You have heard the old song before…I’m sure you have…the ankle bone is connected to the knee bone, the knee bone is connected to the hip bone, etc, etc. Did you know who first recorded that song?
Hint, read to the end of the story and you’ll find the answer (but don’t skip ahead and miss all of the great content in the upcoming paragraphs!).
The Amazing Lower Extremity
How in the world can a collection of 62 bones, combined with extensive layers of muscle groups, move the leg so efficiently in a day throughout all of our daily activities? Oh by the way, all these muscles count on a nerve supply coming out of the lower back to contract and relax appropriately.
Truly a work of art that combines mobility and stability to propel us into our daily journey.
You Want to Look at My Low Back Too?
I will focus the rest of this article on common injuries of the hip, knee, and ankle/foot. However, a skilled physical therapist looks at the entire leg as one unit consisting of interconnected parts.
You also know you have a great physical therapist when you are having ankle/foot pain and they also evaluate your lower back! A skilled PT will evaluate your lower back to determine if any components of the low back are causing or contributing to your leg pain.
Always remember that the LOCATION of your pain is not always the SOURCE of your pain. Let the physical therapist with advanced training find out the location of your pain!
What are Common Injuries Treated by a Physical Therapist?
Over my 27 years of clinical experience I have definitely seen some common injuries and diagnoses in the hip, knee, and the ankle/foot. But please have hope, a well trained physical therapist can keep you out of the surgeon’s office the majority of the time.
The hip, the beautiful hip, combines multiple ranges of motion with the need for stability. The following injuries are very common in the hip: osteoarthritis, labral (cartilage) tears, and strain/sprains.
Does anybody today NOT know someone that has a knee injury of some sort? This joint receives significant daily stress with excessive levels of activity or when carrying excess body weight. I bet you have heard of at least one of these common injuries before: ACL tears, meniscus (cartilage) tears, poor alignment/tracking of the kneecap, and hamstring strains.
Last, but not least, the amazing foot and ankle. I have been amazed by some of my past patients who have terrible posture of the feet but somehow have no foot pain. Combine something like flat feet with poor footwear and you have a double whammy. But somehow the body can adjust and adapt, at least most of the time!
Have you ever had plantar fasciitis, achilles tendonitis, or chronic ankle sprains? If so, you have experienced some of the more common type of foot/ankle injuries.
What’s the Use of Getting Treatment, I’ll Just Deal with the Pain?
Really, you’ll just deal with the pain? I strongly recommend doing just the OPPOSITE. If you just try to deal with the pain or learn how to treat yourself on the internet you will be walking (nice play on words Dr. Gorman!) down a bad path. Pain that lingers for more than a week typically will not go away for good.
You may have some days and maybe some weeks where the pain doesn’t affect you. But in the long run, you are much better off trusting a physical therapist with Residency or Fellowship training to treat your lower extremity pain.
Put your health in the hands of the professional physical therapist and your quality of life will be greatly enhanced, in the short term and long term!
Conclusion
As you can see, it is no wonder so many people in our world suffer leg injuries. Searching out the right medical provider to help you regain your physical function is critical to a healthy lifestyle.
iMove TelePT is here for you! Our advanced physical therapists will get you on the right track, all while you are in the safety and convenience of your own home. For more information, contact our Founder and Physical Therapist Dr. Michael Gorman at mgorman@imovephysicaltherapy.com or message him at (636) 578-3649.
Answer to Quiz Question from above: The song was first recorded by The Famous Myers Jubilee Singers in 1928! (Email me if you got that one right!)