Why Does My Knee Feel Unstable?

Do you find yourself worrying that your knee may give out at an inopportune time? Does your knee feel loose or weak during certain physical activities If so, you’re not alone—millions of people experience knee instability, which can limit mobility and lower overall quality of life. The good news? Knee instability is highly treatable with the right approach! Let’s dive into why it happens and how to regain stability in your knee.

What Causes Knee Instability?

Your knee is designed to be stable. But over time, it takes a lot of strain—whether from daily activity, athletic exertion, or sudden injuries. Common causes include damage to the cartilage, meniscus, and the ligaments that hold the joint in place. Whether by repetitive stress or an acute injury, these injuries can make the knee feel wobbly or weak. Aging is another major factor. As we get older, soft tissues in the knee may weaken, especially without regular strengthening exercises. Conditions like arthritis can also cause cartilage to wear down, which can inflame and destabilize the knee.

• Unsteadiness when putting weight on the knee
• Weakness
• Pain
• Swelling
• Difficulty straightening the leg
• Popping, clicking, or snapping
• Balance issues or hesitancy

If any of these sound familiar, it may be time to see your doctor and look into treatment options like those outlined in Dr. Reznik’s latest publication, The Knee & Shoulder Handbook.

Treating Knee Instability

Because knee instability can be caused by different forces and the damage may be housed in a variety of key knee ligaments, successful treatment relies on an accurate diagnosis or a willingness to pursue proactive guided treatments. During an assessment, your physician will take a closer look at the knee and have you perform some simple actions. To get a better understanding of the ligament damage, they may order an MRI or similar imaging test. With the help of all this information, they’ll be able to hone in on what treatment method is right for you.

In many instances, the best treatment technique for an unstable knee is a concentrated dose of physical therapy. PT is designed to strengthen, stabilize and restore range of motion in specific areas of the body, so it’s a perfect option for someone trying to regain function and confidence in their knee. Many patients find that pursuing physical therapy exercises a few times a week for 4-6 weeks will significantly improve their knee function, but your specific course of treatment may vary depending on the significance of your instability. Some patients may find that adding knee strengthening exercises to their regular exercise routine helps to keep knee instability from returning, and these exercises also reduce your risk of an acute injury to the knee.

Your physical therapy regimen may be paired with other modest interventions, like anti-inflammatory drugs or over-the-counter pain medications to help relieve any discomfort you may experience during or after a physical therapy program. Hot pads, ice packs, bracing and elevation can also help to resolve swelling and promote ideal healing, but because these are passive forms of treatment, they should only be paired with an active intervention like physical therapy.

In more severe cases, a minimally invasive surgical procedure may be recommended in the event that physical therapy is not yielding the desired result. The specifics of the operation will vary, but the goal will be to address the injured ligaments so that the damaged ligaments can see improved healing. Following surgery, you’ll go through a rehab routine that involves a heavy dose of physical therapy as you work your way back to full strength.

Take the Next Step Toward Stability

Don’t go through life lacking confidence in one or both of your knees. Take the first step in regaining a confident step by contact Dr. Reznik or learning more about knee treatments with the help of The Knee & Shoulder Handbook.