Posts Tagged "Flexibility"

Knee Pain

Posted by Dr. Heuser on Jun 16, 2011 in Blog | 0 comments

The knee is a pretty exposed joint; the only thing protecting it is the kneecap. This, combined with the fact that it is a load-bearing joint (anytime you are on your feet), is part of the reason that knee pain is so common. It can be caused by a specific injury, such as a fall or an auto accident, but it is more often caused by prolonged stress.

Things like irregular gait, poor posture, and tendinitis can all act as stressors causing knee problems. More surprising perhaps is the fact that knee pain does not always originate in the knee, but can be caused by imbalances elsewhere in the body, especially in the back or foot.  If there is an imbalance in the back, for example, the body might compensate for the back problem by altering the way you walk, thus putting more stress on the knee.

Unfortunately, knee pain can have a big negative impact on your quality of life because it is a crucial joint for most day-to-day activities. Medication might get rid of the pain, but the underlying problem causing the pain may get worse. Fortunately, Chiropractic offers an alternative treatment for knee pain that actually addresses the root cause. Treatment will depend on what is causing the pain. The foot, knee, hip, and back can all be adjusted to improve range of motion, relieve pain, and reduce stiffness. A chiropractor can also recommend exercises to help improve knee functioning. For example, here is a simple exercise you can do to help increase range of motion: sit in a chair with both feet flat on the ground in front of you, slowly lift one foot up by straightening the knee until your entire leg is straight, slowly lower your foot back down and tuck it as far as you can back under the chair, then repeat with the other foot.

If knee pain accompanies any activity you should stop that activity to avoid further damage.

Quick Fix vs. Rehabilitative Care

Posted by fseblog on Jun 13, 2011 in Auto Accident, Blog, Personal Injury | 0 comments

After an auto accident there will be many things to take care of, don’t let your health be the last on that list.  When you have pain after an accident there are many structures that have possibly been damaged including bones, muscles, ligaments, and nerves.  Damage to these body parts can cause severe pain and/or numbness making it hard for you to work or perform daily tasks.  Many people think that if they just rest the pain and damage will go away.  You may have even been given pain medication by your primary care doctor or at the hospital, it is still important to have your spine evaluated by a skilled chiropractor.  There can be underlying problems and issues that can make the chances of the problem self-resolving impossible.  Chiropractic care will get you back on the road to recovery.  While getting out of pain may be your only goal initially, a quick fix will not give you the benefit of long lasting rehabilitative/corrective care.