Although your body is designed to take a beating, it can still experience strains and injuries from time to time. In particular, your joints are responsible for allowing you to make a wide range of movement, subjecting it to regular wear and tear. Every time you walk, jump, or even prop a knee on your sofa, your knee makes the motion as smooth as possible. However, it comprises ligaments, muscles, tendons, meniscus, or the cartilage between the bones, and each is subject to sprains when overused.
Knee pain is a common occurrence, especially in athletes and physically active people. However, if you have an old knee injury that you either didn’t treat correctly or at all, it can flare up, causing discomfort or extreme pain. Here are the three most common causes of knee pain and how a chiropractor can help you deal with it:
-
Knee Cartilage Damage
Also known as Baker’s cyst, knee cartilage damage occurs when the meniscus is strained. It is a cartilage piece situated between your thigh and lower leg bone, subject to wear and tear when you run without properly stretching or resting. Repeated strain or trauma can result in Baker’s cyst, making it essential to seek help right away.
Holistic chiropractors can care for this injury by helping you strengthen the muscles around your knee, alleviating the pressure from the damaged area. Cartilage tissue heals much slower than skin or muscle, so it will take more time to recover. Supplementing this period with a healthy diet will boost your body’s natural healing ability, allowing you to recover faster. With a chiropractor’s help, you can heal from your injury without resorting to surgery.
-
Knee Muscle Strain
While you may feel pain in your muscle, the cause may not be in the knee itself. Your leg muscles can also contribute to uncomfortable or painful sensations in this area, as your leg muscles are all connected up to your hip and lower back. If any parts in these areas are misaligned, it can affect the kinetic chain that supports your leg’s normal function. For example, if you wear ill-fitting shoes that do not provide the right support, your foot will turn inward, rolling your ankle awkwardly. As a result, your knee will also turn inward, stressing your meniscus and manifesting into knee pain.
A common cause of muscle pain behind the knee is posture, with which a local chiropractor can help you. The way you run, the shape of shoes you wear, and other related factors affect how you use your legs, thereby impacting your muscles’ strain. By visiting a good chiropractor near you, they can evaluate the cause of your knee pain and assist with corrective interventions, helping you prevent knee pain and injury.
-
Ligament Injury
The knee is surrounded by two kinds of ligaments: the collateral ligaments, found on the knee’s sides, and the cruciate inside the knee. When you overwork these ligaments, they can no longer keep the knee’s alignment in its normal position. If left untreated, the simple act of walking will put undue stress on the cartilage and muscles in this area, resulting in inflammation.
Luckily, a chiropractor can help you examine this injury. They will assess the extent of the damage before prescribing a holistic regimen to help you recover and strengthen the strained muscles. Over time, you’ll restore your natural gait, allowing you to walk correctly once more.
Conclusion
Knee pain is an uncomfortable condition that prevents many people from performing regular tasks, such as walking, running, or even working out. It can also get in the way of maintaining a physically active lifestyle, mostly when left to worsen. Fortunately, a chiropractor can help with knee pain, allowing you to enjoy agony-free walks again.
Keystone Chiropractic is a holistic chiropractor committed to assisting you and your family in improving your health through state-of-the-art chiropractic care. With our unique approach, we can help you restore your body to its best state. Contact us today to see how we can help you!