It may surprise you to know that chiropractors like me, your chiropractor in Dallas, treat almost as many patients with knee pain as we do patients with back problems. However, I’m convinced that we, chiropractors, would see fewer knee problems if more men and women came in sooner for back care. That’s right! Taking care of your back can help prevent knee pain!

What does your back have to do with your knee? The answer is that the musculoskeletal system of the body operates in a compensatory, “chain-reaction” manner. Which is to say that when one area of the musculoskeletal system isn’t functioning correctly, the rest of the body shifts and tilts in order to compensate for the problem.  For instance, pain in the patella (kneecap), also known as Patella Femoral Syndrome (Knee Cap Pain) is often caused by imbalances in the quadriceps muscles of the thigh that attach to and move the patella. These imbalances frequently start in the lower spine, most often in the sacroiliac joint. It’s not unlike the old song, “…the knee bones connected to the thigh bone…”. From our head to our toes, we are one, whole, organic structure. That is why challenges are never isolated. So, now you know that your back can affect your knees, but it’s not always the culprit! For example, reduced foot mechanics due to foot pain generally causes painful knee problems as well. In addition, poor knee tracking due to improper gait patterns, such as pronation (walking like a duck with toes pointed out rather than straight ahead), can cause stress on the knee joints and extreme pain over time. And, lastly, excess body weight and, not to bum out the ladies, but the wearing of high heels on a regular basis can cause knee problems over time.

Happily, chiropractic treatment can reestablish healthy muscle balance, restore appropriate movement to the patella and other knee joints, and adjust subluxations of the sacroiliac joints or bones of the foot. Knee replacement surgery in an attempt to relieve knee pain should be a last resort!
It it vitally important that you never disregard knee pain, or “play through” knee pain, or continue walking in those lovely Jimmy Choo heels when your knees are aching. Pain is the body’s way of alerting you to the fact that something is wrong. If knee problems are left untreated, the tissues of the knee joint, particularly the cartilage, will continue to degenerate. And, changes, such as bone spurs, can occur if the bones begin to rub on one another.

Musculoskeletal problems, such as knee pain and degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis), generally increase as a person ages. However, no matter what your age is today, right this minute you are younger than you will ever be again. See your Dallas Chiropractor today…for tomorrow’s sake!

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For an example, arthritis. In point of fact, with the exception of pharmaceuticals, allopathic medicine doesn’t address this age-related condition. What is the reason? The answer is that most medical practitioners are only concerned with the symptoms of arthritis. The chiropractic method is to uncover the cause of the affliction and relieve the pain at its source.  For more than a hundred years, chiropractors, like your Chiropractor in Santa Clara, have been treating individuals suffering from back pain and other conditions caused by arthritic changes in the musculoskeletal system.

Arthritic changes take place as your body ages because, over time, wear of particular joints takes place due to repetitive stresses, and years of incorrect gait, improper posture, and insufficient movement. Chiropractic treatment brings back motion into your joints and decreases pain, and it ameliorates any vertebral misalignment that may be causing irritation and restriction. In addition, did you know that misaligned vertebra, along with causing arthritic changes in the spine and escalating pain, can also lower your resistance and immunity? It’s true, and this could be one of the reasons why it may seem to you that as you get older you experience more health issues and that it frequently takes longer for you to feel better again. Studies have shown that older individuals who are under chiropractic care stay healthier. To put it another way, as you get older, chiropractic adjustments are good for what ails you!

Chiropractors are experts when it comes to the health of the musculoskeletal system, from the small, growing frame of an infant to the full-grown body of a mature adult.  Your chiropractor is experienced in working with the aging process  of the body and has special observational and diagnostic skills that aid in detecting spinal misalignments and joint problems. A chiropractic examination can, in fact, often reveal some age-related changes before they’ve begun to create noticeable pain. Furthermore, your Chiropractor in Santa Clara can check your posture and analyze your gait to identify inappropriate patterns that might cause more arthritic changes in the future.

So, if feeling your age has become a painful experience, make an appointment with your Santa Clara Chiropractor today!

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San Diego Chiropractor

As a San Diego Chiropractor, I counsel many individuals who come to my clinic who want to lose weight. I know how hard it can be, and I also know how important it is to lose those extra pounds. Before you let the seams out in those slacks or skirt, there are some things that you may want to know about those few seemingly benign extra pounds you may have gained. Over time, they can add up to a surprising number of health problems from heart and pulmonary diseases and diabetes to back pain and joint degeneration. Even a few additional pounds put undue stress on organs, like the heart, not to mention on joints in the low back, hips, and knees. Over half (62%) of American adults are overweight or obese, according to recent studies. That is a substantial percentage and a truly gigantic problem (no pun intended).

Though it is capable of making a surprising array of compensations the human body was not designed to transport surplus poundage in the form of body fat. Just an additional 20 or 30 pounds can, in point of fact, overload and overburden the musculoskeletal system. Excess weight in the belly, for example, requires that the body compensate (counterbalance the weight) by tilting the pelvis forward. This angle produces compression in the joints of the low back. Painful inflammation results as this joint compression impinges nerve activity. The majority of men and women that have a heavy midsectionfeel substantical pain in their low back generated by  a compressed sciatic nerve or spinal misalignments that impinge nerves due to weight-bearing stresses. If not addresses, misaligned vertebra not only persist in irritating the degenerative changes that have already taken place, but can develop into new arthritic changes in the spine in the future.

Here are the ways in which chiropractic treatment can help. First of all, to be clear, a healthy body weight is required in order for the musculoskeletal system to function in the way it is designed to. Chiropractic treatment can not only relieve pain generated by excess weight compensation, but it can aid in weight reduction. Here’s how. Chiropractic adjustments relieve nerve impingements in the spinal column and help to get mobility back into the joints of the musculoskeletal system, particularly in the low back, hips, and knees. And, of course exercise and physical activity are a lot easier, and healthier for the body, when the the joints have good movement and the spine is aligned. Not only will exercise help with weight reduction, but it can actually slow the pace of degenerative changes as over the years.

Healthcare professionals, like your chiropractor, can talk to you about your diet and exercise choices. In addition to assisting people suffering from back pain and joint inflammation, chiropractors can provide trained guidance regarding the type of lifestyle changes that can help a person to stay healthier, more vigorous, and more active through the years. Arthritis and immobility due to aging don’t have to be inevitable. The human body was intended for a lifetime of pain-free movement.

So, if you’ve been throwing your weight around and all you’ve been getting in return is back and joint pain,as your San Diego chiropractor and someone who cares about your health, I can help relieve your suffering. Make an appointment today!

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One of the actions you can take to ameliorate your arthritis and back pain is to go to see a San Jose chiropractor. Chiropractors are doctors who concentrate exclusively on treating the muscular and skeletal system, and arthritis is a joint affliction. Chiropractic care has assisted many people in slowing the process of arthritis by getting their joints moving. Movement is essential for joint health. A good chiropractor is extraordinarily competent in treating back pain, even when it is caused by arthritis

You feel a bit concerned about what to expect if you’ve never been to a chiropractor before. It might help to give a quick overview about what you can expect. You will be given the opportunity to discuss your medical history, which will likely include a family history of arthritis. The chiropractor will ask about your current lifestyle and may offer certain alterations that will be advantages in lessening the inflammation due to arthritis. And, finally, you will receive a detailed examination. After the examination takes place, the chiropractor will let you know if chiropractic management can help your back pain, as well as relieve your painful arthritic symptoms. At the end of your visit!Then you will be told about the exact treatment you will need.

Chiropractic treatment is not only painless, but relieves pain gently and naturally. And, the most wonderful part of going to a chiropractor for your back pain and arthritis is that you can feel confident that the origin of your pain is being addressed, and that the ease you experience is not covering up the symptom of pain, but actually treating the origin of your problem.

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There are many different forms of arthritis, each of which has a different cause. Rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis are autoimmune diseases in which the body is attacking itself. Septic arthritis is caused by joint infection. Gouty arthritis is caused by deposition of uric acid crystals in the joint that results in subsequent inflammation. Additionally, there is a less common form of gout that is caused by the formation of rhomboidal shaped crystals of calcium pyrophosphate. This form of gout is known as pseudogout. The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis is also known as degenerative joint disease and occurs following trauma to the joint, following an infection of the joint or simply as a result of aging. There is emerging evidence that abnormal anatomy may contribute to early development of osteoarthritis.

All arthritides feature pain. Patterns of pain differ among the arthritides and the location. Osteoarthritis is classically worse at night or following rest. Rheumatoid arthritis is generally worse in the morning; in the early stages, patients often do not have symptoms following their morning shower. In elderly people and children, pain may not be the main feature, and the patient simply moves less (elderly) or refuses to use the affected limb (children).

Elements of the history of the pain (onset, number of joints and which involved, duration, aggravating and relieving factors) all guide diagnosis. Physical examination typically confirms diagnosis. Radiographs are often used to follow progression or assess severity in a more quantitative manner.

Blood tests and X-rays of the affected joints often are performed to make the diagnosis.

Screening blood tests may be indicated if certain arthritides are suspected. This may include: rheumatoid factor, antinuclear factor (ANF), extractable nuclear antigen and specific antibodies.

Treatment options vary depending on the type of arthritis and include physical and occupational therapy, lifestyle changes (including exercise and weight control), and medications (symptomatic or targeted at the disease process causing the arthritis). Arthroplasty (joint replacement surgery) may be required in eroding forms of arthritis.

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What is arthritis?
Arthritis means inflammation of the joints. It causes pain and usually also limits movement of the joints that are affected. There are many kinds of arthritis. A type called osteoarthritis (also called degenerative joint disease) is the most common.

What causes osteoarthritis?
The exact cause isn’t known. A person may be at increased risk of osteoarthritis because it runs in the family. Osteoarthritis seems to be related to the wear and tear put on joints over the years in most people. But wear and tear alone don’t cause osteoarthritis.

What happens when a joint is affected?
Normally, a smooth layer of cartilage acts as a pad between the bones of a joint. Cartilage helps the joint move easily and comfortably. In some people, the cartilage thins as the joints are used. This is the start of osteoarthritis. Over time, the cartilage wears away and the bones may rub against one another.

Bones may even start to grow too thick on the ends where they meet to make a joint, and bits of cartilage and bone may loosen and get in the way of movement. This can cause pain, joint swelling and stiffness.

Who gets osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is more common in older people because they have been using their joints longer. Using the joints to do the same task over and over or simply using them over time can make osteoarthritis worse.

Younger people can also get osteoarthritis. Athletes are at risk because they use their joints so much. People who have jobs that require the same movement over and over are also at risk. Injuries to a joint can increase the risk of arthritis in the joint later on. Excess weight also can accelerate arthritis in the knees, hips and spine.

Is there a treatment?
No cure for osteoarthritis has been found. But the right plan can help you stay active, protect your joints from damage, limit injury and control pain. Your doctor will help you create the right plan for you.

Tips on staying active
Lose weight if you’re overweight.
Exercise regularly for short periods.
Go to a physical therapist if you can.
Use canes and other special devices to protect your joints.
Avoid lifting heavy things.
Avoid overusing your joints.
Don’t pull on objects to move them–push them instead.
Take your medicine the way your doctor suggests.
Use heat and/or cold to reduce pain or stiffness.

Will my arthritis get worse?
Osteoarthritis does tend to get worse over time. But you can do many things to help yourself.

It’s important to stay as active as possible. When joints hurt, people tend not to use them and the muscles get weak. This can cause contractures (stiff muscles), and it can make it harder to get around. This causes more pain and the cycle begins again. Ask your doctor to discuss pain control with you so that you can stay active and avoid this problem.

Will medicine help?
Medicines you can buy without a prescription that reduce inflammation, such as aspirin, ibuprofen (one brand name: Motrin), ketoprofen (brand name: Orudis) or naproxen (brand name: Aleve), or pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (one brand name: Tylenol), can help you feel better. Your doctor can also prescribe medicine for you, such as prescription pain relievers or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) used to treat certain types of arthritis. NSAIDs can help by reducing inflammation, swelling and pain in the joints, but not everyone can take them.

Medicine should be used wisely. You only need the amount that makes you feel good enough to keep moving. Using too much medicine may increase the risk of side effects.

Can special devices really help?
Yes. Special devices (see box below) and different ways of doing things can help people with arthritis stay independent for as long as possible. These devices help protect your joints and keep you moving. For example, if you learn to use a cane the right way, you can help reduce the amount of pressure your weight puts on your hip joint when you walk by up to 60%. Talk to your doctor if you think a special device may help your arthritis.

Special devices for people with arthritis
Canes, walkers and splints
Shoe inserts, wedges or pads
Special fasteners (such as Velcro) on clothing
Large grips for tools and utensils (wrap foam or fabric around items with narrow handles, like pens)
Wall-mounted jar openers
Electric appliances, such as can openers and knives
Mobile shower heads
Bath seats and grab bars for the bathtub

Will special exercises really help?
Yes. Exercise keeps your muscles strong and helps you stay flexible. Exercises that don’t strain your joints are best. To avoid pain and injury, choose exercises that can be done in small amounts with rest time in between. Dancing, weight lifting and bike riding are good exercises for people with arthritis.

Try tightening your muscles and then relaxing them a number of times. You can do this with all of your major muscle groups. You could also try an "aquacise" program available through your local swimming pool or community center. These programs involve special movements in the pool, with much of your body’s weight held up by water.

Talk to your doctor before starting a new exercise program.

Should I use heat to ease pain?
Using heat may reduce your pain and stiffness. Heat can be applied through warm baths, hot towels, hot water bottles or heating pads. Try alternating heat with ice packs.

Written by familydoctor.org editorial staff.

Source
American Academy of Family Physicians

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