A popliteus strain is when the popliteus muscle fibres stretch or tear causing pain at the back of the knee.
Popliteus Strain Treatment
At Vitalis Physiotherapy, our specialised treatment aims to:
What is Popliteus Strain?
The popliteus muscle runs behind the knee and along with the popliteus tendon, it connects the muscle to the femur. The role of the popliteus muscle is to help bend and straighten your leg and it withdraws the meniscus to prevent the tissue from becoming impinged in the knee joint.
A popliteus strain is a graded condition. The three grades of a popliteus strain are:
Grade one – damage to less than 5%
of the muscle fibres
Grade two – damage of more than 5%
of the muscle fibres
Grade three – complete rupture of the
popliteus muscle
Physiotherapy is suitable for all grades of injury.
What are the causes of Popliteus Strain?
There are several causes for a popliteus strain, but the most common include:
- Chronic overuse
- Having a muscle strength imbalance in your hamstring muscles
- Having an unstable knee due to a torn ligament, torn meniscus or arthritis
- Poor biomechanics – a low arch or flat feet
- Not warming up sufficiently
- Incorrect footwear
- A sudden increase in hill-training
- Acute sudden trauma to the popliteus muscle or a strain to the knee
What are the symptoms?
- Pain over the lateral joint line
- Pain at the back of the knee
- Pain on weight-bearing and stair-climbing
- Incomplete Range of motion
- Swelling/inflammation
Treatment for Popliteus Strain
- Custom Orthotics
- Soft tissue massage/ soft tissue release
- Shockwave Therapy
- Knee range of motion exercises
- Taping
- Tailored exercise program
- TECAR Therapy
Your physiotherapist may also recommend a brace depending on the severity of your condition.
What can I do at home?
- Rest
- Avoid activities that exacerbate the issue
- Ice for 10-15 min, every 3-4 hours
- Gentle stretching, as approved by your physiotherapist
How to book an appointment?
If you think that you may be suffering from Popliteus Strain, or you’re looking for a ‘physiotherapist near me’, our team at Vitalis Physiotherapy can assess and diagnose the condition. They will then tailor your treatment plan to aid in your pain relief and recovery.
All you need to do is just give us a call on 0410 559 856 and request an initial appointment. Please let our friendly reception staff know the background and severity of your condition.
You can visit our FAQs for more information about appointments at Vitalis Physiotherapy.
Need Help?
Are you suffering from painful Popliteus Strain? Contact Vitalis Physiotherapy now to book in your treatment.
Call our friendly team on 0410 559 856. We’d love to help.
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