Bend the knee…

Reasons why Jon Snow might not be the only one having problems.

Let’s be honest, we’ve all been waiting for it.  For Jon Snow to bend the knee to Daenerys.  He took his time.  He was reluctant.  But was loyalty to the northern lords the only reason he hesitated?  For a lord with as many scars (and one actual death) as Jon, maybe bending the knee is painful.  He wouldn’t be alone.  But what causes knee pain?  And what can be done about it?

You may not know, but up to seven times your body weight goes through the knee when it bends!  No wonder knee pain is such a common complaint.

Generally, knee pain stems from how the knee moves.  As you bend the knee a number of things happen – muscles contract and relax; the patella slides up and down through a groove in the thigh bone; the cartilage moves out of the way and ligaments tighten to provide stability.  All these things have to happen together for pain-free movement.  So, if any one of these areas does not operate properly, destabilization and pain can occur.

Although knee pain can occur even when non-weight-bearing, but it comes as no surprise that weight-bearing bending – squatting, stairs, jumping – causes the most pain due to the force moving through the knee.

The most common forms of knee pain relate to four key areas:

Friction

If the movement of the kneecap is not smooth, it can place extra friction on the cartilage as it moves.  This causes pain in the front of the knee, below the kneecap.  This may be accompanied by a disturbing grinding or grating noise.  Causes for this type of pain often include muscle weakness and biomechanics of the foot arch and hip.

Bursitis

The bursae are small fluid sacs between the bone and soft tissue that act to reduce friction.  These sacs can become inflamed and painful, and irritate the surrounding structures – causing more pain.  The pain will be accompanied by swelling, both at the front of the knee.

Sprain

If one of the four ligaments of the knee is overstretched or tears, instability, pain and swelling will occur.  The meniscus can also tear, which results in a decreased cushioning in the joint.

Arthritis

There are over 200 different types of arthritis, but most common in the knee is osteoarthritis.  This causes thinning and wear and tear on the cartilage, creating bony lumps, which in turn cause friction and pain in the joint.  General stiffness and pain are the result.

Treatment for knee pain depends on the specific cause of the pain, but often includes massage, acupuncture, taping, biomechanical movement correction and Smart Tools to name just a few.

So, if Jon Snow had access to a Chiropractor, perhaps he might have bent the knee a little sooner…

If you, like Jon Snow, are having trouble bending the knee, call us on 9639 7337 to make and appointment so we can get you on board with team Jon and Daenerys!