity (e.g., sports, work tasks), your physiotherapist can recommend ergonomic adjustments and safe movement strategies.
Conclusion: Physiotherapy Can Help Unlock Your Knee and Relieve Pain
A locked knee is an uncomfortable and concerning symptom, but it doesn’t always require surgery or long-term reliance on medication. Physiotherapy offers a non-invasive, holistic approach to treating knee locking by addressing the root cause, improving joint mobility, reducing pain, and strengthening the muscles around the knee.
At Expert Physiotherapy and Massage, we specialize in diagnosing and treating knee problems, including knee locking. If you’re experiencing a locked knee or chronic knee pain, contact us today to schedule a consultation. Our team of expert physiotherapists will assess your condition and create a personalized treatment plan to help you get back to your daily activities pain-free.
Call to Action
If your knee is feeling locked or you’re struggling with knee pain, don’t wait. Book an appointment today with one of our physiotherapists and start your journey to pain relief and improved mobility.