LOWER BODY
Knee Pain & Chiropractic
What is Knee Pain?
Knee pain is the most common injury of the lower extremity. The knee is the largest joint in the body. Most of the time, our body movements do not cause problems with the knees, but symptoms develop from everyday wear and tear. Most of the time, sudden accidents occur during recreational activities and sports.
Causes of Knee Pain
Although the cause of knee pain is typically injury, there are many other causes. When an injury happens, it can affect any of the tendons and ligaments that surround your knee joint. It can also upset your bones.
Types of injuries that cause knee pain:
Types of Injuries That Cause Knee Pain
- Bone Fractures: Breaks in knee bones. Recovery involves waiting for proper bone alignment. Braces or casts allow limited activity; full recovery for heavy lifting may take 6-8 weeks.
- ACL Injury: Tear in the Anterior Cruciate Ligament, a key ligament connecting the shinbone to the thighbone. Common in athletes.
- Torn Meniscus: Damage to cartilage cushioning the thighbone and shinbone, often caused by sudden pressure or twisting of the knee.
- Patellar Tendinitis: Tendon inflammation, common among cyclists, runners, and athletes in jumping sports.
- Knee Bursitis: Inflammation of bursa, which reduce friction between tendons, muscles, and bones. Usually occurs below the knee joint, causing pain and limited mobility.
Mechanical Problems That Causes Knee Pain
- Bone Spurs: Extra bone growth at the end of the thighbone, causing joint friction, often linked to arthritis or degenerative joint disease.
- Loose Bodies: Fragments of bone or cartilage in the knee, caused by wear and tear. These can be stable (non-moving) or unstable (moving within the joint).
- Iliotibial Band Syndrome: Inflammation of the ligament running along the outer thigh, causing it. Common in runners.
- Hip or Foot Pain: Changes in walking due to hip or foot pain can stress the knee joint, sometimes causing referred pain to the knee.
- Dislocated Kneecap: When the patella slips out of its socket, usually outward. The dislocation is visibly noticeable.
Chiropractic Care
We know how it feels to have so much difficulty to do basic daily activities – climbing the stairs, walking on the way to your office, picking up something on the floor, or just getting out of bed.
It is certainly a burden to you. But you do not need to live with the pain forever. According to the Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary Medicine, chiropractic care has proven effective in the management of knee pain and other ailments Chiropractors are experts in addressing the underlying issues of your pain.
Chiropractic treatment is the use of manipulation and mobilization techniques in the knee areas where movements are restricted. The combination of treatments that chiropractors use can certainly help reduce knee pain, gradually increase the range of motion, and improve overall function.
If the knee pain is severe, and it is already limiting your ability to perform your daily activities, those are the signs that you should see a chiropractor.
Specialist Chiropractor, Dr. Kevin Lyons and his staff at Beyond Wellness Chiropractic Center are dedicated to improving health and well-being. If you want to see them for a consultation, please call Beyond Wellness today.