How to Help Protect Your Knees
By Alexis Mills
Knee issues are common and can make living on a daily basis harder than it should be. It is important to realize that this does not have to be your new normal. Education of how your knees work and how you can help them will go a long way toward easing pain and irritation. When it comes to taking care of your knees, you want to be the best that you can or else it leads to constant irritation and a possible knee replacement.
Breaking Down the Knee Joint
The knee joint is composed of three parts, the femur (thigh bone), tibia (shin bone), and patella (knee cap). Throughout the femur and tibia is cartilage to help it move properly without scraping against bones. The cartilage in the knee is what keeps your stability, assists in movement, and acts as a cushion for shock absorption. There is also liquid called synovial fluid which can be found in all of our joint capsules. It's produced to assist in smooth motion, reduce friction, and helps the knee joint to function properly.
So, why is this all important? When understanding which issues are going on with your knees, it's important to know all the parts of the knee and how it really works. We need all of those parts -- bones, cartilage, and fluid -- to be in their best possible condition to function optimally.
When Things Go Wrong
People who are living a very active lifestyle are much more common victims of knee injuries or issues. Because you are putting more stress on the joints by being active, it is even more important to take care of them. But it's also common for knee issues on people who are on the opposite spectrum that are rarely active. This can cause the knees to become stiff and decrease in range of motion. The issues that you experience with knees can be just from normal wear that needs some care to help with the irritation.
How Chiropractic Can Help
Yes, chiropractic care can help with the issues you are having with knee pain and irritation. If you aren't educated about chiropractic care, then it might be difficult to see how an adjustment to the spine can help your knees. Chiropractic care that focuses on the spine is to target the nervous system in order to help communication throughout the body. This can help the spine better communicate with joints like the knee to function better.
In this case, manipulation of the knee can also restore range of motion, reduce pain, and relieve stiffness. It's important to realize that chiropractors can't perform miracles if you aren't also doing what you can to take care of yourself. Stretch daily and care for the body you have.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Katy, Tex.