Osteopath Hawthorn East treatment for the Pain Behind the Knee
An osteopath is a specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of bone, muscle, joint, and connective tissue disorders. Osteopathic care may be more hands-on than chiropractic care due to their longer treatment times and greater range of techniques. Dr. Abbas Din is an experienced osteopath who has been over 13 years of experience by combining his osteopathic, myotherapy, and years of expertise, Dr. Abs has helped many patients from the dancers at the Australian Ballet, triathletes, and ultra-marathon runners to powerlifters and competitive pole dancers, ensuring that they all recover from their injuries and able to compete successfully in their sports.
One such common condition Osteopaths can assist with is Bakers Cysts, which is common in the knee and typically form from repetitive stress. These conditions can lead to inflammation, which causes swelling within your joints that accumulate behind them and bulge out into a Baker’s cyst-like shape. Doctors of Osteo offers osteopathic treatments to help ease your discomfort. Our osteopaths are trained in palpation and manipulation releases muscle stress which is often experienced with knee pain.
What is a Bakers Cyst?
Named after the British surgeon, William Morrant Baker, a Bakers Cyst is a fluid-filled sack that develops at the back of the knee. The cyst usually presents as a fluid-like bulge that causes pain behind the knee - especially when trying to bend your knee to your glutes, or when getting up from sitting. It may also cause pain when weight-bearing and cause you to alter your usual walking pattern.
Why does a Bakers Cyst form?
Bakers Cysts commonly occur from injuries or conditions that cause inflammation such as Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Meniscal tear, Anterior Cruciate ligament (ACL) tear, or any repetitive work (e.g. standing or walking all day). These types of injuries can lead to inflammation and swelling within the knee, which travels behind the knee and builds up in the popliteal bursa (bursa behind the knee). Bursae (plural of bursa) are fluid-filled sacs that help lubricate and reduce friction within a joint. Excess fluid can accumulate within this space due to inflammation and over time, begin to bulge out the back, forming a Baker’s cyst.
What should you avoid doing if you have a Bakers Cyst?
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If it is an acute injury or severely inflamed and hurts to weight-bear, you may want to use crutches for 1 x week
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Avoid repetitive action: If the aggravating factor is being on your knees a lot, try using knee pads or a softer surface to lean on. If it's due to a repetitive motion such as rowing, you may want to consider a week’s rest.
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If the cyst forms after an acute injury, seek manual treatment!
What are the treatment options for a Bakers Cyst?
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Medication: The injury is due to an increase in inflammation in the area so anti-inflammatory drugs and creams can work well. If over-the-counter (OTC) medications prove ineffective, your General Practitioner may suggest a corticosteroid injection such as cortisol to reduce inflammation.
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Rest: As mentioned previously, using crutches or avoiding the action that causes the pain will help reduce fluid accumulation.
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Ice: Ice is known for its ability to decrease inflammation by constricting blood vessels. Wrap an ice pack in a cloth (do not put directly on the skin), and apply for 10 mins 3 x daily.
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Fluid Aspiration: Your General Practitioner may recommend a fluid aspiration where the excess fluid is drained out of the joint through an ultrasound-guided injection. This approach has been shown to work well for acute injuries. However, if the Bakers Cyst is a result of a repetitive injury it may return soon after if you don’t treat the cause.
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Hydrotherapy: This allows for exercise and fluid movement with low impact on the knee joint itself.
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OSMO Patches: These patches work to heat the area (over a period of a few hours) and draw out the excess fluid.
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Compression Bandage: It is important that the bandage is not so tight that it cuts off blood and nerve supply. We recommend placing a soft pad/handkerchief behind the knee cap to help with fluid drainage.
How can Osteopathy help with Bakers Cyst?
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In the initial consultation, Osteopaths can help you identify the possible aggravating and contributing factors to the development of your Bakers Cyst.
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Understanding the cause of the cyst through osteopathic assessment, and in some cases, radiographic imaging is important to prevent reoccurrence.
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Osteopaths will use a range of soft-tissue, massage, manipulation, stretching, and mobilization techniques to decrease pain, swelling and improve fluid drainage.
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Osteopaths may also identify weak muscles and provide exercises to assist in the load transfer placed on the knee.
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Exercises may also be prescribed with the aim of increasing mobility around the hip, knee, and ankle joint, which again assists in load transfer.
Get your Osteopathic Help with Doctors of Osteo
Osteopathy treatment has been a great way to help improve the body’s recovery, including Bakers Cyst. The Doctors of Osteo team is a group committed to natural healing and modern science.
If you’re experiencing pain behind the knee and live in Hawthorn, make an appointment with our team of osteopaths. Doctors of Osteo can help you identify possible aggravating factors that may contribute to your Baker Cyst development through a thorough assessment process.
Osteopathic techniques used by the practitioners include soft-tissue massage, manipulation, stretching, and mobilization to decrease swelling and improve fluid drainage from the cyst site. The clinicians also use exercises for weak muscles as well as posture correction if needed so load transfer is not placed on your knees which could worsen symptoms or lead to further injury. Contact us today for more information about how we can assist you!
Doctors of Osteo offers both osteopathy treatments as well as shockwave therapy, and dry needling sessions that are tailored specifically to your needs. Located at 2 / 1 Porter Street, Hawthorn East, VIC. 3123, call today to book an appointment with Osteopath Hawthorn East.
If you’re experiencing pain behind the knee and live Hawthorn Osteopath could be right for you. They also serve patients in the communities of Hawthorn, Kew, Balwyn, Canterbury, Camberwell, Richmond, or Glen Iris, please book an appointment today and let our qualified Osteopaths help.
