Nerve pain in the knee is often triggered by a pinched or damaged peroneal nerve, and there are many issues that can cause peroneal nerve dysfunction.
One of the most common causes of peroneal nerve dysfunction is knee trauma from playing sports. A study of sports injuries reports that about 55% of the patients surveyed had a peroneal nerve problem. However, there are other factors that can lead to peroneal nerve dysfunction besides sports-related trauma. Physical therapists can help you learn about these other factors, and they can help you find effective treatment for the nerve pain in your knee as well.
These four factors can also lead to nerve pain in the knee
Physical therapists are well versed in the musculoskeletal injuries people suffer; in fact, they’re specifically educated and trained to treat many of these injuries. That’s why physical therapists can be so helpful at identifying the root cause of your peroneal nerve dysfunction. Some of the factors that your therapist might identify include:
- Crossing your legs — The peroneal nerve runs around the outside of your knee. This leaves it open to being pinched when you cross your legs, especially if you do so for long periods of time.
- Squatting — Sports players like catchers spend a lot of time squatting down. There are many workers who must squat down regularly while they’re working as well. These people are more likely to develop peroneal nerve dysfunction. The reason is that squatting places more pressure on the outside of the knee where the peroneal nerve is located.
- Ill-fitting knee braces — Many professional and amateur athletes use knee braces for additional support. However, braces that are too tight can irritate or pinch the peroneal nerve, which can lead to knee pain.
- Wearing high boots — Hunters, farmers and many fashionable women wear knee-high boots. Unfortunately, such shoes can pinch or irritate the peroneal nerve, especially if they are tight.
How can physical therapists treat the nerve pain in your knee?
Helping you treat the symptoms of peroneal nerve dysfunction is something a physical therapist can do. These specialists can develop a personalized therapy plan to treat your symptoms, and this plan can include therapy techniques such as:
- Therapeutic exercises designed to strengthen muscles around your knee and improve lateral knee support.
- Shoe recommendations that can help you avoid peroneal nerve dysfunction in the future.
- Sport-specific therapy intended to help improve knee flexibility during play.
- Aquatic therapy that can help reduce pressure on your injured knee during therapy.
Excel Sports & Physical Therapy offers treatment for nerve pain in the knee
Suffering from nerve pain in the knee and not sure where you can turn for help? Excel PT has a team of experienced physical therapists who are ready and willing to help treat your pain. We can start by doing a free screening to determine the cause of your knee pain. Then, our specialists will create a customized physical therapy plan for you that can help:
- Reduce your pain.
- Improve joint flexibility and mobility.
- Increase your ability to do normal daily activities.
- Decrease your risk of future knee injuries.
You can even sign up for at-home care or virtual therapy sessions with us that allow you to get in-home therapy.
Contact our team today for more information about our treatment options for knee pain or to schedule an initial appointment.
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