Pain Relief Through Chiropractic Adjustments
Osteoarthritis is one of the most common degenerative joint diseases, and although it can affect any joint in the body, for many people it presents around the weight-bearing joints of the knees when the cartilage eventually breaks down causing the bones to rub against each other resulting in progressive pain, stiffness, muscle weakness and reduced range of movement. In Australia, for example, it is estimated that a staggering 41% of those 65 and older are living with knee symptoms suggesting knee osteoarthritis.
There are of course many options for managing the symptoms of knee osteoarthritis, including medication, surgery, orthotics, bracing and exercise but in addition to these, chiropractic care offers a safe, non-invasive, holistic, patient-centred and natural approach to manage the symptoms of knee osteoarthritis as well as improve the health of the joint.
Here at Be Fit Chiro, Brunswick East, Victoria, we strive to provide the chiropractic care that is right for each of our valued patients. This article will focus on examining the five key benefits of chiropractic care for knee osteoarthritis.
Pain Relief Through Chiropractic Adjustments
The traditional approach to chiropractic care involves administering adjustments, which sounds technical but essentially the technique involves a sort of ‘thrust’ hit to the affected area, freeing up the area being treated, either by freeing up fixated joints or by relieving pressure on certain joints. In the cases of knee osteoarthritis, there is often some problem with the lower back, the pelvis or the knee joint itself, and chiropractic adjustments can relieve pressure on the knee joint by straightening out the spine and/or the joint above. It also corrects certain misalignments (which don’t cause symptoms unless the body has other problems).
How Chiropractic Adjustments Alleviate Pain
- Reduction of Nerve Irritation: Spinal and joint misalignments can irritate the nerves and cause pain in the knee. Adjustments of these misalignments can cause a reduction of this nerve irritation, which can be associated with pain relief.
- Better Joint Function: Nerves and muscles are in a better position to work together, allowing the knee joint to function more smoothly, leading to less pain and easier action overall.
- Endorphin surge: Good adjustments can lead to the release of endorphins, our natural opiates, offering immediate pain relief.
Pain scores have been greatly reduced and patients have reported a huge level of improvement in their quality of life. Our team of chiropractors utilise gentle, specific techniques to restore ideal joint motion to your spine and extremities.
Enhancing Knee Mobility and Flexibility
One of the clinical hallmarks of knee osteoarthritis is a decreased range of motion in the affected joint. The potential to help restore and enhance that range of motion is one of the major benefits of chiropractic care. Re-establishing normal mobility is often approached by manipulative treatment of the affected joint to restore proper motion and the ability to move that joint more easily. This can have a positive impact on a patient’s ability to freely get out of bed, up from a chair, out of a car, and more easily engage in other daily activities.
Techniques to Improve Mobility and Flexibility
- Joint Mobilisation: This is a passive movement of the joint to increase the range of movement. Joint mobilisation helps to reduce stiffness, and subsequently improve flexibility.
- Stretching Exercises: Depending on whether you’re suffering from runner’s knee or tennis elbow, chiropractors prescribe specific stretching exercises to help you prolong and elongate the muscles surrounding a tendon, which will make the capillaries (the tiny, thin tubes in muscles) relax and ease tightness in the knee.
- Soft Tissue Therapy: Techniques such as massage and myofascial release all help to relax overly tense muscles around the knee joint and improve overall mobility.
Improved range of motion or increased flexibility can lead to an improved quality of life for someone with knee osteoarthritis. At Be Fit Chiro, these techniques can be added to the treatment of patients with knee osteoarthritis to help them get the outcomes they need.
Reducing Inflammation with Chiropractic Techniques
Inflammation is a characteristic of osteoarthritis and is largely responsible for pain and stiffness and chiropractic care helps to reduce the inflammation in these joints, providing patients with some relief and ultimately improving their quality of life by improving the health of the joints.
Methods to Reduce Inflammation
- Spinal and Joint Adjustments: Improve alignment of the joints to reduce mechanical stress on your knee, thereby reducing inflammation and pain.
- Cold laser Therapy: It entails the use of non-invasive low-level laser light to reduce inflammation and healing of the knee The second wave identifies an attack, and the third wave allows the recruitment of as many immune cells as possible.
- Treat with food: Chiro-natalists often encourage dietary approaches to help lower systemic inflammation, emphasising the importance of eating antioxidant-rich foods and anti-inflammatory guidance around supplements.
Regardless of the cause, inflammation must be managed as part of an effective osteoarthritis strategy. At Be Fit Chiro, we employ these modalities in tandem to achieve exactly that: a holistic, personalised management of inflammation.
Strengthening Muscles Around the Knee
The more there are strong muscles around the joint, the more they can take up a bit of the load that would otherwise go to the affected joint. Chiropractic care generally includes exercises and procedures designed to strengthen those muscles and so can help you manage your osteoarthritis and your joint stability.
Strengthening Techniques and Exercises
- Resistance Training: With resistance bands or weights, a chiropractor guides a patient to muscle-strengthening exercises of the quadriceps, hamstrings and calf.
- Isometric Exercises: Try isometric exercises: a contraction of the musculature that keeps angles fixed at the joints. This can help you to build strength without worsening pain.
- Functional Training: These exercises mimic the actions of daily life, enhancing the strength and coordination required for everyday movements.
Stabilising the muscles of the knee helps your joint to become more stable and less painful to move. At Be Fit Chiro, we tailor exercise programs for your specific needs to address weakness and improve muscle strength around your joints.
Holistic Approach to Managing Knee Osteoarthritis
This is again a ‘whole body’ or ‘whole person’ approach to health, which is part of the superior relief that many people experience from chiropractic care for knee osteoarthritis.
Components of a Holistic Approach
- Lifestyle Procedures: Chiropractors recommend lifestyle changes to help with the management of osteoarthritis such as weight management, and maintaining mobility through specific activities.
- Proper Posture: Proper posture is essential to reduce stress on the knee joint. Chiropractors work with patients to help them develop good posture and make proper ergonomic adjustments.
- Mind-Body Techniques: Stress-reduction strategies such as mindfulness and relaxation can reduce the perception of pain and enhance quality of life.
Chiropractic care targets the whole person, to provide a complete resolution of osteoarthritis of the knee. The goal at Be Fit Chiro is to allow our patients to live the healthiest life possible by focusing on their overall health through natural treatment options, like chiropractic care and other modalities.
Conclusion: Embracing Chiropractic Care for Osteoarthritis Relief
Osteoarthritis of the Knee can be very Debilitating. There is a multitude of Chiropractic Treatments that can help provide Pain Reduction, Restore Mobility, Reduce Inflammation and Strengthening of the knee joint in Brunswick East Victoria look at our Google reviews to see why chiropractic might be right for you. Visit our office for Personalised Chiropractic Care in Brunswick East Victoria.
If you suffer from knee osteoarthritis book an appointment with Be Fit Chiro today. Our chiropractors can get you on the fast track to a pain-free normal life. Remember, we treat the whole person, not just the site of your pain and help prevent injuries from developing into chronic conditions. If you suffer from knee osteoarthritis, book your appointment with Be Fit Chiro today.
Our caring team is dedicated to your well-being, offering personalised attention throughout your health journey.
Feel free to book online or get in touch with us at (03) 9118 0619 to schedule your appointment .