Working out. Playing a sport you haven’t played in a while. Sleeping in an odd position. These are a few reasons that most people wake up feeling some pain in their joints or muscles from time to time.
But if you find yourself consistently waking up stiff and achy, you may have an underlying issue that’s causing your pain. It’s estimated that 40 million Americans reported having chronic knee pain. Our physical therapists can help you learn why your knees are stiff and achy all the time, and they can also help you find treatment for your chronic knee pain.
Why are my knees stiff and achy when I wake up?
There’s a reason that your knees are stiff and achy specifically when you wake up. When you fall asleep and remain mostly immobile overnight, your blood flow decreases. That allows inflammatory substances to sit in your joints all night.
The result is that when you wake up in the morning, your joints are stiff and achy. After you start moving around, your blood starts flowing again. In turn, this helps flush out inflammatory substances and reduce inflammation.
Conditions that can cause chronically stiff and achy knees
If your doctor has diagnosed you with a medical condition that causes your knees to be chronically stiff and achy, physical therapy can probably help. Here are some of the most common knee issues that can be relieved with the guidance of a physical therapist:
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Patellofemoral pain syndrome
- Tendinitis
- Bursitis
- Chondromalacia patella
- Meniscus tear
All these issues can cause aching, stiffness and joint pain. Our physical therapists can work with you to help you achieve a greater range of motion with affected limbs or joints, and to relieve the pain so you can enjoy a better quality of life.
Tips for treating stiff and aching knees
Your physical therapy plan will largely depend on your specific symptoms or diagnosis. However, there are a lot of common recommendations that work hand in hand with physical therapy. Here are some tips that your physical therapist will likely share with you on your journey to wellness:
- Stay hydrated — One common remedy for joint pain that your physical therapist is likely to recommend is that you stay properly hydrated throughout the day. Staying hydrated allows your body’s tissue to function normally. But dehydration can slow blood flow; this can make it harder for your body to remove inflammatory substances from your joints.
- Improve your gait — How your knees and other joints feel is affected by how you walk, or your gait. Weak muscles in your legs, butt and core can lead to gait problems. In turn, these can increase your knee pain. Physical therapists can help you strengthen weak muscles that support your knees. They can also help you get gait training to improve how you move as you walk.
- Consider changing your diet — Be sure to consume lots of brightly colored fruits and vegetables. These healthy foods have more antioxidants and vitamins, which fight off the inflammation that can lead to joint pain. A better diet can also help you to get better sleep and help your body receive more benefit from exercise.
Find treatment for stiff and achy knees at Peak Performance
Want to do more for your stiff and achy knees? Our team of therapy specialists at Peak Performance is ready and willing to help you. We offer free screenings intended to pinpoint the root cause of your knee pain. Our physical therapists can also build you a personalized therapy plan designed to treat and reduce knee pain. We even offer virtual therapy sessions that can help you get therapy without leaving home. You don’t need a doctor’s referral to begin using any of our therapy services.
Contact us today for more information about how we can help treat your knee pain or to schedule an initial appointment.
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