As physical therapists we often hear from patients that they have experienced a series of problems, seemingly unrelated. For example, someone with foot pain a few years earlier may now come for treatment of a hip or knee problem, sometimes without any specific incident of injury or onset.  Or someone with an old wrist fracture may develop a shoulder problem. Are they related? They can be!

Even after pain resolves subtle changes in the way you move or walk following an injury can lead to “wear and tear” elsewhere in the chain of movement. Each joint is influenced by those above and below. This is why we will evaluate the movement and strength of your hip and ankle, even though your primary complaint is knee pain. Even if you haven’t had another injury or area of pain before, differences in the mobility or strength throughout the body can result in mechanical stresses being placed on some parts of the body more than others. Just like your tires will wear unevenly if your car alignment is “off “, your body can “wear” unevenly if you stand, sit or move too asymmetrically!

Paying attention to the whole chain of movement addresses the mechanical influences which create the problem, and can help minimize the chance that symptoms will return.