Knee Pain
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.
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DISCLAIMER:
Articles posted on this site are for informational purposes only.
Articles are not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment. Users of
this site should consult with their doctors before making any decisions
regarding their health care.
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