Knee Pain in Tacoma

REASONS TO VISIT A CHIROPRACTOR FOR KNEE PAIN

You depend on your knees for a lot of your everyday tasks; from climbing the stairs and getting in and out of your car to bending down to pick up the groceries. Your knees go through a great deal of stress, strain and a significant amount of weight-bearing forces; it’s what your knee joint was designed for, so experiencing occasional knee pain is expected. However, as you age, your knees may begin to ache more than they used to. Although aging is one of the most causes of knee pain, there are a number of knee injuries that can cause significantly more pain than the occasional aches and pains. The good news is your chiropractor in Tacoma has a variety of treatment options that may help to relieve knee pain.

Common Causes of Knee Pain

Arthritis is the most common causes of pain in the knee joint, but it can also affect other parts of the knee as well, including the ligaments, tendons, and muscles. Osteoarthritis, which is caused by gradual degradation of the cartilage in your joint and rheumatoid arthritis, causes the joint in your knee to become inflamed and it destroys the surrounding cartilage. Arthritis in the knee may be due to a deformity or age, but the most common causes of arthritis in the knee is due to excess weight or obesity or repetitive stress injuries, such as from sports. Other causes of knee pain may include:

• Cartilage Injuries, including chondromalacia patella, which is a softening of the cartilage in the knee cap. This type of injury often occurs in cyclists, runners, soccer players and skiers.
• Ligament injuries-the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) often become sprained, which can cause a great deal of knee pain. Your ACL can become torn or stretched by direct or sudden impact, such as a football tackle or an auto accident. Injuries to the medical collateral ligaments (MCL) are frequently caused by a blow to the outer side of your knee, which causes the ligament to stretch and tear. Injuries to the MCL and the PCL occur often in hockey and football players.
• Iliotibial band syndrome occurs when an inflamed tendon continually rubs over the outer knee bone. This type of injury is often caused by overuse and long-term stress, such as intensive sports training.
• Meniscus injuries-quick rotations of the upper leg, twisting the knee or repetitive rotations of the knee while bearing weight on the knees can the meniscus to tear.
• Tendon injuries can include a variety of things, such as tendonitis or a ruptured tendon. Overused tendons can stretch and eventually become inflamed.

When Should You Seek Chiropractic Treatment for Knee Pain?

Many people associate chiropractors with doctors who only treat back and neck pain. However, seeking answers as to why they have knee pain is one of the most common reasons people visit chiropractors in Tacoma. Your knee is a complex joint that relies on the muscles and ligaments for stability, so when pain is thought to be coming from the knee, your chiropractor will not only exam your knee, but all its mechanical components as well as your lower back, hips and ankles; all of which have a direct influence on your knees. For example, if there are joints in your lower limbs that are not working correctly, it can put stress on your knee joints, which may result in injury to the knee. You should seek chiropractic care:

• If your knee pain is preventing you from doing your daily activities
• If you have been taking anti-inflammatories and/or pain medications without improvement
• You have restricted motion in your knees
• If you experience knee pain for an unexplained reason
• You have arthritis and have been told there is nothing that can be done

Direct trauma to your knees from an automobile accident, a fall or a medical condition can lead to acute knee problems. Over-use, poor alignment, disease, genetic weakness and malignancy can lead to more chronic problems. Chiropractic care can be an invaluable resource for the diagnosis and treatment of both acute and chronic knee problems.

Meet with Proctor Chiropractic for Knee Pain Relief

If you are experiencing knee pain, contact Proctor Chiropractic today to learn more information about the treatment options we have available to eliminate knee pain.