Ever reach for the top cabinet and find yourself cringing? What about after reaching down for that dropped paper and feeling that “oof” feeling in your knee? Experiencing pain in your day-to-day life is no fun, and physical therapy has helped millions of people alleviate their symptoms and find newfound movement abilities. At Twin Boro Physical Therapy in Red Bank, residents of Red Bank can feel confident they are on the path to reaching their goals and living the life they dream of.
With 27 locations across 16 counties, Twin Boro Physical Therapy is the largest physical therapy network in New Jersey. At Twin Boro, we employ expert physical therapists, hand therapists, and occupational therapists so we can offer New Jersey residents treatment over a wide range of conditions. Many of our therapists have over 25 years of experience, and when this experience is combined with learning the latest research and state-of-the-art methods, the outcome is truly something special.
When you trust Twin Boro Physical Therapy with your care, you are saying “yes” to prioritizing your health and taking the journey to feel, look, and move your best. Our expert therapists will help guide you through every stage of the process so you feel confident in your recovery process and know what to expect during each step.
Knee Sprains: The Three Phases of Recovery
Knee sprains are painful, and the recovery journey can feel daunting. Luckily, recovery generally follows three-step patterns for most people, so you can know what to expect when beginning your recovery journey.
After a knee sprain, the recovery path goes as follows:
Phase One: R.I.C.E.
When you first injure your knee, you will need to follow the R.I.C.E. method. This acronym stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation.
During this phase, your injury will likely be swollen and painful, and you will need to nurture the area to prevent any future injuries and jumpstart healing. Each component of the RICE method has a specific purpose to help the healing process.
First, rest is important as it helps prevent additional strain on the injured area that can further aggravate it.
Next, ice is important as it helps to calm inflammation and reduce swelling. It is important to note that ice should never directly come into contact with the skin.
After this, compression is important to reduce swelling and add support to the weakened joint.
Elevation of the area is the last step, and the knee should be kept above the heart. This helps to reduce swelling and calms the area of injury.
This first phase lasts about 24 to 48 hours.
Phase Two: Restoring Flexibility and Range of Motion
After the first day or two, gentle movement of the area will help to alleviate stiffness and begin to restore the range of motion of the joint. The area will feel tight, and you should not push through the pain.
It is important that a physical therapist become involved at this stage to help guide the rehabilitation of the area and decrease the likelihood of reinjury. Physical therapy at this stage will also involve hands-on guided movement to reduce swelling and pain and increase movement.
Phase Three: Restore Strength, Balance, and Prevent Future Re-Injury
At this stage, the joint will have significantly less pain and a broader range of motion. It is important to train strength and flexibility at this point to prevent future reinjury and insure you are ready to fully return to your favorite activities.
Ready to Begin?
Residents of Red Bank should visit Twin Boro Physical Therapy in Red Bank to begin their knee physical therapy journey. To schedule your first appointment, visit our website or call 732.863.3766.
