Knee
pain is one of the most commonly treated orthopedic ailments. Our knees
are subject to a tremendous amount of weight-bearing forces. These
forces are best handled in a straight forward to backward motion. This
is the primary motion the knee joint was designed for. Shearing force
(force from the sides) and torque (rotational force) are more difficult
for the knee joint to handle. Shear and torque account for many of the
sports related knee injuries.
Direct
trauma to the
knee from falls, motor vehicle accidents, and other sources also lead
to acute knee conditions. Poor alignment, over-use, genetic weakness,
disease, and malignancy lead to chronic knee conditions. With both
chronic and acute knee conditions, a Doctor of Chiropractic can be an
invaluable resource in the diagnosis and treatment of your knee
condition.
Knee problems can develop
in and around the
knee joint and can be caused by dysfunction or disease in the patella
(kneecap) meniscus (knee joint) or in the surrounding ligaments or
tendons. The muscles that attach to the knee may also experience
problems. For instance, a quadriceps strain (the big muscle that runs
down the front of the leg) can cause difficulty and pain when bending
the knee joint.
A knee will
experience undo stress
when the joint is unable to glide in a nearly straight line. Over time,
excessive side to side motion (shearing force) can cause serious joint
problems. One of the more common problems from improper knee tracking
is called Runner’s Knee. The over-use stress and jarring of
routine running activities coupled with a poor tracking ability of the
kneecap will wear down and inflame the knee joint cartilage. The result
will be pain, swelling, and dysfunction. Left untreated, these
inflammatory knee disorders will lead to arthritis.
Your
Doctor of Chiropractic can determine how your knee is tracking while
watching you walk or run. In addition, a measurement called the Q-Angle
can be made to help determine how much tracking stress is being exerted
on a knee joint. The Q-Angle is measured as the deviation that exists
from an imaginary line drawn made between the hip, the knee, and the
ankle. The more inward or outward the kneecap is in relation to the hip
and ankle, the greater the tracking stress on the knee joint will be.
Knee
alignment can be improved though therapeutic measures. Such measures
include joint manipulation as well as stretching and to strengthening
the muscles that support the knee. In addition, proper footwear with
special attention to arch support, cushioning, and hyperpronation
reduction (rapid turning in of the foot while walking or running) may
greatly improve a knee condition.
As
just mentioned,
hyperpronation of the foot can contribute to your knee joint problem. A
simple check to see if a foot is hyperpronating can be easily done as
follows: Simply examine the heels of your shoes and look for patterns
of wear. If a heel is worn off excessively at the outside edge,
hyperpronation is evident. This excessive heel wear is caused from
exaggerated rolling in of the foot. After the foot comes down normally
on the outer edge the foot should gradually begin to roll inward to
disperse the shock of heel strike. This is normal pronation. When the
foot rapidly rolls in, hyperpronation is present. This rapid rolling in
effect sands off the outer edge of the heel, which gives the uneven
wear appearance when your shoes are examined. Hyperpronation of the
foot translates to poor tracking of the knee joint and may result in
the onset or contribute to the worsening of a knee condition.
Whether
a knee condition is acute (injury related) or chronic (wear and tear
related) the importance of getting a good diagnosis and receiving the
proper treatment cannot be understated. Although analgesics can help
relieve some pain and swelling, it takes proper corrective measures to
address the underlying cause of the problem. A Doctor of Chiropractic
is specially trained to treat these types of conditions at this level.
A consultation with a chiropractor could help you determine just how
much you can do to improve the condition of your knees.