Dallas Chiropractor Explains How To Please Your Knees
Your Dallas Chiropractor understands that knee problems can be very painful and even debilitating. There are a number of reasons why people experience knee pain. And, it’s important to be aware that anyone, at any age, is at risk. A fall, an auto accident, a sports injury, or some other acute, traumatic event can cause knee pain. Nonetheless, 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 happen because of long-term dysfunction and stress on the knee as a result of excessive weight, poor gait, and other stresses on the knee joint and surrounding tissue that, over time, have developed into “noticeable” to “disabling” 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. But, we, chiropractors, would likely see far less knee problems if more people came in sooner for back care. That’s right! Most people don’t know that keeping their back in good condition can help prevent knee pain!
How is that possible? The answer is that the musculoskeletal system of the body functions in a compensatory, “chain-reaction” manner. Which is to say that when one area of the musculoskeletal system isn’t functioning correctly, the rest of the system shifts and tilts in an effort to compensate for the problem. For example, 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. This inequality frequently begin in the lower spine, especially in the sacroiliac joint. It’s not unlike the old song, “…the knee bones connected to the thigh bone…”. From our head to our toes, we are one, whole, organic structure. It is for this reason that chronic challenges are never separated. So, it’s not just your back that’s the culprit! For instance, reduced foot movement in response to foot pain can also cause 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 create wear and tear on the knee joints and extreme pain over time. And, finally, excess body weight and, sorry, ladies, but the wearing of high heels on a regular basis can cause knee problems over time.
Fortunately, chiropractic treatment can restore healthy muscle balance, return appropriate motion to the patella and other knee joints, and adjust subluxations of the sacroiliac joints or bones of the foot. Your very last resort in attempting to get rid of your knee pain, should be knee replacement surgery! Try a conservative course of chiropractic treatment first.
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 telling you that there’s a problem that needs correcting. If knee problems are not taken care of, 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.
As we age, certain musculoskeletal problems frequently increase, such as knee pain and degerative joint disease (osteoarthritis). 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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