Causes of Chronic Knee Pain in EDS
When you have EDS your joints often have a larger than normal range of motion. This can lead to hyperextending. One joint where this is very common is the knee. Read on to learn how you can alleviate chronic knee pain associated with EDS and hypermobility syndrome.
Identifying a Hyperextended Knee
Treating your chronic knee pain will go a long way toward injury prevention. A successful treatment will prevent injury in your knees, hips and ankles. How do we identify a hyperextended knee? We can compare it to a soft knee or straight leg. When standing with a hyperextended knee, a C curve is created in the leg. This slight curve causes serious soft tissue strain. Chronic soft tissue strain then leads to chronic pain.
Specialized Physical Therapy for Knee Pain in EDS
Physical therapists have lots of tools to help EDS patients. For one, we help you bring more awareness to your knees, legs, and posture. In this way, you can improve your leg stability. Therefore reducing chronic pain. Instability is a massive cause for chronic knee pain in EDS and hypermobility syndrome!
So what’s the first step to better awareness? Learning how to keep a soft knee. Knowing how to keep a soft knee may seem simple. Once you start paying attention to whether or not your knee is soft or locked, you might be surprised what you find! This minor adjustment actually brings major results. This is a great way to stay strong and prevent injury.
How to Keep a Soft Knee and Prevent Injury
When you keep a soft knee, you’re able to activate the muscles responsible for keeping your knees stable. This trains your brain and body to break the old habits that caused the hyperextension. Often, your quads overactivate and push your knee backwards. In PT we teach you to balance that out. To do so, there are lots of muscles to strengthen and isolate:
- Hamstrings
- Hip
- Knee Stabilizers
- Adjacent Muscles
In specialized PT for EDS, you actually train your brain to learn to perceive your positioning better and correct it when needed. This will break old habits such as hyperextension of the knee. There are different types of EDS that vary from patient to patient, so it’s essential to work with a physical therapist that specializes in the condition and can tailor a program to your unique situation.
A Safe Exercise for Preventing and Chronic Knee Pain with EDS and Hypermobility
Check out our latest video for a beginners’ exercise you can expect when starting your PT for EDS program. As always, consult with your physical therapist before beginning any at-home treatments or exercises.
Did you know Parr PT specializes in Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome? If you’d like to learn more about how we can help you, contact us today!
Please include me in you Newsletter especially EDS.
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Jonathan
I’m going through a flare up and I’ve woken up and can’t move my legs due to pain. Can’t walk or anything. I’m very healthy being a naturopath and sports massage therapist and yoga instructor. At age 47 I’m rapidly declining with my ability to function. Overuse of my legs has caused this any tips on reducing the pain or is this going to be permanent? I have osteoporosis osteoarthritis and osteopenia throughout my spine , knees, ankles and shoulders , wrists and elbows. The pain so unbearable I can’t think straight. Should I use ice or heat ? Call emergency? If I try to stretch or move it’s like my knee caps are broken and the pain feels like hot knifes stabbing through my patella .
Thank you for your comment. To better answer your questions, give us a call and we would be happy to help out!
I feel you Sallie. I wasn’t aware but I think I have EDS. I also overworked my legs and developed stiffness and then pain. I managed to managed to damage both my knees within a single week, through subluxation of the kneecaps.
The pain emanates from the kneecap. Yesterday I felt it building soon after rising from bed. It didn’t even hurt at first just the weirdest, most annoying sensation. The it progressed into a pain that eventually was simply unbearable.
I demanded my friend take me to an ER. The PA said that I had anxiety and arthritis. But none of the meds he gave me touched the pain I was in.
I spent 14 hours in excruciating agony.
Thank you for reaching out. Check out this helpful video from our youtube channel that covers how to alleviate chronic knee pain associated with EDS and hypermobility (https://youtu.be/KcZsI6Js0X4). Feel free to give us a call if you have any further questions!