Is Your Knee In Pain?

Whether you keep an active lifestyle and love sports, or you just enjoy walking and living independently, you can’t overstate the importance of your knees. Among your body’s 360 total joints, your knees are the largest and play a vital role in weight-bearing and overall mobility.                        

We use our knees in a majority of our everyday activities, and they are considered one of the most stressed joints of the body. Unfortunately, this means that our knees are susceptible to chronic pain and a wide range of injuries.

In this blog, we’ll be diving into some of the most common knee injuries and their corresponding treatments.

MENISCAL TEAR

Two of the 3 bones that make up the knee are the shin bone (tibia) and the thigh bone (femur). These bones are connected by joint cartilage called the meniscus, which cushions friction and allows the joint to move fluidly.                       

A meniscus tear occurs when this connective tissue gets torn or damaged due to excessive, sudden knee pivots or twists. As is the case for all joint disorders, the most common symptom for a torn meniscus is pain, but other signs you should watch out for are the following:  

• Swelling 
• Popping sensation 
• Limited knee range of motion

Given its main causes, people who are most at risk for meniscus tears are those who frequently engage in sports or those who are overweight.

PATELLAR TENDONITIS

Another significant connection in the knee is that of the shin bone (tibia) and the kneecap (patella), which are held together by the patellar tendon. The patellar tendon, working together with the front thigh muscles, allows you to straighten your knee and perform movements such as running, jumping, and kicking.                        

Overuse and stress on this tendon may cause it to become inflamed and sustain injuries and little tears, leading to patellar tendonitis. This is a common injury, and in mild cases, can be resolved by resting and applying ice packs. Its common symptoms include:  

• Swelling
• Tenderness 
• Pain

However, allowing persistent pain to go untreated could lead to more severe damage to the patellar tendon.                                                        

KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS

On top of the daily stress our knees experience, regardless of our activity level, our joints also naturally decline as we age. Older people are generally more at risk of injuries and other chronic diseases.                        

One of the natural effects of aging is the progressive wearing-out of our joint cartilage, which provides cushioning, stability, and fluidity within the joints. Knee osteoarthritis occurs when our joint cartilage deteriorates, causing unpleasant friction within the joint as the bones directly grind against each other. Some symptoms of knee osteoarthritis include:      

• Joint inflammation 
• Stiffness 
• Reduced range of motion 
• Pain

COMMON TREATMENTS

For the longest time, the only available treatment procedures for joint conditions were pain medications and, in worse cases, surgery. While these treatment options are effective in regulating the symptoms and restoring limited joint stability and motion, they don’t provide lasting relief and recovery. Even after the treatment, the joints may still continue to deteriorate. In addition, they pose risks of further damage and infection within the joints.                                                        

Fortunately, there are now many newer, safer treatment methods for those who wish to restore optimal functionality and mobility within their joints.

ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS

These alternative treatment options were made possible by further medical research and developments. Unlike invasive medications and surgeries, these types of treatment make use of the body’s natural biological processes to stimulate lasting recovery and healing. Some of these alternative procedures are collectively known as Regenerative Therapy.  

Here at Beyer Functional Wellness, we provide two of today’s most sought-after and effective regenerative treatment options: Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy and Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy.                                                        

As with any health condition, it is highly advisable that anyone suffering from knee pain and injuries should have them checked and treated as early as possible. If you wish to finally put an end to your knee pain or injury, you can schedule a consultation with our very own Dr. Beyer. We look into the underlying causes of pain, evaluate your overall health and unique needs, and determine the type of regenerative treatment procedure that will best fit you.