Think about how much you use your knees during all the routine activities from bending down to pick up the grocery bags, climbing the stairs, walking from your car to the office, or just getting out of bed. Perhaps you play a sport for example a racquetball or a tennis, or you enjoy hiking with your family. All these common activities may feel so hard when you are experiencing knee pain. Knee pain has a negative effect on your capacity to function, let alone thrive. Fortunately, there is a non-invasive option to help ease your pain: chiropractic treatment for knee pain relief.
THE KNEE JOINT
The knee is an intricate joint that depends heavily on ligaments and muscles for stability. The knee is an important weight-bearing joint and comprises of:
- The tibia-femoral joint (connecting the thigh and lower leg)
- The patella-femoral joint (connecting the kneecap and the thigh),
- Muscles and ligaments, which give active and passive steadiness to the knee.
- Two ring-shaped cartilage discs in the knee, known as the menisci (one meniscus)
You don’t have to decide to live with the pain or stop enjoying exercise and family time. Nor should you have to decide that pain medicine is now just “part of life”. Consider the alternative of chiropractic treatment. Yes, many times, an accredited chiropractor could begin to treat and care for the hidden problems that are likely causing knee pain. Discomfort is not something you require to accept as “the norm” or “part of aging”.
Contemporary chiropractic treatment includes more than 150 techniques that chiropractors use to manually or personally adjust the spine, joints, and muscles with varying degrees of force. Chiropractors concentrate on the relationships between structure and function. This is crucial in finding the root causes of knee pain. In the past, chiropractic care got mixed reviews from other doctors or primary care physicians.
Although, in early 2017, The American College of Physicians released new directives. It now supports the use of non-pharmacologic therapies, for example, chiropractic and acupuncture, as first-line treatments for some types of pain, before using medication. A chiropractor is a holistic way of treating pain.
Three Signs That It Might Be Time to Seek Treatment
One significant reason is if the knee pain is serious enough to restrict your capacity to accomplish common daily life activities in daily life. Also, if you have tried to restrict your activity levels for a short stretch of time and your knees are still painful or if you have taken pain medicine and the knee pain remains troublesome, it is time to visit a chiropractor. An experienced doctor, for example, our chiropractors at Zenith Injury Relief and Wellness Clinic, will address the problems in and around the knee from the pain.
They will also evaluate you to see if alignment problems in other regions of the body could be the true cause of the knee pain, or at least be a contributing factor. For instance, restricted range of motion in the hips or tightness in the lower back could place excessive strain on the knees which could be painful. With the right chiropractic care, problems such as these could be corrected so you could live pain-free.
TYPES OF KNEE PAIN
Here are some of the ordinary causes of knee pain:
Arthritis
What causes arthritis? A defect could lead to arthritis in the knee, obesity, or repetitive stress injuries from sports are the culprits. Symptoms include solidness or locking joints.
Arthritis usually triggers issues with the knee joint but could affect other structures like muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis in the knee, is caused by the steady degradation of the cartilage in the joint. Rheumatoid arthritis causes the joints to become swollen and could usually cause the destruction of the surrounding cartilage.
Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITBS or IT band syndrome)
Swelling of a tendon and its subsequent rubbing over the outer knee bone is most usually caused by the stress of long-term overuse, for example, sports training.
Meniscus Injuries
The meniscus, the cushion of your joint, is vulnerable to injuries from unexpected twists or quick rotations of the upper leg. It could also be caused by repetitive rotations of the knee while bearing weight.
Osgood-Schlatter Disease
This condition is the result of repeated stress or tension on the upper tibia. The patellar tendon and surrounding soft tissues at the point where the tendon attaches to the tibia could become swollen. Pre-adolescent boys involved in sports that include frequent running or jumping are especially vulnerable to this condition.
Referred Pain
Referred pain usually results from Sacroiliac joints, low back facet joints, hip joints, and muscles surrounding the knee. It could also be a result of nerve compression in the lower back, pelvis, and thigh, or even a dysfunction of surrounding joints in the feet, hips, and pelvis.
WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU SEE A CHIROPRACTOR
When the pain feels like it is coming from the knee, all the anatomical parts require to be examined. This includes the low back, pelvis, hip, ankle, and foot require to be evaluated because of the direct influence they have on the knee, and vice versa. As chiropractors, we take a complete medical history and perform a thorough physical and biomechanical exam in order to make an accurate diagnosis and create a treatment plan. Each patient will be given a personalized or individualized care plan. Although, in our experience, many people experiencing knee pain benefit from some or all of the following chiropractic treatment for knee pain:
Lower joint inflammation and lower pain
We might suggest ice to lower inflammation, muscle spasms, and pain. Also, to expedite and promote soft tissue recovery, we might use a laser, ultrasound, and interferential therapy.
Normalize joint function
This could be accomplished by using chiropractic manipulation and mobilization techniques in regions with restricted movement, for example, the knee and any affected surrounding joints. This helps increase movement as well as improve function and lower pain. Also, we might suggest deep soft tissue massages, trigger point therapy, and cross-friction.
Rehabilitation through an exercise program
When fitting, we use exercises to help you improve steadiness, strength, and endurance. We also work on improving or bettering your balance. This will help you to return to normal and stop or prevent injuries.
There are many possible options for chiropractic treatment for knee pain. Speak with an experienced chiropractor today to learn how a chiropractor could help you manage your pain.
If you are ready to live pain-free through chiropractic treatment for knee pain relief. Let us treat your pain today.
If you or anyone you know is suffering from knee pain problems, our expert providers at Zenith Injury Relief & Wellness Clinic will take care of your health and help you recover.
Call 972-210-0033 to schedule your appointment, and begin living your life pain-free.