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Hip and Knee Pain

Hip Pain

Our hips serve innumerable functions for our body; they keep us upright, allow us to bear weight, walk smoothly, run, jump, kick, play. Since the hips are engaged in nearly every way we move, pain in this area can have debilitating consequences for patients. Although hip pain is frequently the result of osteoarthritis or injury, it can also be a sign of other health conditions. A doctor of chiropractic can help you identify the source of your hip pain and develop a tailored treatment plan for your symptoms.

Common Causes of Hip Pain

Inflammation
Hip pain can derive from the structures within the hip joint or from the structures and ligaments surrounding the joint. Within the joint itself, there is limited space for the femoral head to move in the socket of the acetabulum. If an injury or illness triggers inflammation, this space can become easily filled with fluid or blood, causing pain. Inflammation of the sac outside of the hip, the bursitis, can also be the source of pain.  Bursitis is often the result of minor trauma or overuse.

Osteoarthritis and Inflammatory Diseases
Among older adults, osteoarthritis is the most common cause of hip pain. It involves a cycle of progressive cartilage loss and joint degeneration. Although this degenerative disease has no real “cure”,  there are ways to slow its progression and prevent symptoms from worsening.  Other inflammatory diseases can also cause hip pain like rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, or inflammation of the spine (ankylosing spondylitis).

Overuse Injuries
Heavy wear and tear on the cartilage surrounding the hip joint can cause arthritis and inflammation. Routine daily activities that place stress on the hip can also cause inflammation of the muscles, tendons, and ligaments surrounding the hip. This type of pain can develop gradually overtime.

Trauma
Less subtle than overuse injuries, fractures and dislocations of  the hip or pelvis are easier to diagnose since they frequently result from direct trauma and can be detected with an X-ray. In elderly patients, a combination of aging, brittle bones, and poor balance makes them susceptible to falls and hip fractures.
Even if no bones actually break, the ligaments and muscles in the hip area can be strained, sprained, or bruised with direct trauma. These injuries can still cause significant pain.

Referred Pain and Other Sources of Hip Pain
Often what patients describe as “hip pain” may actually derive from a different part of the body. Some patients that experience pain in the lower back and hips may actually be suffering from dysfunction of the sacroiliac joints, or the joints that connect the sacrum to the iliac bones. Pain in the groin and hip can also be a result of a hernia, when the abdominal wall is torn or weakened.
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One of the more common types of referred pain is sciatica, or inflammation or irritation of the sciatic nerve. This can result from conditions like disc herniation, spinal degeneration, narrowing of the spine due to osteoarthritis, or Piriformis syndrome. Irritation of the nerve root can cause pain the in low-back, buttocks, hips, as well as radiating leg pain.

Here are some of the most common hip-related conditions that chiropractors treat:

• Subluxations
• Osteoarthritis
• Dysplasia
• Irritable Hip Syndrome
• Trochanteric Bursitis
• Sprain or Strain in the Hip
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Sciatic or Piriformis Syndrome
• Hip Bursitis
• Anterior Pelvic Tilt
• Tight Hip Flexor
• And more

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How Chiropractic Can Help Hip Pain
After performing a careful physical examination and evaluating your familial and personal history, a doctor of chiropractic can work to determine the source of your hip pain. Your chiropractor will create a personalized treatment plan that could include chiropractic adjustments, exercise therapy, posture advice, stretching, massage, coordination with other health practitioners, and more. Treatments will aim to reduce inflammation, relax any existing muscle spasms, strengthen weakened muscles, and improve the mobility of the joint.

Depending on the cause of your hip pain, chiropractic adjustments could help.

Multiple studies have found that chiropractic adjustments are effective in relieving sciatica, a common cause of pain in the hip and lower back.  In a study comparing the efficacy of chiropractic to surgery for sciatica, 60% of chiropractic patients with severe sciatica had substantially improved symptoms that enabled them to avoid surgery.2  Cases studies have also suggested that chiropractic can relieve pain associated with sacroiliac joint dysfunction and Piriformis syndrome, which both frequently result in hip pain.3-4

Some patients with hip osteoarthritis (HOA) have also benefited from chiropractic care. In one study, 83% of  HOA patients improved within nine visits to a chiropractor. Treatment included axial manipulation of the hip, stretching, and full kinetic chain treatment ( manipulative therapy to the spine, knee, ankle, or foot when appropriate).5
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Natural treatments of hip pain can allow patients to avoid the costs and risks of surgery and drugs. Contact a chiropractor to learn more about non-invasive relief of hip pain.


References
1. Wedro, Benjamin. “Hip Pain: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment Information and Diagnosis-eMedicineHealth.” http://www.emedicinehealth.com/hip_pain/article_em.htm.
2. McMorland G, Suter E, Casha S, du Plessis SJ, Hurlbert RJ. Manipulation or microdiskectomy for sciatica? A prospective randomized clinical study. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 2010; 33(8): 576-584.
3. Chapman C, Bakkum BW. Chiropractic management of a US Army veteran with low back pain and piriformis syndrome complicated by an anatomical anomaly of the piriformis muscle: a case study. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine 2012; 11(1): 24-9.
4. Kamali, Fahimeh and Esmaeil Shokri. The effect of two manipulative therapy techniques and their outcome in patients with sacroiliac joint syndrome. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. 2012; 16: 29-35.
5. Brantingham JW, Globe GA, Cassa TK, et al. A single-group pretest posttest design using full kinetic chain manipulative therapy with rehabilitation in the treatment of 18 patients with hip osteoarthritis. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapy 2012; 33(6): 445-57.

Knee Pain

If you’re living with a knee condition, you may wonder if a chiropractor can help treat your knee pain. The answer is, it depends.

Knee pain is a common concern that frequently occurs due to aging, injury, or overuse. Mild, acute knee pain usually subsides within a few days using home treatments. However, chronic and severe knee pain requires treatment to ease discomfort and prevent it from worsening.
One treatment option for knee pain may be chiropractic care, which uses holistic methods to treat your whole body and improve overall well-being. A chiropractor may be able to treat some knee pain and address underlying issues.
However, this method may not be for everyone. Chiropractic treatment is ideal if you prefer a natural healing approach, and if your knee pain is not caused by an injury or condition that requires surgical intervention.
In some cases, chiropractic care may be enough to help ease knee pain. In other cases, you may use it alongside conventional medical treatments.

What knee conditions do chiropractors treat? Chiropractors can treat several painful knee conditions and concerns, especially those that get in the way of mobility.
Knee conditions that chiropractors treat include:

• Osteoarthritis (OA): OA occurs when the articular cartilage of the knee breaks down due to age or an injury. The bones then create friction that leads to pain, stiffness, and limited mobility.
• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA): Symptoms of this inflammatory autoimmune condition include swelling and stiffness. Over time, RA can cause bone, joint, and cartilage damage.
• Meniscal injury: Meniscal tears occur due to aging, arthritis, and forcefully twisting or rotating your knee.
• Patellar tendonitis: Patellar tendonitis is a repetitive injury that causes inflammation and weakness in the patellar tendon, which connects your kneecap to your shinbone. Often, this condition occurs in athletes.

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How do chiropractors treat knee pain? Chiropractic treatment for knee pain will depend on the cause, symptoms, and contributing factors, which may include excess weight, poor posture, and workplace ergonomics.
To create a treatment plan, your chiropractor will determine if your knee pain is due to a primary cause or a compensatory cause. A compensatory cause is when your knee’s alignment or function is compromised in order to make up for another issue, such as tightness in another area of your body.
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The chiropractor will also consider your accompanying symptoms, including inflammation, stiffness, and weakness.
Treatment will usually include other areas of your body, including the neck, spine, and hips. Tightness and misalignments in these areas can contribute to knee pain. Plus, you may have developed poor posture and movement patterns in order to reduce pressure on your knee.
Common chiropractic treatments for knee pain include:

• Manual manipulation: This hands-on technique involves aligning your spine and joints to reduce stress, improve posture, and boost mobility.
• Traction: This technique involves stretching the knee to reduce inflammation and boost mobility.
• Ultrasound: The massaging effect of sound waves can alleviate pain, inflammation, and stiffness.
• Electrotherapy: A stimulation device, such as a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) unit, delivers tiny electric pulses to reduce swelling, ease tension, and boost blood flow.
• Cold laser: This treatment helps with inflammation and speeds healing.
• Infrared sauna: Infrared heat can help reduce pain, ease stiffness, and boost blood flow.
• Home exercise program: Your customized plan will include rehabilitation exercises and stretches to strengthen your knee and its supporting muscles.

If you are dealing with hip and knee pain, and you are looking to find long-lasting relief, talk with, Dr. John T. Toth, our dedicated chiropractor at Vitality Health Center by calling 651-773-9414.

Vitality Health Center serves patients in White Bear Lake, White Bear Township, Gem Lake, Little Canada, Vadnais Heights, Mahtomedi, Maplewood, North St. Paul, Shoreview, Oakdale, Lake Elmo, Woodbury, Arden Hills, North Oaks, Pine Springs, Grant and surrounding areas.