Knee pain can make people avoid many activities and affect their ability to do things like climb stairs. Dr. Steve Harris, of Sugar Land Health Center, offers knee pain relief and other chiropractic services.
What Causes Knee Pain?
The two most common causes of knee pain are an injury or degenerative joint problems (which can be secondary to an injury or develop from chronic wear and tear). There is also a number of contributing factors. Certain kinds of activities and sports are hard on the knee. These include regular running or jogging for exercise, sports that require kicking, pivoting and twisting, and certain kinds of work activities such as regular heavy lifting or climbing stairs and ladders. Obesity affects all of the leg joints, including the knee, and increases stress on the joint.
Can Knee Pain Cause Other Health Problems?
Pain in the extremities causes the patient to change the way he or she moves, which can increase stress on other joints, muscles and ligaments. Chronic limping, for example, can cause back pain or pain in the opposite leg, which takes on extra weight-bearing requirements. Any kind of chronic pain can cause more generalized symptoms, like sleep problems, fatigue or mood changes (anxiety, depression or irritability). Knee pain can also cause chronic inflammation, which results in chemical changes in the body.
How Can Chiropractic Help Knee Pain?
Chiropractic helps knee pain in two main ways. The first is to correct any alignment problems that may be causing or contributing to the knee pain. The second is to help relieve spasm or muscle tension. Associated treatments like the application of heat or cold and soft tissue treatment can help decrease inflammation and improve range of motion. Chiropractors may also use splints or orthotics to support the joint and promote better posture.
Will I Need Surgery?
Surgery should always be a last resort. Each case must be evaluated individually. If the cartilage in the knee become severely degenerated, conservative treatment can only do so much. An inflamed tendon may respond to chiropractic, but a torn tendon is more likely to need surgical repair. Sometimes regular chiropractic treatment and an exercise program to strengthen muscles or promote flexibility may allow the patient to delay surgery for months or years.
Joint Pain Relief
Pain in any of the body’s joints can range from a minor discomfort to a serious disability.
What Is a Joint?
Any point in the body where one bone connects to another is considered a joint. The space between the bones is what allows for movement, flexibility, and function. Some joints (like those in the skull) move very little, while highly flexible joints like the hip, knee, and wrist can move in many different directions. Cartilage protects and cushions the joint surfaces, while muscles, tendons, and ligaments connect and support for the bones.
What Causes Joint Pain?
Joint pain is most often caused by trauma, which can damage the joint or its supporting structures. Auto accidents and falls are more likely to cause serious trauma, but repeatedly performing the same motion can also cause damage. For example, typists may have joint pain in fingers and wrists, while a baseball pitcher may have shoulder, elbow or wrist pain. When mental stress causes chronic muscle tension, it may result in joint pain. Inactivity can have the same result as muscles shorten and become tight. Inflammation – which can be caused by dietary factors or a problem like arthritis – can also cause joint pain.
Why Does it Feel Like the Muscles Around the Joint Hurt?
Joints bend and extend because the muscles, tendons, and ligaments work together. When there is a problem in the joint, these structures can become inflamed, short or too loose. The additional stress on the joint also contributes to pain and may even destabilize the joint, increasing the risk of injury. Chemicals and toxins that leak from stressed muscles can irritate the tissues and cause inflammation and pain.
How Can Chiropractic Help Joint Pain?
Neck or back pain can result from spinal misalignments, while other joint misalignments can cause problems pretty much anywhere in the body. Chiropractors are skilled at correcting the misalignment, which allows the joint to heal. A chiropractor is also a good resource for exercises that can help strengthen and stretch muscles or to assess postural problems that may be contributing to the joint pain.
To learn more about our services, call us today. We would be happy to speak with you and answer any questions you may have!