Arthritis – Hip & Knee Pain - Reflex Spinal Health: Your Reading Chiropractor, Osteopath & Massage Therapy, RG4 7AA.

Arthritis – Hip & Knee Pain

The hips are involved in nearly every way we move and hip & knee pain can have severe consequences for patients. Although hip pain is frequently the result of osteoarthritis or injury, it can also be a sign of other conditions. Our Reading Chiropractors and Osteopaths can help you identify the source of your hip pain and develop a tailored treatment plan for your symptoms. Osteoarthritis (now called Degenerative Joint Disease or DJD), is the most common form of arthritis in the knee, and is caused by the gradual degradation of the cartilage in the joint. Rheumatoid arthritis causes the joint to become inflammed and can often cause destruction of the surrounding cartilage. A deformity often leads to arthritis in the knee, but more often, obesity or excess weight, or repetitive stress injuries from sports are the culprits. Symptoms include pain, swelling, stiffness or locking joints. Both hip & knee pain can often be very successfully alleviated.

What Causes Hip & Knee Pain?

There are many causes of symptoms in cases of hip & knee pain. Consulting a chiropractor or osteopath is one of the best ways to receive a very thorough examination of the hip and groin complex, or the region around the knee. Both of these large, weight bearing joints may often demonstrate degenerative change to the bone, cartilage or surrounding soft tissues. Much of the pain is often down to the bodies reaction to the wear and tear and this may lead to inflammation, muscle spasm and inevitably, pain. We will aim to give you a full diagnosis for this chronic pain, regardless of the cause, whether bony, tendon, ligamentous, meniscal or muscular in cause. Both osteopathy and chiropractic can be very effective at alleviating discomfort in the the hip and knee joints.

Who Gets Hip Pain or Knee Pain?

Osteoarthritis (DJD): commonest cause of hip pain in older adults
Inflammation and referred hip pain occurs at any age
Osteoarthritis: commonest cause of knee pain in adults
Chondromalacia patella: most often in runners, skiers, cyclists and soccer players
Iliotibial Band Syndrome: most common with sports injury
Osgood-Schlatter Syndrome: most often in sporty pre-adolescent boys, girls less often

What is the Treatment for This Condition?

The treatment depends on the specific problem as we have briefly outlined many causes of hip pain and knee pain. Research has shown that patients with hip osteoarthritis (HOA) have 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).1

Brantingham JW, Globe GA, Cassa TK, et al. A single-group pre-test post-test 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.

When Should I Get Chiropractic or Osteopathic Care?

We recommend starting care for your hip pain or knee pain if:

The hip or knee pain is limiting your day-to-day or sporting activities.
You have been given painkillers or taken anti-inflammatories and been told to rest with no long-term improvement.
You have been told you have arthritis and there is nothing that can be done.
You have hip pain, knee pain or restricted motion in one or more of these joints.

The knee is a complex joint that relies heavily on ligaments and muscles for stability. When pain is perceived as coming from the knee, all the anatomical components need to be examined, and in addition to the knee joint, the low back, pelvis, hip, ankle and foot. We find that approximately 80% of the time patients ask us for help with their knee pain that the main problem is NOT, in fact, the knee joint.

If in doubt please speak to us, your Reading Osteopaths and Chiropractors as we help many people presenting with hip pain and knee pain on a regular basis. Phone Reflex Spinal Health on 0118 946 2100 to book a consultation.