Your Costa Mesa Chiropractor offers posture corrections that not only will give you knee pain relief, but help you to avoid more problems in the future. Here’s what you need to know:

Along with spinal problems, knee pain and disability is one of the most widespread problems of the musculoskeletal system. Poor mechanics of the knee, as well as faulty foot mechanics as compensation for foot pain often cause painful knee conditions. Additional causes normally include overuse of the knee joint, inflammation related to arthritic changes in the joint, and traumatic injury from sports and falls.

Non-trauma knee problems: Insufficient mechanics of the knee joint and the corresponding stress on the soft tissues of the knee are, by far, the most prevailing cause of non-traumatic pain. Usually, the part of the knee implicated is the patella or knee-cap. Many times the patella does not move smoothly or does not move sufficiently on the femur during bending of the knee causing abnormal stress on the tendons, cartilage and ligaments. This specific condition is frequently called chondromalacia patella (CMP) or Patella Femoral Syndrome (Knee Cap Pain). The condition generally starts when there are imbalances in the quadriceps muscles of the thigh that attach to and move the patella. Imbalances in the muscles having to do with knee movement frequently begin from lower back problems, particularly in the sacroiliac joint. Imbalances in muscle groups that attach to the knee can also lead to pain and dysfunction. For example, pain on the medial or inside of the knee occurs when the muscles on the insides of the thigh are stressed and tight.   Faulty foot mechanics that create gait deviations such as pronation, are another cause of mechanical knee pain.

The correspondent pain from overuse is most often noticeable during activity, in particular stair climbing, running, jumping, and subsequent standing after prolonged sitting. Some women appear to be predisposed to painful overuse ailments for anatomical reasons, however such ailments are many times related to wearing high heels on a regular basis.

The main treatment for mechanical or overuse injuries to the knee is to re-establish proper balance of the muscles, restore proper movement to the patella and other joints of the knee, and to correct any subluxations of the sacroiliac joints and bones of the foot.  In certain cases, a brace is adopted to aid with the alignment of the patella or to stabilize the joint. Chiropractors, such as your Costa Mesa Chiropractor, are highly experienced in providing knowledgeable diagnosis and management of these ailments.

Knee problems due to trauma: Traumatic injuries commonly take place during sports that involve running and jumping, especially. When the knee is pulled or twisted beyond the capability of the ligaments that hold the joint together, tearing of these tissues can happen creating a sprain. The muscles that move the knee can also be torn during injury creating a strain or pull of the muscle. As with a sprain, a muscle strain can range from a mild injury that requires little treatment to a serious injury necessitating surgery. The knee also has two special “cartilages” – the menisci – between the tibia and the femur that facilitate frictionless motion and cushioning. These cartilages can also be torn during trauma, and commonly need surgical repair, or even removal if damaged severely.

Traumatic knee injuries can create serious pain and swelling and necessitate immediate diagnosis and treatment. In the majority of cases a competent chiropractor, such as your Costa Mesa Chiropractor, can manage these problems, but there are some injuries that require the craft of an orthopedic surgeon. In any event, it is vital to stabilize the injured joint as soon as possible and to ice the damaged area, if possible, until the injury can be evaluated.

Conditions such as poor mechanics and problems due to overuse, as well as traumatic injuries, need to be eliminated at an early stage. If not, the tissues of the knee joint, particularly the cartilage, will start to erode. If tissue and cartilage wear away, the bones will rub together unprotected and changes such as bone spurs can eventuate. This painful problem, known as degenerative joint disease or osteoarthritis, is frequently progressive with age. Common treatment may involve medications such as NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Nevertheless, there are natural anti-inflammatory supplements that produce excellent results such as rosemary, glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, bioflavinoids, curcumin. Conservative treatment, such as chiropractic, can be extremely helpful in alleviating the pain. Your Costa Mesa Chiropractor is will be happy to recommend anti-inflammatory supplements. In addition, people can often assist themselves by keeping their weight down, doing exercises (especially in the pool), and wearing cushioned shoes or insoles.

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Tags: chiropractic, chiropractor, knee injury, knee pain