Treatment for joint pathology has been very extensively researched, and found to be helpful.
The most common joint problem is osteoarthritis. This is a degenerative change in joint cartilage, capsule, bone and surrounding ligaments and tendons which presents as pain and/or swelling of the joint.
Osteoarthritis is a result of biomechanical issues and biochemical imbalances, both of which can long precede the development of pain. For instance, after arthroscopic trimming of the meniscus, it is almost inevitable that arthritis will follow years later because of the altered mechanics between the joint surfaces.
An under-appreciated cause of joint degeneration is joint laxity which can occur as a result of ligament injury around and within joints. Because of joint laxity, gliding of surfaces over one another can be altered and cause biomechanical stress and eventually damage to the joint. For example, laxity of the ACL or MCL of the knee joint through injury (both obvious injury and micro-injury from wear and tear) will cause biomechanical stress in the knee joint, leading eventually to degenerative changes in the joint.
By understanding that laxity and injury can lead to arthritis later in life, we can understand why it is important to address these issues sooner than later in order to reduce joint stress and subsequent development of joint degeneration and osteoarthritis.
Other causes of joint pain and degeneration are chronic gout, crystal deposition in joints and inflammatory joint diseases such as psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Poor collagen quality can also be a predisposing cause of joint problems.
Common joints which present with osteoarthritis include: knee, hip, ankle, shoulder, elbow, wrist, thumb base, fingers, feet, toes and vertebral facet joints.
Some joint conditions and injuries we treat include: