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Case Report
Sarah Padgett
Clemson University Clemson, SC
Objective: To present the case of bilateral knee pain in a 70-year-old female.
Background: The knee joint bears most of the weight of the human body. Many factors can
lead to osteoarthritis of the knee joint, including body weight, previous injuries, gender, age, and
physical activity.
Diagnosis: Bilateral knee pain, osteoarthritis of the knee.
Treatment: The patient received four weeks of physical therapy. The patient performed
treatment exercises and activities that increased the strength and flexibility of the knees and hips.
The goals were improving function and reducing pain.
Conclusions: Four weeks of physical therapy was an appropriate treatment for this type
of injury, and the patient responded well.
Bilateral knee pain is a common
compliant among elderly adults. There are
many factors attributed to bilateral knee
pain. The single most common cause of
disability in older adults is osteoarthritis,
often occurring in the knees. Osteoarthritis
of the knee is displayed with knee pain and
several other symptoms. Osteoarthritis is an
active disease process that includes cartilage
destruction, bone thickening, and new bone
formation.2 This condition is most often
diagnosed on an x-ray.
The knee joint is a synovial joint that
connects the femur to the tibia. The knee is
designed to bend and straighten, but also
rotate slightly. The knee joint bears most of
the weight of the human body. Therefore, it
is subject to great wear and tear from the
stress of the body.3
Risk factors for osteoarthritis in the
knee include body mass index of overweight
or obese and previous knee injury. Women
are more likely to develop knee
osteoarthritis than men.
The risk of
osteoarthritis also increases with age. In
addition, those who exercise regularly and
intensely are at a greater risk for developing
osteoarthritis.1
DISCUSSION
Knee osteoarthritis is the most
common disability among older adults.2 In
this case, the patient presented several risk
factors for osteoarthritis.1 Age may be the
greatest contributing risk factor to the
patients diagnosis. The patient is 70 years
old and has experienced great wear and tear
of the knees. The patient is also female,
which makes her of greater risk for
osteoarthritis of the knee compared to males.
In addition, the patient is overweight. Higher
body weight adds more stress to the loadbearing knee joints.3 The patient had an
earlier knee injury and has also recently
increased her level of physical activity. All
of these factors increased the likelihood that
the patient would experience osteoarthritis
of the knees.
The symptoms of
osteoarthritis may be reduced, but the
patient will continue to be at risk of these
issues as she ages.
Major areas of focus for the patients
plan of care included therapeutic exercises,
therapeutic activities, patient education,
home exercise program instruction, and
balance. Cortisone shots have failed to have
lasting effects for the patient. Physical
therapy has proven a very effective
intervention method for the patient.4 She has
gained flexibility, range of motion, and
strength with therapeutic activities and
exercises.
Her pain has substantially
decreased with activity. The patient showed
a deficit in quadriceps strength at the initial
evaluation. As treatment progressed, that
deficit was reduced. The patient also added
2-3 degrees of active range of motion in
each knee. She has responded well to
treatment and is eagerly continuing her
home exercise program.
The prognosis for the patient is good.
The patient has lost about 11 pounds and
seems to be changing her lifestyle. She is
becoming more conscious of her health and
is excited to be under the guidance of her