Chiropractora

Archive for the ‘knee pain’ Category

Your Dallas Chiropractor knows that knee problems can cause extreme pain and can sometimes be debilitating. There are a number of reasons why an individual experiences knee pain. And, it’s important to know that everyone, at any age, is at risk. Knee problems can occur due to trauma sustained from a fall, an auto accident, a sports injury, or some other acute, traumatic event. However, generally speaking, the knee challenges that most of us experience, particularly as we age, are considered “non-trauma knee problems.” In other words, most knee problems are not due to a sudden injury to the knee, but instead occur because of chronic dysfunction and wear and tear on the knee due to excessive weight, poor gait, and other stresses on the knee joint and surrounding tissue that, over time, have developed into “noticeable” to “excruciating” knee pain.

It may surprise you to know that chiropractors like me, your chiropractor in Dallas, treat almost as many patients with knee pain as we do patients with back problems. However, I’m convinced that we, chiropractors, would have far less patients with knee problems if more men and women came in sooner for back care. That’s right! Keeping your back in alignment can help prevent knee pain!

How is that possible? The answer is that the musculoskeletal system of the body operates in a corrective, “chain-reaction” manner. Which is to say that when one area of the musculoskeletal system isn’t functioning correctly, the rest of the body shifts and tilts in order to compensate for the problem.  For instance, pain in the patella (kneecap), also known as Patella Femoral Syndrome (Knee Cap Pain) is frequently due to imbalances in the quadriceps muscles of the thigh that connect to and move the patella. These imbalances frequently start in the lower back, most often in the sacroiliac joint. It’s similar to the old song, “…the knee bones connected to the thigh bone…”. From our head to our toes, we are one, whole, organic structure. Therefore, chronic challenges are never separated. So, now you know that your back can affect your knees, but it’s not always the culprit! A case in point, reduced foot function in response to foot pain generally causes painful knee problems as well. In addition, poor knee tracking due to inappropropriate gait patterns, such as pronation (walking like a duck with toes pointed out rather than straight ahead), can cause wear and tear on the knee joints and extreme pain over time. And, finally, excess body weight and, not to bum out the ladies, but the wearing of high heels on a regular basis frequently causes knee problems over time.

The good news is that chiropractic management can restore proper muscle balance, restore appropriate movement to the patella and other knee joints, and correct subluxations of the sacroiliac joints or bones of the foot. Don’t rush into having knee replacement surgery until your tried conservative chiropractic treatment!
But, you should never disregard knee pain, or “play through” knee pain, or continue walking in those lovely Jimmy Choo heels when your knees are aching. Pain is the body’s way of letting you know that something is wrong. If knee problems are not address, the tissues of the knee joint, particularly the cartilage, will continue to degenerate. And, changes, such as bone spurs, can occur if the bones begin to rub on one another.

Musculoskeletal problems, such as knee pain and degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis), generally increase with age. But remember, no matter what your age is today, right this minute you are younger than you will ever be again. See your Dallas Chiropractor today…for tomorrow’s sake!

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