Address the Root Cause of the Pain & Discomfort
Knee pain is, unfortunately, all too common and often ignored. Everyone from professional athletes to the weekend warrior tells themselves to just “power through the pain.” Some people think when it comes to knee pain it is just something you have to deal with as you get older. Knee pain can exist for a wide variety of reasons, and identifying the root cause instead of just masking the discomfort can lead to better outcomes and improved function.
You don’t have to just live with the pain, and it isn’t a natural consequence of getting older. If you are having knee pain, one way to rehabilitate is to see a chiropractor. Here’s why…
What Causes of Knee Pain?
If you are athletic, whether you enjoy playing sports or you exercise on a regular basis, knee injuries are commonplace. Your knee carries a great deal of body weight and absorbs the force of our movements. Since the knee joint is flexible, they can become hyperextended if you happen to make a wrong move.
Direct injury to the knee in a fall or accident could also be the cause of chronic knee pain. Other reasons for knee pain are diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or tendinitis.
What are the Symptoms of Knee Pain?
If you notice the following symptoms in your knee or knees,, they could be signs that you need to seek medical treatment for an injury or illness:
- Swelling and stiffness
- Weakness and instability
- Popping noises during movement
- Inability to fully straighten your knee
Many times our first inclination is to go to a family medicine doctor for something that will reduce the pain and inflammation. Unfortunately, these approaches often just mask an underlying condition that, unless it is addressed, will continue to cause pain, swelling and discomfort. Chiropractors are trained to assess the overall function of the knee and can use chiropractic adjustments and exercises to address the underlying condition and reduce pain without resorting to potentially harmful medications.
What Can A Chiropractor Do For Knee Pain?
All Chiropractors will take a detailed health history, and if you are being seen for knee pain, they will want to know when the pain started, as well as possible causes. It’s likely that your chiropractor will ask you to walk a few lengths of the office or hallway to establish the kind of stress and pressure you put on your knee when you walk. This will help them to determine a plan of treatment.
Next, through joint manipulation and massage, they will get your knee back into alignment. This may take several visits, but it will definitely take work from you at home as well. The chiropractor will likely go over stretching you can do a few times a day to help get your knee healthy.
There may also be footwear recommendations to help keep your knee in the correct position to walk well. Lastly, different exercises might need to be performed each day to increase the strength in your knee.
Your knees are very important, and a chiropractor can help with this and other joint pain. Sometimes being overweight can cause undue stress on your knees as well. Often losing weight can help significantly with knee pain. When you lose weight there is less stress on the knees when walking and through exercise, stretching, and treatment, you can substantially improve the well-being of your knees.
South Orange Chiropractic Center doctors can help you with knee pain, spine and neck misalignment, and your overall health. Call our offices today to schedule your appointment to talk about your knee pain or any other pain or discomfort you may have.
