Knee Pain Treatment & Relief in Singapore

Knee Pain Treatment & Relief in Singapore

Symptoms of ligament tear

1

There is visible swelling in the knee, which starts to turn purple because of the area’s improper blood flow. Blood build-up from the injured ligament induces swelling.

2

A partially broken ligament does not produce a pop sound, whereas a fully ruptured ligament produces a pop sound.

3

The knee can’t work correctly, and you may feel you can’t manage it.

Treatment options for knee pain: knee pain from ruptured ligaments

A ruptured ligament in the knee, depending on the severity of the injury, can take a long time to recover. In the case of a minor ligament tear, taking a good amount of rest and proper anti-inflammatory medications is good enough to treat the injury for a few weeks. But for severely ruptured ligaments, there are standard treatment options to treat the injury completely and such includes:

Physical Therapy Treatment

Physical therapy exercises for particular ligaments will help repair damage to ligaments and restore full knee function.

Bracing

Using a knee brace or crutch can help the knee stabilize and stop lateral movement, which can cause ligament injury and prevent healing.

Knee Surgery Treatment

Regular care can not work with extreme injuries associated with other lesions, and the doctor will most probably prescribe a knee surgery treatment as a solution in those situations.

Schedule a call

Get your treatment started by scheduling a call with us. We will get back to you soon.

Signs and Symptoms of Knee Pain

Swelling an stiffness

This is usually present in the early stage of the injury and may occur at the time of the injury to 48 hours after injury. Due to the excess fluid in the knee, the joint may be difficult to bend or straighten. Swelling must be well managed through rest, elevation, compression and cryotherapy. Seek advice from a doctor who specialises in physiotherapy to know how to care for your swollen knees.

Inability to fully straighten the knee

Determining if the knee is not bending as a result of knee pain or something inside physically impeding movement of the joint is important. The reason for a locked knee may be due to a meniscus tear, loose bony fragments or muscle tears. An X-ray or an MRI scan can be helpful to determine the cause.

Weakness and instability

Your knee may feel unstable when you are running or even walking. It may give way or buckle, causing you to lose balance or fall. This may be related to a knee sprain, muscle strain/tear, or ligament injury/tear.

Redness and warmth to the touch

This may be accompanied by swelling and are considered as signs of inflammation.

Popping and crunching noises

Audible and palpable crepitus accompanied by movement of the knee may indicate cartilage issues. These noises are heard when the joint surfaces are not gliding smoothly on top of one other, causing friction and the wearing of the cartilage.

Knee Joint Pain Treatment Options in Singapore

Your knee pain treatments are dependent on the severity and nature of your injury.

1

Mild injury

e.g. muscle soreness or bruising

Follow the RICE protocol (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation)

2

Moderate injury

e.g. sprains and knocks but still able to walk

Knee Brace or support

 

Muscle re-education (activation and strengthening)

 

Anti-inflammatory medications

 

Electrotherapy modalities (e.g. ultrasound, radiofrequency therapy)

3

Severe injury

e.g. unable to weight bear, established tears

Use of walking aids (e.g. axillary crutches, walking frame)

 

May require surgery (an X-ray or MRI scan will be needed)

4

Degenerative injury

e.g. cartilage damage, bone spurs, osteoarthritis

Activity modification

 

Muscle tension release and strengthening exercises

Knee pain physiotherapy in Singapore

Your initial visit to see a physiotherapist would ensure a correct diagnosis and proper management of your knee pain. This can be achieved through a series of examinations such as gait evaluation, palpation, range of motion measurements, strength measurements, balance assessment and/or swelling measurements.

 

During the acute stage of the injury, physiotherapy aims to help to reduce pain and inflammation. Gentle massage, muscle activation and electrotherapy modalities can assist with that. It is important that you are participative in rehabilitation as some strengthening and stretching exercises will be given to help fully restore the knee’s function. You also will discuss your goals with your physiotherapist so that there will be a mutual understanding of your expectations.

Knee pain clinic in Singapore

Like any other joints of the body, the knee gets painful when there is an abnormal load on it. When the knee has an ideal alignment, the force going through the knee does not cause injury. Being the centre joint of the leg, abnormal forces from the hip or ankle joint will always have an impact on the knee. At Balance Core, our physiotherapists are always trained to identify the root cause of knee pain. Our assessment of knee pain involves a detailed analysis of functional movements, aggravating movements and the entire lower limb strength, control and flexibility.

 

Through a series of guided exercises, facilitated muscle stretching, postural advice and activity modifications, we ensure that every client gets quality health care and fastest recovery. To book an appointment, please call us at 64582575, or message us at 91714325

Reviews

Reviews

Wenjia Dong
Wenjia Dong
2022-09-04
I booked an appointment as my stiff neck had been hurting for 2 months despite going for a few massage sessions. My therapist Lecindra quickly identified the problem area and massaged the painful knot out, healing my neck after just one session. She was very patient and reassuring throughout. She even diagnosed problem areas in my back and glutes I had not known about, and taught me exercises to fix them before things get worse. I left the session having gained much needed awareness about my body, and I would definitely recommend everyone to try this out 🙂
Tina
Tina
2022-03-21
Chloe from Balance Core was extremely patient and understanding of my pain points during my sessions. Besides pressing and relieving my pain points, she also taught me some simple exercises to do daily, which help me too! Thank you very much, Chloe, for being a kind listener and Balance Core for the provision of the relevant facilities!
Catherine Grant
Catherine Grant
2022-02-12
I would thoroughly recommend physios Michael and Chloe. Their knowledge, care and treatment is excellent. Their focus is soley on my wellbeing and recovery. They appreciate my questions and provide helpful advice to support my recovery. The clinic is very welcoming yet professional.
Jarvis Lee
Jarvis Lee
2021-12-28
I've been having whole back and pelvic area pains for many years and have been to countless massages to try to alleviate the pain. Michale (balance core) spent 7 sessions not just helping me to relieve the pains, but teaching me about how to correct my posture in walking, running, jumping, tennis etc. He's given me the awareness and skills to remedy my situation and I'm very grateful. I do wish they taught these things I'm primary skill as I've had to unlearn a lot of my bad habits. I highly recommend Balance Core, and Micheal has been nothing short of patient and amazing.
Grace Ling
Grace Ling
2021-12-27
I strongly recommend as they are very professional and helped me design the exercises, thus avoiding a knee surgery. Special kudos to Chloe Ng for her patience and taking time to listen and the provide the exercise plan.
Zain
Zain
2021-11-29
I (young adult) had recurring knee, calves & lower back related strains that have been affecting me for years and I finally decided to visit a Physiotherapist. I was assigned to Ms. Clare who professionally worked to understand my (not very positive) muscle memory habits & postures and identifying the root cause. I appreciate the breakdown of in-depth physio terms along with required routines/forms into simple and clear laymen terms that I can easily remember and continually develop the right postures/routine into my daily life. In summary – it is great feeling many years younger and no longer be fatigued by my recurring strains. Thanks to the Team @ Balance Core along with Ms. Clare for having high expertise and reliability 👍
Junpeng Lin
Junpeng Lin
2021-10-23
It was always a pleasant session with Clare as she took time to ask about how I feel and understand my situations. Very professional. Recommended their service for those who need help.
Danielle Wong
Danielle Wong
2021-10-06
Early Sept I had terrible backaches after some physical office work. After 6 sessions with you, I recovered 85% of my normal self. Now I will perform the exercises you taught me so as to achieve more improvement. I have learnt to adjust my body posture to be more natural with less tensed muscles. Appreciate your patience and the 'lessons' on how muscles work. Thanks Chloe, I enjoyed the sessions and the 'chit chats' we shared.
Wong CheeKui
Wong CheeKui
2021-09-28
The Principal Physiotherapist, Michael, of Balance Core Physiotherapy Centre is a personal friend of my for 7 years. It has never occurred to me that I need to see him until I fell from the ladder and fractured my right ankle few months ago. 1.5 months into the accident, the orthopaedic referred me to see a Physiotherapist which I immediately turned to Michael. As I was still in crutches (both sides), I got my dad to drive and accompany me to see Michael. Michael assessed my injury and my x-ray films, massaged a few points, guided me on light exercises and taught me how to use the crutches more effectively and how to use just one crutches and told me to come back in a week. Miraclely, I went back a week later with just one crutches aid and I could come independently in a taxi. And on the 3rd or 4th visit, i went without crutches and I could drive there myself. This speaks alot on his skills as a Physiotherapist. Other than skills, Michael is also a honest and ethical person. Although he knew that I claim my insurance for the Physiotherapy sessions, he discharged me after 7 or 8 visits because he assessed that my legs were 90% corrected and the other 10% will heal by itself. He could have earned another 2, 5 or even 10 sessions of Physiotherapy until my legs are 101% healed but he didn't. This speaks alot of the honesty and professionalism in him which is hard to find now in this society.

Schedule a call

    or

    Statistics show that 40% of elderly Singaporeans have experienced pain in their knees for more than five years, with women being more predisposed to having knee problems than men. There are a few factors that put your knees at the risk of pain and early degeneration.

     

    1) Being overweight or obese increases stress on your knee joints and knee caps, even during ordinary activities such as walking or going up and downstairs. Losing weight can significantly reduce the compressive force on your knees, thus decreases chances of knee pain.

     

    2) Having weak and tight muscles and a previous knee injury can also increase the risk of knee injuries and pain. Strong muscles are needed to stabilize the knee joint and knee cap while good flexibility allows the joint to move through its range of motion.

     

    3) The sports that you play may put greater stress on your knees if it involves high impact pounding on to the joints. This also applies to occupations that involve prolonged standing or excessive heavy lifting.

    knee diagram

    Common Cause of Knee Pain

    Many knee problems result from continual wear and tear on the knee while others result from a sudden movement or an injury that strains the knee. Many structures in the knee can cause pain when injured or strained. These include ligaments, muscles, tendons, joint capsule, cartilage and meniscus.

     

    A traumatic incident such as a blow to the knee or a sudden twist of the knee usually causes a sprained or strained knee ligament or muscle. This may be accompanied by cartilage and menisci tears as well. On the other hand, inflammation of tendons is often due to overuse during certain activities such as jumping, running or cycling. Jumper’s knee is a common condition that often occurs with sports such as basketball, and it presents with tendonitis of the patellar tendon. When the cartilage in the joint gradually wears off due to repeated excess stress on the knee joint, it is known as knee osteoarthritis. Knee osteoarthritis often affects the older population and is the most common cause of their knee problem.

     

    While knee ligament tears are the most common cause of knee pain, let’s learn more about it.

    What are Ligament Tears?

    Fibrous tissues that connect our bones with other bones are what we call ligaments. It strengthens the joints and allows the movement of the joints to be natural. Because of the high density of collagen, ligaments have high tensile strength. Ligaments also give the brain proprioceptive inputs and encourage the body to conduct complex sports activities. But in some cases, ligaments may get damaged due to excessive bending or twisting of the knee.

     

    Ligament tears are most common for athletes or those who are physically active. Running, jumping, or any other physical activity that involves exerting force on the legs (primarily the knees) usually causes ligament tears. And because the ligaments are an internal organ, most of us are unaware of the strength capacity of it and that wrongly doing the said physical activities can lead to knee pain from ligament tears.

    Common Ligament Injuries

    Athletes and individuals in Singapore who enjoy high impact and high-speed sports like baseball, badminton, and soccer are most likely to get ligament injuries. This happens as the knee and ankles become vulnerable during the said activities. Some may think that getting enough training and exercise will exempt them from knee injuries, but with just one wrong move can cause a lot of knee pain and lead to knee problems. Below are two of the common ligament injuries one can experience.

    ACL TEARS

    The ACL or anterior cruciate ligament is one of the four major ligaments that connect the femur to the tibia in the knee. Half of the patients with ACL injury most likely experience knee pain and injuries in other parts of the knees. In high-impact sports such as baseball, football, basketball, rugby, and soccer, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is quite common. ACL accidents most often occur when the foot stays firmly fixed on the ground then the knee suddenly tries to change direction, leading to a rupture of the ACL. The most viable alternative after the injury is an ACL reconstruction since ligaments cannot cure themselves.

    MCL INJURIES

    Another major ligament in the knee joints that provides stability to the knee is the MCL. The MCL is positioned between the femur and tibia in which its purpose is to avoid the knee from opening. Its preventive characteristics often get injured when there is an impact from the outside, causing a knee joint to open up. The majority of MCL injuries are also linked to ACL and meniscus. When there is an MCL injury or pain, surgery is often not necessary, and patients will proceed very well with their lives with the aid of a knee brace to ensure stability.

    Symptoms & The Top Treatment Options for a Ligament Tear in Singapore

    The ligaments found in the knee can be torn for different reasons. Ligament rupture can be a partial or a total rupture, which can affect the type of knee pain treatments the doctor will advise you. There are four main ligaments found in the knee which helps to connect the femur and tibia, and such are the following:

    ACL

    Anterior cruciate ligament

    PCL

    Posterior cruciate ligament

    MCL

    Medial collateral ligament

    LCL

    Lateral collateral ligament

    When you have a ruptured ligament, it can be difficult to function and do your daily activities. With proper knowledge of ligament tear causes/reasons and symptoms, avoiding this injury won’t be a problem.

    Schedule a call

    Get your treatment started by scheduling a call with us. We will get back to you soon.

    Essential Nutrients for Ligament Tear Recovery Singapore

    The ligament is a fibrous tissue, with the main function of connecting bones and preventing an irregular joint movement. It takes a long time to repair fractures in ligaments. Good nutrition can, however, help accelerate the process of recovery.

    Proteolytic emnzymes

    When you’re experiencing a ligament tear, the first thing to do is to reduce inflammation in the area. A way to do so is to consume proteolytic enzyme-rich foods which are particularly helpful because of their anti-inflammatory characteristics. Pineapples, yoghurt, kimchi, ginger roots, and asparagus are foods that are abundant in proteolytic enzymes.

    Vitamin C

    In combination with Proteolytic Enzymes, Vitamin C also has excellent anti-inflammatory properties and is one of the most essential nutrients our bodies need during a recovery process. Vitamin C is not a body-synthesized vitamin. Therefore patients would have to consume it in order for the body to obtain its benefits. The formation of collagen in the body requires Vitamin C, which is essential in ruptured ligament recovery. Citrus fruits like orange, lemon, lime and vegetables like broccoli and tomatoes are foods high in vitamin C that you may want to add to your diet if you want to heal faster.

    Zinc

    Zinc is also an excellent mineral for battling inflammation. If one portion of the body is damaged, the zinc found in our body will automatically redirect towards the injured section for inflammation control. There would thus be a zinc deficiency in other areas of the body. It is essential to eat foods rich in zinc such as oysters and veal liver in order to avoid zinc deficiency. Another way to obtain zinc is by taking supplements.

    Calories

    Physical therapy, a possible surgery procedure and proper nutrition are needed to ensure rapid recovery for ligament injuries. With that said, calories will be needed in the process of healing. The recovery process may slow down if patients try to limit their calorie consumption. It is not hard to obtain good nutrition. Although your movements are limited, you can still ask someone to help you get enough food every day.

    Protein

    Protein is our body’s building block, and that’s why it is one of the important factors for all healing processes. It’s primarily easy to obtain protein from foods like eggs, soy, and beef. Also, protein deficiency contributes to multiple body ailments. If in the case that you are allergic to certain protein-rich foods, you can opt for supplements which will most likely give you the same benefits.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Do I need an appointment?
    Yes, our treatment is generally on one to one basis, and you will need to contact us to schedule an appointment.
    Do I need a referral letter from a doctor?
    In Singapore, physiotherapy sessions are regulated by the Allied Health Professions Council, and under the current regulation, this is not a mandatory requirement to obtain a referral from a doctor before seeing a physiotherapist. When the attending physiotherapist deems that the patient needs medical attention, we will refer the client to a relevant doctor for further care.
    Do I need to take an X-ray or MRI scan before seeing a physiotherapist?

    Your physiotherapist will perform a thorough assessment to evaluate the problem and identify the problem’s root cause. A detailed explanation will be given so that you can fully understand your issues and the outline of subsequent physiotherapy treatment plans.

    Thereafter, a treatment involving muscle release, specific muscle activation or joint mobilization, etc. will be rendered to provide symptomatic pain relief and address underlying root problems.

    What attire should I wear for my appointment?
    Comfortable clothing – preferably T shirt and shorts. We do provide clothings for you to change into if needed.