Knee
Pain
Knee pain is one of the
most common musculoskeletal reasons that people visit their doctor.
Knee pain can be caused by a variety of referred sources such as the
low back, pelvis, lower leg, and hip joints. Nerve root compression
can also radiate pain into the knee. Many times pain is obviously
caused by trauma or overuse. If the pain is diagnosed as being caused
by trauma, overuse, or muscle imbalance, then a chiropractor trained
in treating knee pain can be of great assistance in conservative care
options. Gait analysis which looks at how a person walks and determines
muscle imbalances and joint restrictions is a beneficial tool to help
understand where functional links may be deficient. An example of
a finding that may be important in correcting knee pain is a tight
calf muscle which would show up as potentially inhibiting a person
to push off effectively during walking and causing increased stress
to go through the knee joint. This is a case where treating the structures
around the knee may relieve some of the pain yet if the calf muscles
in the lower leg were not treated, the pain may come back sooner or
prevent efficient recovery.
A recent study featured
in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism showed that for each pound
of body weight lost, there is a 4-pound reduction in knee joint stress
among overweight and obese people with osteoarthritis of the knee.
The implications of this
recent study have profound implications. The reduction in knee stress
for a loss of one pound of body weight would be over 4,800 lbs per
mile walked. So if a person were to lose 10 pounds of body weight,
each knee would essentially have 48,000 pounds less force subjected
on the knees for every mile walked. So if you need any more encouragement
to get in shape, do it for the knees!
Another factor to look
at in regards to knee pain is foot and ankle alignment. If the foot
and ankle are not aligned properly, the resultant forces may translate
into increased stress at the knee joint. This problem can often be
relieved by treating the soft tissue and bony structures in the foot
and ankle with chiropractic adjustments, and soft tissue manipulation.
Many people can also benefit from an orthotic insole as well. There
are many conventional brands out there that attempt to block the motion
of the foot to prevent it from moving into certain angles. This may
be detrimental to the foot, though, as it can inhibit proper muscle
activation in the foot and legs. An orthotic such as those found in
the ALINE systems brand are designed to position the foot, ankle,
and knee so they can function better. They do this by providing an
orthotic that is not as rigid as many of today’s other brands.
As you can see, there are
some pretty useful ways to address knee pain. If you have leg or knee
pain that concern you, give us a call today!
Brad Zupancich, D.C.
is the clinical director of Z Spine and Joint Center located within
Solimar Wellness Spa in Eagan, MN -(651) 686-6686. Dr. Zupancich is
a certified practitioner in the Graston Technique as well as a certified
physician with the Motion Palpation Institute.
Any advice or opinions
given in this article are not intended as a diagnosis or substitute
for an examination from a healthcare practitioner. For more information
visit www.ZSpineAndJoint.com or www.GrastonTechnique.com.
