It is estimated that about 1.5 million people suffer from osteoarthritis. About half of this group has been diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis can also be in the hip, ankle or other joints, but the knee is by far the most frequently affected joint.
Unfortunately, osteoarthritis is irreversible. However, the symptoms can be alleviated with proper care. In this article you will read about what a chiropractor can do for you.
What is osteoarthritis in the knee?
The knee joint connects the upper leg to the lower leg. The cartilage between the two bones allows movements such as bending and stretching of the knee to be smooth.
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease, meaning the cartilage in the knee gradually deteriorates and wears down. Thus, with osteoarthritis, the cartilage is no longer smooth and movements are made difficult. Shock absorption is also reduced.
What causes osteoarthritis in the knee?
The exact cause of osteoarthritis is not known. We do know that osteoarthritis is more common with age and in people who are overweight. We also see osteoarthritis more often in women than in men, and often as late as age 45.
Also, you are more susceptible to osteoarthritis in the knee if you also have osteoarthritis in other joints. Osteoarthritis can also be caused by a fall or trauma, years of overuse or another joint condition.
What symptoms are associated with osteoarthritis of the knee?
Symptoms of osteoarthritis can vary greatly and also change over time. Symptoms of osteoarthritis can vary greatly and also change over time. Stiffness is especially experienced in the morning or after sitting still for a while. This is also known as onset pain or morning stiffness. When you start moving again, the stiffness often decreases gradually.
The knee may also feel warm or somewhat swollen. Also, you may experience a reduction in strength in the leg. Symptoms may be worse in some periods than others. This can include weather and the activities you perform during the day.
What can a chiropractor do for you?
Joint wear is an irreversible process, meaning the cartilage will not recover. So while osteoarthritis cannot be cured, a chiropractor can do a lot to reduce symptoms.
A chiropractor is very knowledgeable about the musculoskeletal system. This allows the practitioner to apply very targeted corrections to restore knee mobility.
In addition, a chiropractor manipulates the very joints that have taken over some of the function of the knee joint due to osteoarthritis. Applying the manipulations restores the balance between the joints. This prevents the other joints from eventually becoming overloaded and wearing out as well.
In this way, a chiropractor not only treats pain caused by osteoarthritis, but also reduces the chances of the osteoarthritis getting worse and affecting other joints as well. It also optimizes freedom of movement, reducing pain and counteracting stiffness in the knee.
The care plan for osteoarthritis symptoms
When you first come to our practice, we will discuss your symptoms in detail and perform a scan if necessary. A scan can help us visualize your knee. We explain to you exactly what the scan results mean and what we see and feel.
After the examination, we start corrections and then we enter an intensive treatment period.
After an intensive period, we enter the maintenance phase. Precisely because osteoarthritis is a condition you cannot cure, this phase is especially important. In this phase, we maintain the progression made to ensure that the symptoms are as minimal as possible.