Three common causes of knee pain
Each and every day you are doing activities that can place excessive stress and strain on your knees, from walking up and down stairs to lifting heavy objects. Knee pain can slow you down by impacting your daily life. It can begin by limiting your ability to walk up or down stairs and decrease your quality of sleep. For some of you who played sports in your youth, you may have a history of knee pain or an injury and now as you begin to age, the problem is returning. Pain is a warning sign and if the pain is severe enough to interfere with your daily life than it is time to have it evaluated. The good news is that you do not have to accept to live with the pain.
Three of the most common causes of knee pain include patellofemoral pain syndrome, osteoarthritis and Iliotibial band syndrome.
Patellofemoral pain syndrome can affect one or both knees and it can be caused by overuse from repetitive bending, direct trauma, misalignment of the kneecap or other leg bones, problems with the feet, weakness in the thigh muscles or other muscle imbalance. Typical treatment of the syndrome may include rest, ice, stretching and arch supports.
Osteoarthritis is a common condition that affects more than 33 percent of individuals over the age of 65. It is a degenerative joint disease characterized by deterioration of cartilage and increased bone density. Symptoms include stiffness, swelling, crepitus and limping when walking. Pain for the condition can be treated with topical anti-inflammatory agents like Sombra or Biofreeze, and in many individuals it generally improves after 30 minutes of activity.
Iliotibial band syndrome occurs when the Iliotibial band, a ligament that runs down the outside of the thigh from the hip to the shin, becomes inflamed or extremely tight. It is one of the most common overuse injuries among runners, but can occur with cycling, hiking or weight lifting. It is usually recommended to rest, stretch and seek massage therapy.
Have you considered chiropractic treatment for any of these conditions? As a licensed chiropractor, I would evaluate your knee and any possible underlying issues contributing to the problem. One approach is addressing any postural distortions which can be impacting the mobility of the knee joint and the surrounding soft tissues. For example, limited range of motion in the hips or tightness in the lower back can place excessive strain on the knees or effect the normal movement of the knee-joint, which can result in pain. With chiropractic care, issues such as these can be corrected so you can have improved mobility and reduce or eliminate pain as a result of better function.
When addressing these issues, various treatment techniques can be utilized including chiropractic adjustments, cold laser therapy and therapeutic modalities like ice and electric stimulation to help reduce knee pain while simultaneously increasing range of motion in the joint and improving its overall function.
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Dr. Wayne M. Fichter Jr. is a chiropractor at Natural Spine Solutions. The business is located at 3913 Schreiber Way in Coeur d’Alene, 208-966-4425.