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Chiropractors have a full understanding of the working of every joint in the body. Your practitioner will carry out a thorough examination to find out whether the pain you experience in, for example,your elbow, knee or ankle, may in fact be 'referred' from your spine or another joint. This is because the irritation of the nerve in one area can sometimes lead to pain, known as 'referred' pain, in other parts of the body.
While there is often a spinal component to a problem, your chiropractor may also manipulate other joints to help reduce pain and muscle spasm caused by injury, inflammation, poor posture, wear and tear, or other factors which have led to conditions such as the following:
Is an over-use injury, often suffered by players of racquet sports, causing inflammation of the tendon around the elbow joint, but mainly affected by movement of the wrist.
Is similar to tennis elbow, but on the opposite side of the elbow joint.
Is an inflammation of the tendons round the hand and wrist usually due to over-use, or incorrect use, of computer keyboards.
Is inflammation of the shoulder joint which eventually results in severe loss of movement.
Occurs in several forms and chiropractic treatment is appropriate in many cases.
May be due to arthritis, but also may be referred from the spine or confused with sacroiliac pain.
Has many causes. Chiropractors commonly see problems with the knee-cap due to an imbalance of muscles around the knee.
The joints of the hands, ankles and feet
Are also susceptible to problems, and in all cases, your chiropractor will complete a full examination and diagnosis before treating you in the most appropriate way.
You may also be advised to do specific exercises to help you regain strength and flexibility, even if you have arthritis. Until quite recently, patients with pain due to osteoarthritis were advised to rest. However, now it is recognised that movement helps to reduce the pain by relieving pressure on the joints, and by improving flexibility in the surrounding muscles.
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