The knee is another example of a hinge joint. It is formed from where the femur (upper leg bone) and the tibia & fibula (lower leg bones) meet. The hinge movement allows for strength and flexibility while completing daily movements like walking, running, jumping, and squatting. The knee also offers stability to support the weight of the body while completing these types of movements. The knee also has the added bonus of the patella (knee cap) that sits right in front of the main knee joint space and offers protection when kneeling and helps with extending the leg straight. The knee joint is also supported by multiple tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and muscles that allow the joint to have smooth, gliding movements while maintaining stability.
The knees are part of how you get from point A to point B. Having a knee problem can have a large impact on your daily life from your exercise routine to going upstairs or simply getting out of a chair. There are many factors that contribute to knee pain. Common factors in knee pain include age, misalignment (knock knee or bow-legged), previous injury or trauma, overuse (sports, occupation), obesity, and hip or ankle problems.
Common Knee Problems:
- Osteoarthritis
- Bursitis
- Tendinitis
- Stress Fracture
- Ligament Injury (Strain or Tear)
- Meniscus Tears
- Patellofemoral Dysfunction
Common conventional treatments involve rest, ice/heat, NSAID medication, steroid injections, and physical therapy which may offer short-term relief but these treatments are a band-aid and the root cause should be addressed. Surgical options are knee arthroscopy (scope) or knee replacement, but surgery isn’t always the best answer. For knee replacements, at least 20% of knee replacements continue to experience pain in the first 2 years following surgery. Knee replacements typically last 10-15 years and will typically only be revised once. The reason this isn’t always the best option is that it only addresses joint alignment problems and doesn’t address soft tissue inflammation which is the cause of most knee pain.
If you have knee pain, we want you to imagine what life would be like if you didn’t have to think about how to move to prevent or decrease knee pain. Imagine walking, using stairs, playing with grandchildren, gardening, and exercising with ease and less pain.
Our goal is to use minimally invasive, non-steroidal, non-opioid treatment methods that improve pain, and joint function, and restore soft tissue of the joint. At REVIV, we use PRP therapy, stem cell therapy, trigger point therapy, restorative rehab, bracing, and chiropractic adjustments along with diet and supplement recommendations tailored to you.
