Your knee Joint’s play a crucial role in bearing your weight and facilitating the bending and movement of your legs. Virtually every leg-related motion, such as walking, running, and jumping, heavily relies on the support and mobility provided by your knees.
The knee serves as the pivotal connection between your thigh and lower leg, constituting the largest joint within your body.
Did you know you have Nerves in your knee?..
Nerves act as conduits, akin to cables, transmitting electrical impulses between your brain and the rest of your body. These impulses are responsible for both sensation and muscle movement. In your knee, specific nerves include:
- Femoral Nerve: The femoral nerve is a major nerve in the leg, emerging from the lumbar region of the spine. It travels down the front of the thigh, providing sensory and motor functions to the thigh, knee, and parts of the lower leg. This nerve controls the movement of certain thigh muscles and enables sensations in the front of the thigh and lower leg.
- Sciatic Nerve: The sciatic nerve is the longest and thickest nerve in the human body. It originates from the lower back, extending down through the buttocks and branching out through the legs. This nerve is responsible for providing both sensory and motor functions to much of the lower body, controlling various leg muscles and transmitting sensations from the legs to the spinal cord and brain. Issues with the sciatic nerve can result in symptoms such as pain, tingling, or numbness in the lower back, buttocks, and legs, often referred to as sciatica.
- Tibial Nerve: The tibial nerve is a significant branch of the sciatic nerve. It runs down the lower leg, providing motor and sensory functions to the calf and the sole of the foot. This nerve plays a vital role in controlling and innervating the muscles involved in foot movement and also conveys sensations from the bottom of the foot and the back of the calf to the brain.
- Peroneal Nerve: The peroneal nerve, also known as the common fibular nerve, is a branch of the sciatic nerve. It runs down the outer side of the knee and along the outer side of the lower leg. This nerve primarily controls the muscles that lift the foot and toes, aiding in movements like dorsiflexion and eversion. Additionally, it transmits sensory information from the top of the foot and the shin to the brain.
How do Knee Injuries Occur?
The most common knee injuries happen during sports activities, exercising, or from a fall. The pain and swelling that you experience from weight bearing, and instabilities are from the knee injuries.
We’ve all experienced sprains and strain from the ligaments. The ACL and MCL are the ligaments most often injured. injuries usually happen where the knee might experience a sudden twisting motion, a rapid change in direction, or an incorrect landing from a jump.
What to do, if an injury happens?
Preventing a knee injury is often challenging, but taking precautions such as wearing appropriate shoes and protective gear can help.
In instances of iliotibial band syndrome and overuse injuries, it’s advisable to ease off, rest, and reduce running intensity.
Prioritizing pre and post-exercise stretching is crucial to mitigate knee injuries. Individual differences exist, and ensuring proper nutrition—such as adequate Protein, Calcium, and Vitamin D—is vital for maintaining healthy bones, muscles, and ligaments.
How to Prevent Injuries?
- Before and after engaging in sports, start with a gentle walk and stretch to warm up.
- Strengthen your leg muscles by incorporating activities like using stairs, pedaling a stationary bike, or weight training.
- Avoid sudden shifts in exercise intensity.
- Opt for properly fitting shoes with good traction, replacing worn-out footwear.
- Maintain a healthy weight to alleviate extra pressure on the knees.
- Prioritize wearing a seatbelt consistently.
- In sports with potential knee injury risks, consider using knee guards for protection.
Why you should come see us!
Realigning your knee joints is best achieved by consulting a chiropractor. It’s not limited to addressing neck or back pain. Discussing all your pain with Dr. Wendy can help determine if knee pain is a concern. Dr. Wendy will likely assess your spine, neck, hips, and examine your knees to understand the interconnected aspects of your body. Our bodies function as integrated machines, and an imbalance in one component may lead to pain elsewhere. In simpler terms, an unaligned spine could be the root cause. If your spine isn’t aligned, you might lean to one side while walking, causing your hip to rotate with each step, ultimately leading to knee pain.
Other potential reasons for knee pain include:
- Tight muscles
- Unevenly developed leg muscles
- Issues with the hip joint
Dr. Wendy will explore these potential causes and more during the evaluation. Call Us today to make an appointment to get Evaluated. Don’t put your health on the back burner!