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.

The post Knee Pain Relief in Denver first appeared on Performance Sports Medical Center.

One of the symptoms of ITBS, often known as “Runners Knee” is a pain or ache on the outer side of the knee. It can be at its worst in the middle or toward the end of a run. Because of its location, and because of the associated swelling and pain, runners with ITBS often think they’ve got a knee injury. One way to tell is to bend your knee at a forty-five-degree angle. If there is pain on the outside of the knee, it is probably ITBS.
There are several things you can do on your own to treat ITBS. One is to cut back on your running, increase your stretching times, or stop altogether.

You can also try side stretching. From a standing position, put your injured leg behind the non-injured leg. Lean away from the injured side toward your good side. Be sure there’s a table or chair beside you for balance. Hold the stretch for seven to ten seconds, and then repeat.
Another home therapy is gentle foam rolling, which is a self-massage using a cylindrical foam roller.

IT Band Syndrome treatment is often difficult to tackle on your own with home therapy, or stretching. Depending on how severe your inflammation is, you may risk a more severe injury by trying to treat yourself.  Inflamed ligaments and the resulting discomfort can often linger for much longer than necessary if not addressed by a professional.

Dr. Casey Schmitz, one of our top physicians at Performance Sports Medical Center in South Denver, has treated many cases of ITBS. He examines each patient to see exactly what the problem is, and then determines the best course of therapy on an individualized basis.

The post Lateral Knees Pain – IT Band Syndrome first appeared on Performance Sports Medical Center.