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Knee pain

Knee pain or soreness is a common complaint. It can be caused by a sudden injury, gradual wear-and-tear, or chronic overuse. Most forms of knee pain aren’t serious and can be treated at home. In some cases, however, knee pain can be caused by an acute injury needing immediate medical attention, or it’s from age-related damage requiring medical supervision.

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A quick overview of knee anatomy

 

The knee is one of the most stable joints in the body. It’s also the most stressed joint, supporting the entire body and undergoing immense stresses as we walk or run. There are three bones in the knee:

1. Femur (thigh bone)

2. Tibia (shin bone)

3. Patella (knee cap)

 

Together these bones form two separate joints – encased within the overall knee joint. This is called a compound joint. The tibiofemoral joint is a hinge joint held by several tendons and ligaments. The surfaces are covered in cartilage and the menisci – which act as shock absorbers. Meanwhile, the patellofemoral joint increases leverage as the knee extends straight.

 

Causes and symptoms of knee pain

 

Knee pain causes include injuries, arthritis, and mechanical dysfunction.

 

Injuries

 

Knee injuries can occur to any knee structure, including:

  • Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are among the most common ligament tears. It’s caused by a sudden change in direction. You’ll likely hear a “pop”, followed by pain and swelling.

  • Fractures of the kneecap are most common, particularly in osteoporotic individuals. 

  • Torn meniscus often presents with knee pain and a feeling of the knee getting “stuck”.

  • Knee bursitis involves the inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs, which cushion and lubricate the knee.

  • Patellar tendinitis is the inflammation of the surrounding tendons. The knee may appear hot, painful, and swollen.

 

Arthritis

 

Here are the arthritis types most likely to affect the knee:

  • Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease caused by wear and tear. You may feel the rubbing of bone-on-bone during movement.

  • Rheumatoid arthritis 

  • Gout is caused by uric acid crystals in the joint space.

  • Pseudogout is like gout, except it’s a build-up of calcium-containing crystals. Knees are most commonly affected.

  • Septic arthritis is an infection of the knee. Symptoms include fever, swelling, pain, and redness. See a doctor urgently.

 

Mechanical problems and other causes

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Not all knee pain causes fit neatly into other categories.

  • Patellofemoral pain syndrome is the most common type of knee pain. It occurs gradually and worsens with sitting, climbing, or descending stairs. The exact cause is unknown, but it is common in runners.

  • Iliotibial band syndrome presents with pain from the outside of your hip to your knee. 

  • Dislocated kneecaps are quite rare.

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Treatment

 

Standard treatment strategies for mild to moderate injuries involve RICE: Rest, Ice it, Compress your knee, and Elevate your Knee. You can also take NSAIDs (like Ibuprofen or Naproxen) and practice stretching and strengthening exercises.

 

Tears or fractures will need medical or even surgical intervention – as will any infection or arthritic causes.  Chiropractic care depends on the pathology, working effectively for inflammatory or arthritis causes. They would typically perform a full assessment of the pelvis because if the pelvis is not correctly aligned the knee joints may compensate for the malalignment and become overworked and painful. 

 

By adjusting and correcting the pelvis, hips, or lumbar spine, knee pain can be alleviated and reduced over several sessions. Techniques such as dry needling are commonly used by Chiropractors, an acupuncture needle is used to stimulate blood flow into the knotted muscle to release tightness.

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  • How Does Chiropractic Work
    When your spinal joints are not moving correctly, it puts a lot on your spinal nerves. This pressure causes your body to start breaking down a lot of functional processes because it isn’t getting accurate/complete messages from the brain. This shows up in many ways and some of these are in the form of pain, headaches, digestive issues, slow or difficult movement and many other physical symptoms. Our main goal as Chiropractors is to take the pressure off the nervous system and allow the brain to communicate freely with the body using gentle Chiropractic techniques at specific joint levels. All body systems can then work at peak performance, movement is easier, and pain is decreased because the body is not in a constant stress mode.
  • How Safe Is A Chiropractic Adjustment
    If delivered by a person who is specially trained and qualified to deliver a Chiropractic adjustment to a specific joint level, then it is extremely safe. A clinical review of 250 published articles in 2017 examined both serious and unfavourable events linked to Chiropractic treatment. The outcome of the researchers’ evaluation showed that only 1 in 2 million spinal adjustments had any serious side effects.
  • How Can A Chiropractor Help You
    Doctors of Chiropractic are specially trained in the evaluation and treatment of spinal conditions. Chiropractors are known for treating neck and back pain, however they are also able to treat headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, jaw pain, sciatica, tingling in the arms and legs as well as any joint pain (shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, ankles).
  • What Are The Benefits Of Chiropractic Treatment
    Better joint movement Decreased joint pain Muscle relaxation Improved posture Slowing down of joint degeneration Enhancing your body’s ability to repair and heal
  • Is Chiropractic Care Expensive
    Chiropractic has demonstrated itself to be one of the most cost-effective forms of treatment for musculoskeletal conditions.
  • What You Can Expect On Your First Visit
    Your initial visit will begin with a consultation. Dr. Tina will take a case history and ask about your present condition. Next, Dr. Tina will perform an examination to evaluate the nature of your problem. This examination generally includes a series of basic physical tests, as well as a specialised Chiropractic evaluation of spinal movement and posture. After completing the analysis, Dr. Tina will explain your problem and map out an appropriate plan of action with you. The treatment will begin on the first visit where by the muscles will be loosened and a spinal manipulation will be applied to specific joints in your spine that are locked. Over the course of your care, Dr. Tina will monitor your individual response and may also recommend changes to your lifestyle, work environment and exercise patterns.
  • Do You Need A Referral To See A Chiropractor
    Anyone is free to make an appointment to seek Chiropractic care without the need for referral by another medical professional, however some medical aids do require that you be referred by your network GP.
  • Which Treatment Techniques Are Used By Dr. Tina
    Depending on the type of condition you present with and the programme you have chosen, our techniques are carefully chosen to reach your goals and offer you relief. The primary technique we use is gentle chiropractic adjustments. It may also include (when needed) soft tissue techniques such as: Joint Mobilisation Dry Needling therapy TENS machine massage Hypervolt massage
  • How Many Chiropractic Sessions Will You Need
    The number of visits you make to Dr. Tina depends on the nature of your condition and your personal goals. Many people use Chiropractic as part of a preventive health care routine, scheduling Chiropractic appointments on a regular basis to keep their bodies functioning at their best. Others seek care and treatment for specific conditions with the primary goal of treatment being pain relief. It is important for you to discuss your objectives with Dr. Tina in order to develop a treatment plan that works best for you.
  • How You Can Pay For Your Sessions
    There are three ways to pay for your sessions: 1. Medical Aid We will authorise each consultation with your medical aid. When booking your initial appointment you will be asked to provide all your medical aid details. If your medical aid does not cover the consultation we will notify you BEFORE your appointment and you can then decide if you would like to keep the appointment and pay cash. 2. Paying Cash We offer different packages for our cash patients. These packages are tailored to suit your needs and affordability. Each package includes different treatment modalities. We do have card facilities and you are welcome to pay by card or cash. 3. Credit: Mediwallet If you are not able to pay cash or do not have medical aid, consider paying with ZeroPay, a medical credit facility that allows you to make monthly payments over 3 months.
  • Will Your Medical Aid Cover The Sessions
    We are contracted into most medical aids and charge 100% of the scheme rate so you don’t have to pay anything above the medical aid rate. Below is a list of the medical aids that typically cover Chiropractic treatment: Discovery Medical Aid Medscheme AECI Bankmed Barloworld Bestmed Bonitas (excluding Boncap, Bonstart and Bonstart Plus) CAMAF Fedhealth GEMS Health Squared (formerly Spectramed and Resolution Health) Libcare Medihelp Medshield Polmed SABC Medical Aid Sasolmed
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