.

The Knee

This article will help you to identify some of the most common causes of knee pain with tips to help prevent and resolve these potentially disabling conditions.

In addition to this free educational material you will find a gift worth $150 attached that you can use right now or print for future use. Feel free to share this gift of health with your family and friends!

KNEE ANATOMY

The knee is compromised of two major bones: the "femur" or thigh bone, and the "tibia" or shin bone. The ends of these bones are covered with a strong, smooth cartilage in healthy knees, and the joint is further cushioned by two small cartilage discs known individually as the "meniscus."

Inside there are two very strong fibrous bands that cross each other and prevent excessive forward and backward translation, called the "cruciate ligaments."

Outside, there are more of these ligaments providing additional support and limiting left and right translation of the knee known as the "collateral ligaments."

For additional support, muscles attach to both bones via bands called tendons, which also allow you to move your knee in normal directions.

Bursae, small fluid filled sacs (imagine a balloon holding a small amount of water) are found throughout this system and allow structures in high friction areas to slide past one another.

Knee problems can be associated with any of the above-mentioned structures, with specific examples to follow...

COMMON KNEE DISORDERS

Osteoarthritis (OA)
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, and most frequently occurs in weight bearing joints. Since the knee carries your body weight it is a likely sight for such changes.

OA is the wear and tear type of arthritis and is often associated with aging. Aging alone however does not cause OA. More specifically OA is caused with excessive cumulative stress. As we age, of course, we accumulate more stress on our bodies. But if you were a professional skiier for example, your knees may have sustained more stress by the age of thirty than the average person at the age of sixty. OA would likely be found in this joint.

OA is characterized by a pitting of the smooth cartilage, thinning of the joint space, and roughening of the surrounding bones.

Most people - doctors included - will tell you that there is nothing you can do about knee arthritis. Not true!

Although you may not reverse, the bone and cartilage changes significantly, you can almost always improve muscle flexibility, muscle strength, and knee joint ranges of motion, thus making the knee function better. If your knee no longer hurts, you can walk longer, perform your daily activities better, you probably don't care much that your x-ray looks the same.

This is what we can do with you in our office. So give us a call today to find out how our techniques can benefit you...(516) 433-5396 .

Knee Tendonitis
The tendon is the band that attaches a muscle to a bone. In the discussion above you learned that the knee is supported by a group of strong muscles. When the tendon becomes irritated and inflamed, it is termed "tendonitis." Irritation may occur due to overuse, deconditioning of the muscles, poor posture and biomechanics, or bony abnormalities, as is the case with arthritis.

.

Because there are so many structures of the knee in such a small area, only a trained clinician will be able to make the correct diagnosis, and thus formulate an appropriate treatment protocol.

Knee Bursitis
Recall above - a bursae is a small fluid filled sac found throughout your body in high friction areas (imagine a balloon holding a small amount of water). When that bursae becomes irritated, the sac can become inflamed, or swollen. The bursae itself will become very painful, and may put pressure on other sensitive structures around it - remember it is already in a high friction area.

Conservative treatment at our office can rid you of your injury, but prompt diagnosis and treatment is essential. If you are having at or around your knee, give us a call today, so one of our trained clinicians can help you get back on your feet... (516) 433-5396.

.

Chondromalacia
Chondromalacia describes a disorder that involves a softening of the cartilage behind the patellar bone, or the kneecap. It is most often a form of knee pain in young adults. Symptoms of chondromalacia include a dull aching in the knee behind the knee cap. It is often worse after sitting for long periods of time or when walking down stairs.

.

Meniscus Injury

There are two small discs that help cushion the knee joint known as "meniscii" as described above. Because this discs handles so much weight and stress it is commonly injured or even torn. Like a pebble stuck in the hinge of a door, a torn meniscus may get caught in the hinge joint at the knee. This can create pain, swelling, and loss of range of movement. Patients often describe pain at end ranges of movement or with going up and down steps.

.

The good news is that following proper diagnosis, a caught meniscus can often be freed by a trained clinician. The bad news is that if ignored, surgery almost a certainty. Don't delay.

.

If you have pain bending and straightening your knee, or pain going up and downs stairs, come get checked today. We can help get you back on your feet faster than you might imagine...

(516) 433-5396

If you have experienced any of the above-mentioned conditions or symptoms, you may be a candidate for conservative therapy at our office. Give us a call to find out today (516) 433-5396.

Mention our website for a FREE consultation!

(516) 433-5396

This is a continually evolving site. Additional information will be posted regularly. Video will be coming soon! Please check back frequently and sign up for our monthly newsletter!