Richmond Acupuncture Clinic and Wellness Center in VA
Since 1988 practicing acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine
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Knee
pain is a common complaint that affects people of all ages. With today's
increasingly active society, the number of knee problems is increasing.
According to the National Institutes of Health, more than four million people seek
medical care for a knee problem each year.
The
knee is the largest joint in the body. It is made up of the lower end of the
thighbone, which rotates on the upper end of the shinbone, and the kneecap,
which slides in a grove on the end of the femur. The knee joint also contains
several muscles, which straighten the leg and bend the leg at the knee;
tendons, which attach the muscles to the bones; ligaments, which help control
motion by connecting bones; and cartilage, which serves to cushion the knee or
help it absorb shock during motion. Because of its size and complex structure,
knee is one of the most frequently injured joints. Knee pain can be
caused by the following factors:
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Trauma: torn or ruptured
ligament; broken or fractured kneecap; torn cartilage; or accident that
causes damage to the area or strains the knee beyond its normal range of
motion.
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Infections
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Arthritis
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Hemarthrosis
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Cysts and bone tumors
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Overweight: can contribute
to or cause excess strain to the ligaments and cartilage.
Signs
and symptoms that sometimes accompany knee pain include:
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Swelling and stiffness
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Redness and warmth to the
touch
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Weakness or instability
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Popping or crunching noises
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"Locking," or inability
to fully straighten the knee
Acupuncture has been used for
thousands of years to treat a wide variety of painful conditions. According to
the World Health Organization (WHO), acupuncture is as effective as morphine in
treating chronic pain. Acupuncture is thought to decrease pain by increasing
the release of endorphins that block pain. Many acu-points are near nerves.
When stimulated, these nerves cause a dull ache or feeling of fullness in the
muscle. The stimulated muscle sends a message to the central nervous system,
causing the release of endorphins. Endorphins, along with other
neurotransmitters, block the message of pain from being delivered up to the
brain.
If you suffer from knee pain,
acupuncture can offer pain relief naturally with no adverse side effects.
The sooner the treatment begins, the quicker the pain relieves. If you would
like to pursue this form of treatment or information, please contact Xiaoyan.
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Richmond Acupuncture Clinic and Wellness Center in VA
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