Do Your Knees Hurt?

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Millions of people in the US will begin their day with knee pain. If fact, one third of Americans will experience knee pain at some point in time. Pain can range from mild to severe, and can take years to develop or occur suddenly. If your knees hurt, there are various options to help relieve pain.

 

Types of Knee Pain

 

There are many types of knee pain. Patients often refer to their knee as:

 

• Being stiff, unable to fully extend

• Swollen, appearing red or feeling warm to the touch

• Making a clicking, crunching, or popping sound when walking or climbing stairs

• Being weak and often buckling

• Locking when in use

 

People of all ages come to Manalapan Spine Care and Rehabilitation because of knee problems. They find it difficult to complete daily chores, climb stairs, bend down or simply walk. Perhaps this is due to a trauma stemming from an automobile, sports or slip and fall accident. For others, knee pain and discomfort may be due to:

 

• Poor posture

• Spinal subluxation

• Pinched nerve in the back

• Weak core muscles

• Improper movement techniques

• Overuse, repetitive motion (running, cycling, driving - foot on gas petal)

• Old injuries (football)

• Improper gait

• Misalignment of the knee joint

• Abnormal alignment of the foot and/or leg

• Obesity

• Existing health conditions (Osteoarthritis, Osgood Schlatter)

• Infection

• Nutritional deficiencies

• Genetics

 

Customized Treatment for Knee Problems

 

There are many treatments and therapies to provide knee pain relief. At Manalapan Spine Care and Rehabilitation, our Team of Doctors and Therapists conduct an in-depth consultation, health history, physical exam and various evaluations to determine the underlying cause of knee pain. Once identified, a customized program is created and discussed with the patient. For some patients, the reason for their knee problems may stem from other areas, such as the back and foot. Treatment may include a combination of some of the following:

 

• Chiropractic Care: There are many non-surgical treatments and therapies to help those suffering with knee pain. Some options include spinal adjustments, trigger point therapy, stretching techniques, postural correction and ultrasound therapy.

• Physical Therapy: Exercises (stretching, strengthening and low impact aerobic exercises), ultrasound therapy, moist heat therapy, cryotherapy (cold therapy), transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS), traction, joint mobilization, manual traction, soft tissue massage, kinesio taping and patient education are effective tools to relieving knee pain.

• Therapeutic Massage: Patients often find that therapeutic massage helps to expediate results by reducing stress, anxiety, pain and muscle tension and improving overall wellness.

• Pain Management: Trigger Point Injections and Knee Joint Injections (Viscosupplementation - see below) are offered.

• Viscosupplementation for Osteoarthritis Knee Treatment: Lubricating injections may help those suffering with osteoarthritis of the knee or slow down the progression. Hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring lubricating substance (found in joint fluid) is injected, fills the joint area, thus acting as a shock absorber. People may experience a reduction in pain, swelling and inflammation, and improvement in mobility with Viscosupplementation - a powerful option for osteoarthritis knee treatment.

• Lifestyle Recommendations may include a healthy weight (one extra pound of weight adds four pounds of pressure to the knee), wearing proper footwear (avoid high heels) that fits correctly and offers support, moderate exercise with your doctor’s consent, being proactive in preventing accidents (clear clutter, wear protective gear, etc.), and maintaining proper posture and movement techniques.

 

Knee pain can prevent people from doing simple tasks, enjoying activities and earning a living. At Manalapan Spine Care and Rehabilitation, we provide a unique approach, one without masking symptoms with medication or turning to surgery. Most people who come to our Center, especially those seeking osteoarthritis knee treatment are able to find relief. If your knees hurt, please call Donna Carollo, Office Manager and Insurance Specialist at 732-972-5900 to schedule a FREE Consultation.