Having knee pain can make even the most simple day to day activities painful.  Knowing exactly what is causing the knee pain can help tremendously when trying to cure the problem.  Below, let's take a look at some of the more common causes of knee pain and examine how our Chiropractic Physicians are able to help.

Common Causes of Knee Pain

• Dislocated Knee - This is a very serious injury that usually results from an acute or traumatic injury.  In a knee dislocation, the shin bone and thigh bone lose contact with one another.  The most common symptoms of this type of injury are very visible swelling, knee deformity, and extreme pain in the joint. 
• Knee Bursitis - Within the knee joint there are small, fluid-filled sacks called bursa.  These sacks act to cushion the joint as you walk and move.  Sometimes these sacks become inflamed which results in knee bursitis.  Symptoms include swelling, tenderness, and the area may be warm to the touch.  Typically, this injury is the result of friction on the bursa over time, but a blunt trauma can make knee bursitis develop quickly.
• Meniscus Injury - A meniscus tear can be very small or quite large. A large tear can be very painful and limiting.  Serious tears may cause locking of the knee joint and may require surgery.  Small tears will usually respond well to conservative treatments including chiropractic care and physical therapy. 
• Strains and Sprains - The knee has four major ligaments that help keep the joint mobile and structurally stable.  When one of these ligaments becomes overstretched it results in a knee sprain.  Similarly, when the musles and tendons become overstretched the result is a knee strain. The most common symptoms of a strain or sprain are varying degrees of pain, swelling, or limited range of motion.  
• Tendinitis - Tendinitis most commonly takes the form of patellar tendinitis in the knee.  This means that the tendon that connects the knee cap to the shin bone becomes inflamed.  Usually, tendinitis develops over time as the tendon becomes irritated and inflamed due to a repetive activily, uneven leg length, lack of muscle strength or misaligned feet and ankles.  The most common symptoms are tenderness or a burning sensation in the knee cap with some minor swelling.  

How a Chiropractor can Help

A Chiropractor assists in natural healing of the injured tissues, and corrects imbalances that are contributing to the problem.  To do this, he or she works to restore normal motion in the injured joints, and improve the strength and the flexibility of the muscles.  Depending on the type of injury causing the knee pain our Doctors of Chiropractic may use any one, or several, techniques to reduce or eliminate pain.  This can include ultrasound, electrical muscle stimulation, stretching and strengthening, or specific manual adjustments of the joints.  

Living with chronic knee pain or an injured knee prevents you from doing what you love.  At Arlington Chiropractic Clinic we want you to function at your best.  Our caring and professional staff are always eager to accept new patients.  We are conveniently located at 1702 W Campbell St., Arlington Heights, IL 60005.  Call today to schedule your appointment.  We can be reached at (847) 259-4493.