Knee Pain

The knee is a delicate joint where the femur in the thigh meets the tibia of the shin. The patella, suspended between the patellar tendon and the quadriceps, protects the joint. Knee pain can be paralyzing. If you struggle with perpetual knee pain, come see us at Utah Sports and Wellness in Millcreek, Utah today.

Patellar Pain

The patella, or kneecap, is a sesamoid, meaning it is a bone that does not connect to another bone. It sits atop a fatty pad and is lined with synovial tissue. When knee pain registers in these soft tissues, including the tendons that secure the patella, it is called patellofemoral pain syndrome or runner’s knee. Pain can be caused by overuse leading to the misalignment of the knee, which can be corrected with chiropractic adjustment. Your chiropractor can also suggest changes in your routine or footwear to relieve pressure on your knee.

Compartment Syndrome

The compartments in the limbs are groupings of muscles, blood vessels, and nerves. When bleeding or swelling develops in one of these compartments, pressure builds to dangerous levels. That pressure limits blood flow, which can starve muscle cells of nutrients and oxygen. The condition, also called exertional compartment syndrome, is a medical emergency and can lead to permanent damage.

Compartment syndrome can be a result of participating in athletic activities with repetitive impact and generally follows serious injury. Recovery always requires surgery.

Post-Surgical Recovery

Knee surgery is meant to restore function to damaged knee joints. Recovery after surgery can be long and painful, but chiropractic treatment can ease the process. Knee pain during recovery can be mitigated through chiropractic adjustment and rehabilitation exercises. Though counterintuitive, it is better to keep your knee moving in prescribed ways to allow it to heal. Come see us at Utah Sports and Wellness for chiropractic treatment that relaxes muscles, improves circulation, restores nervous system communication, and increases strength and mobility.

Stress Fractures

Stress fractures, also known as hairline fractures, occur around the knee when the muscles surrounding the tibia do not cushion the bone as they ought or when the bone becomes weakened through overuse or bone degeneration. Stress fractures feel like shin splints that do not heal, bringing tenderness and knee pain, especially during strenuous activity. The area around the fracture can also swell. With concentrated rest, the body can usually heal stress fractures on its own. Your chiropractor may also recommend a brace or a splint.

Cartilage and Meniscus Injuries

Cartilage is a kind of flexible tissue that protects the ends of bones by preventing bone-to-bone contact. It also serves to absorb the normal shock produced by joint movement. The meniscus is a piece of cartilage that sits between the femur and the tibia, protecting the tibia. 

Each knee has two menisci. They can be torn when the knee is twisted beyond its limit. Knee pain follows, along with stiffness and reduced ability to put weight on the knee. Icing and rest can reduce swelling, and rehabilitation exercises can help you regain strength in your knee.

Osgood-Schlatters Disease

Osgood-Schlatters disease is caused by aggravation of the bone growth plate. The growth plate beneath each knee is a section of cartilage that grows as children do. It serves as an anchor for the patellar tendon. At the conclusion of physical development, the growth plate hardens into bone. In cases of Osgood-Schlatters disease, knee pain and swelling arise where the patellar tendon meets the top of the tibia, below the knee joint.

Osgood-Schlatters disease is known to happen during growth spurts and is associated with sports with lots of running and jumping, especially in adolescent athletes, though it can present itself in less active youth. If the patellar tendon receives enough rest, Osgood-Schlatters disease may resolve on its own. Rehabilitation and stretching exercises can alleviate knee pain and strengthen the patellar tendon, and ice can mitigate swelling.