Our knees are an incredibly important joint in our bodies and with all of our everyday activities. You can really appreciate this fact if you've ever suffered any kind of knee injury. Below is an overview of the knee joint, some education of the structure of the knee, types of knee injures, injury prevention and how physical therapy can help in recovery and injury prevention.

The knee joint is really two joints" the patellofemoral joint, where the large bone of the upper leg connects with the knee cap; and the tibio-femoral joint, where the upper leg bone hinges with the large bone of the lower leg. The menisci (lateral and medial) are pads of cartilage that further stabilize the bones, and provide shock absorbency.

So you have a "bad knee"; knee injuries can be grouped into two categories: acute macro-traumatic, or injuries that result from a single event; and micro- traumatic, repetitive injuries that occur over time.
An example of an acute macro-traumatic injury would be a rupture or tear of a ligament. Perhaps the most common among these injuries is a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), a condition usually caused by over-rotation of the joint. This type of injury commonly occurs in both sports and occupations where there is excessive twisting.

Most micro-traumatic injuries are due to overstress of normal tissue. Instead of damage from one event, the knee suffers many repetitive injuries over a period of time. Micro-trauma often occurs as well with a sudden increase in exercise level.

There is, unfortunately, no quick cure for a knee injury. Physical therapy plays a key role in treating and rehabilitating the knee, but you and your attitude toward recovery are the biggest factor in achieving a successful outcome. Your physical therapist will design that will combine two main components:

• Maximum protection, a series of exercises designed to help motion. Activities in this phase might include water walking, swimming, leg press, mini- squats, etc.;
• Return to function and maintenance, an exercise sequence to restore strength. These activities are a functional progression, that is, a gradual return to normal activities using exercises that simulate the knee stresses of your normal activities.

To prevent injury the most important thing to remember is that your knee's tolerance for stressful activities will decrease with age and loss of conditioning. A decrease in your level of activity over a period of time will also contribute to the vulnerability of your knees. There are many things you can do to prevent injury however. With a physical therapist's guidance and some common sense, you can pursue an exercise program that will be your best protection from injury. A physical therapist will first evaluate your condition at which they can identify your predisposed factors, in other words the things that make you more or less vulnerable to a knee injury.

Physical therapy can help with any knee injury as long as you recognize that you are the most important participant in the healing and prevention process. Whether you are currently suffering from a knee injury, or tying to avoid one, your physical therapist has the skills to help. It all starts with a careful evaluation; afterwards your physical therapist will establish a exercise regimen best suited to your condition. You don't need to be an "expert" to avoid or overcome injury, but you may need to learn some new habits. At the conclusion of your therapy your therapist will provide you with a home exercise program designed to be implemented into your daily life to avoid further injury and sustain your gains. The goal is to return you to a normal life equipped with the skills you need to prevent re-injury.

Source: APTA

Physicians Physical Therapy Service is proud to join other benevolent companies here in Arizona that participate annually in helping the United Food Bank stock there shelves with food to help feed those less fortunate. This is the 3rd Annual Christmas in July Food Drive. The event kicked off on June 30, 2009 at Famous Dave's BBQ in Mesa. Our hope is that with your help we will make a difference in helping to feed the hungry during these hot summer months.

We will have boxes at four of our PPTS locations. Those included are: Scottsdale, Central Phoenix, Arrowhead-Glendale and Mesa-Gateway. They are happily accepting any donations, both food or monetary. No contribution is too small so please look up the participating locations and help give whatever you can. Below are some facts that help illustrate the need for giving to those in need right here in Maricopa County.
These are the most recent statistics for Maricopa County:

• *More than 464,000 (12.5%) people live in poverty.
• *37% of those living in poverty are children.
• *Over 1,042,000 (28%) are "working poor."
• Respondents to a Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) survey listed FOOD as their major need.