The knee joint’s main function is to bend, straighten, and bear the weight of the body, along with the ankles and hips. The knee, more than just a simple hinged joint, however, also twists and rotates. In order to perform all of these actions and to support the entire body while doing so, the knee relies on a number of structures including bones, ligaments, tendons, and cartilage.
Common Causes of Knee Pain
Your knees can be injured through direct trauma or can be affected by dysfunction and disease. Direct trauma pertains to a sudden injury like those incurred from a fall or vehicular accident, or from chronic conditions such as overuse or a genetic weakness. In addition to direct trauma, knee problems can be the result of disease or dysfunction, with the latter often accompanying muscle disorders or strains. Other common causes include the following:
- Knee Joint Misalignment – this refers to a change in the normal anatomy of the knee joint. The usual changes observed include internal rotation of the femur and an inward facing patella, which is also known as “winking patella”. These lead to uneven pressures in the knee joint that cause pain and damage to the underlying articulate cartilage.
- Flat Feet – People with this condition have either no arch in their feet or the arch is very low. The problem here is that when the arch flattens, it causes the tibia and the femur to rotate inwards, adding stress on the knee and eventually triggering pain.
- Pinched nerve in the low back – The nerves that transmit pain sensation to the knees originate in the lower back region. With age or injury, the discs between the vertebrae protrude and press on these nerves. The affected nerve becomes irritated and sends pain signals to the brain. The severity of the pain depends on the size of the disc that‘s pressing on the nerve, specifically the sciatic nerve.
Symptoms of Knee Pain
The location and severity of the pain may vary, depending on what caused the problem.
Signs and symptoms that typically accompany knee pain include the following:
- Stiffness and swelling
- Weakness or instability (feeling that the knee will buckle)
- Redness and warmth to the touch
- Clicking or popping sound
- Inability to fully extend the knee
How a Chiropractor Can Help with Knee Pain Relief
Chiropractor will evaluate your gait, meaning your manner of walking. From your gait, he/she will be able to determine the amount of stress that is being placed on your knees. Chiropractor will then start aligning the joint through a variety of therapeutic techniques including the following:
- Spinal adjustment – Any misalignment of the spine creates imbalance that puts added pressure on all joints, including the knees. Spinal adjustment aims to reestablish alignment and balance. This restores functionality to your knees and reduces wear and tear to the joints.
- Trigger point therapy – This is a form of remedial massage therapy that utilizes the precise application of pressure on specific points in the body in order to alleviate pain and discomfort.
- Posture Correction – Just like misalignment of the spine, poor posture puts pressure on muscles and joints. Chiropractor may evaluate your posture and make the necessary corrections.
- Electrode therapy – To stimulates the muscles and soft tissues to reduce inflammation, facilitate blood flow and speed up the healing process.
- Ultrasound therapy – This technique uses ultrasonic waves to massage painful muscles and joints. It is effective in relieving pain, reducing stiffness and improving the mobility for patients.
- Rehabilitation exercise – exercises meant to improve strength, endurance and stability of the knees. Work on improving your balance and proprioception so you can quickly return to your regular activities.
Whether your knee problem is associated with wear and tear, overuse, an injury or disease, it is important that you seek proper diagnosis and start immediate treatment. While over the counter drugs may help in reducing the pain and soreness, they will do nothing to address the underlying issue that’s causing your knee problem.