Strong Quads and Hamstrings Keep Osteoarthritic Knees Happy!

Bothered by knee pain due to osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis of the knee in West Palm Beach is not unusual, and Chiropractic Care helps many patients get a handle on it. We chiropractic physicians understand body mechanics!

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that jeopardizes individuals to develop disability as they age. In fact, nearly one in two people will develop knee osteoarthritis in their lifetime. (1) Osteoarthritis is the breakdown of cartilage in nearly any joint in the body, but the spine, knees and hips seems to be the most often affected. Want to know why? They do the most motion.

In our chiropractic practice, Chiropractic Care may see more women than men with this problem of osteoarthritis of the knee, but men will encounter osteoarthritis of the knee also. The knee is the biggest joint in the body and is heavily used. Some of the chiropractic treatments we may examine are knee exercises for osteoarthritis treatment and prevention. Don't do any of them until we decide on what's best for your health, but these may be a boon for you.

Two major muscles that control knee motion are the quadriceps (above and in front of the knee) and the hamstrings (three of them that run down the back to the side of knee). Stretch and strengthen those, keep your knees - and your back! - happy.(2,3)

Osteoarthritis Knee Exercise #1 - Quadriceps Stretch

• Grasp the back of a chair. Keep your knees together and back straight. Pull your foot to your hip with your hand. Hold for up to 30 seconds. Relax and repeat up to 5 times on each side.

Osteoarthritis Knee Exercise #2 - Knee Extension to Strengthen the Quadriceps

• Sitting with your leg straight (on a bed or sofa), put a small pillow under your knee. Slowly lift your lower leg up and down. The key is to do this slowly. You'll notice your leg will quiver. Begin with just a few repetitions. The more you do this exercise, the less you will notice your leg shake.

Osteoarthritis Knee Exercise #3 – Hamstring Stretch

Osteoarthritis of the knee may trouble your daily activities, but Chiropractic Care is convinced that the mixture of our West Palm Beach chiropractic care and your performance of some exercise and possibly nutrition for osteoarthritis will get you feeling better and moving less painfully around West Palm Beach.

Review these articles about osteoarthritis of the knee, then contact Chiropractic Care to set up an appointment to begin your chiropractic treatment plan for knee osteoarthritis pain relief today.