Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Managing Knee Pain, Naturally

Knee pain is a major contributor to lost time at work, a decrease in quality of life activities and can be a huge limiting factor in being able to participate in a healthy fitness program.  So, this week I'd like to take time to discuss the knee and some of the common conditions that can be resolved without drugs or surgery.

Probably the most common knee disorder is osteoarthritis of the knee.  KOA, as it is referred to in medical journals, is responsible for millions of doctor visits annually and billions of dollars in health care expense.  And the reality of KOA is this:  nothing will provide a "cure" outside of a knee replacement.  The good news is that we can manage KOA quite well using a variety of procedures and applications.  For example, maintaining healthy, proper joint alignment with chiropractic is key to reducing the inflammatory effects of arthritis in the knee.  Using a custom orthotic in the shoe to reduce the shock on the knee joint during the gait cycle is tremendously beneficial for KOA.  Omega 3 Fatty Acids are also a good therapy to combat the inflammation in the knee joint.  Dosage is dependent on body size and activity level.

Another very common knee disorder is IT Band Friction Syndrome.  This condition results in lateral, or outside, knee pain with no real knee pathology.  The IT Band is a long fibrous connective tissue that runs from the lateral hip, down the outside of the leg, crossing over the knee joint and attaching to the outside of the tibia. 

The IT Band functions in helping support the hips and providing stability while standing and walking.  Because the band crosses the knee joint, if the IT Band gets strained, it can cause pain in the area in which it crosses the knee.  Many times it can be misdiagnosed as a meniscus problem or degenerative arthritis.  IT Band Friction Syndrome is best treated using ultrasound therapy, active release muscle therapy, stretching of the Gluteal, Piriformis and Tensor Fascia muscle groups, as well as alignment of the pelvis with a chiropractic adjustment.

Don't let knee pain slow you down and, certainly, if you are having knee pain, have it properly evaluated by a professional so that you can have the appropriate treatment to get you back in the game of life!