Ask the PT: About Knee Pain

I recently developed pain and a crackling sound in the front of my knee when gardening.  It’s worse when I get up from the ground or squat down to lift things.  What can I do to alleviate this? Response from Dustin Renaud,MPT of PT Cumberland The likely source of the crackling or grinding experienced in your knee is a condition called chondromalacia patella (or CMP).  This condition occurs when the knee…

Ask the PT: About Arthritis and my Balance

How has arthritis impaired my balance? One of the most common causes of falls,  particularly as we age,  is related to arthritis and inflammation in our joints.  This happens because the small receptors in joints that are constantly talking to your brain telling you what position your joints are in can become impaired.   This sophisticated balance feedback mechanism is also referred to as proprioception.  As joints start to degenerate,…