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Chiropractic Care for Knee Injuries
The knee is an important part of the body and at the same time one of the most problematic parts of the body. It bends and extends to allow us to perform activities like walking, running, kicking, and sitting.
Balanced and coordinated motion of the three bones, three compartments, two menisci, four ligaments, cartilage, muscles, and tendons allow the knee to move optimally and pain free. If any of these parts are injured, the knee may hurt and won’t be able to do its main purpose.
Risk factors for knee injury
Knee pain and injuries affect people of all ages. Men, women, and children can have knee problems as a result of disease or injury.
Engaging or participating in high impact sports such as basketball, football, soccer, hockey, running, cycling, and others increase your risk of knee injury. Improper or faulty sport training, as well as overtraining can also predispose a person to knee injuries.
Another risk factor for knee injury is aging. Older people are at a higher risk for knee injuries due to osteoporosis and accidents.
Women are also more susceptible to particular knee injuries due to their hip and femur anatomy, as well as the angle to which their knees are tilted.
Being overweight can also put more stress and pressure on the lower extremity joints, which can result to knee injuries.
Causes and symptoms of knee injury
Knee injuries can occur as the result of a direct blow or sudden movements that strain the knee beyond its normal range of motion.
It can also be a result of the normal wear and tear due to aging. Certain diseases can also damage the knees permanently like inflammatory knee problems, which can be caused by certain rheumatic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus or lupus.
Common symptoms of knee injury include pain, swelling, heat and redness, tenderness on the area, and bruising.
If the injury is from overuse and is chronic, symptoms include difficulty bending or locking of the knee, presence of clicking or popping sounds, and problems on weight bearing or instability.
What are the types of knee injury?
Different types of knee injury are classified according to the affected anatomy of the knee and mechanism by which it was afflicted.
- Knee Sprain – occur when ligament are stretched and torn either partially or completely
- Knee Strain – occur when tendons or muscles surrounding the knee are stretched
- Knee joint dislocation – occur due to high-impact, large-force injuries to the knee such as sports or motor vehicle accidents
- Knee fractures – result from direct blows to the bones
- Other overuse injuries – due to an accumulation of repetitive damage to the knee structures; may be cause by either congenital problems or improper mechanics of the knee movement
Chiropractic for knee injury
Diagnosis is based on the patient’s medical history, physical examination, and further testing with X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs.
The type of treatment depends on the specific part of the knee that is damaged and the extent of the damage. If no operation is indicated, most knee conditions are managed with conservative methods like chiropractic. You should consider chiropractic care for your knee injury if:
- Knee pain restricts your daily or sporting activities.
- Painkillers or anti-inflammatories and rest have no long-term improvement.
- Your healthcare provider says you have arthritis and nothing can be done.
Chiropractic for knee pain, especially for knee pain relief, typically includes several techniques, each chosen to relieve specific causes of knee pain, customised to the need of the patient.
The main approach of chiropractic care in assessing and treating knee injuries involves evaluation of the other joints and muscles relating to the knee. A patient with knee injury may expect specific manipulation technique to areas of restricted movement, ultrasound and interferential therapy, a rehabilitation program, and other methods.
Do you think you should get a Chiropractic treatment? Contact us today to find out what you can do with your knee injury.
